American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-09-20
A Leaf in History Supported.

ges of the rebellion, whereof Fort Sum-
ter was the most conspicuous figure
There were two attempts to relieve the
fort, both OF which failed. With one of
these, Captain Fox, the Assistant Secre-
tary of the Navy, became identified. An
official report has just been published,
showing what this plan was, who opposed
it, and why it failed of execution. The
plan of Capt Fox was to send men and
provisions to the fort by boats. OF course
the boats would be exposed to the rebel
batteries on both sides of the harbor, but
the experience of the war shows that
they could easily have gone in. General
Scott first favored it, but became convin-
ced that the enterprise was a desperate
one, and opposed it, President Buchan-
an also feared to give the project his sane
tion. When Mr.. Li1con became Presi-
dent the scheme to relieve Sumter was
renewed, and Captain Fox visited Wash
ington to see about it. lie says he found
"there was great opposition to any attempt
at relieving Fort Sumter, and that Mr..
Blair alone sustained the President in his
policy of refusing to yield" The ex-
preston of Captain Fox is not clear, but
we suppose he means that Mr.. Blair was
the only member of the Cabinet who
agreed with Mr.. Lincoln that Fort Sum-
ter should not be surrendered without
struggle. Under Mr. Lincoln's instruc-
tions he visited the fort. On the way to
Charleston he travelled with former
Southern member of Congress, and at
Florence Station they met Lawrence NJ.
Keitt. Captain Fox says:
"He welcomed Mr.. Holmes very warm
ly, and inquired with great anxiety wheth-
er Sumter was to be given up. Holmes
said Yes. | know it, which seemed to
give Mr. Keitt much satisfaction, but he
insisted upon knowing his authority. Mr..
Holmes said. L have the highest author
ity for what | say : and upon Mr. Keitt
again asking, who !? he leaned toward
him. At that moment the engine whis-
tie gave screech for starting, SO that the
conversation closed, and | lost the name"
If it had not been for the inopportune
blowing of that whistle, we should now
be in possession of an important item Of
secret history. Captain Fox was conyin
eed, at Fort Sumter, that his plan was
practicable, but he did not concert mat
ters with Major Anderson lie learned
from Anderson, however, that the 18th of
April was the time, beyond which, if sup
plies were not furnished, the fort could
not be held, it was resolved to make the
attempt to supply it. The recollection of
the excitement made throughout the coun-
try by Captain Fox's preparations in New
York, must recur to millions very wildly,
in thinking over the events Of that peri
cd. Colonel H. i. Scott, Aid of General
Scott, caused the expedition half days
delay. lie proved to be rebel sympa-
thizer, and is suspected of having served
the rebels as spy. When the expedi-
tion arrived off Charleston the lombard
ment had already commenced. An at
tempt would have been made to send in
reinforcements; but, in the first place,
there was very heavy sea. Then, the
Powhattan sloop-of-war was not sent,
though promised, being detained by "su-
perior authority" The Powhattan car
ried the sailors and launches that were
essential to the execution of the plan
The failure of the Powhattan was owing
to an order, inadvertently signed by Mr..
Lincoln, authorizing Lieut.. d. d Porter
to take any vessel of the Government and
proceed to the Gulf Of Mexico. Porter
took the Powhattan. The steam-tugs
that were engaged, and that were to form
a part of the expedition, did not come to
hand until it was too late. Capt. Rowan,
of the Pawnee, on nearing Charleston,
wished to push into the fight with his
ship, but was overruled. The expedition
as everybody knows, did not accomplish
anything, and was only important as show
ing that the authorities were not disposed
to allow the secessionists to continue their
work unopposed. The following letter
from President Lincoln closes this chap
ter of official history:
PRESIDENT LINCOLN TO CAPTAIN FOX.
WASHINGTON, May l, 1861.
" Captain @ Y. Foe:
"MY DEAR SIR Il sincerely regret
that the failure of the late attempt to pro-
vision Fort Sumter, should be the source
of any annoyance to you. The practical
bility of your plan was not, in fact, bro't
to test. By reason of gale, well known
in advance to be possible, and not impro-
bable, the tugs, an essential part OF the
plan, never reached the ground, while, by
an accident, for which you were in no wise
responsible, and possibly l to some extent
was. YOU we're deprived of war vessel.