Friday April 12, 1861

Fox Expedition Finally Arrives

At 3 a.m., after three days of stormy weather, Fox and the Baltic arrived at a rendezvous point, about ten miles off Charleston Harbor. The weather remained bad, and the seas were still heavy. The Harriet Lane had arrived a few hours earlier, and at 6 a.m. the Pawnee appeared. There was no sign of the three tugboats, the Pocahontas, or the Powhatan.

Although without the tugboats or the Powhatan, Fox attempted to make his way into Charleston Harbor with provisions. As he did so, he saw that the fort was already under attack. Turning back, he consulted with the other commanders on the scene. They agreed to wait for the Powhatan until the following morning, and then to attempt another landing, whether it appeared or not.

Bibliography: ORN, pp. 248-49; Current, Lincoln and the First Shot, pp. 170-71; Fox, Confidential Correspondence, 1: 32.