New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-19
MOVEMENTS OF THE FLEET.

"DETAILS OF THE PLAN TO RE-ENfohoh Sohr
TFR-wHY 1T PAIED.
The following highly interesting particulars concern
;o the movements of the feet off Charleston. the plan
for reinforcing Fort Sumter, and the reas@s why
failed we derive from Mr.. Oliver w. SiapP' 'n''u
officer of the Baltic who, for his bgh qnhiincaons'
WAS selected for an important part III Tie schene ioi
reinforcing the Fort. He is an old pilot, and well
known u nautical circles
The Pawnee Harriet Lane, Pocobohtas ana ballo
nesred Charleston Oh Friday morning. The iinng on
Fert Sumter was Simultaneous with The sending up OF
rockets for the concentration OF the 1eet at when time
the Bulls Head light was put ont. Shortly ai'er
steamer hove in eight, which, under ue impression
that il was the Isabel the Harriet Lane was ordered 10
ehase. One shot brought her to- when che proved to
be the Nashville On the return Of the Pawnee, she
took M her position ar ner Swash Channel Bar as pos
sble, followed by the Lane and the Pocahontss The
distance was two and three fourth miles from Sumter,
and two and one fourth from Morris Island Battery IL
vas evident that AN entrance could not be effected ow-
ing TO shoa waters and the great strength OF the bat
teres Added to this three vessels had been anchored
in the channel filed with all sorts Of combustbes,
with the intention Of firing them to light mp the harbor
| and expose the movements Of the feet.
About this time Boston schooner, loaded with Ice,
| undertook 10 enter. She was brought 70 by three
shots and verbal warning that if che persisted abe
would be sunk She was seized, and the men placed
| ON board the Pawnee The plan was then formed 70
place the soldiers and provisions the Baltic board
| of her with the view at 10 oeioek that night, OF
| crowding all sail and running Ter boldly up 10 Fort
Sumter To lend this hazardous enterprise, Mr.. Chpp
was selected and prepared TO execute it. The confa
grafton at the Fort and the subsequent events defeated
the PLAN That Mr.. Clspp would have given success to
IT, those who did him the honor Of selecting him con-
| 6dently believed.
At q ON Saturday one of the Pswnee boats was got
ready 10 communicate with Fort Sumter, che having
ceased firing Lieut. Marcy Of the Pswnee, with
boats crew put off, and when in range of and about
| half mile from the Cummings Point Battery, were
the objects Of two shells fred from that point but they
| fell short. The boat then went toward Cummings
Point. When near the shore, the sun running high,
several officers came down and warned the boat off,
saying that Major Anderson had surrendered uncond-
| ticnay.
am under d flag Of truce, aud wish to zee the com
manding officer Ny purposes are peaceful said
IIet- Marcy.
| "we don't think they are" was the reply Subse-
auenty the boat went round the port when 1t War
met by Gen. Simmons, between whom and Lieut.
Marcy sn interview took place, after which the boat
returned 10 the Pawuee. No further movements took
place on the part Of the feet till Major Anderson came
of.
All the ships left in company bat the Pawnee Hay-
net Lane, and Pocahontas, subsequently parted COM
pany with the Baltic, and proceeded to Norfolk, where
they were expected to arrive on Thursday. Mr. Clspp
returned in the Baltic.
| THE MAJOR.
Shortly after Major Andenons srrvalhs wasw waited
upon by the staff of the headquarters Of the army.
II md fba n sfa.
tion who ordered it to Fort Hamilton tbst being he
quetes and most agreeable post in the neghborhood
In reply to question ss TO the conduct Of the men the
Msjor said TO gentleman connected with the army;
"Until man is half ,srved-bsf smothered-half
poisonedand on the verge Of eternity In this stale he
never can know what men l bad understand the
measure Of the valor tina, made surrender the last
thought with them"
One Of the command is reported to have said that had
not the "South Carolina gentleman come 10 the steps
of the fort TO offer bis terms for the second time the
garrison would be ou Of cour-martia range"
THE BURNING or PORT SUMTER.
Since the burning Of the officers quarters and bar
racks inside Of Fort Sumter there has been much spec
uaton the method of building forte Of nhsmmable
material and the question 10 frequently asked, How
could For Sumter burn If il was bomb-proof" This
difficulty may be essily cleared away by stating that
the fort proper was bombproof and did not take FIRE ut
any time The famesd did not at any time burst through
the embrasures Of the fort The FIRE Is accounted for
by the fact that the officers quarters and the barracks
| which were like ordinary houses Of brick and wood,
inside the fort visited by several shells from the
enemy's mortars, which set them on fire. The heat
and the smoke communicating with the bomb-proof en-
frances the rendered il difficult in this
| for Major Andersons men to work. There consd
cradle wood work about these buildings and Of IL
had been taken out for any purpose whatever, hence
tie rage of the fire. The fort proper did not take FIRE.
MAJ. ANDERsON's DISPATCHES TO THE WAR
DEPARTMENT.
STEAMSHIP BALTIC, orr SArDr HOOK
The Ron. 8. CAMERON Secretary Of War wi.hinros. D. G.
SIR: Having defended Fort Sumter for thirty four
hours, until the quarters were entirely burned the
main gates destroy cd by fire. tie gorge wall sofOutly
injured, the magazine surrounded by fumes, and il.
door cloecd from the effects OF the heat four barrels
and three cartridges Of powder only being available,
and provisions but pork remaining, lacoepted terms
of evacuation Offered by Gen. Bsaursga I'd being the
same offered by him the lIth met, prior TO the
commencement of hostilties and marched oot Of the
fort Sunday afternoon the 4th inst with colos flying
and drums beating, bringing away company aAd
private property and saluting my flag with fifty gunh.
ROBERT ANDERSON, Major. girs. Artillery.
SECRETARY CAMERoSs REPLY.
Late in the evening Secretary Cameron replied BY
telegraph to che announcement Of Major Andersons
rival We endcsyored 10 get the substance Of hh dis
patch, but could not. From circumstances aon-
nected with It's reception, however, we have reasonio
believe that contained the congratulations of the
President, the Secretary of War, Gen. Scott, the Ad
utant-General, and other distinguished officers
MOVEMENTS or MAJOR ANDERSON.
Major Anderson dined with VIM. II. pinysll last
evening. He also paid visit TO Noses II. Grinnoll.