On
the 29th the matter came up again, and four of the seven then favored an
attempt to relieve Major Anderson. The President at once ordered the
preparation of an expedition. Three ships of war, with a transport and
three swift steam tugs, a supply of open boats, provisions far six
months, and two hundred recruits, were fitted out at New York, and, with
all possible secrecy, sailed on the 9th and 10th of April, "under sealed
orders to rendezvous before Charleston harbor at daylight on the morning
of the 11th."
Meanwhile preparations for the capture of Sumter had been steadily going
on under the direction of General Beauregard, one of the most skilful of
engineers. On the 1st of April he telegraphed to Montgomery, the capital
of the new confederacy:--
Batteries ready to open Wednesday or Thursday. What instructions?
On the same day orders were issued to stop all courtesies to the
garrison, to prohibit all supplies from the city, and to allow no one to
depart from the fort. On the 7th Anderson received a confidential
letter, under date of April 4th, from President Lincoln, notifying him
that a relief expedition would be sent, and requesting him to hold out,
if possible, until its arrival.
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