...
"A brief silence followed the announcement of the amazing
recommendation of General Scott, when Mr. Blair, who had been
much annoyed by the vacillating course of the General-in-Chief
in regard to Sumter, remarked, looking earnestly at Mr. Seward,
that it was evident the old General was playing politician in
regard to both Sumter and Pickens; for it was not possible, if
there was a defense, for the rebels to take Pickens; and the
Administration would not be justified if it listened to his
advice and evacuated either. Very soon thereafter, I think at
the next Cabinet meeting, the President announced his decision
that _supplies should be sent to Sumter_, and issued
confidential orders to that effect. All were gratified with this
decision, except Mr. Seward, who still remonstrated, _but
preparations were immediately commenced to fit out an expedition
to forward supplies_."[162]
This account is confirmed by a letter of Mr. Montgomery Blair.[163] The
date of the announcement of the President's final purpose is fixed by
Mr. Welles, in the neat paragraph to that above quoted, as the 28th of
March. This was four days before Mr. Seward's assurance given Judge
Campbell--after conference with the President--that there would be no
departure from the pledges previously given (which were that the fort
_would be evacuated_), and ten days before his written renewal of the
assurance--"_Faith as to Sumter fully kept.
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