, 1865-09-08


Ing through Richmond aud Wilmington,
reached Charleston the 21st. travelled the
latter part Of the way with Mr.. Holmes, of
California, formerly member of Congress
from South Carolina In the days Of Calhoun.
At Florence station, we met Mr.. Kcitt, @
member Of Congress from South Carolina,
when that State attempted to sccedat He
welcomed Mr.. Holmes very warmly, and In
qulred with great anxiety whether Sumter
was to be given up. Mr.. Holmes said, Yes,
l know it," which seemed to give Mr.. Keltt
much satisfaction, but be insisted upon know
Ing his authority Mr.. Holmes said: IT hAvo
the highest authority for what I say y ind
upon MIR. keitt aguin asking, "Who ?'' he
leaned toward lin. At that moment tho en-
gire whistle gave scrcech for starting, so
that the conversation closed and I lost the
nane.
At station near Charleston, 3lr. Huser
formerly Postmaster under President Bu.
chanan, got Into the cars and had IN inter
view with Mr.. Holmes, during Which The same.
assurances wero repeated, relative to tho
certainty Of the evacuation Of Fort Sumter,
Mr.. Hugcr seemed to be much depressed with
The condition Of affairs.
At Charleston, sought m Interview with
Captain Iartste1n, formerly Of the U. s.
Navy, and to him stated my desire to visit
Major Anderson. Not ending Gen. Beaure-
gard, be introduced me to Governor Pickcns,
to whom I showed the order under which
acted. After considerable dclay, 1le directed
Capt. HartsteIn to take tue 10 Fort Sumter,
and whilst the boat VAS preparing, had an
interview with Gen. Bcaurcgard.
INTERVIEW WITH MAJOR ANDERSON.
We reached Fort Sumter after dark, aud re-
mained about two houra. Major Anderson
seemed 10 think 1t WAS too late to relieve the
fort By any other mcans than by landing IN
army on Morris Island lie agreed With Gen.
Scott that On entrance from the sea WAS I'M
possible; but as welookcl ont upon the water
from the parapct, II seemed very feasible,
more especially rs VIC heard the oars of q boat
near the fort, which the sentry hailed, bu. We
could not Sec her through the darkness until
she almost touched tho landing. found THO
enrrison getting short Of supplies and 1t was
rgfced that might report that the 15th Of
Apra, at noon, tcouId be The psriod, 1eyoad
achieA tic fort eoald not be he'd unless supplies
.rsrf ,furnish<l. I made no arrangements with
Major Anderson for reinforcing or supplying
the fort, nor did inform him Of my plan.
INTERVIEWS WITH President LfScoLS-GES.
SCOTT OPPOSED TO ANT ATTEItT TO RE-
LlEvE TIE FORT
Upon my return, had the honor 10 be
called frequently before the President, and In
The presence of different members Of hts Cati-
net 10 nnswer the objections presented by
Lieut.. Gen. Scott and the military authorities.
Bnt as my project eimply involved passing
batteries with steamers or boatA-at night, at
right angles 10 their line Of fire, and 800
yards distant-n feat Of which the crimcan
War furnished many safe examples-1 main
was naval plan and should b decided by
naval officers. The President asked me Il
there was naval officer Of high authority in
Washington who would enstain me; and II 80
to bring him to the White House. I knew
that Commodore St1irgham wRs at that time
flliue The position Of detailing officer In the
Navy Department, md took him to tho
PRESIDENT when. in the presence Of Lieut..
Gen. Scott, he not only confirmed my ylews,
tut enid that lie had that 1nor1lsnss hcid Cur
clared that Fort Sumter could easily be REIN
forced and proyfsioned BY boats al night As
" valuable time was being lost by discuss1onsf
which form no part Of this narrative, repre-
sentcI thn1 80 important IN expedition re-
gnircd time for lis preparation, and that
QIEAA ~ w 14t1"GA ~ tAA~ tAN i'ASFAAtst1
eteps, II tlere was any possibility OF sending
it out.
Cn tho Goth Of March the President sent me-
TO New York with verbal Instructions to pre-
pure for tho voysge, but to make no binding
engagements. After consultation with Mr.
Blunt, who throughout had becn Of great as
sistance to me, with his advice and active CO.
opcration. met by previous arrangement
Messrs. Vim. H. Asplnwall and Charles q.
Marshall, fer tue purpose Of making with
them preliminary arrangements for the voy-
urc. AIr. a1a1shau declined to aid me upon
tic ground that The attempt TO relieve Fort
Sumter would kill the proposed loan and
b1sng On civil waz, and that the people had
mode up their minds to abandon Sumter and
mako the stand upon Fort Pickcns.
On the 20 Of April I bad not received the
written authority which expected from the
Government, and therefore returned to Waah-
iDgton.
fREsIpEsT l1ScoIS's DECISION.
Delays which belong to the secret history
of this period prevented decision until thu
afternoon Of the 9TH Of April, when the Prest-
dent sent Tor me and said be Ind decided 10
let the expedition 60, aud that messenger
from himself would bo sent to the authorities
Of Charleston, before I could possibly get
there, to notify them that no troops would be
thrown into Sumter, II provislous were allow
cd peacefully to be sent to the garrison.
mentioned 10 the President that by the time
eAQu1A M44fC A4-t1W ANA "0A4A A2ft HAk
nine days In which to prepare md provision
| the vessels and reach the destined point of
G57 miles distant. lie assured me that
should best fulfil my duty to my. country to
make the attempt, The Secretary Of the Na-
w had In commission in the Atlantic waters
Pocahontas and Pawnec. All these he placed
NJ my disposal, Us we'll as the reyeuue-cutter
Harriet Lane, and directed me TO give alt the
necessary orders. The powhatan, which lad
recently returned and gone out Of commission,
was added to the force designated, to emu.
bic me to have her five boats and crew for
landing the supplies suggested to the Sec
retary Of the Navy to place Commodore
Et1inrhaun In conmspd Of the naval force.
hut, upon consulting With that distinguished
s,tccessfu1 md iikely to ruin the reputation of
Tho nffcer who uudcrtook it then.
nnv,,n .u,oxa vop r.,v rvnrn,r,ox
-sa .. 1o-NT -,
a ~ u sse se" do1h ~ 'ne 91n ol ApIn,
engaged tne sleamef bali1c1 OF NJ. Aspln.
Wall, WIG asea esesy possible eScrtion to got
n,.,ars e,nracnr o1i nv xsnts ~ ri
Srott ia ~ the 1:en.ra1 .,n'fsn;s,f~ ~ nS+c - ~
b. b. Tompklns, Quariesmaster. -
Col. Scott ridicnied the idea Of Government
relieving Fort Sumter, md by his indifference
and delay half q day Of precious time was
| lost. The recruits that he finally furnished to
nc weie totally 1nat 70 be thrown into fort
The iii,ing Of three tugs In thc hands of Rus
sell starsis, who lahSred very energetieally.
nnt hafound great difficulty in obtai1lngg from
the owners Tugs to 80 to sea. Finally these
were promised, at cxorbftant rates, viz:
The Yankee, which fitted to throw hot va.
ter, the Uncle Ben; and thc Frceborn. The
question Of supplies introduced me TO Major
Ea4on; OF the Commissary Department, who
ttaanked God hsat an attempt seo.tM b n.ade to
7 rtliep< Major dndfrson's command, = and, from
the energetic and enthusiastic corporation Of
this official, the expedition vas Immediately
pFTTasioned faT Pall,ts al Contingencies;