Wednesday April 10, 1861

Newspapers Report Sumter Expedition

Reports telegraphed from Washington the previous evening about the Sumter mission began to appear in northern newspapers. The New York Evening Post of April 10 welcomed the "revelation of the government's purpose to defend its property and maintain the laws." Referring to Lincoln's declared intent of peaceably provisioning "a destitute garrison," the Evening Post asserted that "if the rebels fire at an unarmed supply ship," the responsibility will be "on their heads." When the ship arrives, the rebels will "elect between peace and war."

This information may have been purposefully leaked by the Lincoln administration to inform the public about the nature of the mission.

Bibliography: Current, Lincoln and the First Shot, pp. 120-22; Perkins, Northern Editorials, 2: 703-4; ORN, p. 259.

Davis Demands Withdrawal from Sumter

President Davis, interpretating the expedition as an attempt to supply Fort Sumter "by force," ordered Beauregard to demand "at once" the evacuation of Fort Sumter. If Anderson refused, he was to proceed to "reduce it." General Beauregard replied that he would make his demand the next day at noon.

Commentary

Bibliography: OR, p. 297; Nevins, War for the Union, 1: 68-69.