OTD 165 YEARS AGO: General Winfield Scott writes a shocking letter to President Abraham Lincoln recommending the abandonment of not only Fort Sumter but Fort Pickens as well.
Tag: Winfield Scott
Hostilities Imminent and Inevitable
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: Many of Abraham Lincoln’s advisors recommend abandoning Fort Sumter, but Lincoln considers a different course of action.
No Alternative But a Surrender
OTD 165 YEARS AGO: Abraham Lincoln begins his first full day as president by receiving an ominous message from Robert Anderson at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor.
The Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln becomes the 16th U.S. president and prepares to face the sectional crisis head-on.
Wayward Sisters Depart in Peace
President-elect Abraham Lincoln finalizes his cabinet choices and prepares for his inauguration. Meanwhile, Winfield Scott offers four options on how to deal with the southern secession amid concerns about possible violence in Washington.
Make Yourself That Rallying Point
An officer is assigned to protect Washington from secessionists, and a controversial letter from Winfield Scott becomes public.