Pickens, Francis Wilkinson (1805-1869) to Gen. James Simons re: defense of Charleston Harbor (retained clerical copy)

Head Quarters
2nd Jan'y 1861
To
Brig. Genl. Simons
Sir
Your extraordinary report I received last night and have only to say, that I do not pretend that the orders and disposition of forces in Charleston Harbour are at all perfect or beyond the criticism of military rule - But in the first place there was when I came to the city a distinct pledge of faith between the Government at Washington and those who had a right to speak for South Carolina that every thing in the harbour and all the forts should remain precisely as they were and that there should be no increase of force, or any reinforcements sent from abroad until our Commissioners presented themselves at Washington and made regular negotiation for the forts.- [2]
I acted with confidence upon this pledge. Suddenly we were surprised from the step taken by Col Anderson now acknowledged and proclaimed by the late Secretary of War to be in open violation of the faith of the Government. He abandoned Fort Moultrie and burnt and spiked the guns and the first report was that he destroyed Fort Moultrie. He transferred the garrison to Fort Sumter which of course was the strong and commanding position - I had thus suddenly to take immediate steps to try and prevent the further destruction of public property and with this view I ordered the occupation of Sullivans Island, but not to occupy Fort Moultrie unless it could be done without too much loss and to reconnoit[er] and ascertain if these were mined as reported - They found none: and to put out the fire and prevent further destruction they occupied the Fort - And the same grounds were taken as to Castle Pinckney -
All the orders issued expressed the objects [3] as above. Then the first step taken was to try and prevent reinforcements to Fort Sumter. With that view orders were given to Col Gwynn the most experienced Engineer I could procure on the sudden emergency, and to Col Manigault of the Ordinance Board to examine and report if a place on Morris Island could be selected to erect a Battery out of reach of Fort Sumter, or protected from its guns. They reported such a point, and I immediately with the limited means in possession ordered that one should be erected in order to try, and protect the ship channel, so as to prevent reinforcements. This was the object of the battery, then recommended by the most skillful men I could in the confusion procure.- Orders were also issued to throw up merlons at Fort Moultrie and other works in order to try, and protect for the present some of the guns that bore on the ship channel from being silenced from Sumter.-
Col Gwynn Engineer and Col Manigault [4] Ordinance Officer again reported it a feasible measure, and every effort has been made to erect those works and to endeavour to keep guns in position at Moultrie to protect the Channel, and prevent the possible reinforcements. Our Commissioners at Washington telegraphed by all means to guard and protect the channel and entrance at all hazards, to the harbour- Castle Pinckney was kept with a view if possible to protect the immediate vicinity of Charleston, and every thing in my power was used [struck: to put every thing in my power was used] to put the guns in some sort of position for that purpose. Col Manigault reported a proper place to connect Sullivans Island with the mainland by the erection of boats as temporary bridges, so as to provide for safety of the troops at Fort Moultrie if compelled to retire by a superior force. Fort Johnson was occupied merely because if was reported that there was public property there that required immediate protection, and in order to prevent the garrison in Fort Sumter [5] from all communication [inserted: for the present] with that point as they were taking coal &c from it.
It was well known and sadly felt as you state that our troops were new and inexperienced, but under all the circumstances I had no alternative left but I do what has been done. And if we are to occupy no place because our troops are new and inexperienced, then we will have to abandon the state for the same reason, if forces that are regular are ordered to invade it- We calculated if we were weak so were our enemies to a certain extent. Their regular force is not strong enough to admit of immediate division or transfer. They would be compelled to call for volunteers, also in the progress of events and with the feeling in the country then would be great difficulty in this operation. The question was not whether we could maintain our position in Charleston Harbour with the [inserted: certainty of] assistance and reinforcements being thrown in immediately, but whether in the present peculiar State of the country, and with a [6] weak Garrison as to numbers who are incapable of being divided, or any detachment being sent out from it to occupy any post their guns might drive us from- Whether under all these circumstances we were capable of maintaining our position for the present so as to prevent reinforcements and to sustain the direct and urgent requests from our Commissioners at Washington- hoping that every day might change events so as to enable us to protect [inserted: the State in] the attitude [struck: the State] [inserted: She] has issued, of immediate Independence - Col Petigrew thinks if I had not occupied Castle Pinckney when I did, that it too in like manner, would have been destroyed, as Fort Moultrie so far as the guns so were concerned.

(signed) F.W. Pickens