Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1862-10-30

York. His relative weakness had steadily
increased in the last eighteen days.
1t was not till January Sd (when the first
commissioners from South Carolina Withdrew
that the permission l had solicited October
3lst, was obtained to admoffsh commanders
OF the few southern forts with garrisons to be
on the alert against surprises and sudden as
sauts. Major Anderson was not among the
admonished, being already straitly beleag-
uered)
January Sd. To Lieut. Semmer, COM
manding in Pensacola harbor:
| The general-in-chief directs that you take
measures to do the utmost in your power to
prevent the seizure of either Of the forts in
Pensacola harbor, by surprise or assault, con-
sulting first with the commander of the navy
yard, whs will probably have received in
structions to cooperate with YOU" This
order was signed by aid-de-camp Lay.
1t was Just before the surrender of the PEN
sacola maynard january 3l) that Lieut.
Scmmer, calling upon Com. Armstrong, OBJ
tanned the aid of some thirty common seamen
or laborers, but no marines, which, added to
bis forty-six soldiers, made up his numbers
to ssvsnty-six men, with whom this merito-
rio,is officer has since held Fort Pickens, and
perfortDedi working night and day, an i'm
mense amount of labor in mounting guns
keeping up strong guard, etc.
Early in Jartiary l renewed, as has been
seer, my solicitations to be allowed to rein
force Fort Pickens but good deal Of time
was lost in vacilatiousI First, the President
q" thought if no movement was made by the
United States, Fort McRae will probably not
be occupied nor Fort Pickens attacked. In
case of movements by the United States,
which will doubtless he made known by tho
wires, there will be corresponding local move
meats, and the attempt to reinforce will be
useless Quotation from, a note made Jy diH-
de-camp Lay, about January IL, of the Pref
idenfs reply to u message from me. Next, it
was doub:ed whether it would be safe to send
reinforcemsnts in an unarmed steamer, and
the want, as usual, of suitable naval vessel |
the Brooklyn being long held in reserve at
Norfolk for some purpose unknown to me. |
Finally, after had kept body of three hun |
dred recruits in New York harbor ready for |
Some time-and they would have been suf1i-
Gent to reinforce temporarily Fort Prckens
and to 5ccupy Fort McRae also-the Pres-
dent about January Is, per. tilted that the
sloup CT war Brooklyn should take a single
COMPANY, ninety men. from For, Monroe,
Hampton Hoads; and reinforce Lieut.. Stem
merj In Fort Picl,ens, but without a surplus
man for the ncishCcring fort, McRse.
The Brooklyn, With Captain Vogles' COM
pany alone, left the esapeakc for Fort
Pckens about Jaruary 22i, and, on the 2otl,
President Buchanan having entered into a
quasi armisice with certain leading seceders
vt Pensacola and elsewhc.e, caused Secrcta-
ries ilolt and Toucey !, Instruct, in Joint
nots, the commanders of the war vessels off
Pensacola, and Lieut.. Slemmer, commanding
Fort Pickcns. to commit no act "f hostility,
'nl not to land CAPT Nugdes' Company un-
csS that fort should he attacked. I
THAT joint note never saw until March
18th, but suppose the arnistice was comse-
luent upon the meeting of the Peace Con-
,ention at Washington, and was understood
% terminate with it,
Hearing. however, of the most active prep
.rations for hostiities on the part of the Sc
,edcrs ut Pensacola, by the erection of new
batteries and arming Fort McRae-that had
rot gun mounted when it was .cizcd-dur-
ny the Peace convention and since, brought
he subject to the notice of the new Admin
stration, when this note, dated March 18th,
o Capt Nogclcs, was agreed upon:
AT the first favorable moment you will
and with your company, reinforce Fort Pick
n', and hold the same till further orders"
This order, in duplicate left New York by
wo naval vessels about the middle of March,
S the mail and the wires could not be trust
4, and detached officers could not be substi- {
ntcd, Ter two had already been arrested and
arolrd by the authorities OF Pensacola, dis
atchcs taken from one of them, and third,
D escape like treatment, forced to turn back
'hcn near tina, city. Thus those authorities
% al b., 10. - |
I'd States since the capture 10y them Of tie
avy yard, January 18th.
Respectfully submitted.
WINFIELD SCOTT.
Headquarters of the Army, :
MushiutLIu1. Mitch 90 1871