History of the Civil War

Diplomacy Has Failed
submitted by George Moor

Washington, City
April 9,1861
General Beauregard, Charleston:
The messenger speaks doubtless by authority. He gives the promised notice to South Carolina's Governor Pickens. Diplomacy has failed. The sword must now preserve our independence. Our gallant countrymen will do their duty.
Martin J. Crawford.

-------------- HDQRS. Prov. Army Confederate States Of America.
Charleston, S.C.
April 11, 1861.
Hon. L.P. Walker, Secretary of War, Montgomery, Ala.
Sir: I transmit herewith, for the information of the Department, a copy of my note of this morning to Major Anderson, Commanding at Fort Sumter, demanding the surrender of that fort to the Confederate Government, together with a copy of his reply thereto. As soon as his answer was received a telegraphic dispatch (a copy of which is enclosed) was sent to you, communicating its purport, and asking for your instructions. I regret to add here that the new levies at Morris Island are not in as complete a state of organization as I desire, but I hope, in the event of an attempt to land by the enemy, that I will be able to give you a satisfactory account of them.
I remain, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G.T. Beauregard,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Charleston.
April 11, 1861.
Major Anderson replies: "I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication demanding the evacuation of this fort, and to say in reply thereto that it is a demand with which I regret that my sense of honor and of my obligations to my Government prevent my compliance." He says verbally: "I will await the first shot, and if you do not batter us to pieces we will be starved out in a few days." Answer.
G.T. Beauregard.

Charleston, S.C.
April 11, 1861.
Roman, Crawford and Forsyth
Commissioners Confederate States, Washington
Evacuation of Fort Sumter will be demanded today. If refused, hostilities will commence tonight. Answer.
G.T. Beauregard

Charleston, S.C.
April 11, 1861.
Hon. L.P. Walker
Ought not demand of Sumter be made also by Commissioners at Washington for its evacuation?
G.T. Beauregard

Montgomery Ala.
April 11, 1861
No. Yours is the only demand to be made.
L.P. Walker

----------------- Headquarters Provisional Forces
Charleston, S.C.
April 12, 1861.
Hon. L.P. Walker, Secretary of War.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit the enclosed copy of a correspondence with Major Anderson, in consequence of which our fire was opened upon Fort Sumter at 4:30 o'clock this morning, as already communicated to you by telegraph. (*) The pilots reported to me last evening that a steamer, supposed to be the Harriet Lane, had appeared off the harbor. She approached slowly, and was lying off the main entrance, some ten or twelve miles, when the pilot came in.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
G.T.Beauregard
Brigadier General, Commanding

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