John G. Foster to Horatio G. Wright, December 20, 1860

Capt. F. C. Humpnreys, Military Storekeeper,- UTS: Me hers age

Dear Sir: I have received your letter of this date. I regret that I cannot accede to your request to write to the governor-elect of South Carolina and assure him that twenty enlisted men had not, as he had heard, been sent from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter. As the governor of a State that has by an ordinance to-day decided to secede from the Union, I cannot, I conceive, properly communicate with him in matters of this kind, except through the Government at Washington.

Tregret exceedingly that an unfounded rumor of this kind should have obtained the serious attention of the governor of South Carolina. I, as the officer in charge of Fort Sumter, can assure you that no enlisted men have been transferred from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter.

With respect to the issue of the muskets, I consider that you only performed your duty in obedience to existing orders. Icertainly think that I did mine. As to my after action in referring the matter to Washington, Lam, of course, the only one responsible. You cannot, therefore, be censured without cause.

Truly yours, in haste,