and that both Fort Sumter and Castle Pinckney should be garrisoned by companies sent at once from Fortress Monroe, at old Point Comfort.  A few days later he ordered the ordnance officer at the Charleston office to turn over to him, for removal to Fort Moultrie, all the small arms and ammunition which he had in store.  The attempt to make this transfer was successfully resisted by the Charleston mob.

This evidence of loyalty on the part of the commanding officer of the troops in Charleston harbor was not appreciated at Washington.  His removal was promptly ordered by the Secretary of War.  The officer thus summarily dealt with was Lieutenant-Colonel J.C.  Gardner, First Artillery, U.S.A., a native of Massachusetts, and an old veteran of the war of 1812.  Thus, so far as history reveals, was a son of the old Bay State the first to resist the encroachments of the Southern conspiracy.  It is worthy of note, also, that the removal of Col.  Gardner was in a measure due to the recommendation of Major (afterwards General) Fitz John Porter.

Major Robert Anderson was ordered, on November 15th, to take command of Fort Moultrie.  He was chosen probably in the belief that, being a Southern man, he would eventually throw his fortunes with the South.  On the 21st of November Major Anderson arrived at the fort, and on the 23d of the same month he wrote to Secretary Floyd as follows:—­

  Fort Sumter and Castle Pinckney must be garrisoned immediately
  if the government determines to keep command of the harbor.[2]

In the same letter he also expressed the opinion that the people of South Carolina intended to seize all the forts in Charleston harbor by force of arms as soon as their ordinance of secession was published.

The faith of Secretary Floyd must, indeed, have been shaken while reading such words!  He might have ordered the removal of the writer of them had not a rather unexpected incident now occurred to divert his attention.

The Secretary of State, the venerable Lewis Cass of Michigan, at once denounced submission to the conspiracy as treasonable, and insisted that Major Anderson’s demand for reinforcements should be granted.  This episode was a political bomb-shell in the camp of the enemy.  The President became a trifle alarmed, and sent for Floyd.  A conference between the President and the Secretary was held, when the latter “pooh-poohed” the actual danger.  “The South Carolinians,” said he, “are honorable gentlemen.  They would scorn to take the forts.  They must not be Irritated.”  But the President evinced restlessness; he may have suspected the motive of his cabinet officer.  Floyd, too, grew restless; the obstinacy of the executive alarmed him.  He was only too glad to consent to the suggestion that General Scott should be consulted.