Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-10-31
f,om the Nsiiorsi iarlligrpccr.
Southern forts-.A Summary. &c.

States, including. by the name, the forts In
Pensacola harbor. October 81, suggested
10 the Secretary Of War tha, a circular
should bo sent a, ones to such Of those forts
y. had sarii.ons to be on the alert agains,
surprises AMI sudden assaults. (Seo my
" Views. - 'ines printed
After long confinement 10 my bed in
New York. came TO this city (Wsshlngton)
December IL. Next day personally urged
upon the Secretary Of War the zane views,
viz, strong CARTONS in III, Southern forts
those OF Charleston AMI Pen.acolt harbor,
once those on Mobile Bay and the Mi.i..
sippi. below New Orleans next, &c. again
pointed on, the organized companic, and the
recruits at the principal depo,s available
Or the purpose. The Secretary did no,
concur In any Of my views. when Sessed
him TO procure for ne an early interview
with the President, that might mako one
sfor, more to save the forts and tho Union.
By the appointment, the Secretary accom-.
panied mo to the President, December IL.
when the satno topics. seces.i oni.m. &c.
where again pretty fully discussed. There
being a, the moment lin the orini,n Of
the presiien, no danger OF an early seccss'
ion. Beyond South Carolina. tho President,
in reply tn my arguments for Immediately
reinforcing For. Moul,ris and 'endins a
garrison 10 For, Sumter. said.
- Tho time hi. no, arrived for so doing
- tha, he should wait the action OF the
Convention Of South Carolinn. Ia the ox'
pec,aiion that a commission would be arpoin
ted and 'tn' to nSo,iate with him and
Congress respecting tho secession Of the
State and the property OF the United State.
held within it, limits and tina, IL Congress
should decide against the secession. then be
wouli sent reinforcement AMI telegraph
the commanding officer (MAbr Ander.on)
OF For, Moutric TO hold the forts (Moul,ric
AMI Sim,er) agnin', a,ilck"
And the Secretary. with animation added
We have vessel ofwar trho Brooklyn)
hold In readiness, a, Norfolk. and no would
then sand three hundred men 10 her from
Fort Monroe 10 Charleston.
10 which | replied, ar.,, ,ha, 50 many
men could no, b. Withdrawn from tha,
garrison. bat could 5e taken from New
York. Next. ,ha, /, would then BE- too late
q. :he South Carolina Commissioners would
have the game in their hands. by frs, usin:
and then eating the wires: that a. there wa
no,a soldier in Fort sumter. any handful
Of armed .cec.,ioni.ls nigh, seize aud occu.
~ it, &c.
Hero tho remark may Be permitted. iha
IL tic Sccrciary's three hundred men ha,
then. or some time later, been sent TO Fort
Moul,ric and sumter, 10Th would now hav,
been IN tho possession OF tho United States
and not battery below them could hay,
been erected by seces.ioni'ts, Consequently
the ncces. 10 those tort, from the SEA woul.
now 1.-THE eni vi Marcb) be unobstructeC
and free.
D,ceul,r %. Again. after Major Ander
son had calamity and wisely thrown BIZ
b., handful Of men from Fort Moultrie int,
For, sumter learning that, on demand o.
South Carolina, there wa. grea, danger b,
might DO ordered by the Secretary back q
the les irnabls work. or Oul VI the harboi
| wrote ,hi. note
"T.icut. Gen. Scott (who LA. hal bat
night. aud can scarcely hold up his heat
this mornine) bcss TO rIpres, the hopo {,
the Secretary Of WAR;. That orders ma,
no, BE- given for the evacuation Of For, Sum
ter. .. Tha, one hundred and f,y rccrai,
may instantly DO cen, from Governor,
Island to reinforce that garrison. with
ample supple, OF ammunition and sub
.i.tencs. including fresh vegetables. a.
potatoes, onions, turnip,: aud, :. Tha,
one or two armed vessel, bo sen, 70 surpor,
the said fort.
Lieut.. Gen. s avail. himself Of Mi, Oh.
,or,unuv nl.o % e,,-c., the hone thut ,h,
recommendations heretofore made by him to
the Secretary OF War, respecting Forts Jack
con. 81. Philip. Morgan and Pala'ki. aud
particularly in respect to Forts piekcn' and
McI.ae and the Pensacola Navy Yard, in con-
nec,ion with the last two named, may be TO
considered by the Secretary.
Lieut. Gen. 5. will further ask IN, s,ten
ton Of the Secretary 20 fort, Jefferson and
Taylor, which are wholly naiioaai being Of
far moro value even to tho most dis.an,