"The smallness of your force will not permit you, perhaps, to occupy more than one of the three forts, but an attack on or attempt to take possession of any one of them will be regarded as an act of hostility, and you may then put your command into either of them which you may deem most proper to increase its power of resistance. You are also authorized to take similar steps whenever you have tangible evidence of a design to proceed to a hostile act."

That last sentenc from Anderson's verbal orders would indicate he did have authority to move to Sumter if in his opinion that was the best course of action. He was told not to risk the lives of himself or his men unnessesarily. In hindsight, we may be able to perceive the lack of a real threat to Moultrie, but in his position, Anderson's actions were reasonable. He was told not to reveal his verbal orders, even to his officers, so could hardly say other than that he acted on his own. He would have to assume the White House would not back him up. It wouldn't be the first nor last time an officer was in this position. If I remember correctly, Anderson was a Kentuckian, so may have had mixed emotions no matter what he did. Stan