The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-11-07

NO. 46.

opinion. did NOT hssss.ss ssS1 1vi.. March
lsth) that Major AsdeFS6n u inssrusGe1 70
evacuaie the Fsrs % long calamity held
by him and his companions, immediaiely on
procuring suitable transportation 70 take
them to New York. His relative weakness
had steadily increased in the last eighteen
days.
1t was not till January Sd (when the frss
drew) that the permission I had solicited
October Slst wss Obtained. 70 sdmonish
commanders Of the few Southeru forts with
garrisons. to bs on the alert against sur.
prises and sudden assaults- (Asjos Andes-
son was not among the admonishsd. being
already sirAitly beleagarsd.l
J Jan. s. To Lieut.. Slemmes. oommanjin9
in Pcnsacola Harbor
The Gsnsral in Chat direots that on
take measures to do the utuaos. IN you.
power to prevent the seisure Of either OF the
forts in Pensacola hssbor. by suspiss cs as-
sault. consulting first With the oomnandss
Of the Navy Yard. who will probably have
received Instructions to CO Operate with
you"
1t was just before the surrender of the
Pensacola Navy Yard January l2) that
Lieut.. Slemmer. calling upon Com. Arm
strong, obtained the aid Of some thirty COM
mon seamen or laborsrs (but no n,arines).
which, added to his forty six soldiers. made
up his number to seventy six men, with
whom this meritorious officer has since held
Fort Pickens, and performed. working night
and day. an immense amount of labor. in
mounting guns. keeping up strong guard.
&c.
Early in January renewed. ~ has been
seen, my solicitations to be allowed to rein.
force Fort Pickens. but good deal of time
was lost in vacillstions. Fist. the Presi-
dent :" thought If no movement 10 made By
the United States, Fort McRae will probe
bly, not be occupied nor Fort Picksns at
tackled. In case OF movements by the Uni.
ted States. which will doubtless be made
known by the wires. there will be cores
pondng local movements, and the attempt
to reinforce will b ussless. 49, Quotation
from . note made By Aid-de- Camp Lay,
about January IL. Of the Presidents reply
to a message from mel Nsxti il was doubs.
ed whether it would Be safe 10 send rsin-
forcemsnts in an unarmed steamer, and the
rant, as usual, Of . suitable naval vessel
the Brooklyn being long held in reserve %
Norfolk, for some purpose unknown to me:
Finally, after I had kept . body Of three
hundred recruits in New York harbor ready
for some time-and they would have bsen
sufficient to reinforce temporarily Fort Pick
ens and to occupy Fort AcReA also-the
President. about January l8, permitted thaA
single company. ninety men from Fort
Hampton Roads. and reinforce
Lieutenant Slemmer. in Fort Pickens. but
without surplus man for the nsighboriBg
fort, McRea.
The Brooklyn. with Capt. Vogdes' oom-
pany alone, left the Chesapeake for Fort
Pickens about January 22d. and on the 9sth,
President Buchanan. having entered into
y3dsi armistice with certain leading seceders
It Pensacola and elsewhere, osused Secre-
aries Holt and Toucsy to instruct. in . joint
,ote. the commanders OF tho waB vessels of
Pensacola and Lisutsnant Slsmmsr. oom-
nsnding Fort Picksns. to commit no act of
hostility, and not 70 land Captain Vogdss'
ompany unless that fort should bs attack
d.
THAT joint note never ssw until March
18th. bnt supposed the srmistios Wa oonss.
uent upon the Peace Convention at Wash-
ngton, and was understood 10 terminate
With it
Hearing, however. Of the most. aotivs
,reparations for hos,ilitiss on the part Of the
ecsders at Pensacola, BY the erection Of
leW Udtteri0o euO eSuAAuS SObS Acho0-
hat had not q gun msunted when il was
the Peace Convention and
ince. brought the subject 70 the notice Of
he new Administration, whom this note
lated March 18th. 70 Captain Vogdes was
greed upon. viz I" At the FIRST favorable
noment you will land your company. rein.
orce Fort Pickens. and hold the same until
nrther orders" This order. in duplicate.
# New York in two naval vessels about
be middle of March. - the msil and the
Iires could not be trusted. and dstaohsd
ficers could not b substituted. for two had
READY been arrested and pasolsd By the
of Pensacola. dispasobss iaksa
ON one of them. and . third. 70 escape
ke treatment. lbrcsd 10 turn back when
ear that city. Thus those spthosites hare
OF ceased to make war upon the Uaitsd
tates since the capture By them Of The
'avy Y ard. January 18th.
Respectfully submitted.
WINFIELD SCOTT,
Headquarters OF the Army. Washisgsos.
March 80, 1861. -
," The plan invesssd by 0ssssaI 8esss - sesp -
ssion, wss. like ail eaapsigas dsviss1 ~ hin, v@y
Die in its details, and nearly certain - gooesal
IS. The Southern Stoeoe ase full a aspooalO aDl
rs, anding thsis rivsss - stsnoseis peinasS
enerAl scott desired TO eoAAsfW the Amy u he