http://history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs53x/nvcwmb2/webbbs_config.pl?read=70999
Looking again at the returns of the forts of Charleston S.C., during the period of 1850-52, the forts at Charleston in 1851 had a combined troop population of nearly 400 men. That is double of the number of troops in New York Harbor for the same time period. Prior to the fall of 1850, Charleston had a federal troop population of about 60 men, (during the 1830s it was as low as 4); then it shot up to about 275 and kept growing into the summer of 1851 where it peaked at 400. All the forts were manned. Fort Moultrie had four companies (2nd Art), Fort Pickney had one (2nd Art), Fort Sumter had two companies (4th Art.) In May of 1852 the troops at Fort Sumter were withdrawn, and gradually the numbers were reduced to about their previous levels.
The newpapers reports I read were correct. What was this show of force for?
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David Upton