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I am presently reading Bruce Catton's "The Coming Fury." I found out something I had never read before.
It kind of disturbed me, but if not Sumpter the war would have started elsewhere. Anyway, when Beauregard sent the Confederate officers to inform Major Anderson of his surrender demands, Major
Anderson informed the Rebs that "If you do not batter us to pieces we will be starved out in a few days."
All the South had to do was wait about 5 more days and
Major Anderson would have given up for lack of food.
The firing on Fort Sumpter, in my opinion, was premature. What are your thoughts on this matter?
The confederates knew of the relief force heading toward ft sumter which actually arrived just before the ft surrendered. They could not have another nation manning a ft in the middle of one of thier harbors controlling shipping. Lincoln could have evacuated the fort but he wanted a reason to start the war.
I've seen it convincingly argued that the Confederates were worried about the federal government surreptitiously resupplying the fort. Having said that, I do believe that Sumter was not attacked for the military value, but first and foremost for the symbolic aspect.
__________________ David
"I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person" diddyriddick
Anderson did so inform Confederate authorities that he'd have to leave in a few days due to his inability to feed his troops. However, jreb is quite correct in that supplies were, at that very moment, on their way to relieve him.
For some reason as yet to be determined, the decision was made to reduce the fort rather than stop the relief expedition. The Confederacy would have had a far better leg to stand on if the magic had worked and the relief had been carried on by force. That is, if the warships had reduced the Confederate batteries and forced the delivery of supplies.
That would have forever branded the Union as the agressors.
For reasons of his own, and presumably in favor of a united Confederacy, Davis opted to open hostilities by firing on Ft. Sumter before the relief expedition arrived.
And here I must disagree with jreb: "Lincoln could have evacuated the fort but he wanted a reason to start the war." No respectable president could be expected to turn tail. Political suicide and far outside of his oath to protect and defend. And as for a "reason to start the war," it's more like: "if there is to be a war, you have to start it." And start it they did.
And I'll agree with Mr. Riddick: the fort had no value to either side. It was symbolic. Lincoln could not afford to be seen as weak and vague, and the Confederacy could not either. Unfortunate, but that's the way these things shake out.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
As the southern officers were preparing to leave, the Ft. after delivering their final demand for surrender, Maj. Anderson, seems to have casually mentioned the fact that in a few more days he would have to surrender due to a lack of food. This was reported back to Beauregard and he sent the men back to clarify the exact time and date that the Ft. would be surrendered.
Maj. Anderson told the date and time he would surrender "IF' by that time he had not been resupplied or recieved contradictory orders from his superiors.
The officer negotiating directly with Anderson, realized that the promised surrender was not really a surrender at all and knew that it would be unacceptable to southern authorities, before he left the fort and informed Maj. Anderson when the Confederate attack would begin.
... They could not have another nation manning a ft in the middle of one of their harbors controlling shipping. ...
Why not?
Guantanamo. Berlin. Hong Kong.
It's not exactly without precedent.
As far as Lincoln evacuating the fort to avoid a war, how is that not extortion by the south? What next, "Evacuate Maryland or we'll shoot." Give us New York City or we'll shoot and it'll be your fault."
Would you leave your house under such circumstances?
[edit - forgot] Gibraltar too. Maybe most of all.
Last edited by Baggage Handler #2; 09-06-2008 at 03:52 PM.
Exactly, Handler. The extortion had to stop somewhere and Lincoln chose to draw the line across Charleston Harbor.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Am feeling a bit silly this morning, so I'll indulge myself in noting that there is no "pee" in Sumter. Which brings to mind the ridiculous image of soldiers with legs stiff and tightly crossed.
(Just sharing.)
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
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