Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 12.djvu/73

 Battle of Secessionville. 63

template armed or other violence against the troops or forts of the United States in Charleston harbor.

Mr. Buchanan, in his last communication to the commissioners, states that he never contemplated for a single moment issuing an or- der requiring Anderson to return to Fort Moultrie. During the two or three days when that matter was under consideration and discus- sion several of the Southern Senators waited upon the President and urged him to issue the order ; and without perhaps making any posi- tive pledge that he would do so, his conversation and promises left the impression upon the minds of many of them that the order would be issued.

Messrs. Hunter, of Virginia, Toombs, of Georgia, Mallory and Yulee, Davis, Slidell and Benjamin are among those who conferred with the President, and most of them after such conference were left with the impression that Anderson would be ordered back by the President.

Mansion House, Greenville, S. C, September ig, rS'/r.

The above is an accurate copy of the original statement as I took it down when given to me by Governor Orr. I sent a copy to Gen- eral T. W. Crawford, and have his letter acknowledging its receipt.

Ellison Capers. Christ Church Rectory, Greenville, November 20, i88j.

Battle of Secessionville. REPORT OF COLONEL JOHNSON HAYGOOD.

[We are under many obligations to the gallant soldier and distin- guished citizen. Governor Johnson Haygood, of South Carolina, for the use of a number of original papers, which should have been copied and published ere this, but for the pressure upon our time. We give now the first instalment, to be followed by others.]

Headquarters Advanced Forces, James Island, June i8th, 1862.

Captain, — I am required to report the operations of the troops under my command on the i6th instant.

Some days previously I had had the honor to be placed in com- mand of a corps composed of the First and Twenty-fourth South