Buchanan's Resupply Attempt Outrages Charleston
- January 9th, 1861: Buchanan’s administration attempted to send reinforcements to Sumter
- Buchanan did this through the Star of the West, a civilian merchant ship
- Buchanan believed that his truce had already been disrupted by Anderson’s move
- He also decided that Anderson was in too dire of a condition to be left without resupply
- By then, Fort Moultrie had already been taken by Confederate Forces
- They moved in after Anderson left for Sumter
- When the Star reached Charleston, Fort Moultrie fired a few shots toward the Star in warning
- It immediately turned around and headed back to New York
- Buchanan’s decision to send reinforcement was a failure
- It outraged South Carolina further for the mere attempt
- It also angering northerners for failing,
- This caused more tensions toward the Civil War
- Thankfully for Buchanan, his term was nearly over
- He was well ready to return home and pass his troubles along to the new President Lincoln