Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-02-05
From the Cincinnati Commercial
The reinforcement Of Mai. Anderson.

INC LAGAAAlEGGNlGnt uA AAA9a AG1HE8oIs
A fortnight since we expressed apprehen-
sion Of an act of treachery on the part of the
Administrations act of treachery aud in
gratitude to South Carolina and the news
papers-in reinforcing Major Anderson with
out informing Gov Pickens, or the Wasting
ton writers ofthe telegraphic correspondence
of enterprising journals. We expect the act
has been accomplished. And if it is, we
think it must be conceded that the Star of
the West affair has been avenged. We yes
terday expressed the opinion that Major An
derson had been reinforced. Let US put to-
gether s few circumstances indicating the
probabilities:
l. Major Anderson has sent two of his
Lieutenants to Washington, and there was
thus an opportunity for the establishment of
a perfect understanding between the War
Department and Fort Sumter.
2. 1t was given out that Major Anderson
did not want any reinforcements, and that
10 further effort would be made to reinforce
him-all of which was good evidence that he
did want reinforcements, and that they would
be sent him. The Administration could af.
ford TO witstand the indignation of the news
papers, and to thank them for covering its
real proceedings, by raising popular elamOr
against it for not appearing to do the very
thing it was doing.
8. Mr.. Buchanan has declined to pledge
himself to the preservation of the stGtu mo,
though urged to do so by the new S. O.. Com
missioner Hayne.
4. Thesteamship Brooklyn sailed from Nor
folk, with two artillery companies on board,
with sealed orders. Even the officers were
therefore in ignorance of their duty until
after putting to sea, and thus no opportunity
was afforded any traitor on beard to commu-
nicate the programme to South Carolina.
5. The report by the South Carolina guard
the harbor, "laying low" The ship was a
mystery TO the Ohsrlestonians.
g. The guard boats of the South Carolinians
were merely stationed to look out for the ap
proach of ships, and 10 warn the batteries on
Morris and Sullivan's Islands of their ap-
proach; and the fact of the sinking of FIVE
schooners in the main ship channel, and that
the only practicable chanIel was within pis-
tol shot Of Fort MoHltrie, had thrown the
Carolinians of their guard. The idea of boats
stealing in from the ocean with reinforce
ments, never entered their heads.
7. The fact that boats with mufAea oars
have been seen and frel upon by the Caro-
linian sentinels The Carolinians, with a
ship in their minds all the time, thought that
the business Of the boat might be to surprise
the batteries and spike the guns, so that
vessel could run by without receiving the
Carolinian salute.
8. The fact that the conqueror of Mexico
has not been accustomed. in his military
career, to be baked in so simple matter as
reinforcing a fort when the means Of doing
it were in his power
g. The praeticability of reinforcing Fort
Sumter in the manner suggested. Thursday,
Friday and Saturday nights of last week were
exceedingly dark and rainy in Charleston
The Charleston papers and letters all speak
of those nights as desperately disagreeable,
cold, dark and rainy. The sympathies of the
people were deeply moved in consideration Of
the condition of the soldiers of the State, on
sentry duty, huggi1g their cold muskets, and
pacing the dreary sand-hills of Morris Island
in the fog and rain. In the night and in the
storm, the Brooklyn could have approached
within two hours pull of Fort Sumter, and
sent one or both her artillery companies, and
as many marines as she could spare, 10 the
gallant Major The boats could have accom-
plished the trip between midnight and day
light and the ship might have stood out to
sea until return of night, when, encouraged
by the success Of the first experiment, she
might have returned and dispatched her
boats loaded with provisions, powder and to-
bacco, or any other articles the Major might
need. In three nights, while the Carolinian
guard boats were looking for ships to enter
and gaping at the mysterious steamer hover
ing in the distance, and the sentries we're
hugging their cold muskets, shivering in the
rain, and pecring into the fog at mysterious
boats with muffled oars, the Major may have
been made decidedly comfortable. The boats
could make the trip from q steamer off the
bar 70 the Fort without approaching within
three-quarters of a mile of the Carolinian
sentries.
10. The rumor that the Brooklyn was
bound for Pensacola, served t. divert atten-
ton from Charleston. That it did draw the
Oarolinians away from the consideration OF
their own affairs, is seen in the tact that at
the very time the Brooklyn was of Charles
ton, they were rendering State troops at Pen
sacola.
II. Since the mysterious steamer appeared
at Charleston, coming up like phantom in
the night, and disappearing in the morning
ghost-like, she had about time to run around
to Pensacola, when We hear Of her arrival
there and it IS evident from the length of
time since she left Norfolk, that she was de-