FORT SUMTER, S.C., February 3, 1861.
Col. S. COOPER, Adjutant-General:
COLONEL: Yesterday and last night, in consequence of the continuance of a storm of wind and rain, very little work was done, as far as we could observe, around us. The rain is still (11 a.m.) continuing. The steamer has not yet left the harbor with the women and children.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ROBERT ANDERSON,
Major, First Artillery, Commanding.
FORT SUMTER, S.C., February 2, 1861.
(Received A. G. O., February 6.)
Col. S. COOPER, Adjutant-General:
COLONEL: I received a letter yesterday from Mr. Gourdin, in which he says: “I saw his excellency this evening, and he makes no objection to your groceries being sent you.” The South Carolinians were, we thought, occupied nearly all last night on the works at Cummings Point. One of them is now probably twelve or fifteen feet high, and appears to be bomb-proof, and may be intended to defilade a battery pointing on the channel from our fire. From the energy with which their operations are carried on it is evident that they regard them as very necessary, and that they consider that they are also important, and that they shall be pushed as rapidly as possible. The women and children are on board the steamer, but the wind is blowing so heavily that it is doubtful whether they will attempt to cross the bar with this tide.
I am, colonel, your obedient servant,
ROBERT ANDERSON,
Major, First Artillery, Commanding.
FORT TAYLOR, FLA., January 31, 1861.
Col. L. THOMAS, Assistant Adjutant-General, U. S. Army:
SIR: My company left Fortress Monroe, Va., on the 24th of the present month, and arrived at this place this morning. The Brooklyn will coal at this place, and then proceed to Fort Jefferson. As there was but a very small supply of fixed ammunition at Fort Monroe for field howitzers, I took only two 12-pounder field howitzers and four mountain howitzers. There was plenty of ammunition for these last, but I could only obtain about one hundred and fifty rounds for the 12-pounders.
I have communicated your instructions to Captain Brannan, in command at this place, and have been informed by him that Major Arnold arrived at Fort Jefferson on the 18th instant. Captain Brannan furnished him with six 8-inch columbiads, ten 6-inch field guns, two 12-pounder field howitzers, 10,000 pounds of powder, 700 8-inch shells, and a small amount of ammunition for the field guns. Captain Brannan states that the supply of ammunition on hand is small and the quality bad. The citizens of this place are well disposed, and when the re-enforcements arrive it can be maintained against any force that the seceders may bring against it.
The desiccated vegetables for my command could not be had in Norfolk. Will you please have a supply sent me as soon as possible? I understand that it is impossible to obtain any fresh provisions at Pensacola.
A schooner arrived at this place yesterday, after five days from Pensacola. All of the forts except Fort Pickens were in the hands of the seceders. The strength of these forts was about 3,000 men. All was quiet when the schooner left, and the volunteers were not at all satisfied with their duties. I give you this report as it was given to me. It is probable that you may be in possession of later and more reliable information, but for fear that you may not, I here mention it in my communication.
The privates taken from the companies at Old Point to fill up my company were not regularly transferred. Will you be kind enough to order their regular transfer, as it will greatly simplify the company returns?
I am somewhat doubtful about being able to obtain a supply of fuel at Fort Pickens. However, I shall write to you as soon as I arrive, and give you all the information in my power.
Lieutenant Craven, U. S. Navy, leaves this place this evening for New York, and has kindly offered to take charge of this communication for me. Lieutenant Craven has been very kind, and disposed to afford any assistance in his power to the troops stationed at this place.
I have the honor to be, yours,
I. VOGDES,
Captain, First Artillery.
P. S.–My having just arrived from a sea voyage I trust may be deemed a sufficient excuse for any irregularities in this communication.
FORT SUMTER S. C., January 31, 1861.
(Received A. G. O., February 4.)
Col. S. COOPER, Adjutant-General:
COLONEL: The South Carolinians are still busily engaged at work at two places on Cummings Point, They are using heavy timbers, which they square and frame. Last night they worked at least half the night. The agent of the New York steamers informed us yesterday that he could not get a lighter to come down for the women and children, but that he will send one for them to-morrow, 80 as to take them in the Saturday steamer. No reply, as yet, from the Charleston butcher, Our beef contractor. I presume that he dare not send us any provisions, for fear that he will be regarded as a traitor to South Carolina for furnishing comfort and aid to her enemies.
God save our country.
I am, colonel, your obedient servant,
ROBERT ANDERSON,
Major, First Artillery, Commanding.
_____
FORT SUMTER, S.C., January 31, 1861.
(Received A. G. O., February. 4.)
Col. S. COOPER, Adjutant-General:
COLONEL: I hasten to write this letter, to be taken to the city by my friend, the Hon. Robert N. Gourdin, to say that the butcher has sent down a supply of fresh beef, with a note from him stating that he had not received my note, and that he did not, therefore, know of my order to him to continue my supplies as when I was in Fort Moultrie. He states that he sends the beef to-day in compliance with instructions from Mr. Gourdin, who has received a letter from me, in which I had alluded to my having written to him about it. He concluded by saying that he will cheerfully send what I require. Mr. Gourdin says that his excellency the governor is very desirous that we shall receive our supplies regularly, and thinks that there can be no difficulty in reference to groceries also. Hoping in God that there can be no further difficulty of any sort in this harbor,
I am, colonel, respectfully, your obedient servant,
ROBERT ANDERSON,
Major, First Artillery, Commanding.
_____
FORT SUMTER, S.C., January 31, 1861.
General Jos. G. TOTTEN,
Chief Engineer U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.:
GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th instant, informing me that $15,000 was placed to my credit with the assistant treasurer of the United States at New York. This relieves me from my present embarrassment. I shall, however, require $5,000 more for Fort Sumter by the end of the month of February. The operations of the South Carolinians around us continue to be carried on with activity by means of a large force of negroes. The battery on Cummings Point, mentioned in my last letters, is being enlarged into a field work, the parapet of which is not sufficiently formed to distinguish the trace with accuracy. To the west of this field work they have commenced what appears to be a redoubt. This is quite near the western point of Cummings Point.
Steamers are quite active, especially at night, in delivering materials at this point. A very large quantity of timber has been delivered, in and used for revetments, platforms, and, apparently, bomb-proof shelters.
On Sullivan’s Island I have learned that the battery in the cross street opposite Dr. Ravenel’s house, also opposite where the chaplain, Rev. Mr. Harris (now at Fort Washington), lived, is for mortars, apparently, as no embrasures are formed, but that neither guns or mortars are, yet, placed in it. The batteries on the island above Fort Moultrie are two in number. The first is only a short distance above the Moultrie House, and about 1,460 yards above Fort Moultrie. It is armed with three guns, either 24-pounders or 32 pounders. It is not in sight of this fort, being in range of and beyond the Moultrie House. Its position is opposite that portion of the Maffitt Channel which comes closest to the island.
The second battery is at the upper or east end of the island, and is armed with two guns, 24 or 32 pounders.
The last information from the island gave the number of men there as 1,450. But of these a very large number are raw recruits for the regular regiment that they are forming.
In this fort we are hard at work perfecting the arrangements for defense and offense, and creating new ones. Three 10-inch columbiads and four 8-inch columbiads (for which there are no carriages) are arranged as mortars.
The women and children are to leave for New York to-morrow by steamer.
The authorities have promised to send over my private effects from Sullivan’s Island, but have declined to allow me, or any one sent by me, to go over to collect them and pack them. I am, however, pleased to secure what I can in the way that is indicated by the authorities. I will write again in detail as soon as I can determine the trace of the works on Cummings Point.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. G. FOSTER,
Captain, Engineers.
FORT TAYLOR, KEY WEST, FLA.,……….
January 31, 1861.
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt on the 26th instant of a communication [following] from the headquarters of the Army dated the 4th instant, ordering my whole company to this fort. I had anticipated the order some time ago. This is the only dispatch I have received from the Department on this subject. There are about sixty men, mechanics and laborers, on the work, who are willing to take the fate of it, and assist in defending the same. I require at least fifty more muskets for these men. If my company was raised to a hundred and a sloop of war stationed here there would be no apprehension of an attack at present. The powder is not the best, and the supply of ammunition is limited except for heavy guns. It is very necessary that the Ordnance Department should attend to it immediately. I have sent a requisition direct to Colonel Craig. The fort is being put in a very good state of defense by Captain Hunt, and will be in a short time able to stand an attack very successfully. With a vessel of war in the harbor a landing could be easily prevented.
I transferred to Major Arnold six 8-inch columbiads, with seven hundred shells; two 6-pounder and two 12-pounder howitzers, with a small supply of ammunition for the latter; 10,000 pounds of powder. He has all of his guns mounted and in position, and is really stronger than I am, as he cannot be attacked by land. We have communication with each other every few days.
In about a week I shall have ten 8-inch guns on the gorge or land front, which will enable me to prevent the establishing of breaching batteries without considerable difficulty. The General-in-Chief may rest assured that this work will not be taken without a severe struggle.
The Macedonian passed Key West on the night of the 29th instant for Tortugas. The Brooklyn arrived in the harbor this morning and will sail to-morrow night. All well on board.
I would suggest that a paymaster be ordered here to pay the troops. Last payment to October 31.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. M. BRANNAN,
Captain, First Artillery, Commanding.
Lieut. Col. L. THOMAS,
……….Asst. Adjt. Gen., Hdqrs. of the Army, Washington, City, D. C.
.
P. S.–I send this by the U.S. steamer Mohawk.
.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
Washington, January 4, 1861.SIR: It is the direction of the General-in-Chief that you transfer the whole of your company to Fort Taylor. Be on your guard against surprise or assault, and do the utmost in your power to prevent the seizure of your fort. Consult with the commander of any United States man-of-war in the harbor, and invite his co-operation. Such commander will probably have received orders (if they can be got to him) to act in concert with you.
Major Arnold with his company is ordered from Boston, to proceed by steamer, if possible to garrison Fort Jefferson. There is some apprehension that an expedition is fitting out in Charleston to take one or both of the forts, Taylor and Jefferson. It is hoped that Captain Hunt may, with his workmen, be able to give you some assistance in defending yourself. If necessary for that purpose you may take one or two boxes of the muskets shipped in the Water Witch intended for Captain Meigs.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. W. LAY,…….
Lieutenant-Colonel, and A.D.C.Capt. John M. BRANNAN,
……………First Artillery, Commanding Key West Barracks, Fla.
BILOXI, MISS., January 30, 1861.
SIR: I have the honor to report that the works at Ship Island were visited by an armed body of men on the forenoon of the 13th instant. They stated to the overseer that their object was to take possession of the works, and, also, that they were acting on their own responsibility. After a short stay on the island, they left without interfering in any way with the work. On the afternoon of the same day another party, also armed, landed at Ship Island; their statement to the overseer was the same as that made by the first party. A flag was hoisted previous to their departure that evening. Ten men were left on the island, who occupied a vacant engineer building. As no interference was attempted on their part, operations were continued, so as to close the works as rapidly as possible. On the morning of the 20th instant, a third armed body of men took forcible possession of the works and engineer property at Ship Island. From that moment I considered myself relieved from all connection with those works. The forcible seizure on the 18th instant of the works and engineer property on east end of Dauphin Island (reported to the Department by Lieutenant Reese) has, in like manner, relieved me from all responsibility respecting Fort Gaines. The forcible occupation of Fort Morgan and my arrest at Pensacola have, I consider, relieved me from all connection with my other works, unless it be Fort Pickens, now garrisoned by the line of the Army. My duties are thus restricted to the settlement of outstanding liabilities against the works formerly in my charge. Should the Department, however, consider that I have, or may have hereafter, other duties to discharge with respect to these works, I would respectfully request that I be furnished with instructions to that effect.
……….I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
FREDERICK E. PRIME,……..
First Lieutenant, Engineers.
Bvt. Brig. Gen. J. G. TOTTEN,
Chief of Engineers.
.
.
Capt. H. G. WRIGHT:
DEAR CAPTAIN: Dame Rumor says all the expeditions to capture Ship Island have been made without any authority from the governor, and have not as yet received his sanction.
F. E. P.
WAR DEPARTMENT, January 29, 1861.
Lieut. ADAM J. SLEMMER,
First Regiment Artillery, U. S. Army, Commanding Fort Pickens :
SIR: The dispatch of which the inclosed is a copy was transmitted today, and the hope is indulged that it will be received before the arrival of the Brooklyn. Lieutenant Saunders goes as the bearer of this communication in order that the Department may be assured that the dispatch has reached you safely, and has suffered no alteration in its transmission, and also that his return may afford you an opportunity of reporting fully all that has occurred in connection with your command since the transfer of your forces to Fort Pickens. In the absence of any detailed information as to the circumstances under which this movement was made, I can only commend its patriotic purpose and express the gratification felt by the Department at its success.
You are instructed to act strictly on the defensive, and avoid as far as possible a collision with the hostile troops concentrated at Pensacola and in the adjacent forts. Should you, however, be attacked you will make the best defense of which your position and resources are capable. The naval forces of the United States now at Pensacola, or which may hereafter arrive there, it is expected will cordially co-operate with you. You will observe that it is expressly understood as the basis of instructions forwarded to you that the communication between yourself and others in command at Pensacola and the Government is to be kept open and unobstructed. You will avail yourself of this provision, and report by special messenger to the Department as events may justify or require it.
In your dispatches by Lieutenant Saunders you will make known the details of the transfer of your command, the forces which you now have available for active service, the strength of your position, the character of the preparations, if any, in progress which look to an assault upon the fort, and all other matters in any manner bearing upon your ultimate safety.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. HOLT,
Secretary of War.
[Inclosure.]
WASHINGTON, January 29, 1861.
To JAMES GLYNN, commanding the Macedonian; Capt. W. S. WALKER, commanding the Brooklyn, and other naval officers in command; and Lieut. ADAM J. SLEMMER, First Regiment Artillery, U. S. Army, commanding Fort Pickens, Pensacola, Fla.:
In consequence of the assurances received from Mr. Mallory in a telegram of yesterday to Messrs. Slidell, Hunter, and Bigler, with a request it should be laid before the President, that Fort Pickens would not be assaulted, and an offer of such an assurance to the same effect from Colonel Chase, for the purpose of avoiding a hostile collision, upon receiving satisfactory assurances from Mr. Mallory and Colonel Chase that Fort Pickens will not be attacked, you are instructed not to land the company on board the Brooklyn unless said fort shall be attacked or preparations shall be made for its attack. The provisions necessary for the supply of the fort you will land. The Brooklyn and other vessels of war on the station will remain, and you will exercise the utmost vigilance and be prepared at a moment’s warning to land the company at Fort Pickens, and you and they will instantly repel an attack on the fort. The President yesterday sent a special message to Congress commending the Virginia resolutions of compromise. The commissioners of different States are to meet here on Monday, the 4th February, and it is important that during their session a collision of arms should be avoided, unless an attack should be made or there should be preparation for such an attack. In either event the Brooklyn and the other vessels will act promptly.
Your right, and that of the other officers in command at Pensacola, freely to communicate with the Government by special messenger, and its right in the same manner to communicate with yourself and them, will remain intact as the basis on which the present instruction is given.
J. HOLT,
Secretary of War.
ISAAC TOUCEY,
Secretary of the Navy.
Fort SUMTER, S.C., January 29, 1861.
(Received A. G. O., February 1.)
Col. S. COOPER,
Adjutant-General U.S. Army:
COLONEL: The South Carolinians are at work in large force on Cummings Point, apparently framing heavy timbers, for what purpose I am unable yet to state. They succeeded this morning, favored by a very high tide, in getting the Columbia off. I send herewith two slips cut from yesterday’s Mercury, which show unmistakably the animus of these people. They are determined to bring on a collision with the General Government. Everything around us shows this to be their determination and their aim. I had a contract made yesterday for the transportation of the women attached to this command. The number is much greater than the legal allowance, but under the present excited state of feeling toward our command it would not do to send to the city or to Sullivan’s Island any of the relatives of our soldiers’ wives who have been living with them. The number who will be sent (twenty) embraces those attached to the companies and the wives of the members of the band, and also the wives of the non-commissioned staff. Inclosed you will also receive the muster and pay rolls of this command, which have been signed by the husbands of the women. I will thank you to have them sent by the Pay Department to the paymaster in New York, with instructions to hand the pay to the women. I will thank you also to have the necessary instructions sent to New York for the rations, &c., for these women and children.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ROBERT ANDERSON,
Major, First Artillery, Commanding.
[Inclosure No. 1.]
OBITUARY.–Died, on Saturday night, at the Marine. Hospital, Thaddeus S. Strawinski, aged 18 years and 7 days, from an accidental wound from a revolver. This promising young man was on duty in the Columbia Artillery at Fort Moultrie when the sad accident occurred. He was a noble fellow, and, just a week after entering the freshman class of the South Carolina College, with his spirited father joined the ranks at the call of the State. While on the litter being carried to the hospital he said to those who were conveying him: “Friends, O how sorry I am you are to attack Fort Sumter without me!” During his sufferings he mourned that he could not be at the taking of the fort. He was calm and resigned, and met his end prayerfully, with the Lord’s Prayer on his lips. A mother’s gentle influence soothed his dying hour, and a soldier’s spirit nerved a fathers heart to resign his son to his Creator. The sympathy of the whole community is with them in their bereavement.
[Inclosure No. 2.]
Mr. Yeadon, from the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two houses on that clause of the appropriation bill which appropriates $30,000 for dredging Maffitt’s Channel, submitted a report recommending the adoption of the following: “For deepening or otherwise improving Maffitt’s Channel, $30,000, to be drawn by and expended under the direction of a commission, as follows: Messrs. George A. Trenholm, Henry Gourdin, George N. Reynolds, W. G. De Saussure, F. I. Porcher, Hugh E. Vincent, and the mayor of Charleston ex officio: Provided, The work shall not be resumed until Fort Sumter passes into the possession of the authorities of the State, and all the troops of the United States shall be removed from the harbor of Charleston.
The report was agreed to.
Mr. Buist offered the following resolution:
“Resolved, That it is the opinion of the general assembly that no sessions of courts of law or equity in this Stale should be holden so long as the Government at Washington has control of the fortress known as Fort Sumter?
Ten members objecting, the resolution was ordered for consideration on Monday.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Montgomery, Ala., January 28, 1861.
Hon. WM. M. BROOKS, President State Convention:
SIR: The following resolution has been handed me by the secretary of the Convention:
Resolved, That his excellency the governor be requested to communicate to this Convention forthwith any information he may have in reference to the propriety of withdrawing or continuing in service the troops now at Pensacola.
In answer to the foregoing resolution, I submit the following facts: On the 19th January the following dispatch was received by Colonel Chase at Pensacola, to wit:
WASHINGTON, January 18, 1861.
Col. W. H. CHASE:
Yours received. We think no assault should be made. The possession of the fort is not worth one drop of blood to us. Measures pending unite us in this opinion. Bloodshed may be fatal to our cause.
Signed by Senators Mallory, Yulee, Slidell, Benjamin, Iverson, Hemphill, Wigfall, Clay, Fitzpatrick, and Davis.
Since the receipt of this dispatch, I have had a conference with Senator Mallory, of Florida, and Senator Fitzpatrick, of Alabama, in reference to the reasons upon which it was predicated, in which they informed me that they and Senator Slidell had a personal interview with the President and Secretary of the Navy, and were assured by them that no attack would be made upon Fort Sumter and Fort Pickens, or any excuse given for the shedding of blood, during the present administration, and that they deemed it of great importance that no attack should be made by South Carolina upon Fort Sumter, or by the troops of the seceding States upon Fort Pickens, in the present aspect of affairs. I was also informed by them that it was the policy of the Republican party to force a conflict between the Federal Government and the seceding States before the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, so that the responsibility of commencing a war should not be cast upon him. It was further stated by Mr. Mallory that a special messenger had been sent by the Secretary of the Navy to the officer in command at Fort Pickens, directing that officer to prevent the ships which had been ordered to Pensacola from entering the bay. The officer sent was Captain Barron, of Virginia, in company with Mr. Mallory.
This is all the information now in my possession in reference to the attitude of the Federal Government and the seceding States.
In reference to the forces at Pensacola, I am informed by Colonel Chase that some companies from Mississippi, now at Pensacola, are desirous of returning home, being planters, business men, &c. He has asked me what must be done in regard to this matter. I have answered him by telegraph that the troops are under the orders of the governor of Florida, and that the governor of Alabama cannot specially interfere with the Mississippi troops.
I have also received a dispatch from his excellency J. J. Pettus, governor of Mississippi, inquiring how long the Mississippi troops were desired to remain at Pensacola. I have telegraphed him that the governors of Florida and Mississippi have alone the right to control the troops of Mississippi.
Notwithstanding it now appears from the authority above given that no attack is to be made upon the forts at Pensacola now in the possession of our forces at that point, I deem it inexpedient that all the troops should be withdrawn. It is important that we should be provided for any emergency that may occur, and that a sufficient number of troops should be drilled and ready to meet it. If the troops should all be withdrawn from Pensacola, it may have a demoralizing effect upon them and upon volunteers generally, unless kept under orders at some other point. It would be more expensive to the State to transport them to some other position and keep them under arms than to permit them to remain at Pensacola.
The withdrawal of the troops from Pensacola might induce the belief among the Black Republicans that resistance was not intended if coercion were attempted on their part, and thus give encouragement to them.
I have now briefly given the information in my possession, and also my opinion with regard to the withdrawal of the troops from Pensacola.
Very respectfully,
A. B. MOORE.
PENSACOLA, January 28, 1861.
To Hon. JOHN SLIDELL, or, in his absence,
Hon. R. M. HUNTER, or Governor BIGLER:
We hear the Brooklyn is coming with re-enforcements for Fort Pickens. No attack on its garrison is contemplated, but, on the contrary, we desire to keep the peace, and if the present status be preserved we will guarantee that no attack will be made upon it, but if re-enforcements be attempted, resistance and a bloody conflict seem inevitable. Should the Government thus attempt to augment its force—when no possible call for it exists; when we are preserving a peaceful policy–an assault may be made upon the fort at a moment’s warning. All preparations are made. Our whole force–1,700 strong–will regard it as a hostile act. Impress this upon the President, and urge that the inevitable consequence of re-enforcement under present circumstances is instant war, as peace will be preserved if no re-enforcements be attempted. If the President wants an assurance of all I say from Colonel Chase, commanding the forces, I will transmit it at once. I am determined to stave off war if possible.
Answer promptly.
S.R. MALLORY.
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