Lincoln, the unknown

LINCOLN THE UNKNOWN• 125it killed "Tippecanoe" Harrison in four weeks. But Lincolnhad to endure the office-seekers and run a war at the same time.Finally, however, even his iron constitution all but broke underthe strain.Stricken with an attack of smallpox, he said:"Tell all the office-seekers to come at once, for now I havesomething I can give to all of them."Lincoln hadn't been in the White House twenty-four hourswhen he was confronted with a grave and momentous problem.The garrison holding Fort Sumter, in the harbor at Charleston,South Carolina, was almost out of food. The President had todecide whether to provision the fort or surrender it to the Confederates.His army and navy advisers said: "Don't try to send food.If you do, it will mean war."Six of the seven members of his Cabinet said the same thing.But Lincoln knew that he couldn't evacuate Sumter withoutvirtually recognizing secession and encouraging it, and dissolvingthe Union.In his inaugural address he had declared that he had themost solemn oath "registered in heaven" to "preserve, protect,and defend" the Union. He intended to keep his oath.So he gave the orders, and away sailed the U.S.S. Powhatan,carrying bacon and beans and bread for Fort Sumter. But noguns, no men, no ammunition.When Jefferson Davis heard the news he telegraphed GeneralBeauregard to attack Fort Sumter if he thought it necessary.Major Anderson, in command of the fortress, sent word toGeneral Beauregard that, if he would wait only four days, thegarrison would be compelled to evacuate through starvation,for they were already living on nothing but salt pork.Why didn't Beauregard wait?Perhaps it was because a few of his advisers felt that "unlessblood were sprinkled in the faces of the people," some ofthe seceding States might return to the Union.Shooting a few Yankees would arouse enthusiasm and cementthe Confederacy.So Beauregard issued his tragic orders; and, at half-past fouron the morning of April 12, a shell screamed through the airand fell hissing into the sea near the walls of the fort.For thirty-four hours, the bombardment continued.