ABSTRACT
President Buchanan’s last 2 months of his single-term presidency found him trying everything to prevent the ship of state from capsizing before Lincoln could take the helm.
January: On January 1, South Carolina excluded U.S. ships from Charleston Harbor and cut off mail to Fort Sumter. At a cabinet meeting the next day, General Winfield Scott (who was included in the meeting) recommended that all forts in the South be reinforced. The president agreed. On the same day, South Carolina forces seized the vacant Fort Johnson in Charleston Harbor.
