FORT SUMTER, S.C., April 13, 1861 —
20 min. past 2 o'clock.
GENERAL: I thank you for your kindness in having sent your
aide to me with an offer of assistance upon your having observed that our flag
was down — it being down a few moments, and merely long enough to enable us to
replace it on another staff. Your aides will inform you of the circumstance of
the visit to my fort by General Wigfall, who said that he came with a message
from yourself.
In the peculiar circumstances in which I am now placed in
consequence of that message, and of my reply thereto, I will now state that I
am willing to evacuate this fort upon the terms and conditions offered by
yourself on the 11th instant, at any hour you may name to-morrow, or as soon as
we can arrange means of transportation. I will not replace my flag until the
return of your messenger.
I have the honor to
remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ROBERT ANDERSON,
Major, First
Artillery, Commanding.
Brig. Gen. G. T. BEAUREGARD,
Charleston, S.C.
SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
1 (Serial No. 1), p. 14-15; This letter is quoted in Samuel Wylie
Crawford’s The Genesis of the Civil War: The Story of Sumter, 1860-1861,
p. 437.
No comments:
Post a Comment