Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

To: gattaca
Tensions grew, and Beauregard finally sent US officials an ultimatum – abandon the fort or face destruction.

This is incorrect too. Beauregard sent a message to Major Anderson informing him of the arrival of Lincolns fleet of belligerent warships. He asked Anderson for a truce. He informed Anderson that if Anderson would not fire on his men, he would not fire on Anderson.

Anderson responded that if Beauregard fired at any ship bearing an American flag, Anderson would use all the guns of Ft. Sumter to attack him.

So it looks like Anderson was the one who actually sent an ultimatum.

90 posted on 04/02/2021 4:35:42 PM PDT by DiogenesLamp ("of parents owing allegiance to no other sovereignty.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: DiogenesLamp
DiogenesLamp: "...Beauregard sent a message to Major Anderson informing him of the arrival of Lincolns fleet of belligerent warships.
He asked Anderson for a truce.
He informed Anderson that if Anderson would not fire on his men, he would not fire on Anderson."

In fact, Confederates had many times demanded Fort Sumter's surrender, going back to December 1860.
Maj. Anderson, Presidents Buchanan and Lincoln had always refused.
By April 1861 there was nothing conditional or "truce" about Confederate demands -- on April 11 & 12 they again demanded immediate surrender and when Maj. Anderson tried to delay, Jefferson Davis' orders were that Fort Sumter be "reduced".

The Confederates' final order to assault Fort Sumter came when only one Union ship, the Revenue Cutter Harriet Lane, sat out of sight, well outside Charleston Harbor.

212 posted on 04/04/2021 12:42:45 PM PDT by BroJoeK ((a little historical perspective...) )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 90 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson