Bruce Catton, The Coming Fury
Posted on 04/06/2021 6:57:12 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
Bruce Catton, The Coming Fury
Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals
Continued from April 4 (reply #33).
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3946351/posts#33
David Herbert Donald, Lincoln
Jean Edward Smith, Grant
Mary Chesnut’s Diary, Edited by Isabella D. Martin and Myrta Lockett Avary
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas
FORT SUMTER, S.C., April 12, 1861.
GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt by Colonel Chesnut of your second communication of the 11th instant, and to state in reply that, cordially uniting with you in the desire to avoid the useless effusion of blood, I will, if provided with the proper and necessary means of transportation, evacuate Fort Sumter by noon on the 15th instant, and that I will not in the mean time open my fires upon your forces unless compelled to do so by some hostile act against this fort or the flag of my Government by the forces under your command, or by some portion of them, or by the perpetration of some act showing a hostile intention on your part against this fort or the flag it bears, should I not receive prior to that time controlling instructions from my Government or additional supplies.
ROBERT ANDERSON,
Major, First Artillery, Commanding.
Brig. Gen. BEAUREGARD,
Commanding.
SOURCE: Samuel Wylie Crawford, The Genesis of the Civil War: The Story of Sumter, 1860-1861, p. 425; The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 1 (Serial No. 1), p. 14.
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2017/04/major-robert-anderson-to-brigadier.html
MONTGOMERY, Alabama,
April 12th, 1861.
My dear friend,
Your despatch reached me after I had directed one to be sent, which anticipated your wish so fully that you might have imagined it to be an answer if the dates had been reversed. I shall attend to your request about the pistols. The Secretary of War, to whom I handed your letter, has not replied; but there can be no difficulty too great to be overborne by your anxiety in the matter.
A want of vigilance let Anderson pass from Moultrie to Sumter. I hope your guard boats, steamers and launches are under competent and faithfully watchful officers.
J. D.
SOURCE: Louise Wigfall Wright, A Southern Girl in ’61, p. 37
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/07/jefferson-davis-to-louis-t-wigfall.html
HEAD QUARTERS,
MORRIS ISLAND,
April 12th.
. . . I take a moment to write you a line to say that I am well and that all is well. I cannot return till General Beauregard comes. I am very busy examining the position of the different batteries and arranging Infantry to support them in case a landing should be attempted. They are, you know, entirely out of the reach of the guns of Sumter. I have not been to Cummin's Point, but hear a good report. The Iron Battery stands fire admirably, and has dismounted two of Sumter's barbette guns. Not a single accident up to this time on our side. Thought that Sumter suffered this morning from the effect of shells — as Anderson is keeping his men at the casemates. He has thrown no shell, and probably has none; or perhaps, no guns from which to throw them. He has been throwing 32 solid shot at the iron battery, and they break to pieces, and fly off without making the slightest impression. Dr. St. Julien Ravenel has just come in and says that up to this time no one has been hurt. The wind is very high and I cannot hear the firing, but they still keep it up. I have been on the upper part of the Island, and am about to mount my horse again. We have just held a council to distribute the forces for the night, and before mounting I write to make you easy and assure you that all is well.
SOURCE: Louise Wigfall Wright, A Southern Girl in ’61, p. 39-40
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/07/louis-t-wigfall-to-charlotte-cross.html
April 12.
I was awakened about half past four, this morning, by the booming of a cannon, and it has been going on steadily ever since — the firing is constant and rapid — with what results we don't yet know. Your father has gone to Morris's Island to obtain a report from the command there, and in order to avoid the guns of Sumter he has taken Major Whiting's row boat, so as to run in by the Inlets. I don't know how long he will be gone.
11 o'clock. The news we hear so far is good. No one killed on Morris's Island so far — and a breach reported in Fort Sumter. The iron battery is working well and the balls from Sumter have no effect on it. All is excitement of the most painful kind. Another story is that the Harriet Lane which was off the bar last night has been fired into and injured.
SOURCE: Louise Wigfall Wright, A Southern Girl in ’61, p. 38-9
[April 12, 1861]
F. W. Pickens, Gov. S. C.
Sir,
The U. S. Govt has directed me to deliver a quantity of provisions to Major Anderson at Fort Sumpter, due notice of which has probably been given to you by special messenger from Washington.
Accordingly I send herewith the first load. If your batteries open fire it will be upon an unarmed boat, and unarmed men performing an act of duty and humanity.
G. V. FOX
In charge of Transport
Herewith I commence sending you the subsistence entrusted to my charge to be delivered at Fort Sumpter.
SOURCES: Robert Means Thompson & Richard Wainwright, Editors, Publications of the Naval Historical Society, Volume 9: Confidential Correspondence of Gustavus Vasa Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1861-1865, Volume 1, p. 18
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/04/gustavus-v-fox-to-governor-francis-w.html
Capt. Daniel Jackson
Pilot—
Sir—
I send you to Fort Sumpter with a load of provisions to be delivered with a letter to Major A. when you will immediately return. If you are fired upon going in, turn back at once. If any one opposes your entrance deliver to that person the letter addressed to Gov. Pickens and return — if your entrance is still opposed.
G. V. FOX
SOURCES: Robert Means Thompson & Richard Wainwright, Editors, Publications of the Naval Historical Society, Volume 9: Confidential Correspondence of Gustavus Vasa Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1861-1865, Volume 1, p. 18
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2018/04/gustavus-v-fox-to-captain-daniel.html
Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: April 12, 1861 (In Richmond, Jones learns that Sumter has been bombarded. He meets Gov. Wise and former President Tyler at his hotel.)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2014/12/diary-of-john-beauchamp-jones-april-12.html
Proclamation of Jefferson Davis, April 12, 1861 Davis Calls for the Confederate Congress to convene on April 29.)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2013/03/proclamation-of-jefferson-davis-april_25.html
Diary of William Howard Russell: April 12, 1861 (Russell is going south to check out the crisis at Charleston for himself. Sentiment in Washington is strongly for the secessionists. At Baltimore he learns that Sumter has been bombarded.)
https://civilwarnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/06/diary-of-william-howard-russell-april_14.html
Remaining posts for today:
“Team of Rivals,” reply #42
“Lincoln,” #43
“Grant,” #44
Mary B. Chesnut, #45
George Templeton Strong, #46
Six items from Civil War Notebook, #47
Links to John Beauchamp Jones & William Howard Russell diary entries and Jefferson Davis proclamation, #48
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.