Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-11-14

Il
posabe troops would have given (siy) two hun
dred men TO the twin forts jackson and st. Philip,
below New Orleans; an equal number TO Fort
Morgan, below Mobile, reinforcement of one
hundred to Fort Pickens, Pensacola harbor, and
garrison Of the like number 10 the twin fort,
| Mckee; a garrison Of one hundred men to Fort
Jefferson, Tortugas Island, and the same TO Fort
Pulaski, below Savannah, which like Forts Jack
son, ST. Philip, Morgan, and Mckee, had not at
the time soldier-leaving about two hundred
men for the twin forts Moultre and Sumter,
Charleston harbOr, where there were two weak
companies, making less than ninety men. Fort
ress Monroe had already garrison of some
eight companies, one or two Of which might, in
the early period Of danger, have been spared till
volunteers could have been obtained, notWith
standing printed hand-bills were every where
posted in Eastern Virginia by an eccentric
character 10 take that most important work.
Now, have no where said that either of those
forts, even with the reinforcement indicated,
would have had tcar garrison Certainly not
My proposition was 10 put each in condition,
rs expressly said, to guard against surprise
or coup de-main, (an off hand attack one without
full preparation.
That these movements Of small detachments
might easily have been made 10 November aud
December, 1860, and some of them as late as the
following month, cannot be doubted But the
ex-Presdent sneers at my "Weak device" for
saving the forts. He forgets what the gallant
Anderson did, with handful Of men. in Fort
Sumter, aud leaves out Of the account what he
might have done with a like handful in Fort
Moultrie, even without further augmentauon of
men 10 divide between the gafrisOns Twin
forts, on the opposite sides of channel not only
give cross lire on the head oi an attack, but
the strength Ot each is more than doubled by the
thanking fire Of the other The samu remarks
apply to the gallant Lieut. Slemmer, with hi-
handful OF brave men, iu Fort Pickens With
what contempt might he not have looked upou
Chase or bragg, IN front OF him, with varying
masses OF from two thousand to six thousand
men, II tort flckens and its twin Fort McRee
had had between them only two hundred men
have thus shown that small garrisons would
al hrst nave sumced Tor tho other twins, Forts
Jackson aud st. Philip, also NV object was IN
save to the Union, by any menns at hand. all
those works, until Congress could have time 10
authorize call for Volunteers cnll which the
President, for such purpose might no doubt have
maue, without any special legislation, with the
full appreciation of every loyal man in the Union.
: The ex-Presdent almost loses his amiabilitv
in having his neglect OF the forts "attributed. .
as he says. "without the least cause, to the in
iiuence of Gov Floyd !" and he adds, "all nv
Cabinet must bear me witness that | was the
President myself responsible for nil the acts of
the Administration.
Now, notwithstanding this broad nssumn,ion
Of responsibility should be Sorry to believe
that MIR. buchanan specially consented TO tho
removal, by Secretary Floyd, of ll5. 900 extra
muskels anu rifles with oil their implements md
ammunition, from Northern repositoriea to
Southern arsenals, so that on the breaking mn,
OF the maturing rebellion they might he ionnl
without cost except to the United States In tLo
most convenient position for distribution omong
M -Fs
twenty or one hundred aud forty pieces of heavv
artillery, which the same Secretary ordered fro,o
filtsburg TO Ship Island, in Lake DorOne nnd
ualVeston, Texas tor forts not yet erected /
Accidentally learning, early in March. that nnder
this Posfhumous order, the shipment OF these gnn,,
had commenced, | communicated the fact IN
Secretary Holt (acting for Secretary Cameronl
just in time to defeat the robbery.
But on this point we may hear ex Seeretarv
fioyu hlmselt AT Richmond he expressly
claimed the honor of defeating nil my nllng n,l
solicitations respecting the forts. and rcceiysi
his reward-it being there universally admitted
that but for that victory over me there conli
have been no rebelion
a. Mr.. buchanan complains that nnb,isI,ad
without permission, January is. 1861 nv via,vs
addressed TO him and the Secretary Of War n,
tober ~ and 80, 1860. But that act was ca,,seJ
as explained to him at the time. by the mis-
representations of the pies in one Of The earlier
turn to Virginia. "''
4. oue OF my statements complaining of the
JoiaI countermand, sent through the Secretaries
OF war and Navy TO prevent the LANDING AT Fort
flekehs OF capt. Nogdes's company tyilss, n,
fort should be attacked is cited bv Tia ex. prasi
dent TO prove "singular want of tnemorv, ~,
my part and note from Secretary ian Is
aaugeea s' 10 snow that had entirely approved Of
tne JOINT eonntermand The day Januafy 2yl that
WIS prepared. Few persons ure so little liable
10 make a misstatement by accident as Mr.. Holt
aud no one more incapable of making one by
design yet have not the slightest recollection
OIL auy interview with him on this subject do
remember, however, that Mr.. Holt. on soma
matter OF business, approached my bedside about
TINT time when was suffering greatly from nm
access OF pain. Mr. Buchanan, Mr.. Holt nrJ
mysell were all landsmen, and could know but
l.ue oI me l'npossloillty of landing troops on an
open sea beach, with high wind and turf Mr.
Iouoey, Secretary of the Navy. win ctBcsrs
about him ofintelligence and nautical experience
ought to have caid plumply that if Voades was
not TO land except in the case of attack unnu
rort flokens he might us well have remained n,
Fortress Monroe, as the prohibition placel Tho
ioft, SO far as he was concerned at The merrv
or las the event showed) on the want Of en,.r
prise on the part of the rebel commander at Fen.
sAcoa. - sH-
Possibly there are other parts of the r.nIv
which superficial reader may think reou,re
comment or calculation and, indeed. Lerr il
another marked for me by my kind yislter;
.. The e1-President has brought together n
labyrinth of dates respecting the arrival ami |
departure Of rebel commissioners, armistices.
Se' with which, as had no official oonuexion'
may have made an unimportant mistake or
wo but, as have not by me the means Of re-
covering the clew to those win lings. / sbnIl M,
'ttempt to follow him. WINFIELD SCOrT
NEW foRK, 6Tn Av, HOTEL, Nov s. 1850