The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-10-31


low entire. 1t will DO read with deep inter-
est us II relates to the commencement OF the
rebellion and the efforts made by Gen. Scott
to crush it in the bud:
SOUTHERN FORTS. SUMMARY, DC.
October 30. 1860. emphatically called
the attention of the President to the necessi-
ty of strong garrrisons in oil the forts below
the principal commercial cities of the South.
ern States, including, by name, the forts in
Pensacola harbor. October 81 suggested
to the Secretary of War that q circular
should be sent ut once to such Of those forts
as had garrisons to be on the alert against
surprises and sudden assaults.-(Sec my
"yiews," since printed.)
After q long confinement to my bed in N.
York, I came to this city (Washington) Dec.
l2. Next day I personally urged upon the
Secretary Of War the same views, viz strong
garrisons in tho Southern forts-those OF
Charleston and Pcnacola harbors, at once ;
those on Mobile Bay and the Mississippi, be-
low New Orleans. next, &C.. &c. again
pointed out the organized companies and re-
crnits at the principal depots available for
tho purpose. The Secretary did not concur
in any Of my views, when | begged him to
procure for me an early interview with the
President, that might make one effort more
to save the forts and tho Union.
BY appointment the Secretary accompanied
me to the President, Dec. 10, when the same
topics, scccssionism, &C., were again pretty
fully discussed. There being at the moment
lin the opinion of the President) no danger
of an early secession. beyond South Carolina,
the President, in reply to my arguments for
Immediately reinforcing Fort Moultrio and
sending garrison to Fort Sumter:
"Thc time has not arrived for doing so ;
that he should wait the action Of tho Con-
ycntion of South Carolina, in the expecta.
ton that q commission would be appointed
and sent to negotiate with him and Congress
respecting the secession Of the State and the
property of the United States held within
its limits and that il Congress should de
eide against the secession, then ho would
send reinforcement and telegraph the com
manding officer Major Anderson) Of Fort
Moultrio to hold tho forts (Aloultric and
Sumter) against attack"
And the Secretary, with animation, add
ed
ave have o vessel of war (tho Brooklyn)
held in readiness at Norfolk, and he would
then send 800 men in her from Fort Monroe
to Charleston" .s...,.. .....
To which replied. first. that so many
men could not be withdrawn from that gar
rison, but could be taken from New York.
Next, that il would then be too late, rs the
South Carolina Commissioners would have
the game in their hands, by first using and
then cutting the wires that us there was
not soldier in Fort Sumter any handful OF
secessionists might seize and occupy it, &c.,
&c.
Here the remark may be permitted, that II
the Secretary's three hundred mon had then,
or some time later, been sent to Fort Moul-
trie and Sumter, both would now have been
in the possession of the United States, and
not battery below them could have been
erected by the seccssionists consequently
the access to those forts from the Sea would
now (tho end of Marcb) be unobstructed and
iree.s
The samo day, Dec. 10, Iwrote the follow
ing note:
"Licut. Gen. Scott bcgs the President to
pardon him for supplying, in this note what
lie omitted to say this morning at tho inter-
view with which he was honored by the
President.
Long prior to the force bill, March 9,
1881 prior to the issue Of his proclamation
and in part prior to the passage OF the ordi-
nance of notification. President jackson,
under the act OF March 3, 1907. authorizing
the employment OF the land and naval forces
caused rcinforcements TO DO sent to Fort
Moultrie, and sloop-of.war (the Natchez.)
with two revenue cutters, to be sent to Char
lesion harbor, in order, !, to prevent the seiz-
urc OF that fort by the nulliiiers, and 9, to
enforce the execution of the revenue laws
Gen. Scott himself arrived at Charleston the
day after the passage Of the ordinance Of
notification, and many OF the additional
companies were then en- route tor the same
destination.
President jackson familiarity said at the
time 'that by tho assemblageo OF those forces,
for lawful purposes, ho was not making war
upon South Carolina but that IL ). Carols
ma attacked them, il would be 5. Carolina
that made war upon the United States
Gen. Scott, who received his first instruc-
tions (oral) from the President, in the tenn.
porary absence of the Secretary of War,
iGen. Cass.) remembers those expressions
we'll.
Saturday night, Dec. Is, 1860"
December %. Again, after Major Ander
son had calamity and wisely thrown his
handful Of men from Fort Moultrie into Fort
understanding that. on demand of South
Carolina, there was great danger he might
be ordered by the Secretary back to the less
tenable work, or out Of the harbor. wrote
this note:
"Lieut. Gen. Scott. (who has had bad
night and can scarcely hold up his head this
morning,) bcgs to express the hope to the
Secretary of War-l. That orders may not
be given for the evacuation OF Fort Sumter.
9. That $50 recruits may instantly DO sent
from Governors Island to reinforce that gar-
rison. with ample supplies OF ammunition
and subsistence. including fresh vegetables,
as potatoes, onions, turnips: and 3. That
one or two armed vessels be sent to support
the said fort.
Lieut.. Gen. Scott. ayails himself of this
opportunity also to express the hope that the
heretofore made by him to
the Secretary of War respecting forts Jack.
son, St. Philip, Morgan and Pulaski, and
particularly in respect to forts Pickens and
McRae and the Pensacola Navy Yard, IN
connection with the last two named works,
may be reconsidercd by the Secretary.
Lieut.. Gen. Scott will further ask tho at
tcntion Of the Secretary to forts Jefferson
and Taylor, which are wholly national-bc-
ing Of Ear greater value even to the most dis
tant points OF the Atlantic coast and the peo-
pie on the upper waters Of the Missouri, Nils.
si~ippi and Ohio rivers than to the State OF