I'm sure there's an exception for law enforcement authorities.
Whose law were they enforcing? Certainly not local law, because South Carolina had two steamers patroling the harbor since the night of the 20th to ensure that no one moved to Sumter except authorized workers. (Klein, paperback version, pg 153).
I imagine the ship captain who had been contracted to take women and children over to Fort Johnson was quite aware of the patrling steamers and their purpose and did not want to put his ship in danger by taking it to Sumter.
I did find mention of the charter. It was as I suspected. From Klein, pg 154: "He [Anderson] had sent Lieutenant Norman C. Hall to charter three schooners and some barges ostensibly to move the women and children in Moultrie across the harbor to Fort Johnson."
Then I found this in reference to Governor Pickens and the truce with Buchanan. Klein, pg 163: "Rhett senior and three legislators had visited Pickens soon after his arrival in Charleston to urge that all measures be taken to keep federal soldiers out of Sumter. Rhett had also tried to get the convention to approve siezure of the forts. But Pickens was adamant; he would not move so long as the "understanding" remained in place and until the commissioners [rb note: South Carolina's commissioners to Washington] had had a chance to fulfill their mission."
Your "law enforcers" didn't want to be seen by the patrol boats. In one instance they removed their caps and coats and hid their arms and insignia to fool a patrol boat into thinking that they were a regular Sumter workparty. If was dusk or after dark.
Sounds like Jack Bauer all right. Where was Chloe when the South Carolinians needed her?
OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 1, Part 1 (Charleston Campaign) Page 236
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, D. C., April 4, 1861.
Lieutenant Colonel HENRY L. SCOTT, A. D. C., New York:
SIR: This letter will be landed to you by Captain G. V. Fox, ex-officer of the Navy, and a gentleman of high standing, as well as possessed of extraordinary nautical ability. He is charged by high authority here with the command of an expedition, under cover of certain ships of war, whose object is to re-enforce Fort Sumter.
To embark with Captain Fox you will cause a detachment of recruits, say about two hundred, to be immediately organized at Fort Columbus, with a competent number of officers, arms, ammunition, and subsistence. A large surplus of the latter-indeed, as great as the vessels of the expedition can take — with other necessaries, will be needed for the augmented garrison of Fort Sumter.
The subsistence and other supplies should be assorted like those which were provided by you and Captain Ward of the Navy for a former expedition. Consult Captain Fox and Major Eaton on the subject, and give all necessary orders in my name to fit out the expedition, except that the hiring of vessels will be left to others.
Some fuel must be shipped. Oil, artillery implements, fuses, cordage, slow-march, mechanical levers, and gins, &c., should also be put on board.
Consult, also, if necessary, confidentially, Colonel Tompkins and Major Thornton.
Respectfully, yours,
WINFIELD SCOTT.
Mr. McSWEENEY, THE CHARLESTON BUTCHER WHO REGULARLY SUPPLIED FORT SUMTER. Meats from the farmer’s market; vegetables; fruit; and fish.
OFFICIAL RECORDS: Armies, Series 1, Volume 1 Page 144
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF WAR
Charleston, January 19, 1861.
Maj. ROBERT ANDERSON:
SIR: I am instructed by his excellency the governor to inform you that he has directed an officer of the State to procure and carry over with your mails each day to Fort Sumter such supplies of fresh meat and vegetables as you may indicate.
I am, sir, respectfidiy yours,
D. F. JAMISON.
FORT SUMTER S. C., January 19, 1861
Hon. D. F. JAMISON,
Executive Office, Department of War:
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of this date, stating that you are authorized by his excellency the governor to inform me that he has directed an officer of the State to procure and carry over with my mails each day to Fort Sumter such supplies of fresh meat and vegetables as I may indicate. I confess that I am at a loss to understand the latter part of this message, as I have not represented in any quarter that we were in need of such supplies. As commandant of a military post, I can only have my troops furnished with fresh beef in the manner prescribed by law, and I am compelled, therefore, with due thanks to his excellency, respectfully to decline his offer. If his suggestion is based upon a right, then I must procure the meat as we have been in the habit of doing for years, under an unexpired contract with Mr. McSweeney, a Charleston butcher, who would, I presume, if permitted, deliver the meat, &c., at this fort or at Fort Johnson, at the usual periods for such delivery, four times in ten days. If the permission is founded on courtesy and civility, I am compelled respectfully to decline accepting it, with a reiteration of my thanks for having made it. in connection with this subject, I deem it not improper respectfully to suggest that his excellency may do an act of humanity and great kindness if he will permit one of the New York steamers to stop with a lighter and take the womeu and children of this garrison to that city. The confinement within the walls of this work, and the impossibility of my having it in my power to have them furnished with the proper and usual articles of food, will, I fear, soon produce sickness among them. The compliance with this request will confer a favor upon a class of persons to whom similar indulgences are always granted, even during a siege in time of actual war, and will be duly appreciated by me.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ROBERT ANDERSON,
Major, First Artillery, Commanding Fort Sumter.
P.S. — I hope that the course I have deemed it my duty to take in reference to the supplies will have a tendency to allay an excitement which, jndging from the tenor of the paragraphs in to-day’s paper, I fear they are trying to get up in the city.
FOOD WAS SUPPLIED TO FORT SUMTER UNTIL APRIL 7, 1861
There was no food shortage. It is well-documented that Fort Sumter had obtained food from the merchants of Charleston since shortly after Major Anderson moved there. It is well documented by the official records of both sides that the supply of food from the Charleston merchants was not cut off until April 7, 1861. After the South Carolina officials learned of the fleet that was sailing toward them, they cut off the food supply.
UNION CORRESPONDENCE
[247]
No; 96.
FORT SUMTER, S. C., April 7, 1861.
(Received A. G. O., April 13.)
Col. L. THOMAS,
Adjutant- General U. S. Army:
COLONEL:
I have the honor to report that we do not see any work going on around us. There was more activity displayed by the guard-
[248] boats last night than has been clone for some time. Three of them remained at anchor all night and until after reveille this morning, near the junction of the three channels. You will see by the inclosed letter, just received from Brigadier-General Beauregard that we shall not get any more supplies from the city of Charleston. I hope that they will continne to let us have onr mails as long as we remain. I am glad to be enabled to report that there have been no new cases of dysentery, and that the sick-list only embraces six cases to-day.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ROBERT ANDERSON,
Major, First Artillery, Commanding.
[Inclosure.l
CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE
HEADQUARTERS OF THE PROVISIONAL ARMY, C. S.,
Charleston, S. C., April 7, 1861.
Maj. ROBERT ANDERSON,
Commanding at Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor S. C.:
Sir:
In compliance with orders from the Confederate Government at Montgomery, I have the honor to inform you that, in consequence of the delays and apparent vacillations of the United States Government at Washington relative to the evacuation of Fort Sumter, no further communications for the purposes of supply with this city from the fort and with the fort from this city will be permitted from and after this day. The mails, however, will continue to be transmitted as heretofore, until further instructions from the Confederate Government.
I remain, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G.T. BEAUREGARD,
Brigadier- General, Commanding
Though Lincoln allowed himself to be portrayed as being concerned with the “starving” garrison, it was his orders to the civilian Fox and the activity at the Naval yard in New York that prompted the Confederacy to cease supplies.
Lincoln wanted a confrontation with the secession group, and set about to be the prime mover and catalyst for the action that he would peg as the beginning of war.