[nc] Why was it there?
Ft. Sumter was under contruction and not occupied by federal troops until Dec 26th 1860. Late that day, Major Anderson moved the garrison from Ft. Moultrie on the shoreline to Ft. Sumter, careful to avoid the SC patrol boats in the harbor. The civilian workman at Sumter were returned to Charleston, and the siege of Ft. Sumter was begun.
Major Anderson's decision to move to Ft. Sumter was motivated by the simple fact that it was more defensible from attack by SC state militia than Ft. Moultrie was.
[nc] You make it sound as if it served no particular purpose, was just a government boondoggle, and its evacuation would have been a benefit by saving taxpayer dollars.
The only government boondoggle was the 100 civilians working at the fort. Federal gravy being ladled out to the poor white southerners.
[nc] Why was it there?
[mac] Ft. Sumter was under contruction and not occupied by federal troops until Dec 26th 1860. Late that day, Major Anderson moved the garrison from Ft. Moultrie on the shoreline to Ft. Sumter, careful to avoid the SC patrol boats in the harbor. The civilian workman at Sumter were returned to Charleston, and the siege of Ft. Sumter was begun.
[mac] Major Anderson's decision to move to Ft. Sumter was motivated by the simple fact that it was more defensible from attack by SC state militia than Ft. Moultrie was.
Well, that explains it. Fort Sumter was there to serve as a hiding place for Major Anderson. The fort was built and the guns installed to protect the fort and its inhabitants from the barbarian hordes of Charleston.
President Buchanan's Secretary of War to Major Anderson on being surprised by Anderson's report of movement from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter: It is not believed, because there is no order for any such movement. Believe it. Lincoln sent a confidential message to General Scott. Scott appears to have reached out and touched Major Anderson.
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OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 1, Part 1, page 73
SPECIAL ORDERS, HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
Numbers 137.
New York, November 15, 1860.
Major Robert Anderson, First Artillery, will forthwith proceed to Fort Moultrie, and immediately relieve Bvt. Colonel John L. Garnder, lieutenant-colonel of First Artillery, in command thereof; who, on being relieved, will repair without delay to San Antonio, Texas, and report to the commanding officer of the Department of Texas for duty, with that portion of this regiment serving therein.
By command of Lieutenant-General Scott:
L. THOMAS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
[nc: italics IN original; boldface added]
Hon. E.B. Washburne
My dear Sir:
Last night I received your letter giving an account of your interview with Gen. Scott, and for which I thank you. Please present my respects to the general, and tell him, confidentially, I shall be obliged to him to be as well prepared as he can to either hold or retake, the forts, as the case may require, at and after the inauguration. Yours as ever
A. Lincoln
Cite: The Living Lincoln, 1995, edited by Paul M. angle and Earl Schenck Miers, page 368.
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OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 1, part 1, page 2
Numbers 1. Reports of Major Robert Anderson, U. S. Army, of the evacuation of Fort Moultrie, S. C.
[Numbers 11.] (sic - 1?) FORT SUMTER, S. C.,
December 26, 1860-8 p.m. (Received A. G. O., December 29.)
COLONEL: I have the honor to report that I have just completed, by the blessing of God, the removal to this fort of all of my garrison, except the surgeon, four non-commissioned officers, and seven men. We have one year's supply of hospital stores and about four months' supply of provisions for my command. I left orders to have all the guns at Fort Moultrie spiked, and the carriages of the 32-pounders, which are old, destroyed. I have sent orders to Captain Foster, who remains at Fort Moultrie, to destroy all the ammunition which he cannot send over. The step which I have taken was, in my opinion, necessary to prevent the effusion of blood.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
ROBERT ANDERSON,
Major, First Artillery, Commanding.
Colonel S. COOPER, Adjutant-General.
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OFFICIAL RECORDS: Series 1, vol 1, part 1, page 3
[Telegram.]
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Adjutant-General's Office, December 27, 1860.
Major ANDERSON, Fort Moultrie:
Intelligence has reached here this morning that you have abandoned Fort Moultrie, spiked your guns, burned the carriages, and gone to Fort Sumter. It is not believed, because there is no order for any such movement. Explain the meaning of this report.
J. B. FLOYD,
Secretary of War.
[Telegram.]
CHARLESTON, December 27, 1860.
Honorable J. B. FLYD, Secretary of War:
The telegram is correct. I abandoned Fort Moultrie because I was certain that if attacked my men must have been sacrificed, and the command of the harbor lost. I spiked the guns and destroyed the carriages to keep the guns from being used against us.
If attacked, the garrison would never have surrendered without a fight.
ROBERT ANDERSON,
Major, First Artillery.