The result of his visit was, however, reported at
Washington, his plan was approved by President Lincoln, and he was sent
to New York to make arrangements for putting it in execution.
"In a very few days after" (says Governor Pickens, in the
message already quoted above), "another confidential agent,
Colonel Lamon, was sent by the President [Mr. Lincoln], who
informed me that he had come to try and arrange for the removal
of the garrison, and, when he returned from the fort, asked if a
war-vessel could not be allowed to remove them. I replied that
no war-vessel could be allowed to enter the harbor on any terms.
He said he believed Major Anderson preferred an ordinary
steamer, and I agreed that the garrison might be thus removed.
He said he hoped to return in a very few days for that purpose."
This, it will be remembered, occurred while Mr. Fox was making active,
though secret, preparations for his relief expedition.
Colonel, or Major, Lamon, as he is variously styled in the
correspondence, did not return to Charleston, as promised. About the
30th of March (which was Saturday) a telegram from Governor Pickens was
received by the Commissioners in Washington, making inquiry with regard
to Colonel Lamon, and the meaning of the protracted delay to fulfill the
promise of evacuation. This was fifteen days after the original
assurance of Mr. Seward that the garrison would be withdrawn
immediately, and ten days after his explanation that the delay was
"accidental.
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