PERPLEXITY OF THE CONSPIRATORS.

131

and stirred the hearts of all. Anderson then hoisted the flag to the head of the staff. It was greeted with cheer after cheer, while the band saluted it with the air of "Hail Columbia."

While this impressive scene was occurring in the fort, a boat was approaching from Charleston. It contained a messenger from the Governor of South Carolina, conveying a demand, in courteous but peremptory phrase, for Major Anderson's immediate withdrawal from Sumter, and return to Moultrie. The Governor said that when he came into office, he found that "there was an understanding between his predecessor and the President, that no re-enforcements were to be sent to any of the forts," and especially to Sumter; and that Anderson had violated that agreement by thus re-enforcing it. The demand was refused; and the Major was denounced in the Secession Convention, in the South Carolina Legislature, in public and private assemblies, and in the streets of Charleston, as a “traitor to the South" (he having been born in a Slave-labor State), and an enemy of its people. The South Carolinians felt the affront most keenly, for on the very day when he went from Moultrie to Sumter, a resolution, offered by Mr. Spain, was considered in secret session in the disunion Convention, which requested the Governor to communicate to that body any information he might possess concerning the condition of the forts in the harbor-what work was going on within them, how many men were employed, the number and weight of guns, number of soldiers, and whether assurances had been given that they would not be re-enforced; also, what steps had been taken for the defense of Charleston and the State. It was afterward known that these conspirators intended to seize Castle Pinckney and Fort Sumter within twenty-four hours from that time, but their plans were frustrated by the timely movement of Anderson.

The conspirators in Charleston and Washington were filled with rage. At the very hour when the old flag was flung out defiantly to the breeze over Sumter, in the face of South Carolina traitors, Floyd, the Secretary of War, was declaring vehemently in the Cabinet that "the solemn pledges of the Government had been violated" by Major Anderson, and demanding of the President permission to withdraw the garrison from Charleston harbor. The President refused. A disruption of the Cabinet ensued; and the next communication that Major Anderson received from the War Department, after the angry electrograph of Floyd, was from Joseph Holt, a loyal Kentuckian like himself, whom the President had called to the head of that bureau." He assured Major Anderson of the approval of his Government, and that his movement in transferring the garrison from Moultrie to Sumter "was in every way admirable, alike for its humanity and patriotism as for its soldiership."

December 31,

1860.

Earlier than this, words of approval had reached Anderson from the loyal North; and five days after the old flag was raised over Sumter, the Legislature of Nebraska, two thousand miles away toward the setting sun, greeted him, by telegraph, with "A Happy New Year!" Other greetings from the outside world came speedily, for every patriotic heart in the land made lips. evoke benedictions on the head of the brave and loyal soldier. In many

1 Secretary Holt to Major Anderson, January 10, 1861. Anderson's MS. Letter-book.

132

ANDERSON'S CONDUCT APPROVED.

places guns were fired in honor of the event; and never did a public servant receive such spontaneous praise from a grateful people, for his deed seemed like a promise of safety to the Republic. Pen and pencil celebrated his praises; and a poet, in a parody of a couple of stanzas of a dear old Scotch song, made "Miss Columbia," addressing Anderson, thus express the sentiments of the people:

"BOB ANDERSON, my beau, Bob, when we were first acquent,
You were in Mex-i-co, Bob, because by order sent;

But now you are in Sumter, Bob, because you chose to go,
And blessings on you anyhow, BOB ANDERSON, my beau.

"BOB ANDERSON, my beau, Bob, I really don't know whether
I ought to like you so, Bob, considering that feather.

I don't like standing armies, Bob, as very well you know,

But I love a MAN THAT DARES TO ACT, BOB ANDERSON, my beau."

From the hour when Anderson and his little band' entered Sumter, their position was an extremely perilous one. His friends knew this, and were very uneasy. His devoted wife, a daughter of the gallant soldier, General Clinch, of Georgia, with her, children and nurse, were in New York City. She knew, better than all others, the perils to which her husband might be exposed from ferocious foes without, and possible traitors within. With an intensity of anxiety not easily imagined, she resolved in her mind a hundred projects for his relief. All were futile. At length, while passing a sleepless night, she thought of a faithful sergeant who had been with her husband in Mexico, and who had married their equally faithful cook. If he could be placed by the side of Major Anderson in Sumter, that officer would have a tried and trusty friend, on whom he could rely in any emergency. Where was he? For seven long years they had not seen his face. Seven years before, they heard that he was in New York. She resolved to seek him. At dawn she sent for a city directory. The Sergeant's name was Peter Hart. She made a memorandum of the residence of every Hart in the city; and, in a carriage, she sought, for a day and a half, for the man she desired to find. Then she obtained a clew. He might be in the Police establishment-there was a man of that name who had been a soldier. She called on the Superintendent of the Police, and was satisfied. She left a request for Peter Hart to call on her.

Mrs. Anderson had resolved to go with Peter to Fort Sumter, if he would accompany her. She was an invalid. Her physician and friend, to whom alone she had intrusted the secret of her resolve, protested vehemently against the project. He believed its execution would imperil her life. She had resolved to go, and would listen to no protests or entreaties. Seeing her determination, he gave her every assistance in his power.

Peter Hart came, bringing with him his wife, the faithful Margaret. They were delighted to see their former mistress and friend. Hart stood erect before her, with his heels together, soldier-like, as if to receive orders.

1 Harper's Weekly, January 26, 1861.

2 The garrison was composed of ten officers, fifteen musicians, and fifty-five artillerists-eighty in all

A FAITHFUL WIFE AND TRUSTED FRIEND.

a

133

"I have sent for you, Hart," Mrs. Anderson said, "to ask you to do me a favor." "Any thing Mrs. Anderson wishes, I will do," was his prompt reply. "But," she said, "it may be more than you imagine." "Any thing Mrs. Anderson wishes," he again replied. "I want you to go with me to Fort Sumter," she said. Hart looked toward Margaret for a moment, and then promptly respond-lo ed, "I will go, Madam." "But, Hart," continued the earnest woman, "I want you to stay with the Major. You will leave your family and give up a good situation." Hart again glanced inquiringly at Margaret and then quickly replied, "I will go, Mad- og am." "But, Margaret," Mrs. Anderson said, turning to Hart's wife, "What do you say?" "Indade, Ma'am, and it's Margaret's sorry she can't do as much for you

PETER HART.

"When will you go,

as Pater can," was the warm-hearted woman's reply. Hart?" asked Mrs. Anderson. "To-night, Madam, if you wish," replied her true and abiding friend. "Be here to-morrow night at six o'clock," said

Mrs. Anderson, "and I will be ready. Good-by, Margaret."

1861.

All things were speedily arranged. The two travelers were to take only a satchel each for the journey. Hart was to play the part of a servant to Mrs. Anderson, and to be ready, at all times, to second her every word and act. What difficulties and trials awaited them, no one knew. The brave, patriotic, loving woman did not care. It was enough for her to know that her husband and country were in peril, and she was seeking to serve them. The travelers left New York on Thursday evening, the 3d of January. None but her good physician-not even the nurse of her children-knew their destination. She was completely absorbed with the subject of her errand. They traveled without intermission until their arrival in Charleston, late on Saturday night. She neither ate, drank, nor slept during that time. From the Cape Fear to Charleston, she was the only woman in the railway train, which was filled with rough men hurrying to Charleston to join in an attack on Fort Sumter. They were mostly shaggyhaired, brutal, and profane, who became drunken and noisy, and filled the cars with tobacco-smoke. "Can't you prevent their smoking here?" she gently asked the conductor. His only reply was, "Wal, I reckon they'll have to smoke." Her appeal to two rough men in front of her was more successful. With sweet voice, that touched the chords of their better nature, she said, "Will you please to throw away your cigars? they make me so sick." One of them glanced at the speaker, and said to his companion, "Let's do it; she's a lady." During the remainder of the journey these rude men were very respectful. In that train of cars, Mrs. Anderson was compelled to hear her husband cursed with the most horrid oaths, and threatened with savage violence should he fall into the hands of the exasperated mob. But she endured all heroically.

It was late in the evening when they reached Charleston. When the drunken soldiers were carried out, she asked an agent at the station for a

134

AN HEROIC AND PATRIOTIC WOMAN.

carriage. "Where are you from?" he asked. "New York," she replied. "Where are you going?" "To Charleston." "Where else ?" "Don't know; get me a carriage to go to the Mills House." "There are none." "I know better." "I can't get one." "Then give me a piece of paper that I may write a note to Governor Pickens; he will send me one." The man yielded at the mention of the Governor's name. He supposed she must be some one of importance; and a few minutes afterward, she and Hart were in a carriage, on their way to the Mills House. There the parlor into which she was ushered was filled with excited people of both sexes, who were exasperated because of her husband's movements. His destruction of the old flagstaff at Moultrie was considered an insult to the South Carolinians that might not be forgiven. Their language was extremely violent.

Mrs. Anderson met her brother at the Mills House. On the following morning he procured from Governor Pickens a permit for her to go to Fort Sumter. She sought one for Hart. The Governor could not allow a man to be added to the Sumter garrison, he said; he would be held responsible to the Commonwealth of South Carolina for any mischief that might ensue in consequence! Mrs. Anderson did not conceal the scorn which the suggestion and excuse elicited. The State of South Carolina-now claiming to be a sovereign power among the nations of the earth-endangered by the addition of one man to a garrison of seventy or eighty, while thousands of armed hands were ready and willing to strike them! Pickens was her father's old friend. "Tell him," she said, "that I shall take Hart to the fort, with or without a pass." Her words of scorn and her demand were repeated to the Governor. He saw the absurdity of his conduct, and gave a pass for Hart, but coupled the permission with a requirement that her messenger should obtain from Major Anderson a pledge that he should not be enrolled as a soldier! The pledge was exacted, given, and faithfully kept. Peter Hart served his country there better than if he had been a mere combatant.

At ten o'clock on Sunday morning, the 6th of January, Mrs. Anderson, with Hart and a few personal friends then in Charleston, started in a small boat for Sumter, carrying with her a mail-bag for the garrison, which had lately been often kept back. It was a most charming morning. The air was balmy and the bosom of the bay was unrippled. Nature invited to delicious enjoyment; but the brave woman, absorbed in the work of her holy mission of love and patriotism, heeded not the invitation. Everywhere were seen strange banners. Among them all was not a solitary Union flag. She felt like an exile from her native land. Presently, as the boat shot around a point of land, some one exclaimed, "There's Sumter!" She turned, and saw the national ensign floating gently over it. It seemed, as it waved languidly in the almost still air, like a signal of distress over a vessel in the midst of terrible breakers. "The dear old flag!" she exclaimed, and burst into tears. For the first time since she left New York, Emotion had conquered the Will.

MES. ANDERSON.

MRS. ANDERSON IN FORT SUMTER.

135

Sentinel-boats were now passed, and proper passwords were given. They approached Sumter, when a watchman on its walls trumpeted the inquiry, "Who comes there?" A gentleman in the boat replied through a trumpet, "Mrs Major Anderson." She was formally ordered to advance. friends conveyed her up the rocks to the wharf, her husband came running out of the sally-port. He caught her in his arms, and exclaimed in a vehement whisper, for her ear only, "My glorious wife!" and carried her into the fort. "I have brought you Peter Hart," she said. "The children are well. I return to-night." Then, turning to the accompanying friends, she said, "Tell me when the tide serves;

I shall go back with the boat." She then retired with her husband to his quarters nearly over the sally-pòrt, and took some refreshments; the first since leaving New York.

The tide served in the course of two hours. When Mrs. Anderson was placed in the boat by her husband, she experienced almost an irresistible desire to draw him after her-to take him away from the great peril. With the plashing of the oars, when the boat was shoved off, came a terrible impression as if she had buried her husband and was returning from his funeral. But she leaned lovingly, by faith, on the strong arm of the All-Father, and received strength. Invalid and a woman as she was, she had performed a great service to her husband and country. She had given them a faithful and useful friend in Peter Hart-how faithful and useful, the subsequent history of Fort Sumter until it passed into the hands of armed insurgents, three months later, only feebly reveals.

January 6,

1861.

Unheeding the entreaties of friends, who tried to persuade her to remain, and offered to bring her family to her; and the assurance of a deputation of Charlestonians, who waited upon her, that she might reside in their city, dwell in Sumter, or wherever she pleased, Mrs. Anderson started for the National Capital that evening," accompanied by Major Anderson's brother. Charleston was no place for her while her husband was under the old flag; and she would not add to his cares by remaining with him in the fort. A bed was placed in the cars, and on that she journeyed comfortably to Washington. She was insensible when she arrived at Willard's Hotel, into which she was conveyed by a dear friend from New York, a powerful man, whose face was the first that she recognized on the return of her consciousness. After suffering for forty-eight hours from utter exhaustion, she proceeded to New York, and was for a long time threatened with brain fever.

Thus ended the mission of this brave woman. She alone had done what the Government would not, or dared not do. She had not sent, but taken, a valuable re-enforcement to Fort Sumter. When we look back to the beginning of the great civil war, the eye of just appreciation perceives no heroism