Mrs. Gidiere came
in quietly from her marketing to-day, and in her neat, incisive manner exploded
this bombshell: “Major Anderson2 has moved into Fort Sumter,
while Governor Pickens slept serenely." The row is fast and furious now.
State after State is taking its forts and fortresses. They say if we had been
left out in the cold alone, we might have sulked a while, but back we would
have had to go, and would merely have fretted and fumed and quarreled among
ourselves. We needed a little wholesome neglect. Anderson has blocked that
game, but now our sister States have joined us, and we are strong. I give the
condensed essence of the table-talk: “Anderson has united the cotton States.
Now for Virginia!” “Anderson has opened the ball.” Those who want a row are in
high glee. Those who dread it are glum and thoughtful enough.
A letter from Susan
Rutledge: “Captain Humphrey folded the United States Army flag just before
dinnertime. Ours was run up in its place. You know the Arsenal is in sight.
What is the next move? I pray God to guide us. We stand in need of wise
counsel; something more than courage. The talk is: ‘Fort Sumter must be taken;
and it is one of the strongest forts.’ How in the name of sense are they to
manage? I shudder to think of rash moves.”
_______________
1 Robert Anderson, Major of the First
Artillery, United States Army, who, on November 20,1860, was placed in command
of the troops in Charleston harbor. On the night of December 26th, fearing an
attack, he had moved his command to Fort Sumter. Anderson was a graduate of
West Point and a veteran of the Black Hawk, Florida, and Mexican Wars.
SOURCE: Mary Boykin Chesnut, Edited by Isabella D. Martin
and Myrta Lockett Avary, A Diary From Dixie, p. 4-5
