Ok… it’s put up or shut up time. I have studied the Civil War for years and I have never seen these Anderson letters. Why don’t you post them so all of us can see them.
There was a time some years ago when I kept a series of bookmarks for ready reference to find documents like this, but over time, the links went dead, and I have changed computers, so it's no longer so easy to find things I used to have.
But I remembered enough of a snippet of what he said that a google search found a bit more of it. Here is that snippet, and with it you can likely find the rest of the letter. I believe it was written April 8, 1861, but i'm not sure.
Major Robert Anderson
"We shall strive to do our duty, though I frankly say that my heart is not in this war, which I see is to be thus commenced."
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You do the legwork on this.
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I know Lincoln wrote Governor Pickens when he sent the resupply ships south promising they would only resupply Andersons detachment unless they were fired upon.
"Unless resisted."
"Resisted" could mean anything and it was left to Captain Mercer to decide what "resisted" is supposed to mean in context.
And given they had strung chains across the channel and set up cannons to blow anyone up trying to move through it, I think "resisted" is already baked into the cake.
I’m kind of busy today but I am reviewing the documents you posted. I’ll get back to you after I have looked at them, but suffice to say I do not see Anderson criticizing Lincoln. As to concern for a war starting, that was pretty obvious to Anderson looking out and seeing thousands of rebels with their guns leveled on him. No good soldier ever wants to see a war start.
Really? That’s funny because this letter from Major Anderson to Governor Pickins was in the link you sent me.
Hummm. 4 months before the firing on Fort Sumter. 3 months before Lincoln even took office. The Doughface pro Confederate Buchanan was president.No. 16. To His Excellency, the Governor op South Carolina :
[MAJOR ANDERSON TO THE GOVERNOR.]
Sir : Two of your batteries fired this morning upon an unarmed vessel bearing the flag of my Government. As I have not been notified that war has been declared by South Carolina against the Government of the United States, I cannot but think that this hostile act was committed without your sanction or authority. Under that hope, and that alone, did I refrain from opening fire upon your batteries.I have the honor, therefore, respectfully to ask whether the above-mentioned act — one I believe without a parallel in the history of our country, or of any other civilized Government — was committed in obedience to your instructions, and to notify you if it be not disclaimed, that I must regard it as an act of war, and that I shall not, after a reasonable time for the return of my messenger, permit any vessels to pass within range of the guns of my Fort. In order to save, as far as in my power, the shedding of blood, I beg that you will have due notification of this my decision, given to all concerned. Hoping, however, that your answer may be such as will justify a further continuance of forbearance on my part, I have the honor to be, Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
ROBERT ANDERSON,
Major 1st Artillery U. S. A., Commanding.
Fort Sumter, S. C, January 9, 1861.
So how did Lincoln fire the first shots in Charleston harbor.