Reinforcement of Fort Sumter being determined and the policy officially declared by Cabinet vote, January 2, 1861, the warlike preparations were at once hastened. Propositions made by Mr. Schultz, of New York, to furnish a vessel had already been made during December, and he was notified on January 2d, that a staff officer would see him the next day "to conclude arrangements." The staff officer, Colonel Thomas, hired the "Star of the West" from Mr. Schultz for $1,250 per day because the movement could be made with this vessel, the "Star of the West," without suspicion. On the same day General Scott directed Colonel Thomas to have three officers and two hundred troops with one hundred extra stands of arms and ample ammunition to be embarked. The orders enjoined complete concealment of the troops when approaching the Charleston Bay, and that Maj. Anderson be instructed to use the guns of Sumter to silence any injurious fire that should be opened upon any vessel bringing reinforcement or supplies to his fort.
These preparations were complete on January 5th, and the " Star of the West " with the troops and supplies sailed, followed by the warship Brooklyn. On the morning of the 9th the well-armed vessel steamed into the bay toward Fort Sumter, and was turned back by the fire of a South Carolina battery. The whole affair was a trivial play that might be classed as comic were it not a part of an awful national tragedy. The scheme concerted between the administration and General Scott was to use, not the Brooklyn, a warship of the navy, but a hired vessel, and thus convey reinforcements secretly into Sumter. If the vessel was permitted to pass the men, with 300 arms and ample ammunition, and three months supplies. If fired on the cry would be raised that South Carolina had begun war on the United States by firing on an unarmed vessel carrying provisions to a starving garrison.
