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CHAP. VI. in statement and logic, to be completely refuted, and too offensive in language and intent to be either answered or tolerated, Mr. Buchanan took his only alternative by writing upon it the indorsement, "This paper just presented to the President is of such a character that he declines to receive it," and returning it to the signers. The central cabal, however, was unwilling to lose the effect of the forcible indictment on public opinion, and Jefferson Davis seized an early occasion to incorporate the commissioners' rejoinder at full length in a Senate speech, thus giving it ample circula"Globe," tion in print in the "Congressional Globe" and the Pp. 284-289. newspaper reports of Senate proceedings.

Jan. 9, 1861,

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CHAPTER VII

THE "STAR OF THE WEST 19

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S we have seen, the fate of Sumter hung in CHAP. VII. doubt from the evening of December 27, 1860, the day on which the President first received news of Anderson's transfer, until the afternoon of December 31, when he finally sent to the commissioners, in modified form, the answer dictated by Black and his Union colleagues, refusing to withdraw the troops. During these intervening three days, public rumor was possessed but vaguely of the information of passing events of the commissioners' demand, of the Cabinet struggle, of Floyd's retirement, and of the final victory of the Union section of the Cabinet. General Scott, excited like all others by these rumors, made an appeal to Floyd on December 28, apparently still not fully realizing that Secretary's treachery. He wrote to him begging to express the hope that Sumter might not be evacuated, but that on the contrary troops, supplies, and ships of war might be sent to its support, repeating at the same time his former recommendations to garrison further the other Southern forts. Everybody's blood was astir with the Charleston news; and on the supposition that the Secretary of War was a loyal man, it was natural to expect that he too would catch

Gen. Scott try of War

to Secre

Dec. 28, 1860.
W. R. Vol.
I., p. 112.

CHAP. VII. the patriotic contagion, and, in an impulse of national pride, applaud and support Anderson. Waiting impatiently, through all of Saturday, without response, the general was reluctantly forced to doubt, and wrote to Larz Anderson, the major's brother, at Cincinnati, assuring him of his admiration of the major's "masterly transfer of the garrison," that he had urged reënforcements within the last twenty-four hours-but, he added dubiously, "with what effect remains to be seen," W. R. Vol. Since the War Department had kept secret from I., PP. 113, the general its instructions to the major.

Gen. Scott to Larz

Anderson,

Dec. 29, 1860.

pp.

114.

Gen. Scott,

raphy."

Vol. II., p. 619.

By Sunday morning, December 30, General "Autobiog- Scott more accurately comprehended the situation. He realized that treason was doing its work in official circles, and that the regular channels and agencies of the Government could no longer be trusted. Considering the step justified by the emergency, routine having become useless and discipline dangerous, he wrote directly and confidentially to the President himself, urging that "matters of the highest national importance seem to forbid a moment's delay, and if misled by zeal he hopes for the President's forgiveness. Will the President permit General Scott, without reference to the War Department, and otherwise as secretly as possible, to send two hundred and fifty recruits from New York harbor to reënforce Fort Sumter, together with some extra muskets or rifles, ammuto the Pres nition, and subsistence stores? It is hoped that a sloop-of-war and cutter may be ordered for the same purpose as early as to-morrow."

Gen. Scott

ident, Dec.
30, 1860.

W. R. Vol.
I., p. 114.

Again the lapse of another long day without any Presidential order or indication of decision upon

these momentous questions. But finally, on Mon- CHAP. VII. day morning, the general was reassured by a sign of military promise. The rumor of Floyd's resignation grew into an accepted fact. Upon this cheering news he ventured once more to "trespass for a moment on the indulgence of the President of the United States," with suggestions about a successor, about a system of communication with Anderson, and more especially about a proffer of Gen. Scott assistance and facilities in reënforcing Sumter and providing other defensive aid, coming from patriotic I., p. 119. citizens of New York.

It was under these circumstances as well as the self-assertion and triumph of the Union elements of the Cabinet that on Monday morning, December 31, Postmaster-General Joseph Holt became Floyd's successor.1 This choice, too, was dictated by the new powers at the helm-Mr. Stanton himself having gone to Mr. Holt's residence near midnight to urge upon him the acceptance of the post, to impress upon him the grave nature of the exigency, and the need of a man in that place whose sentiments they knew. Fortunately for the country, their choice was in every way justified. In the prime of life, with even, moderate temperament, with well-balanced judgment, and with tenacious patriotism, the new war minister

1On Monday, December 31, 1860, President Buchanan authorized Postmaster-General Holt "to perform the duties of the office of the Secretary of War, now vacant by the resignation of John B. Floyd, until a successor shall be appointed and the vacancy filled" [Records of the War

Department, MS.]. On the follow-
ing day (January 1, 1861), he more
formally appointed Mr. Holt Sec-
retary of War ad interim [Senate
Journal, pp. 101, 102]. Finally,
on the 18th of January, he regu-
larly nominated Mr. Holt Secre-
tary of War, which nomination
the Senate duly confirmed.

to the President, Dec.

31, 1860. W. R. Vol.

CHAP. VII. Was in almost every particular the opposite of his predecessor.

The newspaper dispatches of the day inform us that Mr. Holt had not been in the War Department five minutes when he sent for General Scott. It is certain that he promptly called the General-in-Chief to his aid, and he who had for six weeks been excluded from all duty and authority went eagerly to the service of the imperiled Union. The situation was hastily examined, the military resources calculated, and measures devised, somewhat too hastily as the result proved, to send relief and support to Anderson. The expediency and possibility of such an expedition had been long pondered and discussed, but hitherto without the professional advice of the General-in-Chief.

In the contingency only three plans seemed fea sible; these had already been more or less consid ered, and each found liable to serious objection. The first was to send the Brooklyn with three hundred drilled men from Fort Monroe. Not only would an armed ship with disciplined troops afford greater probability of success in reaching Sumter against resistance, but once there the Brooklyn could be utilized as a floating custom-house, to enforce a collection of the import duties in default of officials or facilities in the city of Charleston. The President and Cabinet favored this plan, and notwithstanding its grave defects, of which General says and Scott was well aware, in his great anxiety to have something done, he acquiesced in its adoption. The President permitting, and a zealous Cabinet majority and General-in-Chief coöperating, all delay was set aside, and Monday evening General Scott called

Black, "Es

Speeches,"

p. 19.

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