The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-04-16

\ --&SHso.NSAAr III enl q
/ --ee- hour might have
~ cooled dewn and
peaceful counsel prevailed.
The event which led up Sumter
| was the secession of the state of South
Carolina from the Union in December
1850, as protest against the election
of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency
on a platform which was held at the
south to threaten the rights of states.
rights of which the southern people
were particularly Jealous. In with
drawing from the Federal Unions the
people of South Carolina held that the
Federal property situated ON South
Carolina soil and paid for in part by
South Cardinals contributions to the
general fund belonged to the state In
other words. the South, Carolinians
wished the United States government
to withdraw it's troops and its Federal
officials from the state and treat with
| the seeded state as with a foreign
country. The people of South Carolina
and of the south generally We're not
alone in thinking that this was con-
stitutional and equable solution of the
problem. y Owing to the differences of
opinion the Buchanan Administrations
which held power until March A, 1861.
took no vigorous means to re-enforce
its garrison nor to assert or even
strengthen its power IN The south. IL 3ass'
Major Anderson of the United States
army commanded the garrison in
Charleston harbor and in aDecember,
1860. after the secession of South Car
DINA. concentrated his force in Fort
Sumter. the strongest and most defen-
sible of all the works in the harbor
The transfer was made secretly. and
the, whole city and state were stirred
up by Anderson's clever stroke The
Carqlinians had not put a guard in
Sumter, but had a force of men there
getting it ready for the emergency of
war: 80 ~ ~
Major Anderson was a southerner.
He did not " want war and hoped that
congress would in Some way avert the
calamity. But he was a true soldier,
having the dignity of arms in his keep
ing and courageous in obeying orders
The South Carolina authorities prompt
~ demanded that he return his garri-
son to Fort Moultrie, and he as prompt
ly refused. If they wanted fight there
IN Charleston harbor, he would give it
to them and choose his own way Of 60
ing about it just as though the state
had no say in the matter.
During the interval between the oc-
cupancy of Fort Sumter and the OPEN
ing of the bombardment in April An
derson kept his men at work preparing
for defense. The spirit of South Caro-
lina's governor and people was shown
on the 9th OF January, 1861, when the
Star of the West, from New York with
re-enforcements for Sumter, attempted
to land troops and supplies. The steam
er was fired upon by South Carolina
battery located on Morris island and
also by guns in Fort Moultrie The
shots We're fired by soldiers of the pro-
visional army of South Carolina.
Major Anderson did not offer to help
the Star of the West by silencing the
| batteries which fired upon her He did
order the guns of Sumter manned but
When the officers asked permission to
use them it was refused. The Star Of
the West soon beat retreat. Ander-
son asked Governor Pickens to explain
the firing and limited that he would al
low no vessel to pass within the range
or Sumter's guns If the explanation
was not satisfactory. The governor re-
piled that he would renew the firing
under like circumstances.
| The South Carolinians seized all the
government property in and around
Charleston except Sumter and bent all
their efforts on the ground and by d.
| plomacy in Washington to have the
| fort peacefully evacuated. A second
attempt to put supplies and troops in
the fort was made ON April IL, the day
the firing began which led to the eyacu-
alton on the l4th. Doubtless the south
erners had received secret warning of
THIS attempt as they had of the one in
January, for on the 18th General Beau
regard, commander of the Confederate
States forces, sent Anderson his mil.
itary ultimatum. This. in substance.
asked that Major Anderson abandon
the fort and it's armament intact. tax
ing. out the garrison. with all company
arms and property. the stars and
stripes to be saluted on lowering.
4 1t took Anderson just ~ minutes to
digest and answer the message of
| Beauregard. OF course he refused to
surrender. but he added. Gentlemen,
I ifiyou do not batter the fort to pieces
eabout'us. we shall be starved out in a
few days"
/ Beauregard reported Anderson's
words to the Confederate government
which had been organized during the
/ winter at Montgomery. Ala. and was
told to avoid etfuson of blood if posi-
bic by getting Anderson to eyacuate
| Sumter. In case of further refusal
Beauregard was ordered to reduce the
fort. Two of 3eauregard's aids enter.
ed Sumter at I2:45 a. m. April 12 and
reiterated the demands of their chief.