The Charleston Daily News, Dec. 27, 1860
It was given out yesterday at Fort Moultrie, on Sullivan’s Island, that an attack was expected to be made upon it by the people of this city, and that therefore it would be necessary to remove the wives and children of the men to a more secure place. Accordingly three schooners were engaged, which hauled up to the Fort wharf and loaded with what was supposed by the few persons resident on the island, to be the bedding and furniture of the men’s families. It was given out that these vessels were to land their passengers and their goods at Fort Johnson, on James Island; and they hoisted sail and apparently steered for that point.
On last night, at about half-past 9 o’clock, the entire force, with the exception of about six or eight men, embarked on board of their own row boats, and proceeded to Fort Sumter, which they garrisoned at once, and where they met the persons who had left in the schooners, with many munitions of war which they had surreptitiously taken from Fort Moultrie. The few men left at the fortification last night, under the command of Captain Foster, as soon as the evacuation had taken place, at once commenced the spiking of the guns, the cutting down of the flag-staff, and the burning of the gun carriages, the smoke of which could be seen this morning from our wharves.
Fort Moultrie in a mutilated state, with useless guns, and flames rising in different portions of it, will stand to show the cowardly conduct of the officers who had charge of it, and who in times of peace basely deserted their post and attempted to destroy a fortification which is surrounded with so many historical reminiscences that the arm of the base scoundrel who would have ruined it should have dropped from its socket.
The schooners, we are informed, although pretending to sail for Fort Johnson, stood off and on until nightfall when they put into the wharf at Fort Sumter. We feel an anxiety to know the names of these vessels and their captains, and shall endeavor to find them out.
About half-past 7 o’clock last evening two heavy discharges from Fort Moultrie, were heard in the city, and was the object of considerable talk, and the news of this morning satisfied us that it must have been the signal of the debarkation of the troops.