The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-01-19
. THE FALL OF SUMTER.
An Important Contribution 10 the Annals
or the War-Poinfs Of Fresh
interest.

-
General S. W. Crawford, Of the Unit
ed States Army, has published i'll the
Philadelphia Weekly Times a succinct
narrative of the circumstances proceed
ing the evacuation of Fort Sumter on
the 18th of April, 1861, which Is n val
liable and undoubtedly a trustworthy
contribution to the national annals.
General Crawford was then one of Ma
jor Anderson's officers, and participat-
ed in his counssls during the progress
sive phases of the momentous situation,
which was so pregnant with solemn
consequences. His testimony shows
the real anxiety of the President and
the professed anxiety of the Confeder-
ate chiefs to preserve the status of
Charleston harbor till tho Inauguration
ofMr. Lincoln. The rebels desired to
bind Mr.. Buchanan to a limitation of
his right of action, but lie distinctly
denied the existence of any such obliga-
ton in his letter to their commissions
ers. The after negotiations, however,
MS related, indicate that lie would have
taken no steps to- break the understand
ing. which they affected to have formed
with him had not Major Anderson, in
fear of an attack, partially dismantled
Fort Moultrie and removed his men to
ort4Sumter. General Crawford offers
no analysis of the motive of this act,
but leaves it to be inferred that his
commanding officer proceeded on the
patriotic prompting of his own under
standing, and that on him alone rested
the responsibility of precipitating the
first overt act of war on the part of the
Confederacy. The authorities of the
state awaited no explanation, but i'm
mediately seized all that they could of
the federal property. President Buchan-
firmness of character and II patriotic
sense which belle the ISLANDERS of super
fetal analysis. He refused to remand
the garrison to Fort Moultrie. Crawford
ayowedly omits all discussion rs to the
alleged breach of faith and ''viola-
ton of personal honor" The events
which followed are depicted in much
the same light as that in which they
are already familiar to the public.
Emphasis is laid upon tine full knowl-
edge possessed by the government of
the increasing desperation of the troops
shut up in Sumter and of the constant
NM -1iln nratNat in.,a that u,nt.a ntNap1u
conducted on every side of them. A
passage here is worthy of quotations.
Congress had adjourned without an
effort to avert the dangers threatening
the nation. Whatever may be thought
Of the Facilitating policy of President
buchanan, it is nevertheless true that
he never at any time contemplated the
surrender of the forts in Charleston
harbor, however anxious he was to
avoid a collision that would alarm the
border states and precipitate war"
Major AnderSun's representation to
his government, after the accession of
Lincoln, presented the exact state of
his and the Importance of
speedy measures of relief. Yet not till
the first of April WAS action taken 10y
the Cabinet Council. The weak
attempt to provision Fort Sumter,
whose abortion has never been explain
ed, is passed owe very lightly. When
Anderson sent his final answer to the
rebels bslore'their attack lie remarked
in their hearing that she would be
starved out anyway in Il few days if
their guns did not batter him to pieces -
Why he thus deprived himself Of the
moral presnmptive weight of his suisse
quent gallant resistance may be one of
the questions which this narrative may
call forth. Commanders who mediate
the Drawing of the direst extremity for
their country's sake are more wont to
conceal the weakness of their situation
from the enemy than voluntarily Ia in
form him of their power of endurance.
The remainder of The story does not
differ from the received accounts.