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The faithful Peter Hart was his judicious mail-carrier between Sumter and the main, and his trusted caterer for the garrison in fresh provisions in the Charleston markets, so long as they were open to them.
Lieutenant George W. Snyder1 was his chief messenger in bearing written and oral dispatches to and from Governor Pickens; and Lieutenant Theodore Talbot was his personal messenger to the President.2 These young officers, since dead, were gallant and true on all occasions.
His other officers were brave, and also loyal, with the exception of Lieutenant Meade, a Virginian,3 and several of them have since held distinguished positions in the Army.
His little garrison, with one or two exceptions, were true to the old flag when tempted.
Yet, with all these advantages, Anderson was sorely tried by the practical weakness of his Government, and the malice of its enemies.
At the beginning of February, one source of much anxiety for the garrison was removed.
On Sunday, the 3d of that month, the wives and children (about.
twenty in number) of the officers and soldiers in Sumter were borne away in the steamer Marion for New York.
The parting scenes of fortitude and tenderness were touching.4 They had left the fort on the
1 Lieutenant George W. Snyder was one of Major Anderson's most energetic and trusted young officers. He had been the highest of the three higher graduates of his class at West Point, who were entitled to enter the Engineer Corps. He carried a number of messages from Major Anderson to Governor Pickens. On one occasion the Governor told him that the rebellion would have been delayed if the Republican majorities in 1860 had not been so large. They had resolved on rebellion when their political power, “sustained by the Democratic party in the North,” should pass from them. They saw no chance for that party to recover its power, and there was no reason for the c= conspirators to wait any longer. The exigency mentioned by Calhoun in 1812 (see note 2, page 41) had occurred.
A colonel's commission, as commander of a volunteer regiment, was offered to Lieutenant Snyder, but he preferred his position in the regular Army. He died while assisting in the construction of the defenses of Washington City. His remains are under a neat monument in his family burial-ground, near Schoharie Court House, New York, forty miles west of Albany. On the monument are the following inscriptions-- West side.--Lieutenant Geo. W. Snyder, born at Cobleskill, July 30, 1838. Died at Washington City, D. C., November 17, 1861. North side.--A graduate of Union College; also of the Military Academy at West Point, with the highest honors of his class. Fast side.--One of the gallant defenders of Fort Sumter. South side.--Aide-de-Camp to General Heintzelman at the battle of Bull's Run. On the west side of the monument, in relief, is a military hat and sword. I am indebted to Mr. Daniel Knower for the drawing of the monument.2 On one occasion, when Lieutenant Talbot went to President Buchanan, the latter met the young officer with much agitation,
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| Snyder's Monument. |
3 Soon after leaving Fort Sumter, Meade abandoned his flag and joined the insurgents. He was active in the construction of the defenses of Petersburg, in the second and third years of the war.
4 “ Many a woman and child departed that day who, to the utmost of their ability, would have done and dared as much as their husbands and fathers. ‘ We have been seven years married,’ said one, ‘ and I never had reason to find fault with you; now, whatever may happen, I know I shall never have cause to blush for you.’ Another, whose swollen eyes belied her words, said: ‘ I don't want you to think of us, Ben; the children and myself will get along, and you'll have enough to think of here.’ And another, holding a large warm hand between her own, and leaning her head against the brawny shoulder, whispered, with quivering lips, ‘May God bless an' take care oa you, Thomas; I'll never cease to pray for you; but do your juty, do your juty, darlint. God forbid that my love should interfere with that.’ Her husband, Thomas Carroll, did his ‘juty’ well when the hour for duty came, and carried a wounded face away from Fort Sumter.” --Within Fort Sumter: by one of the Company, page 25.
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