G.V. Fox submitted a plan based on operations from the Crimean War, to reinforce Fort Sumter by force. This was approved by President Lincoln. The force assembled were armed warships that included sloops of war, a revenue cutter, and the largest side wheel frigate in the Navy the USS Powhatan. On the USS Powhatan was an amphibious force described by Fox as his "fighting force" of 300 armed sailors manning the ships motorized armed launches. Three tugs were to be used to tow the 4th U.S. Artillery, 200 men and their supplies, in launches, to Fort Sumter. The USS Powhatans "fighting force" was to escort to prevent Confederate vessels form interfering. This was to done under cover of darkness.

All of these details were easily obtained by Confederate spies and given to Beauregard. So on April 11th he was waiting for the Union fleet to arrive, which parts of it did the evening of the 11th of April, many hours before he gave Major Anderson the option to surrender or be fired upon. With every hour another ship would arrive off the bar, Beauregard was fearing the assault he could not hope stop. He did not know the USS Powhaten was not going to arrive, so secret was its change of command and orders.

As for Major Anderson's move to Fort Sumter, there has not been any evidence given for his actions that would agree with his original orders. In other words why did he move to Fort Sumter without being threatened?

______________________
David Upton