"Fort Sumter: Counterbattery Fire" Topic

When the initial attempt to supply Fort Sumter was made, the Star of the West was driven off by fire from a rebel battery.

Fort Sumter's heavy guns could have provided counterbattery fire, covering the Star of the West. Should Major Anderson have opened fire?

Depends…from what I have looked at even with the "heavy guns" of Sumter…he only had less than half a dozen that were at the optimum position to do anything and if he started firing and one shell hit Charleston, then there would've been a war, and the North would've been considered "the aggressor", because it's easier to show a house blow apart by Union artillery than it is to find sunken shells shot at ships in Charleston harbor…

I think Anderson didnt help with fire for fear of counterbattery from the harbor and to simply conserve ammo…plus the politics of the situation.

One question I have that I can't find an answer to…Did Anderson even know that the Star of the West was on it's way?

Did Anderson even know that the Star of the West was on it's way?

Anderson still had mail and telegraph communications at this point, but I don't specifically know if he was informed.

Yes, Major Anderson had been informed of the Star Of The West's mission on January 5, 1861.

This is a copy of the message from the OR's. It's a rather interesting read.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
New York,January 5, 1861.

Maj. ROBERT ANDERSON,
First Artillery, Commanding Fort Sumter :

SIR: In accordance with the Instructions of the General-in-Chief, I yesterday chartered the steamship Star of the West to re-enforce your small garrison with two hundred well-instructed recruits from Fort Columbus, under First Lieut. C. R. Woods, Ninth Infantry, assisted by Lieuts. W. A. Webb, Fifth Infantry; C. W. Thomas, First Infantry, and Asst. Surg. P. G. S. Ten Broeck, Medical Department, all of whom you will retain until further orders. Besides arms for the men, one hundred spare arms and all the cartridges in the arsenal on Governor's Island will be sent; likewise, three months' subsistence for the detachment and six months' desiccated and fresh vegetables, with three or four days' fresh beef for your entire force. Further re-enforcements will be sent if necessary.
Should a fire, likely to prove injurious, be opened upon any vessel bringing re-enforcements or supplies, or upon tow-boats within the reach of your guns, they may be employed to silence such fire; and you may act in like manner in case a fire is opened upon Fort Sumter itself.
The General-in-Chief desires me to communicate the fact that your conduct meets with the emphatic approbation of the highest in authority.
You are warned to be upon your guard against all telegrams, as false ones may be attempted to be passed upon you. Measures will soon be taken to enable you to correspond with the Government by sea and Wilmington, N. C.
You will send to Fort Columbus by the return of the steamer all your sick, otherwise inefficient officers and enlisted men. Fill up the two companies with the recruits now sent, and muster the residue as a detachment.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

L. THOMAS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

Anderson was not receiving telegraph messages as Sumter did not have a wired connection. In addition, his mail was being intercepted in Charleston. He received no official word the Star was coming. He did see the information in the Charleston Mercury newspaper (Jan 8). However, nobody really believed the story that the US government was going to relieve them with a unarmed civilian ship. Surgeon Crawford wrote in his diary, "we do not credit it, Anderson thinks Gen Scott would not send troops except by war vessel". Unknown to anyone, the Star was not intended to come alone. The frigate USS Brooklyn under David Farragut was supposed to meet up with the Star of the West and lead it in (and take out any trouble). However, orders didn't reach fortress Monroe in time for Farragut to make it to Charleston.

When the Star of the West reached Charleston in was midnight and Sumter was not expecting anyone. The sentries didn't even see the ship sitting off the bar. The Star proceeded without the promised escort at sunrise. However, the Southerners knew she was coming and were waiting. Now, to get into the harbor one must run parallel between the bar and Morris or James island for a number of miles. As the Star came down the Morris Channel they were attacked by a hidden battery at 1000 yards. Doubleday at Sumter heard the reports, saw the ship coming in and called for the long roll. The men manned the batteries and prepared to fight. Anderson entered the parade ground and was seen to be bewildered on what to do. He had strict orders to act defensively, only.

Anderson was in a pickle. As far as he knew, he wasn't suppose to fight. In addition, the battery on Morris was intentionally built beyond the range of his guns. Anderson did try to return a signal from the Star, but the halyard had become tangled during the night. (I can attest that the wind howls on Sumter during the night). So, the Star and the fort could not coordinate. In addition, Anderson was under the impression that since Sumter was not being attacked by the other batteries that this might just be the work of some unauthorized hotheaded southern idiot.

McGowan on the Star didn't know what to do. He was under fire (took 2 hits), but wasn't receiving replies from Sumter, nor was the Brooklyn anywhere to be seen. Now ft Moultrie was coming in range. A gun fired from the fort (falling way short) and a southern steamer was fast approaching. McGowan decided it was best to turn out of the channel before it was too late.

On Sumter, the men fumed. Captain Foster went into a rage and stomped his hat. The wife of Pvt Davis ran forward to pull a lanyard on a gun pointing at Moultrie. Capt Doubleday stopped her. Anderson then called a council of his officers to discuss what to do. Anderson, Crawford, Foster, Seymour, and Doubleday were in a rage and wanted to shell the city and Moultrie. Hall and Meade opposed the idea as it was a direct breach of orders. Lt Davis thought they should first ask Gov Pickens if the attack was sanctioned. Crawford and Anderson were swayed by the good sense of this argument. Anderson then drafted a letter to Pickens and Lt Hall delivered it. As Hall approached the docks the citizens went into a panic as they believe hall was announcing a attack on the city. Pickens with a touch of humility responded that South Carolina had a right to chase off a foreign ship, but worded his message carefully as he knew Charleston wasn't ready, yet. When Hall got back to the fort the officers had considerably calmed down and decided to wait for instructions from Washington on what to do.

storyline taken from: First Blood, the story of Ft Sumter, Swanberg, 1957, Chapter XIV. Suggested reading for the garrison, 150th Anniversary reenactment.

So,

1) Anderson did not know the Star was coming.
2) As the fight was beyond double his max range, he could not help the Star other than firing on Moultrie.
3) While outgunned and low on ammo, Anderson's gunner were far superior to Moultrie's gunners. At this point he would have won a fight.
4) However, the real threat to the Star was the battery that Sumter couldn't even see.
5) To fight was directly against orders

According to Swanberg, "First Blood, the Story of Fort Sumter," this message was sent by mail when the Star of the West sailed and did not arrive before the ship reached Charleston. None of the other books I have say that Anderson was aware of the resupply mission in advance.

Wasn't Anderson under orders not to take any action unless directly attacked?