ALS signed “A. Doubleday, Capt. U. S. A.,” two pages, lightly-lined both sides, 5.25 x 8, Fort Sumter, January 6, 1861. Letter to Major General Jesse Segoine of Auburn, Cayuga, New York. In full: “It is a matter of great satisfaction to me to see that our movements here have been approved by my former townsmen and that the heart of New York still beats warm and true for the Union. We have been so long surrounded with trimmers and traitors that I began to fear the love of the National Flag was dying out in our country. We cannot imagine the annoyance of the South Carolinians upon finding themselves forestalled in the possession of this important work. It is the key of the harbor and in the very center of their communications. At Fort Moultrie everything had been prepared for a desperate stand but we could have done little against the powerful batteries of this Fort which would have been turned against us, in addition to an Army of at least 10000 men who would have assailed us on the land side. Our own lives were of little consequence, but our defeat would have involved the loss of this harbor to the United States, a loss that would have been irreparable. This State still continues her aggressive actions. The Charlestonians are surrounding us with batteries on every point of land in the vicinity and are arming them with guns from the Forts they have siezed [sic]. This is done with the hope of preventing any vessel from coming to our assistance and also with a view to force us ultimately to surrender from a lack of supplies. In this I think they will be disappointed for there is no such word as surrender in Major Anderson’s composition. The war garrison of this Fort is 600 men. We have about 70 but should they attack us I hope the country at large will have no reason to find fault with our defense. One of our boats and some of our men have been captured. The lights in the harbor have been put out, the buoys taken up. All communication has been cut off with us except such as the governor chooses to authorise [sic] and yet we hesitate to fire upon them. Major Anderson still hopes that wiser counsels may prevail amongst them and that something may occur to prevent the impending strife. May God grant it, but if war must come let the people rise in their might and maintain the integrity of the Union. That cause will carry the hearts of thousands with it even in the slave states themselves. I shall probably not soon have an opportunity to send another letter to any person North & must close abruptly as the gentleman is about leaving who will take this.” In good to very good condition, with moderate overall soiling and wrinkling, near-complete separations to fragile mailing folds repaired with toned tape, toned tape along the left border of each page, and three areas of ballpoint ink to the bottom of the last page. Accompanied by a carte-de-visite portrait of the commander of Fort Sumter, Robert Anderson.
Six days after South Carolina declared its secession on December 20, 1860, U. S. Major Robert Anderson surreptitiously moved his small command from the indefensible Fort Moultrie to the powerful Fort Sumter, maintaining control of the entrance to Charleston Harbor. As Anderson’s second in command, Abner Doubleday penned this letter amidst the mounting tension, surrounded by South Carolina’s recently seized batteries and under their watchful and threatening eyes: “This is done with the hope of preventing any vessel from coming to our assistance and…to force us ultimately to surrender from a lack of supplies.” Three days later, a merchant ship sent by outgoing President James Buchanan to resupply the troops was in fact fired upon, preventing the reinforcements from arriving and pushing both sides closer to war. With the exception of Sumter, South Carolina authorities seized control of all federal forts and properties within their boundaries and demanded that the U. S. Army evacuate. Resistant to surrender, they continued to hold the fort despite pressure from the growing Confederate forces (which had come to include seven states by February). Finally, on April 12th, Confederate forces fired upon Sumter; Doubleday aimed the cannon that fired the first return shot in answer to the bombardment, and the Civil War was begun. A remarkable letter of significant historical content, written from the heart of Sumter by the general who would fire the Union’s first shot. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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