The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1861-07-12


and about them, had been seized and
held in open hostility to this Government,
excepting only Forts Pickens. Taylor
and Jefferson, on and near the Florida
east. and Fort Sumter ia Charleston
iIarbor. The forts thus seizpd had been
put in improved condition; new oaes had
been built, and armed forces had been
organized and were then organ izing. all
avowedly f0r the same hostile purpose.
The forts semaiaiSg in the Federal
possession in and near those States were
eifiser beseged or menaced by warlike
pRe RaTatisns. Especially Fort Sumpter
was nearly surrounded by well protec-
ted hostile batteries, with guns equal in
quality to- the best Of its own, and outs
numbering the latter as perhaps ten to
one. A disproportionate share of the
Federal muskets and rifles had somehow
found their way into these States. and
had been seiaed to be used against the
Government. Accommodations of the
public revenue lying within them ad
hrcn. seized for the same OF 5ect. The
navy was scattered in distant seas, leav-
ing but very small part OF it within the
immediate reach Of the Government; Of
ficers Il the Federal asmy had resigned
in great numbers, and of those resigned
great postipn had tai ken up arms against
the GovernmesS. simultaneously, and
in connection with all this, the purpose
70 sever the Federal Union was openly
ayowed. in accordance with this pur,
pose an ordinance had been adopted in
leach of these States, declarieg the States
respea,iYel y te be separated from the Ma
tional Union; the formula Tor iastitnting
a combined government fer these States
had beer promulgated and this illegal
organization in the charastes of the Con-
Ifederase States. was already iavoking
recognition, aid, and Intervention from
foreign powers.
Finding this condition Of things, and
believing it TO. be an imperative duty up
on the incoming executive to prevent, if
possible, the consummation OF such at
tempt to destroy the Federal Union, q
choice of means to that end became in
dispcnsable. This choice was made and
Dc clared in the inaugural address. The
policy chosen looked to the exhaustion Of
all peacable measures before resort to
any stronger ones. 1t sought only to
hold the public places and property not
already wrested from the GOVERNMENT,
and to collect the revenue ;relying for the
rest ON time, discussion and the ballot
box. 1t promised the continuance of the
mails at the Governments expense TO
the very people who we're resisting the
Government. and gave repeated pledges
against any dist bance to. any of the
people or any Of tasis rights, OF all that
wEiea President Eight sonsttuti,aally ly
and fastiiably do 81 sach a case. Eve,
rythlng WAS foreborne, without which i,
was believed possible keep the Govern
ment on foot. On tie 9th of March the
present incumben,'s first full day in Of
fee, a letter from Major Anderson, com
manding at Fort Sumter, Written on the
26ih Of February and received at tlt
War Department on the fourth OF March
was by that Department placed in hi.
hands. This letter expressed the pro
fessional opinion of the writer that rein
forcements could not be thrown into tha
foit ia time foa his Eeief, rendered neces
sary by the limited supply of provisions
md with a view of h.ldiag possesstoI
Of the same with force of less thar
10000 well disciplaed men. This o
pinion was concIrred in by all the officer
Of his command, asd their memorand
on the subject We're made in inslosure
of Major Anderson letter. The Who'll
was Immediately laid before Lieut. Gen
Scott, who at once concurrad with Mai
Anderson ia his opinion.
On reflection, however, lie took fttl
time in consulting with her officers
both Of the army and navy. and at tn
end of four days came reiuctyntly, thl
decidedly, to the same conclusion as be
fore. He also stated at the same tim
that no such sufficient force was then 6
/. the control of the Government, O. coul
, be raised and brought to the ground with
in the time when the provisions in Il
: fort would be exhausted. In mii,ar
! point of view, this reduced the duly {
: the administration to the mere matter c
$ getting the garrison safely out of th
), fort
!, 1t was believed, however, that to $
t abandon that position, under the circun
/ StaQceS, WOulu be utteTiy IuiHous, III
: the necessity uader which it was to
). done would not be fully understood; th
S by may it would be construed as a pa
Of voluntary policy, that at home
would discourage the friends Of the III
ion, embolden its adversaries, and 60 Fl
to insure to the latter a recognition
broad; that, in fact, it would be our nj
J. tional destruction consummated. Th
J could not be allowed. Starvation W
l. not vet upon the garrison, and ere it wo
be reached FORT Pickens Eight be zei
forced.
y, " This last would be clear Indication
- policy, and would better enable the cou
'I 'I Try to, accept the evacuation OF Fort Sur
~ ~ ter as a military necessity. Then an q
u der was at once directed to be sent f
the kaadipg Of the troops from Sac steas
ship Brooklia, iato Fort Pickens. 81
order could not go by land, bat Haust ia
the longer and slower sou!e by sea. 7
first return news from the oSder vas
ceiyed Just one week befose the fan
r Sumter. The news itself was, that t
lie officer commanding the Sabine, to viii
i ~