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| President
Abraham Lincoln |
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| Lt. Gen.
Winfield Scott |
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President
Lincoln was presented with a rather large bombshell on his first full
day in office, in the form of some correspondence which was received by
the Buchanan Administration on March 4th, indicating that Maj. Anderson
did not have the supplies to hold out much longer, and any effort to
resupply or reinforce his garrison at Fort Sumter would, in his opinion
(and that of the majority of his officers) regiven quire an inordinate
amount of military force. In this note, Lincoln asks Scott to
give him a formal professional opinion as to the possibility of
relieving or reinforcing the Fort Sumter garrison. Scott's response would come on March 12. |
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Executive Mansion, March 9, 1861. My dear Sir: On the 5th inst. I received from the Hon. Joseph Holt, the
then faithful and vigilant Secretary of War, a letter of that date, inclosing a
letter and accompanying documents received by him on the 4th inst from Major
Robert Anderson commanding at Fort Sumpter South Carolina; and copies of all
which I now transmit. Immediately on the receipt of them by me, I transmitted
the whole to you for your consideration; and the same day you returned the
package to me with your opinion endorsed upon it, a copy of which opinion I now
also transmit to you. Learning from you verbally that since then you have given
the subject a more full and thorough consideration, you will much oblige me by
giving answers, in writing, to the following interrogatories: 1st To what point of time can Major Anderson maintain his
position at Fort Sumpter, without fresh supplies or reinforcement? 2d Can you, with all the means now in your control, supply
or re-inforce Fort Sumpter within that time? 3d If not, what amount of means and of what description in
addition to that already at your control, would enable you to supply and
reinforce that fortress within the time? Please answer these, adding such statements, information,
and counsel as your great skill and experience may suggest. Your obedient Servant, A. Lincoln. |
Back to Civil War Chronologies (Main page) Back to Chronology of the Fort Sumter Crisis Source: The Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress. Date added to website: January 8, 2025. |