Sunday, March 20, 2011

Lincoln's decision

In light of current events as of today in Libya and the questions of what is to be gained now that Qaddafi has regained the upper hand in the rebellion I got to pondering another rebellion and choices that Lincoln had to make after the first six southern states seceded and fortified Charleston Harbor.

What would you do? Withdraw from Sumter or defy the rebel forces and reinforce/supply the old fort?

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultier were federal forts meant to protect the critical harbor of Charleston should another war with Britain occur. But, the presence of both was a thorn in Charleston's side as it protected the mouth of the harbor and could fire on any foreign ships wishing to get in or rebel ships from getting out.
As a matter of principle, Lincoln and the War Department refuse to surrender the fort and withdraw. Yet, there are slave holding states who have not yet seceded, Virginia being the most prominent of them and whose loyalties are somewhat divided between the federal constitution and the growing threat of the abolitionists in northern politics.
P.G.T. Beauregard and South Carolina politicians send the War Department an ultimatum; if Sumter is reinforced or supplied, the Confederacy would consider it a hostile act.
Sumter was only lightly held, and though Major Anderson was able to abandon and destroy the guns at Fort Moultier and combine forces in Sumter, the fort could not hold out for an extended period of time without supply.
One act leaves the status quo and avoids an immediate war, but the other calls the rebel's bluff.
This is less a what if question than a discussion of what the issues are if you are Lincoln.


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