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Major Anderson knew there were spies at and around Ft. Moultrie. His earlier communications to the War Dept. indicate that decisions and orders at the fort were being reported in the local newspapers the next day. He gave his men no advance warning of his decision to move the garrison to Ft. Sumter on purpose.

-btw Does your source indicate how many civilian workmen were at Ft. Sumter when Doubleday and his men arrived? I've seen estimates of 100-150 workmen at the fort prior to Anderson's decision to move the garrison there. Fixed bayonets does not seem inapropriate when the odds are 3 or 4 to 1 against. Especially with some of the civilians wearing blue cockade hats.

Sounds like Doubleday couldn't have survived FreeRepublic give and take without having a stroke.

Ha. Sounds to me like he'd fit right in...

No, I've not seen a figure for how many workmen were in the fort. If I can get away, I hope to visit Fort Sumter in a few weeks. If I find out there, I'll let you know.

I found some additional information about how Floyd and Buchanan reacted to Anderson's move into Sumter in the book, "Days of Defiance," by Maury Klein.

...The next morning when Trescot was readying their credentials [the credentials of the South Carolina commissioners who had come to talk with Buchanan], Louis Wigfall burst in with a telegram that Anderson had spiked Moultrie's guns and moved to Sumter/ The commissioners and Trescot were stunned. "True or not," said Trescot amid an animated discussion, "I will pledge my life that if it has been done it has been without orders from Washington.
Just then Floyd arrived. He blanched at the news and confirmed what Trescot had said, that such a move "would be not only against orders but in the face of orders." ...

Trescot informed Senators Jefferson Davis and Robert Hunter and went with them to the White House to demand an explanation. Buchanan had not heard of Anderson's action. Here is how Buchanan responded according to Klein's extensively documented book:

Buchanan slumped into a chair. "My God!" he cried wearily. "Are calamities ... never to come singly! I call God to witness -- you gentlemen better than anybody else know that this is not only without but against my orders. It is against my policy." ...