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

(Mal. Anderson Was not among the admonish
ed being already beleaguered.,
January 3.--To Lieut.. Slenmer, command
ing 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 ir
Pensacola Harbor, by surprise or assault, con.
| shifting drst with the Commander of the Navy
Yard, who will probably have RECEIVED in
strnctions to cooperate with you.'' (This or
der was signed by Aide-de Camp Lay.)
1t Was just before the surrender OF the Pen
| sacola Navy Yard (Jan. 12) that Lieut.. Slem-
| mer, calling upon Com. Armstrong, obtained
the aid of some 80 common seamen or labor.
ers (but no marines,) which, added to his 40
soldiers made up his numbers to 76 men, with
whom this meritorions officer has since held
Fort Pickens, and performed, working night
and day, an immense amount Of labor in
mounting and keeping up strong guard,
&C., &c.
Early in January renewed, as has been
seen, my solicitations to be allowed to rein
force Fort Pickens, but good deal of time
was lost in vascillations- First, the President
~ uo 10 oy the u .
nited States. Fort McRae will probably not be
occupied nor Fort Pickens attacked. In case
OF movements by the United States, which
will doubtless be made known by the wires,
there will be corresponding local movements,
and the attempt 10 reinforce viii he useiess.''
(Quotation fronla note made by Aid de Camp
Lay, about Jan. u, of the Presidents reply TO
a message from me.) Next, it was doubted
whether it would be safe to send reinforce.
ments in unarmed steamer and the want
as usual, Of suitable naval vessel--the Brook.
iyD being long held in reserve at Norfolk for
some purpose unknown to me. Finally, after
1 had kept a body of 800 recruits in New York
Harbor ready tor some time-and they would
have been sufficient to reinforce temporarily
Fort Pickens and to occupy Fort McRae also
-the President about Jan. Is, permitted that
the sloop- Of war Brooklyn sh ould have sin
gle company, 80 men, from Fort Monroe,
Hampton Roads, and reinforce Lient. Stem |
mer In Fort Pickens, but without sGrplus |
man for the neighboring fort, McRae.
The Brooklyn, with Capt. Vodges' company
alone, left the Chesapeake for Fort Pickens |
about January p, and, on the 29th, President
Buchanan, having entered into quasi armistice
with certain leading seccdcrs at Pensacola and |
elsewhere, caused Secretaries Holt and Tou-
;ey to instruct, in a joint note, the comman.
iers of the war vessels off Pensacola, and
Lieut. Slemmer, commanding Fort Pickens,
% commit no act of hostility, and not to land
Capt. Vodges' company unless that fort should
De attacked.t
That joint note never saw until March 25.
put supposed the armistice WAS CONSEQUENT up. |
IN the meeting of the Peace Convention at
W ashington, and was understood to terminate
With it.l
Hearing, however, of the most active prep
lrations tor hostilties on the part of the Sc
;eders at Pensacola, by the erection of new
batteries and arming Fort McRae-that had
lot gun mounted when it was seized-du-
ing the Peace Convention and since, / brought
he subject to the notice of the new Admins.
ration, when this note, dated March u, to |
japt Vodges, was agreed upon, viz cat the
irst favorable moment you VIII land with your
company, reinforce Fort Pickens and hold
he same till further ORDERS" This order, in 4
duplicate, left New York by two naval vessels
'co"t tuC vi MdTCU. as the mails and
he wires could not be trusted and detached
'ficers could not be substituted, for two had
Iiready been arrested and paroled by the au-
horiries of Pensacola, dispatches taken from
me of them, and third, to escape like treat
nent, forced to turn back when near that city.
Thus those authorities have not ceased to
make war upon the United States since the
.apture by them of the Navy. Yard, JAM IL.
Respectfully submitted. WINFIELD Scorr.
Of the .army, Washington, March
80, 1861.
III was known at the Navy Department that
he Brooklyn. with Capt. Vodges on board
you'd he obliged in open to stand off and
N Fort r Pickens, and in rough weather might
onetimes be fifty miles off. Indeed, if ten
niles at sea, the fort might be attacked and
asily carried before the reinforcenents could
ave reached the beach, in open sea, where
lone it could land.