Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-01-03
Charleston News.
WAsHINGToN, Dec, &c

WAsHINGToN, Dec. 80.
The ground assigned for Secretary
Floyd's resignation, was the refusal or
delay of the President to consent to an
order withdrawing the troops from Fort
Sumpter. In the Secretary's opinion
this was incumbent ON the Administra-
ton, for the following reason:
With a natural desire to avoid civil
war and bloodshed it had been agreed by
the Administration that there should be
no change in the condition OF things in
Charleston Harbor. and by South Carroll
ma that she would make no attacks Oh
the troops or property OF the United
States. The movement of Major Ande:-
son was violation of this solemn agree
ment, which could not be repaired except
by withdrawing the trool $, which meas
ure was then demanded by the honor Of
the Government. While both branches
OF Congress are engaged in endeavors to
settle the sectional controversy, it was
deemed the duty of the Government to
maintain relations OF peace with the
Southern States.
Mr.. Floyd. it is said by his friends,
soon returns to Virginia to follow out his
policy to restrain to the extent of his
power any act which will lead to blood
shed, and exert himself, if dissolution be-
comes inevitable, to its reconstruction.
1t is not certain that Major Anderson
and forces will remain at Fort Sumpter
They will be remanded to Fort Moutrie,
provided that satisfactory assurances can
be given that they will not be there at
tackled by the South Carolnians.
There seems to be rea> IONS for the belief
that General Scott, several days ago,
submitted to the President plan in writ
ing, for the blockade Of Charleston, rein
forcing strongly all the Sonthen garii-
sons, and other military movements
This, however, it is said, was not received
with favor
The Charleston Courier, Of Friday,
says: Major Anderson has achieved The
unenviable distinction of opening civil
war, between American citizens, by an
act of gross breach of faith, and he has
virtually and grossly violated solemn
pledge given by his Chief and accepted
by South Carolina; that he had all pos.
sible assurances of South Carolina that
his honor position and duty, would be
respected until proper and open dec
laration of war" In its details Of Maj
Andcrson's movements, the Courier
says:-"The evacuation of Fort Moutric
commence after sundown on Wednesday
The men were ordered to hold themselves
in readiness with knapsacks packed, but
up to the moment of leaving, they had no
idea of abandoning the Fort. They were
reviewed on parade, and were then order.
cd to two schooners lying in the vicinity,
where they embarked, taking with them
all the necessary stores DC. Several trips
were made during the night under cover
of which great part of the provisions
and camp furniture were transported
The greater portion of labor expended on
Fort Moultrio upon the citadel or weSt
point Of the position. This citadel Mai
Anderson had strengthened in every way
Loopholes were cut, and everything sc
arranged that in case well concerted at
tack was made he could have retired from
the outer bastions to the citadel, and af,
forwards blown up the other portions o.
the fort. For this purpose mines had
already been sprung and trains laid ready
for the application of the match. The
barrack rooms, and every other portion
of the fort not indispensable would have
gone at touch. On the ramparts front
ing Fort Sumpter. were nine eight-inch
Columbiads. mounted on wooden car
riages as soon as the evacuation was COM
plete, these were burned, and the guns
thereby dismounted. These guns. as well
ar those constituting the entire armament
were spiked before the fort was abandon
ed. This is the only damage done to the
Notifications further than cutting down
the flagstaff, and breaking up of ammuni'
,ion wagons to form ramparts on the
walls of the fort"
Other particulars are given. The con-
fusion could not have been more complete
had the late occupants retirrd in the face
of besieging foes. The entire place was
Uttered with the odds and ends and frag'
ments of wars desolation. The spiked
guns, and those dismounted by tn, burn
ing of the carriages, will soon be in po'
sition to respond to any hostile demon
strstions against the place.