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December 20, 1860 - Captain William Maynadier to Secretary John Floyd

Click for full-sized scanned image Click for full-sized scanned image Union Correspondence, etc. ORDNANCE OFFICE, Washington, December 20, 1860. Honorable JOHN B. FLOYD, Secretary of War: SIR: The inclosed telegram, purporting to be from Captain J.G. Foster, the Engineer officer in charge of Fort Sumter reached me last night, and gives the first information to this office that the forty old muskets had been issued to the captain. On the contrary, the previous correspondence on the subject indicates that the issue of these muskets has not been and will not be made. On the 31st October last Colonel Craig informed you that the Engineer in charge of Fort Sumter had suggested the placing of a few small-arms in the hands of his workmen for the protection of the Government property there, and recommended that it should be done, provided that it met the concurrence of the commanding officer of the troops in Charleston Harbor. The recommendation was approved, and Colonel J.L. Gardner, then commanding at Charleston Harbor, was duly notified thereof and authorized to direct the issue if it met his approval, and to report the fact to this office. He answered under date of 5th November, 1860, and did not concur in the expediency of the issue. His letter was submitted to you on the 8th November, with the remark by the Colonel of Ordnance that "it is probable the issue has not and will not be made without further orders." No further orders have been given, and no report or other information on the subject has reached this office except the inclosed telegram. That is so indefinite (except as to the fact that Captain Foster has received the forty old muskets) as to be difficult to understand, and, consequently, to answer. It does not state by whom the "little talk" about the issue was had, nor who asks Captain Foster to return the muskets. From all the indications I am doubtful about the genuineness of the dispatch. If answered at all I think the best reply will be: "If you don't want the muskets, return them." Respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. MAYNADIER, Captain of Ordnance. [Inclosure-Telegram.] December 19, 1860 - Captain John Foster to Captain William Maynadier Click for full-sized scanned image Union Correspondence, etc. CHARLESTON, December 19, 1860. Captain WM. MAYNADIER, Ordnance Department: I received from the arsenal on the 17th forty old muskets ordered to be issued to me November 1. There is some little talk about it, and I am asked to return them. Shall I return them or keep them? J.G. FOSTER, Captain, Engineers, U.S. Army. (To view this page in its Source Category, click HERE) (To view this page in its Source Category, click HERE for Part 1 and HERE for Part 2)