Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-11-06


The South Carolina Commissioners had
already been many days in Washington, aud
no movement of defense ION the part of the
United States) was permitted.
will here close my notice OF Fort Sum.
ter by quoting from some of my previous
reports.
1t would have been easy to re- enforce thi.
fort down to about the 18th of February.
In this long delay Fort Moultrie had been
re-srmed and greatly strengthened in every
way BY the Rebels Many powerful new
land batteries beside formidable raft)
have been constructed. Hulks, too, have
been sank in the principal channel so as to
render access to Fort Sumter from the sea
impracticable without first carrying all the
lower batteries Of the Secessionists. The
difficulty Of reinforcing has thus been in
creased ten or twelve fold. First, the late
President refused to allow any attempt 10
be made because he was holding neeotia.
tions with South Carolina Commissioners.
Afterward Secretary Holt and myself en-
deavored, in vain, to obtain ship of war
tor tho purpose, and were finally obliged to
employ the passenger-steamer "Star of the
West" That vessel, but for the hesitation
Of the master might, as is generally belived,
have delivered at the fort the men and sub
sstence on board. This attempt at succor
failing, ! next verbally, submitted to the
late Cabinet either that succor be sent BY
ships Of war, fighting their way by the bat
teries increasing 10 strength daily, or that
Major Anderson should be left TO ameliorate
his condition by the muzzles OF his guns
that is. enforcing supplies by bombardmeut
and by bringing to merchant vessels, helping
himself (giying orders for payment), or,
finally, pc allowed to cvacuate the fort which,
in that case, would be inevitable.
But, before any resolution was taken, the
late Secretary of the Navy making Difficult.
ties about the want Of suitable war vessels
another Commissioner from South Carolina
arrived, causing further delay. When thi.
had passed away Secretaries Holt ana
Toucey, Capt. Ward Of the Navy, and my
self--with the knowledge of the Presiden,
Buchanan )--settled upon the employment
under the Captain (who was eager for the
expedition) of three or four small steamers
belonging to the Coast Survey. At that
time late in january | have but little
doubt Capt. Ward would have reached Fort
Sumter, with all his vessels. But he wa.
kept back BY something like truce or arm
istice made herel embracing Charleston
and Pensacola harbors, agreed upon between
the late President and certain principal sece
ders Of South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana,
&c,, and this truce lasted to the end of hal
Administration.
That plan and all others, without SQUAD
ron Of war ships and considerable army
competent to take and hold the many for
midable batteries below Fort Sumter, and
before the exhaustion of its subsiste nee
having been pronounced, from the change
of circumstances, impracticable by Mai
Anderson, Capt. Foster (Chief Engineer
and oil the other officers of the fort, as well
as by Brig. Gen. Totten, Chiefof tho Corps
Of fEnngineers; and ,concurring in that opinion.
Ibid not hesitate to. advised March l2)
ate the fort, so long gallantly held by him
and his companions, immediately on procur.
Ing suitable transportation to take them to
New.for His relative weakness had
steadily increased in tie last eighteen days.
IL was not till Jan. 8 (when the first Com.
mlssioners from South Carolina withdrew
that the permission l had solicited Oct. 81
was obtained to admonish commanders of
the few Southern forts with garrison to be
on the alert against surprises and sudden
assaults. Maj. Anderson was not among
the admonished, being already straitly be.
January 3.-To Lieut.. Slemmer, com.
in Pensacola Harbor.
The Genera. Chief directs thai you take measures
2 40 'he utmost IN your power to prevent the seizure OF
assault consulting rs with the Commander OF tho Navy
ard who will probably have received instructions TO
70 operate with YOU" rrhs order was signed by Aid
II was Just before the surrender of the Pom.
sacola Navy Yard (Jan. I2) that Lieut,
slemmer, calling upon Com. Armstrong oh.
aimed the aid OF some 80 common seamen
'r iaborers but no marines), which, added
o his 40 soldiers, made up his numbers to
10 men, with whom this mertorious officer
las since held Fort Pickens, and performed,
working night and day, an immense amount
'trong guard, &c, &c.
Early in January renewed, as has been
,een, my solicitations to be allowed to re-en.
orce Fort Pickens, but good deal of time
vas lost in vacillations. First, tho Pres-
lent thought il no movement il made by
he United States, Fort McRae will probably
,ot be occupied nor Fort Pickens attacked.
~ case OF movements by the United States,
which will doubtless be made known BY the
vires, there will be corresponding local
movements, and tho attempt to re e-euforce
will be useless. !" Quotation from a note
made BY Aid de. Camp Lay, about Jan. i2,
" the Presidents reply TO message from
ne. Next. 1t was doubted whether il would
'e safe to send re- endorsements in an unarm
d steamer, and the want, as usual, of A suit.
'ble naval vessel-thc Brooklyn being long
leld In reserve at Norfolk for some purpose
unknown to me. Finally, after l had kent
! body Of 800 recruits in Now. York Harbor
sady for some time and they would have
,een sufficient to re.enforce TEN porarily Fort
'ickens and 70 occupy Fort McRae also
he President, about Jan. l8, permitted that
he sloop-ofwar Brooklyn should have a
ingle company, 90 men from Fort Monroe
Hampton Roads, and re. enforce Lieut.. Stem. |
ner in Fort Pickens, but without surplus
nan for the neighboring fort, McRae.
The Brooklyn, with Capt Vodges's com.
amy alone left theC Chesapeake for fort Pick |
ns about January 70, and, on the 26th, |
resident Buchanan, having entered into |
'uast armi.tice with certain leading seceders
! Pensacola and elswhere, caused Secreta. |
ies Holt and Touoey to instruct, In Joint
lote, the commanders Of the war vessels of |
'ens acola, and Lieut.. Slemmer, Commanding
FORT Pickens, 70 commit no act of hostility.
md not to land Capt. Vodgess company
inless that fort should be attackedt
THAT join, note never saw until March rs bu, ann
osed The nfmisiina UNA ,,. -. =