The National tribune., 1907-02-07
l the left of picture.


seemed to impress each one individ-
ually. The flag of the country had been
fired upon under the very guns of their
work, and no helping hand had been
extended. Maj. Anderson stated to
them that he had called them together
to hear their views in relation to the
act of the State. and to say to them
that he proposed to close the harbor
with his guns. and to fire upon any YES
sci that might attempt to enter He
desired to receive any recommendations
they might have to make. He began
with asking the junior officer, Lieut..
Hall, who was his Adjutant. Lieut..
Hall stated that he thot the harbor
should be closed by our guns. Lieut..
Meade, Of the Engineer Department,
thot that We should wait; to close the
harbor would be an act of war: that
we would thus inaugurate civil war in
the country, and as we had been di-
rected to act upon the defensive strict
ly. we had no right to take such a step.
Lieut.. Snyder was for immediate action;
he was I'm favor of closing the harbor
to all vessels, and firing upon all steam
boats that were engaged in carrying re-
Inducements. Lieut.. Davis thot that
we should wait, and send to the Cover
nor, informing him of what had occur
red, and ask if he avowed the act.
IL he SdHCtioueu IL we were Inen 10
close the harbor with our guns. Capt.
Seymour's opinion not recorded.
capt. Doubleday advised immediate
action. He thot that every days delay
would add to the strength of their posi-
ton, and that they would finally shell
the fort. Asst Surg. Crawford thot
that as the battery was not fired upon
when it opened upon the ship, we had
suffered the opportunity to go by for
sVt... IL s-{.
better now to send to the Governor
and let him know our determination.
Maj. Anderson acquiesced in the sug-
gestiOn of the officers, that the Cover
nor should be advised of the course he
proposed to take in case the action OF
his subordinates in firing upon the ship
should be avowed by him, and he at
once addressed the following dispatch
to the Governor Of the State:
Letter to the Governor
Fort Sumter, s. c., Jan. 9, 1861.
q" Sir: Two of your batteries fired this
morning upon an unarmed vessel bear
ing the flag of my Government. AS
have not been notified that war has
been declared by South Carolina against
the Government of the United States,
l cannot but think that this hostile act
was committed without your sanction
or authority. Under that hope. and that
alone, did 1 refrain from opening fire
upon your batteries / have, therefore,
respectfully to ask whether the above
mentioned act, one / believe without a
parallel in the history of our country
or of any other civilized Government,
was committed In obedience to your in
stfuctions, and to notify you, If 1t be
not disclaimed, that must regard it as
an act of war, and that shall not, after
a reasonable time for the return of my
messenger, permit any vessel to pass
within range of the guns of my fort.
In order to save, as far as lies within
my power, the shedding of blood, I beg
that you will have due notice of this,
my decision, given TO all concerned.
Hoping, however, that your answer may
he such as will justify a further con-
have the honor to be,
"'Very respectfully your obedient
servant
"'Robert Anderson,
Major. First Artillery Commanding.
"'To His Excellency, the Governor OF
South Carolina
'This dispatch was submitted by Maj
Anderson to a council of his officers
and approved of by them, with the in
sertiOn of the clause that he would
await a reasonable time for the return
OF MS messenger before opening nre
| which was not part of the original dis
patch. The delivery of the dispatch
was entrusted to Lieut.. Hall, who in full
uniform ami under a white flag bore il
20 Charleston. Upon landing he was
surrounded by a crowd of citizens
Making his way with difficulty thru
| them and followed by them, he finally
| found the Governor in council at his
Office. At the door he met an Aid
who invited him to enter. He declined
but requested that his card be takeI
to the Governor, with the statement
| that he had come under a white flag tc
see him in person. The council was
dissolved, and he was introduced to the
Governor. In the meantime, a report
had been spread thru the city that the
object of Lieut.. Halls visit was to an.
nounce that the city would be bonn
barded, and statements to that effect
were posted upon the bulletins.
1.-The boats crew We're at once be-
sieged by the crowd, but We're ordered
to hold no communication with any
one. After reading the communication
of Maj. Anderson, the Governor called
his Cabinet together and submitted the
letter to them. After some delay al
answer to the communication was