Year: 1861

then at the control of the Government, or
ceuld be raised and brought to the ground
within the time in which the provisions in
the fort would be exhausted.


In purely military point of view this
reduced the duty of the Administration in
the case to the mere matter of getting the
garrison safely out of the fort. 1t was
believed, however, that to so abandon that
position under the circumstances would be
utterly ruinous; that the necessity under
which it was done could not be fully un--
derstood; that by many it would be con-
sidered as part of voluntary policy;
that at home it would disorganize the
friends of the Union, embolden its adver-
saries, and 60 far to ensure to the latter q
recognition abroad. That in fact it would
be our national destruction consummated
This could not be allowed.


Starvation was not yet upon the garrison,
and ere it would be reached Fort Pickens
might be reinforced.


This last would be clear indication of
policy, and would better enable the coun-
try to accept the evacuation of Fort Sump
ter as military necessity. An order was
at once directed to be sent for the landing
of tr oops from the Brooklyn into Fort
Pickins. This order could not 60 by land
and must take the longer and slower route
by sea.


The first return news from the order was
received just one week before the fall of
Fort Sumpter. The news itself was that
the officer commanding the Sabine, to
which vessel the troops had been transfer
red from the Brooklyn, acting upon some
quasi-armistice Of the late Administration
and Of the existence of which the present
Administration, up to the time at which
the order was dispatched, had only too
vague and uncertain rumors to fix attention,
had refused to land the troops. To now
reinforce Fort Pickcns before crisis
could be reached at Fort Sumptcr was i'm.
possible, rendered so by the near exhaus.
ton of provisions in the latter named
fort.


In precaution against such coniunc.
ture, the Government had a few days be-.
fore commenced preparing an expedition
as we'll adapted as might be to relieve Fort
Sumptcr, which expedition was intended
10 be ultimately used or not, according to
circumstances. The strongest anticipated
case for using it was now presented, and it
was resolved to send it forward.


As had been intended in this contingen.
cy, it was also resolved to inform the Gov.
ernor of South Carolina that he might
expect an attempt would be made to pro-
vision the fort, and that if the attempt
should not be resisted, there would be no
effort to throw in men, arms or ammuni-
ton without further notice, or in case of
an attack upon the fort. This fort was
attacked and bombardcd to its fall, with
out even awaiting the arrival of the pro.
visioning expedition.


1t is thus seen that the assault and re-
duction of Fort Sumpter was in no sense
matter of self-defence on the part of the
assailants. They well knew that the gar
rison in the fort could by no possibility
commit aggression upon them. They
knew they were expressly notified that the
giving of bread to the few brave and hun
cry men of the garrison was all that would
on that occasion be attempted, unless them,
selves by resisting so much should provoke
more.


They knew that this Government desired
to keep the garrison in the fort, not to as
sail them, but merely to maintain visible
possession, and thus to preserve the Union
from actual and immediate dissolution,
trusting, as heretofore stated, to time, dis.
cussion and the ballot-box for final adjust.
ment; and they assailed and reduced the
fort for precisely the reverse objeet-to
drive out the visible authority of the Fed.
eral Union, and thus force it to immediate
dissolution, That this was their object
the Executive well understood.


And having said to them in an inaugu-
raj address "you can have no conflict with
out being yourselves the aggressors," he
took pains not only to keep their declara'
ton good, but also to keep the case SO free
from the power of Virginians' sophistry
as that the world should not be able tc
understand it. By the affair at Fort
Sumpter, with the surrounding circumstan'
ces. thatpoint was reached,


Then and thereby the assailants of the
government began the conflict of arms
| without n 1un in sinht OR in eynoctancv n