Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-09-13
HOLT TO LINCOLN.
A Remarkable Letter to President
Lincoln the Day After His
Inauguration.
Major AndersOn's Views About.
Relieving Fort sumter.

Tin his interview with the Phila.
delphia Press, Judge Holt gives to the
public, for the first time, a very i'm.
portant letter written to President
Lincoln while he (Holt) was yet Sec.
rotary of War, the day after Lincoln's
first Inauguration. This letter, which
shows thai Major Anderson, as late as
January 30, 1861, was opposed to any
attempt to reinforce Sumter. is as fol
lows:-EDs. Posr.
WAR DEPARTMENT, March ), 1861.
Sir; | have the honor to submit for
your consideration several letters witt
Enclosures received on yesterday from
Major Anderson and Captain Foster
OF the corps Of engineers, which are o.
a most important aud unexpected
character. Why they were expected
will appear from the following brie
statement:
After transferring his forces to For
Sumter, he major Anderson ad.
dressed a letter to this department
under date Of the thirty-ii first Decem.
Der, 1860, in which he says:
Thank Cod we arc now wher,
the government may send US add
tional troops at its leisure. To b,
sure the uncivil and uncourtaous &C.
ton of the government (of Soutl
Caroliua) in preventing us from pur.
chasing anything in the city viii
annoy and inconvenience Us some.
what; still we are safe"
And after referring to some def.
cheney in his stores, in the articles o.
soap and candles, he adds.
Still we can cheerIully put up will
the inconvenience of dong without
them for the satisfaction we feel in the
knowledge that we can command this
harbor as long as our government
wishes to keepit
|. And again, on the sixth of January
he wrote:
My position will, should there be
no t~reachery among the workmer
whom We are compelled to retain fol
the present, enable me to hold this
Tort against any force which can be
brought against me; and it would en-
able me, in the event of war, to annoy
the South Carolinians by preventing
them from throwing in supplies to
their new posts, except by the aid Of
the Wash channsl through Stone
river"
Before the receipt of this communi.
cation, the government being without
information as to his condition, had
dispatched the Star of the West with
troops and supplies for Fort Sumter,
but the vessel having been fred on
from a battery at the entrance to the
harbor, returned without having
reached her destination.
On the sixteenth of January, 1861,
in reply to Major A~nderson's letters OF
the thirty-frst Of December, and on
the sixth Of January, | said:
Your late dispatches, as we'll as
the very intelligent statements Of
Lieutenant Talbot, have relieved the
government OF the apprehensions pre-.
viously entertained for your safety. In
consequence it is not its purpose at
present to reinforce you. The attempt
to do so would no doubt be attended
by a collision Of arms and the eifusion
OF bloOd-a national calamity which
the President is most anxious TO
avoid. You will, therefore, report
frequently your condition and the
character aud activity Of the prepare.
tons, if any, which may be being made
for an attack upon the fort, or for Oh.
structing the government in any en-
deavors it may make to strengthen
your command. Should your dis
patches be Of a natore too important
TO be intrusted to the mails you will
convey them by special messenger.
whenever, in your judgment, add
tiOnal supplies or achievements arc
necessary for your safety or Cor a sue
cessfal defense ofthe fort, you will at
once communicate the fact to this de-.
partment and q prompt aud vigorous
will be made to forward them"
Since The date Of this letter Major