It does make you wonder just what or who was pushing his buttons. If he made the tactical military decision that Moultrie was impossible to defend, what caused him to believe defense was going to be necessary or imminent if he knew there was to be a delegation going to Washington? Do you know where there may be any other references to Anderson's activities at this time?
It looks to me like he was setting the stage for what was to come but who was setting him into motion? I don't see how he could do it without an ok from 'above'. A blind eye may have been turned to his activity but why? There's more to this story, just don't know where to find the next chapter.
Pam

Another thought, when the shots were fired, it seems as if there were no thoughts of causing any real damage to anything but more the action to cause reaction. Wasn't he a friend of Beauregard's?