March 10, 1861: Sec. of the Navy and Gen Scott visit the port

Blessmag

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It was a quiet Sunday in Washington DC. With Seward still sick and in bed, the Lincolns attended church services at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. They would become regulars. The pastor, Phineas Densmore Gurley was of the old school. He was anti-slavery as well as pro-Union. The Lincolns soon rented an entire pew, making a $50 annual contribution.1
Commander James H. Ward of the New York Harbor fleet, had been at the ready, waiting for the command to resupply Fort Sumter. He was in Washington, being requested by Secretary of the Navy Gideon Wells. He had offered his services to Buchanan and was still ready to set sail.
Wells and General Winfield Scott called upon Commander Ward to bring him up to speed on the recent Sumter developments. There was no way to reinforce or resupply Anderson at Fort Sumter, they told him. Still, Ward suggested a plan on a smaller scale.
Provisions and a relative handful of men could be sneaked into the fort under cover of darkness with the use of two fast tug boats. Even if a tug was lost, and he didn’t see how it could be, the other would be there. After abandoning the boats, the crews of the tugs would become part of the garrison at Sumter.
For now, this would have to be his view.2

http://civilwardailygazette.com/

The above web site is a good daily read. Complements to the author.
 
It's almost hard to imagine the types of strategies that were developed without the communication methods that have now become a vital part of modern warfare. Every person can be almost instantly contacted today via some kind of electronic device. To imagine the President and part of his staff unavailable is almost incomprehensible. Nevertheless, this plan was probably the kind of bold and daring venture that would have worked. But it's still doubtful that the war could have been delayed much longer.
 
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