Sumter: Lincoln vents, Beauregard to prevent

Fort Sumter, 1861

• The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, Lincoln’s organ, reports that today's Cabinet meeting in Washington determined to withdraw the troops from both Fort Sumter and Fort Pickens. That Major Anderson would be ordered to give up Fort Sumter is the universal impression in Washington/1861 
• In Charleston, General P.G.T. Beauregard receives orders from President Jefferson Davis in Montgomery that he should prevent the reinforcement of Fort Sumter "at all hazards" by the "use of every conceivable agency." The Davis Administration informs Beauregard that Sumter is "silent now only because of the weakness of the garrison. Should re-enforcements get in, her guns would open fire upon you."/1861

• On Saturday night in Washington, Lincoln convenes his cabinet to inform them of the situation at Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC, the first cabinet session to discuss the national crisis and the forts, particularly Sumter. Lincoln is dismayed and even angry, "I was astonished to be informed that Fort Sumter . . . must be evacuated, and that General Scott . . . and Major Anderson concur in opinion, that, as the place has but 28 days’ provision, it must be relieved, if at all, in that time; and that it will take a force of 20,000 men at least, and a bloody battle, to relieve it!" No decision is expected at this meeting. Lincoln just vents./1861

• Confederate Congress in Montgomery passes the Coinage Bill, authorizing the printing of CS$50 million dollars in Confederate currency to be printed./1861