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CHAPTER IV

FORT SUMTER

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S soon as Anderson had resolved to make the CHAP. IV. transfer he planned the necessary details, and

gave the orders for their execution with a discretion and skill, and at the same time with an energy and promptness, which mark the highest soldierly and administrative qualities.1 It does not appear that

1 The account which Anderson wrote to his wife of his secret preparations to move his garrison from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, and which is here printed for the first time, will be read with interest:

"As I was preparing for it several days before it occurred, it will be impossible for me to give you all the details, which though small and trifling in themselves, all tended to prepare for it. For instance, some ten days or more prior to it, I gave out to the officers and to the command that as the period when we might expect an attack was approaching, I thought I would send the women and children to Fort Johnson. And about three days before I moved I requested Captain Foster to discontinue mounting the guns on Fort Sumter, as I told him that they would certainly be turned against us. He as

sented to it, and on the 24th sent over to Fort Moultrie the elevating screws and pintle bolts of these guns, so that if the South Carolinians should take Fort Sumter, as we knew they intended, it would embarrass them very much in getting ready this battery to fire upon us. Both these measures were good blinds. On Christmas morning, the very day I designed moving, the vessels took the screws, etc., over to Fort Moultrie, and I, intending to go over that day, ordered those things to be put back into the vessels, on the plea that I had not room for them in my store-room then. I knew that of course the news of their removal and of the stoppage of the mounting of the guns had been communicated, and that both these measures would be regarded as conclusive that I had no idea of going over to Fort Sumter. I ordered the

CHAP. IV.

he made his determination known to any one until the afternoon or evening of the day after Christmas. Foster as the engineer officer, who had under his

quartermaster to get transportation immediately for the women and children, and issued an order for their removal on the ground of our anticipated attack. The day proved rainy, and the debarkation did not take place until the next day, when, on the ground that we should not in all human probability be enabled to stand a siege in Fort Moultrie of longer than a month or six weeks, I directed the quartermaster to send to Fort Johnson and to let Captain Foster have for his workmen (on the plea that as provisions were very scarce and high in the city, he would have to pay exorbitant prices for them) all the commissary stores, except about one month's supply for us. I then advised the officers to send all their company property, and all their personal effects, except what the men could put in their knapsacks and the officers could have conveniently packed in a small compass, with the women and children; where I argued they would be safe, whatever might occur to us. I stated that I did not want anything left at Fort Moultrie, for that I designed, if we were attacked, to fight to the last, and then as we left the fort with what we could take in our hand, to blow up the fort. In this way I got nearly everything, both public and private, on the three vessels which were to take the women and children to Fort Johnson. I placed the quartermaster on board, and gave him confidential orders to take them to Fort Johnson, and to pretend

to be looking around for quarters there, but not to land anything until he should hear two guns fired from Fort Moultrie, when he was to order the vessels to Fort Sumter on the plea that he would have to go there and report to me that he could not find accommodations. Having thus got rid of my women and children, and my public and personal property, the task was an easy one to move my command. I then arranged with Captain Foster to have all his boats with ours ready between 5 and 6. I did not select a later hour because we were watched every night from about 9 o'clock, and I must be over before that time. Only one officer knew anything of it on the 26th, the day I intended moving, and the men had no suspicion of where they were to go. I ordered their knapsacks to be packed that morning when I sent them to their posts at the battery, and gave a standing order that it was always to be done. The first set of boats was reported at the proper time, and I ordered one of the captains, who was just then let into my confidence, to form a part of his company with knapsacks on, and armed for secret service under me. I then marched out of the fort, went to the beach, and embarked. We reached the fort, very much to the astonishment of the 150 workmen who were in it, and I immediately took possession of the guard-room, had the muskets loaded, ordered the workmen in, and closed the gates."-MS.

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orders not only laborers, but boats and small vessels CHAP. IV. heretofore used to carry men and materials needed in the various repairs he had been prosecuting, was probably informed among the first. That faithful officer entered heartily into the movement, and efficiently disposed of his facilities to accomplish the object. Excepting members of the staff, charged with indispensable preparations, all occupants of the garrison were kept in entire ignorance of the scheme until the moment of its consummation.

The threatened night attack on Moultrie from the city had been the staple talk of the garrison for more than a month, and the various repairs and arrangements to repel it left no doubt of the genuineness of the apprehension. It was easy to give new point and currency to the rumor. On Christmas day an order had been issued to remove the soldiers' families, comprising about twenty women and twenty-five children, and all other non-combatants to Fort Johnson, an old and dilapidated Government work on the opposite side of the harbor, and three schooners were openly chartered for this alleged purpose. The embarkation was postponed on account of rain; but proceeded on the 26th without concealment; and in Dec., 1860. so far as it provoked observation, it seemed but a natural and necessary precaution. It seemed, too, to excuse the removal not only of lighter personal baggage, but also of such substantial provisions as were essential to a prolonged stay of a considerable number of women and children. In due course of time the entire fighting force of the garrison was mustered, with cartridge-boxes filled and knapsacks packed, and towards the critical hour held VOL. III.-4

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