Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-15
The Mode Adopted for PrsvIsIOnlns Fort
Sumter.

~ NNSSANsNSi \ A'H a - ASNtNbfWt ANAhAA Ms
The traitor Floyd took great pains t) put
the United states forts in Charles on harbor
into The hands of the South Oatolinians,
without expense of men or money. Fer
this purpose be refused the constsnt en-
treaties of Colonel Gardiner, the officer in
command at Fort Moultrie, for troops. Just
NJ the time the danger was becoming immi-
nent, be cent, insiead of soldiers for defense,
BODY of laboiers, who, under the direction
Of an engineer, were ordered TO teDair the
fort in such way and such time as to rem
der the fort defehseless against the secsders.
These laborers were to be fed from the sup
plies at the fort. This made it necessary to
purchase provisions in Charleston from week
TO week, so that, in the event of siege, the
garrison would be starved out in a few days.
By desperate efforts the repairs were finished
in such way that the fofty.iive men in the
fort could mskesome defense, but being de-
pendent on Charleston for food, the South
Carolihians and Floyd well knew that the
fort was completely in their power wheu-
ever they should see fit to cut off supplies
from the city. f..rF slr-f ...
In this dilemma, Colonel Gardiner prac-
tictd the piece of strategy which finally en-
ab,ed Anderson 10 hold the fort and make
his defense. Colonel Gardiner wrote to an
old friend, the chief of the commissary de.
Partment to send him provision for one
huhhANu AhVh lOi ElA ulOutuS, HI L0G same
time significantly limiting TO him that he
could obey his requisition in the ordinary
discretionary routine of his duty without
consulting with the Secretary of War. He
added also the further request that the trans
port should be ordered to land her cargo at
Fort Moultrie Immediately on her arrival in
the harbor, and before she should 90 10
Charleston. The patriotic commissary officer,
Colonel Taylor, the brother of late President
ar1p 1,NI H.,
the reeson for it, and took the responsibility
of acting on Colonel Gardeners requisition
The provisions were thus safely landed at
Fort Moultrie, the traitor secretary being
rot q whit the wiser for the operation.
These were the provisions which were grad :.
ually carried over to Fort Sumter in the en-.
gineer's boats and supported Major Auder
son and his gallant command during the
memorable siege. Floyd, net knowing the
ruse that had been played upon him by Col
onel Gardiner, expected every day that
hunger would do the business for the little
garrison, which be intended to hand over,
DouDd hand and foot, to the enemy
While these matters were going on, Floyd
sent down a young officer to look after the
carrying out of his plans, and to represent to
Colonel g., by various indirect processes, the
Secretary's idea of an officers duty in COM
mand of Fort Moultrie. Colonel Gardiner
he had but one man for each great gun, he
was determined to defend the place to the
utmost against whatever force should be
cent against it. Floyd's spy found Colonel
Gardeners men at work day and night
adding TO the defenses of the place. He
found even the brick quarters within the fort
loopholed for stand with musketry in case
of an escalade by a sudden rush of a large
number of men. All this was evidently
directly the opposite of the Secretary's
policy, ss represented in various indirect
ways by the officer whom he had sent. He
was shown all the preparations for des-
perate defense, which Colonel Gardiner had
made, and was told that they would be used
against any force which should march from
Charleston, as soon as they came within
range of the guns. He was moreover
requested to tell the Secretary all that he
bad seen and heard. The consequence was
that the commandant, disposed to do his
duty too tcetL was suspended, and an officer
of Kentucky birth, who had married in
Georgia, was put in command.
From Major Anderson's birth and con-
nections, Floyd evidently supposed that he
had obtained a plant tool for his purposes
A few days observation convinced Major
Anderson that he had been sent there to sac
rifce his honor, and tbat he could save it
only by carrying out the desperate measures
Of defense already begun by Colonel Gar
diner. The retreat to Fort Sumter, its repair,
its siege ard bombardment were the natural
sequel. All these events, so important
already in history, turned upon the ruse by
which Colonel GsTdiner's requisition for pro-
visions was met by Colonel Taylor and kept
secret from Floyd. This is scrap of history
we'll worth remembering, and we may add
that it is given on the best authority, and has
not hitherto come before the public.