National Republican., 1888-02-02


attempt to take possession of either of them
will be regarded as an act OF hostility, and you
may then put your command into either OF
them which you may deem most proper TO
increase Its power of resistance. You are also
authorized TO take similar steps whenever you
have tangible evidence OF design TO proceed
to hostile acts.
when a copy OF this order was laid before
the President he gave directions for It's
modification as regards the instruction ITO
defend him III to the last extremity" Mai.
Anderson being advised that 'it was euf-
ficient for him TO defend himself until no
reasonable hope should remain Of saving
the fort.n
About the 18th Of December Capt. Foster
took from the arsenal forty muskets and
placed them in the magazines at Fort Sum
ter and Castle PinckDey. "The act" says
Gen. Crawford, "occasioned an excitement
that ought to have been foreseen." The
military storekeeper infomed Capt. Foster
OF this, "and assured him that some violent
demonstration was certain unless the excite.
ment could be allayed," and he asked theim.
mediate return OF the muskets. Capt. Foster
declined, but was willing TO refer the mat
ter 10 WASHINGTON. Mr.. Trescots services
were now called into Y''silion by tele.
gram asking him ITO have the arms In.
stantly returned, or a collision may occur
at any moment" The result was an order
from the Secretary Of War directing Capt.
robteI to return INC arms INSTANTLY, Wnich
was done; and j. j. Pettigrew, aide.de-
camp, telegraphed back to Trescot, "The
governor says he was glad Of your dispatch
conveying the order), for otherwise there
would have been imminent danger. Earn.
estly urge that there be no transfer OF
troops from Fort Moultrle to Fort Sumter,
and inform the Secretary Of War"
Gen. Crawford states that "the sending
OF Maj. Buell. and the object OF his mission
were known In Washington, aud on the
18th OF December the principal newspaper
OF Charleston pu )lished from It's CORE
spondent In Washington the following dis.
patch:
Maj. Buell. and several other officers OF the
army have been sent to Fort Mouitrie to look
Alttr the forts. Keep sharp look out upon
them. They were sent for no good to US. See
that they make no change in the distribution
ofsoldiers, so as to put them ali in Fort Sum.
ter; that would be dangerous to uS.
Meantime the difficulties OF Anderson's
position at Fort Moultrie increased daily.
The President had now definitely deter.
mined upon policy (says our author)
which he maintained until the last.
At midnight on the 18th of December
Gen Crawford states) Gov. Pickens (Gov.
Gist'sl slsuccessor) sent for Capt. Charles II.
Simpson, who, with his Washington Light
Infantry had been guarding the arsenal to
prevent the REMOVAL OF ammunition or
stores to the forts, and ordered him, "with
ouch men from his company as he could
rey upon, to cruise between the two forts"
OF MGultrie and Sumter to prevent the
evacuation Of the former and take posses.
sion Of the latter. He said that he had heard
| Of such intention, and that 1t must be pre-
vented ''at all hazards" lie was to hsil
every boat passing between the forts. 1.-The
found that any were boats with United
States troops on board he was to prevent
their passage, and, should the officers per
sist, he was to sink his boats and then
Immediately take Fort Sumter"
In letter to Gov. Pickens, dated Dec.
| IS, President Buchanan informed him OF
sending Caleb Gushing to hold communi-
cation with him In his own behalf. He
"assumes the fact that the state OF South
Carolina is now delberating on the ques-
tion Of seeding from the Union, and he
considers 1t his duty to exert all the mean s
in his power to avert so dread a catas.
trophe." Gov. PickeDs said to Mr.. Cush-
ing that he would return no reply to tue
Presidents letter, except to say, very can
didly, that there was no hope for the Union,
and that, as far as he was concerned, he in
tended to maintain the separate independ.
ence OF South Carolina, and from this pur-
| pose neither temptation nor danger should
| for moment deter him." The ordinance
| OF secession having passed on the Goth Of
December committee OF both houses OF
| present on the evening Of that day when
| the ordinance was to be signed. 1t is
hardly necessary to say that he declined
the Invitation and returned at once to
Washington.
On the evening Of Dec. %, Mai. Anderson
addressed short letter 10 Adjt. Gen.
Cooper, saying: ~ have the honor TO report
that have just completed, by the blessing
OF God, the removal to this fort Sumter
| OF all my garrison, except the surgeon,
| four Ion.commssioned officers, and seven
men. The step viii n ! have
taken wac, IN my opinion, necessary TO pre-.
! vent tie efIusitn Of blood"
Gen. Crawford states that orders had been
| given to Capt. Foster, who WAS left In
charge Of Fort Moultrie, 'that If there
| should be any attempt to interfere with
the passage of the boats upon the part OF
| the guard boat. he was to fire upon her"
| Fortunately, the guard boat did not make
her appearance until iust after the trans.
ference, and the night passed without Incl
| dent
| Meantime three m,sioners-. Robert
| w. Barnwell, James II. Adams, and James
| i. Orr-weIe appointed from Son ph Care
Ina 'to treat with the govern ment Of the
United States" and they arrived In Wash
ington on the same day Of " Anderson't
sons removal to Fort sumter. Before they
were ready to present their credentials tc
the President the news OF mat unexpected
movement was, on the morning OF the 81 t
| OF December. brought to him by Senators
Hunter, OF Virginia, aud Davis, OF Mtssis
sippi, Mr. Trescot also accompanying them
Here is Mr.. Trescot's account OF the inter
view, as quoted by our author;
'Have you received any intelligence from
| Charleston in the last few hours - asked Col
Dayis. None" said the President. Then
announce ann @ e' to yon." He then stated the facts
and added, "And now, Mr.. President, you Al,
surrounded with blood and dishonor on al
are calamiiies (or misiorinnes, / forget which
never to come singly / call God TO witness
you gentlemen, better than anybody, know
that this Is not only without, but against IN!
orders. II is against my policy"
The Cabinet was Immediately called
together, when, as our author states, at tn,
suggestion OF Judge Black, the order con
veyed to Mai. Anderson by Mai. Buell. OF
the nth OF December, which order "seemed
to be ignored or forgotten" was sent for
and it's import brought into special notice
Until now, Gen. Crawford observes, th
President had possibly regarded it as
matter OF routine only.h
The South Carolina commissioners ha,
their first and only interview with the Presi
dent on the 2Sth OF December. "lie re
ceived them courteously and as privat
gentlemen alone. He listened continue
Gen. Crawford) to their statement, but In
formed them that It was to Congress the
must look, at the same time expressing
his willingness to lay before Congress an
propositions they might make TO him.
Mr.. Barnwell acted as the chairman, an,
drought to the attention of the Presiden
the arrangement which had been mad
early In December between him and III
South Carolina delegation; that 1t bad bee
observed in good faith by the pc:
ct any time, after the arrangemer
was made up to the night when Maj An
derson removed 10 Sumter, have oGcupie
Fort Sumter and captured Moul'rle wit
all lite command; that the removal OF Ar
derson violated that agreement on, the paI
| OF the nnnnrhnnnf ~ ihD lIIlinl Slaini