-- Initial Problems at Fort Sumter and Fort Pickens --

Thursday March 14, 1861

Lincoln's Cabinet Considers Fox's Plan

Lincoln convened his cabinet twice on this day to consider Fox's plan. The first cabinet session was from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., and the second session ran from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Fox presented evidence both from military experiments and wartime experience of the difficulty for land batteries to hit objects, such as ships, moving rapidly at right angles to their line of fire, especially at night. Army experts, however, contended that the expedition would be destroyed. Sometime during these deliberations, Fox offered to visit Charleston Harbor to pursue his case for sending in supplies.

No decision was made at these sessions about Fox's relief plan.

Bibliography: Nicolay and Hay, Lincoln, 3:384-85; Bates, Diary of Edward Bates, ed. Beale, pp. 177-78; Current, Lincoln and the First Shot, p. 62; ORN, p. 247.