Davis, Jefferson (1808-1889) to Francis W. Pickens re: control over proposed attack on Fort Sumter
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01958 Author/Creator: Davis, Jefferson (1808-1889) Place Written: Montgomery, Alabama Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1861/02/22 Pagination: 3 p. + docket 21 x 13 cm Order a Copy
Written as President of the Confederate States. Pickens was governor of South Carolina. Also concerning the larger issue of who determines peace or war. Beauregard fired upon Fort Sumter six weeks after the date of this letter.
By late February, Fort Sumter had become a key symbol of whether the Confederate states exercised sovereignty over their territory. South Carolina demanded that President Buchanan surrender Fort Sumter in exchange for monetary compensation. To the rebels' surprise, he refused. As the following letter from Jefferson Davis makes clear, any decision about forcing the surrender of the fort by force carried profound consequences. Eight slave states in the Upper South remained in the Union. But their stance would clearly depend on the steps that South Carolina and the federal government took toward Fort Sumter.
Montgomery, Ala
Feb. 22. 1861
Govr. F. W. Pickens
My dear Sir,
I have not yet been able to obtain the services of such an Engineer as was contemplated in our late correspondence. Maj. Beauregard or Capt. Whiting will probably be here very soon. To day as informed by one of your delegation the powder to be sent hence has been forwarded to you. I fear it is not of sufficently [sic] course grain for your heaviest guns. The want of exact information as to the supplies in the several states, and of competent officers to take charge of ordinance matters is not the least of my embarassments [sic].
A resolution which devolves upon the general government of the Confederate States the duty of getting possession of the Forts now held within our limits by the forces [2] has been adopted, and a copy is I am informed to be confidentially sent to you this day.
A letter was shown to me this morning which indicated a purpose on the part of the military to attack Fort Sumter on the 25th of this month. I hope you will be able to prevent the issue of peace or war for the Confederate States from being decided by any other than the authorities constituted to conduct our international relations.
The most ardent and sensitive should believe that we will not be unmindful or regardless of the rights and honor of South Carolina.
The importance of success whenever the attack is made upon a garrison to take one of our forts from the possession of the United States, is too apparent not to be appreciated by even the most heedless, and the technical knowledge necessary to solve the problem of attack and defence [sic] which is before you can only have been obtained by much both of military study and experience. [3]
I am very constantly engaged and have necessarily written hurriedly. Hoping to hear from you often and fully I am respectfully and
Sincerely yours
Jeffn Davis
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