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Orders pretaining to the Fox Expedition
CHARLESTON, March 22, 1861.
General L. P. WALKER:
Special messenger from General Scott to learn Anderson's condition arrived last evening. Went back last night. Reports Anderson nearly out fuel and provisions. All my batteries will be finished and armed in two or three days. Can I have Boggs?
G. T. BEAUREGARD.
CHARLESTON, S. C., April 1, 1861.
Honorable L. P. WALKER, Montgomery, Ala.:
The following telegram just received from Commissioner Crawford: I am authorized to say that this Government will not undertake to supply Sumter without notice to you. My opinion is that the President has not the courage to execute the order agreed upon in Cabinet for the evacuation of the fort, but that he intends to shift the responsibility upon Major Anderson, by suffering him to be starved out. Would it not be well to aid in this by cutting off all supplies?
CRAWFORD.
Batteries here ready to open Wednesday or Thursday. What instructions? G. T. BEAUREGARD.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, D. C., April 4, 1861.
Major ROBERT ANDERSON, U. S. Army:
SIR: Your letter of the 1st instant occasions some anxiety to the President.
On the information of Captain Fox he had supposed you could hold out till the 15th instant without any great inconvenience; and had prepared an expedition to relieve you before that period.
Hoping still that you will be able to sustain yourself till the 11th or 12th instant, the expedition will go forward; and, finding your flag flying, will attempt to provision you, and, in case the effort is resisted, will endeavor also to re-enforce you. You will therefore hold out, if possible, till the arrival of the expedition.
It is not, however, the intention of the President to subject your command to any danger or hardship beyond what, in your judgment, would be usual in military life; and he has entire confidence that you will act as becomes a patriot and soldier, under all circumstances.
Whenever, if at all, in your judgment, to save yourself and command, a capitulation becomes a necessity, you are authorized to make it.
Respectfully,
SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War.
WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington,
April 4, 1861.
Captain G. V. FOX, Washington, D. C.: SIR: It having been decided to succor Fort Sumter you have been selected for this important duty. Accordingly you will take charge of the transports in New York having the troops and supplies on board to the entrance of Charleston Harbor, and endeavor, in the first instance, to deliver the subsistence. If you are opposed in this you are directed to report the fact to the senior naval officer of the harbor, who will be instructed by the Secretary of the Navy to use his entire force to open a passage, when you will, if possible, effect an entrance and place both troops and supplies in Fort Sumter.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
SIMON CAMERON,
Secretary of War.
WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, April 4, 1861.
Colonel D. D. TOMPKINS,
A. Q. M. G., Numbers 6 State street, New York:
SIR: By direction of the Secretary of War you will charter such vessels as Captain G. V. Fox, the bearer of this, may designate; for such time and with such supplies as he may indicate.
I am, sir, &c.,
L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General.
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.
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
Washington, April 5, 1861.
Captain SAMUEL MERCER,
Commanding U. S. S. Powhatan, New York:
SIR: The United States steamers Powhatan, Pocahontas, and Harriet Lane will compose a naval force, under your command, to be sent to the vicinity of Charleston, S. C., for the purpose of aiding in carrying out the objects of an expedition of which the War Department has charge.
The primary object of the expedition is to provision Fort Sumter, for which purpose the War Department will furnish the necessary transports. Should the authorities at Charleston permit the fort to be supplied, no further particular service will be required of the force under your command, and after being satisfied that supplies have been received at the fort, the Powhatan, Pocahontas, and Harriet Lane will return to New York, and the Pawnee to Washington.
Should the authorities at Charleston, however, refuse to permit or attempt to prevent the vessel or vessels having supplies on board from entering the harbor, or from peaceably proceeding to Fort Sumter, you will protect the transports or boats of the expedition in the object of their mission-disposing of your force in such manner as to open the way for their ingress and afford, so far as practicable, security to the men and boats, and repelling by force, if necessary, all obstructions towards provisioning the fort and re-enforcing it; for in case of resistance to the peaceable primary object of the expedition a re-enforcement of the garrison will also be attempted.
These purposes will be under the supervision of the War Department, which has charge of the expedition. The expedition has been intrusted to Captain G. V. Fox, with whom you will put yourself in communication, and co-operate with him to accomplish and carry into effect its object.
You will leave New York with the Powhatan in time to be off Charleston Bar, ten miles distant from and due east of the light-house, on the morning of the 11th instant, there to await the arrival of the transport or transports with troops and stores. The Pawnee and Pocahontas will be ordered to join you there at the time mentioned, and also the Harriet Lane, which latter vessel has been placed under the control of this Department for this service. On the termination of the expedition, whether it be peaceable or otherwise, the several vessels under your command will return to the respective ports, as above directed, unless some unforeseen circumstance should prevent.
I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, April 6, 1861.
Captain THEO. TALBOT, Assistant Adjutant-General:
SIR: You will proceed directly to Charleston, S. C., and if on your arrival there the flag of the United States shall be flying over Fort Sumter, and the fort shall not have been attacked, you will procure an interview with Governor Pickens, and read to him as follows:
I am directed by the President of the United States to notify [you] to expect an attempt will be made to supply Fort Sumter with provisions only, and that if such attempt be not resisted, no effort to throw in provisions, arms, or ammunition will be made without further notice or in case of an attack upon the fort.
After you shall have read this to Governor Pickens, deliver to him the copy of it herein inclosed, and retain this letter yourself.
But if on your arrival at Charleston you shall ascertain that Fort Sumter shall have been already evacuated or surrendered by the United States force, you will seek no interview with Governor Pickens, but return here forthwith.
Respectfully, SIMON CAMERON,
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
New York, April 6, 1861.
Lieutenant CHARLES R. WOODS,
Ninth Infantry, Act. Supt. East. Dept., R. S., Fort Columbus, N. Y.: SIR: The General-in-Chief desires that two hundred recruits from Fort Columbus be at once organized into two companies, and held in readiness for embarkation on Monday next, the 8th instant.
A proper proportion of non-commissioned officers will be included in the detachment, which must be fully supplied with arms, ammunition, and subsistence.
First Lieutenant Edward McK. Hudson, Fourth Artillery, First Lieutenant R. O. Tyler, Third Artillery, and Second Lieutenant C. W. Thomas, First Infantry, are assigned to duty with the recruits.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. L. SCOTT, Lieutenant-Colonel and A. D. C., Act. Adjt. General
WASHINGTON, April 6, 1861.
Honorable A. G. MAGRATH,
Charleston, S. C.:
Positively determined not to withdraw Anderson. Supplies go immediately, supported by naval force under Stringham if their landing be resisted.
A FRIEND.
[Indorsements.]
To CHARLESTON OFFICE:
The above is by a reliable man.
CALDWELL.
MONDAY, April 8. - Sent by James E. Harvey by telegraph last Saturday morning.
CHARLESTON, April 6, 1861.
L. P. WALKER:
The following telegraph I have just received from Washington:
Positively determined not to withdraw Anderson. Supplies go immediately, supported by a naval force under Stringham if their landing is resisted.
A FRIEND.
Governor and General Beauregard visiting the posts in the harbor, and will not be here for a few hours. In their absence I telegraphed to Washington to know who was the person signing himself "A Friend." The reply satisfies me that the person is high in the confidence of the Government at Washington. Mr. Wigfall, who is with me, concurs in the propriety of giving you notice of it without delay. A. G. MAGRATH.
WASHINGTON, April 8, 1861.
General G. T. BEAUREGARD:
Accounts are uncertain, because of the constant vacillation of this Government. We were reassured yesterday that the status of Sumter would not be changed without previous notice to Governor Pickens, but we have no faith in them. The war policy prevails in the Cabinet at this hour.
M. J. CRAWFORD.
CHARLESTON, April 8, 1861.
L. P. WALKER:
Authorized messenger from Lincoln just informed Governor, Pickens and myself that provisions would be sent to Sumter peaceably, otherwise by force.
G. T. BEAUREGARD.
MONTGOMERY, April 8, 1861.
General BEAUREGARD, Charleston:
Under no circumstances are you to allow provisions to be sent to Fort Sumter.
L. P. WALKER.
CHARLESTON, April 8, 1861.
Honorable L. P. WALKER:
Anderson's provisions stopped yesterday. No answer from him. I am calling out balance of contingent troops. G. T. BEAUREGARD.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, New York, April 8, 1861.
First Lieutenant EDWARD McK. HUDSON,
Fourth Artillery, Commanding U. S. troops on the steamer Baltic:
SIR: I am instructed by the General-in-Chief to say to you that the destination of the two hundred recruits embarked on the steamer Baltic is Fort Sumter, and that "Captain G. V. Fox, ex-officer of the Navy, and a gentleman-of high standing, as well as possessed of extraordinary nautical ability, has been charged by high authority in Washington with the command of the expedition, under cover of certain ships of war."
You will accordingly be governed by the instructions of Captain Fox.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. L. SCOTT, Lieutenant-Colonel and A. D. C., Act. Adjt. General
Bringing the