Friday, April 8, 2016

155 Years Ago: USS Pawnee Sails for Sumter, Beauregard Instructed to Demand Evacuation of Sumetr

APRIL 10TH, 1861:  The USS Pawnee, Commander Stephen C. Rowan, departed Hampton Roads for relief of Fort Sumter.

General P.G.T. Beauregard, CSA, commanding at Charleston, was instructed to demand evacuation of Fort Sumter and, if refused, to "proceed, in such matter as you may determine, to reduce it."

Secretary of Navy Welles alerted Captain Charles S. McCauley, Commandant Norfolk Navy Yard, to condition the USS Merrimack for a move to a Northern yard should it become necessary.  At the same time Welles cautioned McCauley that, "There should be no steps taken to give needless alarm."

--Old B-R'er

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