North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-11-26

attack )" because, with prudent precaution,
this had already been done several days be
fore through special messenger sent to Ma
jor Anderson for this very purpose. l refer
to Majer Buell., of the army.
The Generals supplementary note of the
same day, presenting to me General Jack
sons conduct in 1888, during the period of
notification, as an example, requires no spe
cal notice. Even if the cases were not en-
tirely different, had previously determined
upon policy of my own; as will appear from
my annual message. This was, every hazard,
side Of the port if need be, in a vessel of war
Mr.. Colcock, the existing collector, as had
anticipated, resigned his Office about the end
of December, and Immediately thereafter
Nominated to the Senate as his successor a
suitable person, prepared at any personal risk
to do his duty That body, however, through
out its entire session declined to act on this
nomination. Thus without collector, it was
rendered impossible to collect the revenue
". General Scott's statement alleges that
''the Brooklyn, with Capt. Vodges company
alone, left the Chesapeake for Fort Pickens
about January 22d, and on the 29th Presi-
dent Buchanan, having entered into quasi
armistce with certain leading seceders at
Pensacola and elsewhere, caused Secretaries
Holt and Toucey to instruct in joint note
the commander of the war vessels off Pensa-
| colo and iauf Claporoor IT,.
Pickens, to commit no act of hostility, and
not to land Capt. Vogdes' company unless
the fort should be attacked" He afterwards
states, within brackets, " That joint note
never saw, but suppose the armistice was
consequent upon the meeting of the Peace
Convention at Washington, and was under
stood to terminate with it."
These statements betray a singular want
| of memory on the part of General Scott,
1t is scracely credible that this very joint note
presented in such odious colors was submit
| ed to General Scott on the day it was pre-
pared, Goth january. and met his entire
approba ton. | would not venture to make
this assertion if did not possess conclusive
evidence to prove it. On that day Secretary
Holt addressed me note, from which the
following is an extract "I haze the sQtisfI1c
tion Of saying, that on sbmining the ppeya to
General Scott, he expressed himself satisfied
nth it, saying that there could be no object
ion to the arrangement in a military point of
Uielo or otherpise." this requires Bo COM
ment. That the General had every reason
to be satisfied with the arrangement will ap-
pear from the following statement
A revolutionary outbreak had occurred in
Florida the troops of the United States had
been expelled from Pensacola and the adjacent
navy yard and Lieut.. Slemmer of the artl-
lery, with his brave little command, had
been forced to take refuge in Fort Pickens,
where he was in imminent danger every mo
ment of being captured by vastly superior
force. Owing to the interruption of regular
communications Secretary Holt did not re-
ceive information Of these events until scv-
eral days after their occurrence and then |
through letter addressed to a THU Ri person. |
He instantly informed the President of the |
fact, and reinforcements, provisions, and miIh- |
tarystores we're dispatch by the Brooklyn ro
Fort Pickens without moments unnecessary |
delay. She left Fortress Monroe on the 24th |
Of January.
Well-founded apprehension were, however
at the time of her departure that
the reinforcement, with the vessels of war at
no great distance from Fort Pickens, could
not arrive in time to defend it against the.l
impending attack. In this state of suspense,
and whilst Lieut.. Slemmer was in extreme
peril, Senators Slidell, Hunter, and Blger
telegraphic dispatch from Senator
Mallory, of Florida, dated at Pensacola, on
the 26th January, with the urgent request
that they should lay it before the President
This despatch expressed an earnest desire to-
the peace, as well as the most posi-
i've assurance that no attack would be m ade
IN Fort Pickens if the present status should
be preserved.
This proposal was carefully considered.
both with a view to the safety of the fort and
to the unhappy effect which an actual collision
either at that or any other point might pro
luce on the Peace Convention then about to |
assemble at Washington. The result was
that a joint dispatch was carefully prepared by
the Secretaries of War and Navy accepting
the proposal, with important modification,
which was transmitted by telegraph on the
10Th January to Lieutenant Slemmer and to
the naval commanders near the station. II
is too long for transcription suffice ii to say
it was carefully guarded at every point for
the security of the fort and its free commun.-
cation with Washington.
The result was highly fortunate. The
Brooklyn had long passage. Although she
left Fortress Monroe on the oath January.
she did not arrive at Pensacola until the 9th |
February. In the meantime, Fort Pickens |
with Lieutenant Slemmer, (whose conduct |
dasarvaS biph commando tion \ ond ~, Ln.