[Copy]
Headquarters of the
Army,
Washington April 4th,
1861.
Confidential.
Lieut.-Col. H. L. Scott,
Aid-de-Camp, etc. etc.
Sir:
This letter will be handed 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 reenforce 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, army ammunition and
subsistence; a large surplus of the latter, indeed, as great as the vessels of
the expedition will 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 the vessels will be left to others.
Some fuel must be shipped. All artillery implements, fuses,
cordage, slow match, mechanical levers and guns, etc., etc. should also be put
on board.
Consult also if necessary (confidentially) Colonel Tompkins
and Major Thornton.
Respectfully yours,
WlNFIELD SCOTT
SOURCE: Robert Means Thompson & Richard Wainwright,
Editors, Publications of the Naval Historical Society, Volume 9: Confidential
Correspondence of Gustavus Vasa Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1861-1865,
Volume 1, p. 21-2
