Thanks. I have had a hard time getting the state/fed use or participation straight. The funding makes sense. We all know how those departments still say it’s ‘not my job or department’.

The first record I've found showing FC Humphrey’s asking for orders or assistance is dated Dec. 28, 1860.

On Dec. 29, 1860 he sent another message to Capt. Wm. Maynadier (Ordinance Bureau) saying he had sent a telegram Dec.28 asking for orders.
Dec,30, he sent another saying the arsenal had been taken by “force of arms”.
Jan.1, 1861, he sent another asking what to do with the men under him. Maynadier sent a reply Jan.2 telling Humphrey’s he wanted a detailed report on what had been going on.
Humphrey’s had surrendered the arsenal to Capt. John Cunningham, Seventeenth Regiment Inf., South Carolina Militia, ( I would almost bet that HE is in my tree somewhere). Passing strange it is. Humphreys had taken command of the post Dec.7 and had 14 men under him. Cunningham had 200. Gee, guess what made the most sense?

Below is a report by Scott dated Dec.28. He says a lot but I do not see ‘Arsenal’ anywhere in it. Very strange, or maybe not so strange.

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mal:@field(DOCID+@lit(d0540000))

Pam