[ns]: You would not be entirely correct. Anderson was complaining about his supply situation from day 1, though his situation in January was nowhere near as bad as his situation in April.
From Days of Defiance by Maury Klein:
The dwindling larder surprised Anderson. Instead of a six-month supply of staples, he barely had enough for four. The need for belt tightening forced him to another painful decision: The women and children had to be evacuated. Reluctantly he asked Pickens to permit one of the New York steamers to take the civilian dependents back to that city lest the shortage of supplies "produce sickness among them. Pickens granted the request readily, and on February 1 a lighter arrived to take the forty-two women and children to Charleston, where they were to board the steamer.
The steamer left on February 3 with the women and children.
free dixie,sw