Volume I Part 25 (1/2)
”The reasons are special for twelve o'clock.
(Signed) ”G. T. Beauregard.”
”Headquarters Provisional Army, C. S. A.,
”Charleston, S.C., April 11, 1861, 2 P. M.
”Sir: The Government of the Confederate States has. .h.i.therto forborne from any hostile demonstration against Fort Sumter, in the hope that the Government of the United States, with a view to the amicable adjustment of all questions between the two Governments, and to avert the calamities of war, would voluntarily evacuate it. There was reason at one time to believe that such would be the course pursued by the Government of the United States; and, under that impression, my Government has refrained from making any demand for the surrender of the fort.
[pg 286]
”But the Confederate States can no longer delay a.s.suming actual possession of a fortification commanding the entrance of one of their harbors, and necessary to its defense and security.
”I am ordered by the Government of the Confederate States to demand the evacuation of Fort Sumter. My aides, Colonel Chesnut and Captain Lee, are authorized to make such demand of you. All proper facilities will be afforded for the removal of yourself and command, together with company arms and property, and all private property, to any post in the United States which you may elect. The flag which you have upheld so long and with so much fort.i.tude, under the most trying circ.u.mstances, may be saluted by you on taking it down.
”Colonel Chesnut and Captain Lee will, for a reasonable time, await your answer.
”I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
(Signed) ”G. T. Beauregard,
”Brigadier-General commanding.
”Major Robert Anderson,
”Commanding at Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, S. C.”
”Headquarters Fort Sumter, S. C., April 11, 1861.
”General: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication demanding the evacuation of this fort; and to say in reply thereto that it is a demand with which I regret that my sense of honor and of my obligations to my Government prevents my compliance.
”Thanking you for the fair, manly, and courteous terms proposed, and for the high compliment paid me,
”I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
(Signed) ”Robert Anderson,
”Major U. S. Army, commanding.
”To Brigadier-General G. T. Beauregard,
”Commanding Provisional Army, C. S. A.”
”Montgomery, April 11th.
”General Beauregard, Charleston.
”We do not desire needlessly to bombard Fort Sumter, if Major Anderson will state the time at which, as indicated by him, he will evacuate, and agree that, in the mean time, he will not use his guns against us, unless ours should be employed against Fort [pg 287] Sumter. You are thus to avoid the effusion of blood. If this or its equivalent be refused, reduce the fort as your judgment decides to be most practicable.
(Signed) ”L. P. Walker, Secretary of War.”