We must now turn back again. Major Anderson, it will be remembered, had
been sent to Charleston by order of Lieutenant-General Scott, acting, of
course, under orders of the Secretary of War. Major Anderson's first
letter, dated November 23d, was sent through the regular channels. It
appears from the records[3] that, on the 28th of November, he was
ordered by Secretary Floyd to address all future communications
_only_ to the Adjutant-General or _direct_ to the Secretary of
War. From this time forth, then, Major Anderson could communicate only
with the conspirators against his government.
At last General Scott began to wonder why he had received no further
tidings from Major Anderson, and on the 27th of December he delivered
the following message to the President:--
Since the formal order, unaccompanied by special instructions, assigning
Major Anderson to the command of Fort Moultrie, no order, intimation,
suggestion, or communication for his government and guidance, has gone
to that officer, or any of his subordinates, from the head-quarters of
the army; nor have any reports or communications been addressed to the
General-in-chief from Fort Moultrie later than a letter written by Major
Anderson, almost immediately after his arrival in Charleston harbor,
reporting the then state of the work.
This letter reached the President on the 27th. On the day before Major
Anderson had transferred his entire garrison from Fort Moultrie to Fort
Sumter. It was a bold move, done without orders, and solely because
there was no longer hope that the President would send reinforcements.
It was a judicious move, because Sumter was the real key to Charleston
harbor. It was an act of patriotism which will forever enshrine the name
of Anderson in American history.
The tidings reached Washington. Disappointed and chagrined, Secretary
Floyd sent the following telegram:--