this peaceable evacuation,--first, no attempt was made against Fort
Taylor, at Key West; Fort Jefferson, on Tortugas Island; and Fort
Pickens, at Pensacola, on account of the distance and danger; second,
part of the troops in Texas were eventually refused the promised
transit, and were captured; third, the forts in Charleston harbor
underwent peculiar vicissitudes, which will be recounted later on.

The conspiracy which, for a while at least, seemed destined to overcome
all obstacles, was not confined to South Carolina or the Cotton States.
Unfortunately it had established itself in the highest official circles
of the National Government. Three members of President Buchanan's
cabinet--Cobb, of Georgia, Secretary of the Treasury; Floyd, of
Virginia, Secretary of War; and Thompson, of Mississippi, Secretary of
the Interior--were rank and ardent disunionists. To the artful
machinations of these three arch-traitors, who cared more for self than
they did for the South, the success of the conspiracy was largely due.
Grouped about them was a number of lesser functionaries, willing to lend
their help. Even the President did not escape the suspicion of the taint
of disloyal purpose.

The first and chief solicitude of the disunionists of South Carolina was
to gain possession of the forts. A secret caucus was held. "We must have
the forts," was its watchword; and, ere long, from every street corner
in Charleston came the impatient echo: "The forts must be ours."

To revert to the beginning. On the 1st of October, 1860, the Chief of
Ordnance wrote to Secretary Floyd, urging the importance of protecting
the ordnance and ammunition stored in Fort Sumter, Charleston harbor,
providing it met the approval of the commanding officer of Fort
Moultrie. The Secretary had no objections; but the commanding officer of