Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-10-29

with ample supplies of ammunition and sub
sisteDce. incinding fresh vegetables, as pota
toes. onions, fnrnips; aud, 8. That one or TIVE
armed vessels be sent to support the fort
"Lient. Gen. Scott avails himself OF thi.
opportunity also to express the hope that the
recommendations heretofore made by him te
the Secretary OF War, respecting Forts Jack
son, ST. Philip, Morgan and Pulaski, and par
ticuiarIy in respect to Forts Pickens and Nc
Rca and the Pensacola Navy Yard in connec-
tien with the last two named works, NAV be
reconsidered by the Secretary
"Lieut Gen. Scott will further ask the at
fention OF the Secretary TO Forts Jefferson and
| Taylor, which are wholly aafionaf-being OF
far greater value even to the most distant
points of the Atlantic coast aud the people on
the upper waters Of the Missouri, Mississippi,
anc Ohio rivers than to the State OF Florida.
There is only feeble company at Key West
Tor the defense OF Fort Tay lor, and not SOL
dIer IN orf jefferson 10 resist handful Of Ill
ministers or rowboat OF pirates; and the
Gull, soon after the beginning of Secession or
| revolutionary troubles in the adjacent States,
VIII swarm with such nuisances.';f
Dec. SOL addressed the President again, !,
| as follows:
'.Lisut. Gen. Scott begs the President of
me Y nlted States To pardon the irregularify
Of this communication. 1t is Sunday, the
weather is bad, and Gen. S. is not we'll enough
10 go 40 church. ~
..But matters of the highest national impor.
| lance seem 10 forbid a moment's delay, and, if
mlsied by zeal, he hopes for the Presidents
forgiveness.
"Will the President permit Gen. with
cut reference to the War Department, and
otherwise as secretly rs possible to send $50
recruits from New York harbor to reinforce
Fort Sumter, together with some extra mus
keis or rifles, ammunition and subsistence7
IN hat a of war md euf
may be ordered for tbs same purpose as early
as TO morrow.
"Gen. S. will wait upon the President at
any noment he may be called Tor.
The South Carolina Commissioners had al
ready been many days in Washington, and no
movement of defense (on the part of the C.
nited State) was permitted.
VIII here close my notice of Fort Sumter
by quoting from some Of my previous reports:
1t would have been easy 10 reinforce this
fort down to about the 18th of February In
this long delay Fort Moultrie had been rearm-
ed and greatly strengthened in every way by
the rebels. Many powerful new land batter.
les (beside a form idabIe raft) have been con-
stfucted. Hulks, too, have been sunk in tbe |
principal channel so as to render access TO |
n
ont first carrying all the lower batteries of the |
secessionists. The difficulty of reinforcing |
has thus been increased ten or twelve fold |
First, the late President refused to allow any |
attempt to be made because he was holding |
negotiations with the South Carolina Commits |
sioners. .
Afterward Secretary Holt and myself en-
deavored, in vain to obtain ship Of war for |
the purpose, and were finally obliged to en-
pioy the passeng er-steamer s.S,ar of the
West" That vessel, but for the hesitation
OF the master, might, as is generally believed,
have delivered at the tort the men and sub,
sistence on board. This attempt at succor
failing, next verbally, subm tilted to the late
Cabinet either that succor be sent by ships.
of-war, fighting their way by the batteries (in-
creasing in strength daily,) or that Major An
derson should be left to amelorate bis condi-
ton by the muzzle of his guns-that is, enfor- |
cling supplies by bombardment and by bri e.
ing to merchant vessels, helping himself (giv-
ing orders fer payment,) or, finally, be allow
ed to evacuate the fort, which, in that case,
would be inevitable.
But, before any resolution was taken, the
late Secretary of the Navy maxi ing difficulties
about the want of suitable war vessels, anoth-
er Commissioner from South Carolina arrived,
causing further delay. When this had passed
away, Secretaries Holt and Toucey, Captain
Ward, of the Navy, and myseIf-with the
knowledge of the President (Buchanan)-set-
tied upon the employment, under the Captain
(who was eager for the expedtion), 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 was kept back by something like
truce or armistice [made herel, embracing
Charleston and Pensacola harbors, agreed
upon between the late President and certain
principal seceders OF South Carolina, Florida,
end of that Administration.
That plan and all others, without a squad
ron of war ships and considerable army
competent to take and hold the many formid-
able batteries below Fort Sumter, and before
the exhaustion of its subsistence-having been
pronounced. from the change of circumstan-
ces, impracticabe by Major Anderson, Capt
Foster (Chief Engineer). and all the other Of
fcers of the tort, we'll as by Brig. General
lotion, Chief of the Corps of Engineers and,
concnrring in that opinion, 1 did not hesitate
to advise March l2) that Major Anderson be
instructed to evacnate the fort, so loap GAL
iantly held by him and his companions, i'm
mediately on procuring suitable transporta-
tion to take them to New York His relative
weakness had steadily Increased In the last