Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-02-15
aHistsllansuus Rsading
BIT OF FORT SUMTER HISTORY.
The Hard Bargain Driven BY Govern.
or Brown Of Georgia.

The Hard Bargain Driven BY Govern.
or Brown Of Georgia.
Gen. John Battle Erwin OF South
Carolina tells this story Of the man
ner in which the Confederate govern
ment procured the shot and powder
with which Fort Sumter was bonn
barded:
II got the story direct from Bob
Toombs." says Gen. Erwin. "You
will recall that he was in the first
| Confederate cabinet as secretary of
state. When he resigned and took
the field l was on his staff.
"At the beginning of the Wilder
ness campaign he said to me one af-
ternoon:
"'Come, Erwin, I'm going over to
see Gen.. Johnston. His wife and
some of her young lady relatives are
making him a visit and I'll take you
along to entertain them
"As we rode along Toombs began
to reminisce. He described the many
difficulties. He described the many
forming the Confederate government.
He pointed out some Of the mistakes
| which he thought they had made.
1.-The chief Of these was, remem-
Der, in not following the advice of
Alec Stephens buying the cotton crop
and shipping 1t abroad before the en-
,my had time to blockade our ports.
From these subjects. which he spoke
of with deep regret, his naturally
bouyant temperament turned to the
many little amusing incidents occur
ring at the time.
"'Did you ever hear how we got the
shot and shells that fired the first
guns of this WARP he asked. and the
recollection evidently amused him
realty. or course the conditions In
Charleston harbor was one of the first
matters taken up by Mr.. Davis and
his cabinet.
"'At the time Montgomery was
overrun with unofficial delegates from
Virginia and other wavering states,
all of them urging us to strike the
first blow. For" said they, "the
moment war actually begins the wav-
erers will join the seceders. We will
rush the issue and force the state out
Of the Union into the Confederacy."
GAS you know General Toombs
continued. all the cabinet was not in
favor Of our striking the first blow.
/ We wanted Mr.. Lincoln to be the ag-
gressor. Finally, however, the bonn
hardment of Fort Sumter was decid-
ed. and Walker as secretary Of wal
instructed to telegraph General Beau
regard to prepare for the attack.
| "'You know Walker A good Ala
bama lawyer. but about the last man
eor cabinet position in a govern
ment in its formative period. He sim
.erely believed that the sending Of the
telegram to Beauregard ended his con-
nection with the affair. Beauregard's
reply was short and to the point:
Where Is your shot? Where is
YOUR POWDER" he asked.
Walker rushed to the president In
CONSERVATION. There wasn't time to
send abroad. and making ammunition
ourselves was out Of the question.
Davis called a cabinet meeting.
Everybody had suggestions and the
conference lasted far into the night.
At last It was decided to ask Cover
nor Joseph E. Brown to turn over to
the Confederate government the shot
and powder purchased In England for
the defence Of Georgia before the
state joined the Confederacy.
| 1.-The telegram was sent. and we
were not kept long waiting for Gov
ernor Prown's reply. 1t was this:
1.-The government of Georgia Will
turn over to the government OF the
| Confederate States of America the de-
sired munitions Of war, provided the
said government will purchase the
other supplies bought at the same
time and for the same purpose-1O,-
900 pairs Of shoes, 10000 pairs OF
blankets. and two little gunboats now
stationed at the mouth Of the Savan-
nah river-teimbursing the state OF
Georgia for the whole.
The secretary Of war was In
rage. The president was nettled.
| "'"Rrown deserves to be impeach-
ed" Walker declared. 1.-The idea OF
the governor Of a state presuming to
dictate terms to the president Of the
Confederacy."
Davis was more calm Of speech
and attributed the message to Joe
Browns ignorance Of the situation
and of the character Of the southern
volunteer. Being a Georgian and
knowing Governor Brown personally
It was decided that l should send him
q telegram of remonstrance.
~ was to point out to him the i'm
probability of there being a war Even
If our fire on Sumter was resented by
the north their resistance could not
he long. But even In case of war the
Confederate government could not
possibly make use of the supplies he
offered, as our troops were made up
of southern gentlemen, who preferred
to furnish their own equipment and
would never wear government sup
plies.
| knowing Joe Brown. 1 was not
surprised when his answer to my tele-
gram arrived. This is what he said:
THE governor Of Georgia will turn
over to the government Of the Con-
federate States Of America the de-
sired munitions Of war provided the
said government will purchase the
other supplies bought at the same
time and for the same purpose-10,-
900 pairs of shoes, 10000 pairs OF
blankets. and two little gunboats now
stationed at the mouth of the Savan-
nah river-reimbursing the state OF
Georgia for the whole.
| What did we do? Toombs
chuckled The only thing we could
do. We bought Joe Browns munitions
of war ten thousand pairs Of shoes,
ten thousand pairs of blankets and
the two little gunboats stationed al
the mouth of the Savannah.
| land do you know what Joe
Brown did? He made the Confederate
government pay the state OF Geor-
] gia cash, and in gold.'"