Appendix IX: The Fort Sumter Surrender Log

The Paper Trail of an Unearned Honor: Official Dispatches of April 11–18, 1861

The chaotic final hours of the Fort Sumter garrison generated an extensive paper trail. When read chronologically, these documents expose a stark divide between the self-serving narrative crafted by Louis T. Wigfall and the sober military realities recorded by General P.G.T. Beauregard and Major Robert Anderson. Recognizing the potential for political distortion, General Beauregard moved immediately following the surrender to secure a written statement of the rogue senator’s actions for the official archives.

My dear Colonel: Will you do me the favor to prepare for the files of my office a clear and concise statement of the main facts of yesterday’s proceedings, so far as they related to yourself, and to Sumter, for use hereafter if required. Yours truly, G. T. BEAUREGARD.

Wigfall responded with an official report addressed to the Assistant Adjutant General. His statement reveals a highly polished cover story that minimized his lack of authorization and cast his personal infiltration of the fort as the deciding factor of the engagement.

In his official report dated April 13, 1861, from Charleston, South Carolina, to Major D. R. Jones, Louis T. Wigfall claimed that after seeing the Union flag fall at Fort Sumter, he left Morris's Island with General Simons' approval to demand a surrender and offer assistance. He stated that although the flag went back up, he entered the fort, identified himself as a staff member to Major Anderson, and called for a surrender. Wigfall noted that upon his suggestion, Anderson raised a white flag which stopped the Confederate battery fire, leading to the surrender of the fort, with evacuation terms left to General Beauregard. Wigfall assured Anderson that honorable terms would be met, praised Anderson's coolness, and credited Private William Gourdin Young of the Palmetto Guard for helping him reach the fort.

Chronological Log of Telegraphic Dispatches and Official Correspondence April 11–18, 1861

[DISPATCH NO. 1] From: Brigadier-General G. T. Beauregard, Commanding (Confederate States Army) To: Major Robert Anderson, Commanding Fort Sumter (United States Army) Sent: Headquarters, Provisional Army, Charleston, S.C. — April 11, 1861

"The Government of the Confederate States has hitherto forborne from any hostile demonstration against Fort Sumter, in the hope that the Government of the United States... would voluntarily evacuate it... I am ordered by the Government of the Confederate States to demand the evacuation of Fort Sumter. My aides, Colonel Chesnut and Captain Lee, are authorized to make such demand of you... The flag which you have upheld so long... may be saluted by you on taking it down."

[DISPATCH NO. 2] From: Major Robert Anderson, Commanding (United States Army) To: Brigadier-General G. T. Beauregard, Commanding (Confederate States Army) Sent: Fort Sumter, S.C. — April 11, 1861

"GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication demanding the evacuation of this fort, and to say, in reply thereto, that it is a demand with which I regret that my sense of honor, and of my obligations to my Government, prevent my compliance."

[DISPATCH NO. 3] From: Brigadier-General G. T. Beauregard, Commanding (Confederate States Army) To: Major Robert Anderson, Commanding Fort Sumter (United States Army) Sent: Headquarters, Provisional Army, Charleston, S.C. — April 11, 1861

"MAJOR: In consequence of the verbal observation made by you to my aides, Messrs. Chesnut and Lee, in relation to the condition of your supplies... and desiring no useless effusion of blood... If you will state the time at which you will evacuate Fort Sumter, and agree that in the mean time you will not use your guns against us... we will abstain from opening fire upon you."

[DISPATCH NO. 4] From: Major Robert Anderson, Commanding (United States Army) To: Brigadier-General G. T. Beauregard, Commanding (Confederate States Army) Sent: Fort Sumter, S.C. — April 12, 1861

"GENERAL: ...I will, if provided with the proper and necessary means of transportation, evacuate Fort Sumter by noon on the 15th instant, and that I will not in the mean time open my fires upon your forces unless compelled to do so by some hostile act against this fort or the flag of my Government..."

[DISPATCH NO. 5] From: James Chesnut, Jr., Aide-de-Camp | Stephen D. Lee, Captain and Aide-de-Camp To: Major Robert Anderson, U.S. Army, Commanding Fort Sumter Sent: Fort Sumter, S.C. — April 12, 1861, 3:20 a.m.

"SIR: By authority of Brigadier-General Beauregard, commanding the Provisional Forces of the Confederate States, we have the honor to notify you that he will open the fire of his batteries on Fort Sumter in one hour from this time."

[DISPATCH NO. 6] From: Major Robert Anderson, Commanding (United States Army) To: Brigadier-General G. T. Beauregard, Commanding (Confederate States Army) Sent: Fort Sumter, S.C. — April 13, 1861, 2:20 p.m.

"GENERAL: I thank you for your kindness in having sent your aide to me with an offer of assistance upon your having observed that our flag was down... Your aides will inform you of the circumstance of the visit to my fort by General Wigfall, who said that he came with a message from yourself. In the peculiar circumstances in which I am now placed in consequence of that message... I am willing to avoid this fort upon the terms and conditions offered by yourself on the 11th instant..."

[DISPATCH NO. 7] From: Brigadier-General G. T. Beauregard, Commanding (Confederate States Army) To: Major Robert Anderson, Commanding Fort Sumter (United States Army) Sent: Headquarters, Provisional Army — April 13, 1861, 5:55 p.m.

"SIR: On being informed that you were in distress... I immediately dispatched my aides, Colonels Miles and Pryor, and Captain Lee, to offer you any assistance... Learning a few moments afterwards that a white flag was waving on your ramparts, I sent two others of my aides... to offer you the following terms of evacuation: All proper facilities for the removal of yourself and command, together with company arms and private property..."

[DISPATCH NO. 8] From: Major Robert Anderson, U.S. Army, Commanding (United States Army) To: Brigadier-General G. T. Beauregard, Commanding (Confederate States Army) Sent: Headquarters, Fort Sumter, S.C. — April 13, 1861, 7:50 p.m.

"GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of this evening, and to express my gratification at its contents. Should it be convenient, I would like to have the Catawba here at about nine o'clock to-morrow morning."

[DISPATCH NO. 9 — WIRE FLASH] From: Major Robert Anderson, First Artillery, Commanding To: Hon. Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, Washington, D.C. Sent: S.S. Baltic, Off Sandy Hook — April 18, 1861, 10:30 a.m. (via New York)

"Having defended Fort Sumter for thirty-four hours, until the quarters were entirely burned, the main gates destroyed by fire, the gorge walls seriously injured, the magazine surrounded by flames, and its door closed from the effects of heat... I accepted terms of evacuation offered by General Beauregard... and marched out of the fort Sunday afternoon, the 14th instant, with colors flying and drums beating..."

Sources

Beauregard’s request (“My dear Colonel”): G.T. Beauregard to Louis T. Wigfall, April 13, 1861, in The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, series I, vol. 1 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1880), 12.

Wigfall’s report: Louis T. Wigfall to D.R. Jones, April 13, 1861, ibid., 12-13.

Dispatch No. 1: G.T. Beauregard to Robert Anderson, April 11, 1861, ibid., 12.

Dispatch No. 2: Robert Anderson to G.T. Beauregard, April 11, 1861, ibid., 12.

Dispatch No. 3: G.T. Beauregard to Robert Anderson, April 11, 1861, ibid., 13.

Dispatch No. 4: Robert Anderson to G.T. Beauregard, April 12, 1861, ibid., 13.

Dispatch No. 5: James Chesnut, Jr. and Stephen D. Lee to Robert Anderson, April 12, 1861, ibid., 14.

Dispatch No. 6: Robert Anderson to G.T. Beauregard, April 13, 1861, ibid., 14.

Dispatch No. 7: G.T. Beauregard to Robert Anderson, April 13, 1861, ibid., 15.

Dispatch No. 8: Robert Anderson to G.T. Beauregard, April 13, 1861, ibid., 15.

Dispatch No. 9: Robert Anderson to Simon Cameron, April 18, 1861, ibid., 12.

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