Fort Sumter commander refuses shipment of fresh produce from South Carolina authorities

South Carolina authorities had begun to permit a mail exchange on January 14, 1861, and five days later a boat delivered a two-day supply of fresh meat and vegetables to Fort Sumter.  Although the garrison had had no fresh provisions for weeks, Major Anderson refused the shipment, stating that all supplies must be purchased on a federal contract.  When he later tried to renew his old official supply contract in Charleston, however, he got no immediate response since the contractor had not been paid for earlier materials.   (By John Osborne)