Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1862-11-12

for the hesitation of the master. might. us
Is generally believed, delivered ut the fort
the men and subsistence on board. This
attempt at succor failing, | next verbally
submitted TO the late Cabinet either that
succOr be sent by ships-of-war. fighting
their way by the batteries. increasing in
strength daily or that Major Anderson
should be iett to ameliorate his condition
/ by the muzzlcs of his grrnS-that Is. en-
! forcing supplies by bombardment.an and bv
I bringing TO merchant vessels, helping him
self, t@lving orders for payment) or finally
I be allowed TO evacuate the fort. which in
! that case. would be inevitable
But, before any resolution was taken.
/ the late Secretary OF the navy making
/ difficulties about the want OF suitable war
/ vessels, another commissioner from south
Carolina arrived causing further DELAY.
When this had passed away. Secretaries
Holt and Toucey, Captain Ward. OF the
navy, and myself, with the knowledge OF
the President (Buchaman) settled upon the
employment, under the Captain C,vho was
eager tor the cXpeditIon). of three or four
small steamers belonging TO the Coast
Survey. At that time Oate in January
| have but little doubt that Captain Ward
would have reached Fort Smnpter with
all ms vessels But hc was kept back bv
something like Il t-uce or armiSticc, Tmad,.
here embracing Charleston and Pensaco-
la harbors, agreed upon between the late
President and certain principal seccdcrs of
South Carolina, Florida, louisiana, &c.
and this truce lasted to the end of that
administration.
That plan and all others, without a
squadron Of war ships and 4 considerable
armv-compctent TO take and hold the
many formidable batteries below Fort
Sumpter, and before the exhaustion of Its
MISUNDERSTANDING been pronounced.
from the change of circumstances imprac-
ticable. by Maj. Anderson, Can't Foster.
Chief Engineer and all the other officers
of the Fort, rs well as by Bricadier Gen.
Tottcn, Chief of the corps of Engineers:
and, concuring in that opinion, | did not
hesitate to advise, March l2th7 that
Major Anderson be instructed TO evacuate
the fort, 80 long held by him and his COM
panions, Immediately on procuring suita-
ble transportation TO take them to New
York. His relative weakness had steadily
increased in the last eighteen DAYS.
1t was not till january Sd when the !
first commissioners from South Carolina !
Withdrew that the permission had soli- |
cited October 3Ist, was obtained To adj !
monish commanders Of the few Southern !
forts with garrisons, to be on the alert !
AGAINST surprises and sudden assaults |
Major Anderson was not among the adj !
monishcd, being already straitIy bclea-
CURED.
JANUARY 3d.-To Lieutenant Slemncr, !
commanding III 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 in Pensacola harbor, By sur
prises or assault, consulting first with the |
commander OF the navy-yard, who will /
probaly have received instructions to CO.
operate with you.''-T This order was !
signed by Aidc-de-Camp lay
1t was Just before the surrender of the !
Pensacola navy-yard january l21 that
Lieutenant Slcmncr, callina upon Com |
mo,lore Armstrong, obtained the aid of
some thirty common scamcn or labUrcrs |
but no marines. which, added To his |
foriy-siN soldiers, made mp his numbers |
10 Scventv-SiN men, with whom this mer-
itorious officer has since held Fort Pickems. /
ard performed, working night and dav. !
an immense amount Of labor in muuntin"
guns, keepin" UP a strong guard. Get, ect. |
EarIy in january ! renewed. rs has
been seen my solicitations to be allowed
10 reinforce Fort Pickcns. but good
deal of time was lost in vacillations
First, the President ''thought that if no
movement is made by the United States
Fort McRae will probaly not be occupied
nor Fort Pickems 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
be useless. ( QIotdtio iron. n Dote n,T,le b.,
Aid-de-C Cttap Lsry, o5ow Juawo1y II. or
tie PI,soe,fs yyz,iy 10 Hlc<sqye iron. Lac)
Next. it was doubted whether it would
be safe TO send reinforcemcnts in an I'M
armed steamer, and the want, as ,ssurl. of
= suitable naval vesscl-thc Broklvn being
long held in reserve at Norfolk for some
purpose unknown 10 me. FINALLY. after
had kept body of three hundred recruits
in New York harbor ready for some time
and they would have been sufficient to
reinforce temporarialiy Fort Pickens and
occupy Fort McRae also-the Prcsi-
dent, about January Is, permitted that