Query surrounding the fort’s reinforcement prompted Major Anderson to seek out comprehensive assessments from his officers regarding the necessary personnel and ships to ensure Fort Sumter’s defense. On February 28, Anderson requested individual reports from his officers, hoping their evaluations of the daunting task of reinforcing the fort would highlight the immense logistical challenges involved. By collecting these assessments, Anderson sought to emphasize the severity of the situation, thereby discouraging any attempts by the Lincoln administration to initiate aggressive actions that could lead to further escalation in an already volatile environment.

Captain Foster, the chief engineer, provided the most detailed and alarming estimate. According to his calculations, securing the batteries at Cummings Point and Morris Island would require 3,000 regular troops or 10,000 volunteers. In addition, another 3,000 regulars would be necessary to hold Sullivan’s Island. Once these positions were secured, maintaining control would necessitate a force of 10,000 regulars or 30,000 volunteers due to the expected resistance from the South Carolinians, who would likely be supported by neighboring states. Foster’s report underscored the sheer scale of the military presence needed to assert control, indicating a level of military commitment that was beyond what was currently available. These estimates helped frame the reality of the situation, emphasizing the size and scope of an operation that would stretch Union resources to their limit.

Captain Truman Seymour, who specialized in artillery, presented an even more dire analysis of the situation. He emphasized that any plans to resupply Fort Sumter by sea had become impossible due to the heightened vigilance and preparations by the Confederates. Seymour warned that any attempt to send supplies openly would fail unless the vessels were specifically designed to withstand heavy gunfire, making it a dangerous and impractical option. Furthermore, Seymour cautioned that any substantial troop movement towards the fort would prompt an immediate and overwhelming Confederate response. He predicted that a significant defensive force, potentially up to 20,000 trained marksmen, could be mobilized to defend Charleston Harbor, significantly increasing the risk of catastrophic losses. The situation, he argued, resembled the siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War, where entrenched defenses created an insurmountable barrier for attackers. Seymour’s warning reflected the overwhelming odds that any Union forces would face in attempting to invade the harbor, and his assessment reinforced the dire nature of the task ahead.

Additional reports from other officers only added to the growing realization of the scale of the operation required. Most officers estimated that an invading force of between 3,000 and 10,000 men would be needed, all of whom would require naval protection to ensure their safe deployment. Quartermaster Hall’s suggestion of deploying seven warships was made with the hope that they could help shield the troops from Confederate fire, but even he acknowledged the uncertainty of success. He cautioned that these efforts would rely on improbable circumstances, with failure being the most likely outcome. The widespread consensus among the officers painted a grim picture: attempting to reinforce Fort Sumter was not only highly difficult but nearly impossible without significant changes to the current military strategy and available resources.

These assessments were then relayed to Washington by Major Anderson, who acknowledged the stark reality presented by the officers. After reviewing the information, Anderson expressed his agreement with the overwhelming conclusion that a force of at least 20,000 well-trained troops would be needed for any attempt to reinforce Fort Sumter effectively. This was a figure that exceeded the size of the entire U.S. Army at the time, underscoring the immense challenge that the Union would face in trying to maintain control over Fort Sumter amidst the escalating tensions. The scale of the operation highlighted the logistical difficulties involved, with the need for thousands of soldiers, warships, and supplies to execute a mission that would ultimately test the Union’s military capabilities and its resolve. This assessment made it clear that the challenges of fortifying and resupplying Fort Sumter were far more complex than most people in Washington had initially realized, setting the stage for the monumental decisions that would come in the days ahead.