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 ihe §attle d Jott ^umtcv 
 
 ANO 
 
 First Victory of the Southern Troops. 
 
 APKIL mh. 18(11. 
 
 Full accounts of the Bombardment, with Sketches of the Scenes, 
 
 Incidents, etc. Compiled chiefly from the detailed 
 
 Reports of the Charleston Press. 
 
 PXTBIjISHEID B"5^ HECaTlTEST. 
 
 CHARLESTON, S. C: 
 
 PKINTHi BY KVANS * COOSWKLI,, Kos. 3 BKOAfl AND 10.1 KAST BAT STS. 
 ■■' 1801 
 
 I^ri<*e, T^venty-F'ive* Oeiits. 
 
THE 
 
 WILLIAM R. PERKINS 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 DUKE UNIVERSITY 
 
CUT EXPRESSLY FOR THE 
 
 ^ MtRCURY. 
 r.WBORNCMAMN. 
 
 CHA. %.r 
 
\ 
 
THE 
 
 BATTLE OF FORT SUMTER 
 
 AXD 
 
 First Victory of tlic Southern Troops, 
 
 April IStii, 1861 
 
 FULL ACCOUNTS OF THE BOMBARDMENT, WITH SKETCHES OF 
 THE SCENES, INCIDENTS, ETC. 
 
 COMIMLF.D CHIEFLY FROM TIIF, DETAILED REPORTS OP THE 
 CnARLESTON PRESS. 
 
 rUIU.ISIIED BY I5EQUKST. 
 
 CIIAELESTOX : 
 
 ITEAM-roWER PRESSES OF EVANS i COGSWELL. 
 No. 3 Broad and 10.3 East Bay Streets. 
 
 ISfH. 
 
« 
 
 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2010 with funding from 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/battleoffortsumt01char 
 

 THE BATTLE OF FORT SUMTER. 
 
 FIEST DAY'S BOMBARDMENT. 
 
 Friday, April 12, L'^Gl. 
 
 The bombardment of Fort Sumter, so lonjj^ uiul anxiously 
 exjiected, bas at lengtb become a fact accomplisbed. 
 
 At about two o'clock, on tlie afternoon of Tlnirsday, General 
 Beauregard, tbrough bis Aides, Col. James Cbesnut, Jr., Coi. 
 Cbisolm and Capt. Lee, made a demand on Major Anderson 
 for tlie immediate surrender of Fort Sumter. Major Anderson 
 replied tbat sucb a course would be inconsistent witb tbe duty 
 he was required by bis Government to perform. Tbe answer 
 was communicated by tbe General-in-Chief to President Davis. 
 
 This visit, and the refusal of tbe commandant of Fort Sum- 
 ter to accede to tbe demand made by General Beauregard, 
 passed from tongue to tongue, and soon tbe whole city Avas in 
 possession of tbe startling intelligence. ■ Eumor, as she is wont 
 to do, sbaped tbe facts to suit her purposes, enlarged their 
 dimensions, and gave them a complexion which they had not 
 worn Avlien fresh from tbe pnre and artless bands of truth. 
 
 A half an hour after tbe return of the orderlies it was conti- 
 denth' believed tbat the batteries would open fire at eight 
 o'clock, and in expectation of seeing tbe beginning of tbe con- 
 flict, hundreds congregated upon the Battery and the Avbarves, 
 looking out on the bay. There they stood, straining their eyes 
 over the dark exj>anse of Avater, waiting to see the flash and 
 bear the boom of the first gun. The clock told the hour of 
 eleven, and still they gazed and listened, but the eyelids grew 
 Avear}'. and at the noon of tbe night the larger portion of tbe 
 disa])pointed spectators were plodding their way homewaril. 
 At about nine o'clock, General Beauregard received a reply 
 from President Davis, to the telegram in relation to the surren- 
 der of Sumter, bj- which be was instructed to inform Major 
 Anderson tbat if he would evacuate the fort be held when his 
 present sujiply of provisions was exhausted, there would be no 
 appeal to arms. This proposition was borne to Major Andrr- 
 
son liy the Aids who had delivered the tinst iiiessai^e, and he 
 refused to aceept the condition. The General-in-tMiief forth- 
 with gave the order that the batteries be opened at half-past 
 four o'clock on Friday' morning. -.Major Anderson's reply was 
 decisive of the momentous question, and General Beauregard 
 determined to apply the last argument. The stout soldier had 
 resolve<l to make a desperate defence, and the bloody trial of 
 strength must be essayed. The sword must cut asunder the 
 last tie that bound us to a people, whom, in sj)ite of wrongs 
 and injustice wantonly inflicted tlu-ough a long series of j-ears, 
 we had not yet utterly hated and despised. The last expiring 
 spark of affection must l)e quenched in blood. Some of the 
 most splendid pages in our glorious history irmst be blurred. A 
 1 low must be struck that would make the ears of every Re- 
 ])ublican fanatic tingle, and whose di-eadful effects will be felt 
 by generations 3'et to come. "We must transmit a heritage of 
 rankling and undying hate to our children. 
 
 The restless activity of Thursday night was gradually worn 
 down ; the citizens who had thronged the battery through the 
 night, anxious and weary, had sought their homes, the Mounted 
 Guard which had kept watch and ward over the city, with the 
 first grey streak of morning were preparing to retire, when 
 two guns in quick succession from Fort Johnson announced the 
 opening of the drama. Upon that signal, at twent^'-tive min- 
 utes past four o'clock, a. m., the circle of batteries with which 
 the grim fortress of Fort Sumter is lieleaguered ojxMied fire. 
 The outline of this great volcanic crater was illuminated with 
 a line of twinkling lights; the clustering shells illuminated the 
 sk}^ above it; the balls clattered thick as hail upon its sides; 
 our citizens, aroused to a forgetfulnoss of their fatigue through 
 many weary hours, rushed again to the points of observation ; 
 and so, at the break of day, amidst the bursting of bombs, and 
 the roaring of ordnance, and before thousands of spectators, 
 whose homes, and liberties, and lives were at stake, was enacted 
 this first great scene in the opening drama of this most mo- 
 mentous military history. 
 
 As the roar of cannon burst upon the startled city, the 
 expected sound was answered by thousands. The houses were 
 in a few minutes emptied of their excited occupants, and the 
 living stream poured through all the streets leading to the 
 wharves and Battery. On reaching our beautiful promenade, 
 we found it lined with ranks of eager spectators, and all the 
 wharves commanding a view of the battle were crowded thickly 
 with human forms. On no gala occasion have we ever seen 
 nearly so large a number of ladies on our Battery as graced the 
 breezy walk on this eventful morning. There the}' stood with 
 palpitating hearts and palid faces, watching the white smoke 
 as it rose in wreaths upon the soft twilight air, and breathing 
 out fervent prayers for their gallant kinsfolk at the guns. 
 
 Steadily alternating, our batteries spit Ibrth their wrath at 
 
the grim fortress rising so dcfiantl}' out of the sea. Major 
 Anderson received the shot and shell in silence. And some 
 excited lookers on, ignorant of the character of the foe, were 
 fluent with conjectures and predictions, that revived the hope 
 fast dying out of their hopeful and tender hearts. But the 
 short-lived hope was utterly extinguished when the deepening 
 twilight revealed the Stars and Strii)Qs floating defianth' in the 
 breeze. The batteries continued at regular intervals to belch 
 iron vengeance, and still no answer was returned by the foe. 
 About an hour after the booming began, two balls rushed hiss- 
 ing through the air, and glanced harmless from the stuccoed 
 bricks of Fort Moultrie. The embrasures of the hostile fort- 
 ress gave forth no sound again till between six and seven 
 o'clock, Avhen, as if wrathful from enforced delay, from case- 
 mate and parapet the United States oflrtcer poured a storm of 
 iron hail upon Fort Moultrie, Steven's Iron Battery and the 
 Floating Batter}'. The broadside was returned with spirit by 
 the gallant gunners at these important ])OSts. The firing now 
 began in good earnest. The curling white smoke hung above 
 the angry pieces of friend and foe, and the jarring boom rolled 
 at regular intervals on the anxious ear. The atmos})here was 
 charged with the smell of-villainous saltpetre, and as if in 
 sj-mpathy with the melancholy scene, the sky was covered 
 with heavy clouds, and everything Avore a sombre asjiect. 
 
 Al)Out halfpast nine o'clock, Capt. E. S. Parker reported 
 from Sullivan's Island to Mount Pleasant that everything was 
 in fine condition at Fort Moultrie, and that the soldiei's had 
 escaped unhurt. The same dispatcli stated that the embra- 
 sures of the Floating Battery were undamaged by the shock of 
 the shot, and though that formidable structure had been struck 
 eleven times, the balls had not started a single bolt. Anderson, 
 after finding his fire against the Iron Batterj' inefl'ectual, had 
 concentrated his fire upon the Floating Battery, and the Bahl- 
 gren Battery, both under command of Capt. Hamilton. A 
 number of shells had dropped into Fort Sumter, and one gun 
 en barbette had been dismounted. 
 
 The following cheering tidings were next brought to the city: 
 Stevens' Battery and the Floating Battery are doing import- 
 ant service. Stevens' Batter}' has made consideral)le jirogress 
 in battering the south and south-west walls of Fort Sumter. 
 The north-west wall is sutfering from the well-aimed fire of the 
 P^loating Battery, whose shot have dismounted several of the 
 guns on the parapet, and made it impossible to use the i-emain- 
 ing ones. The Mortar Battery connected with the impreg- 
 nable (run Battery at Cummings' Point, is managed with 
 consummate skill and terrible ettect. Tiie F^nfilade or Four- 
 gun Battery, at Sullivan's Island, in charge of Lieut. Valen- 
 tine and Ijieut. B. S. Burnet, did eff'ective service, while the 
 oflScers, exposed to a dangerous fire from Fort Sumter, exhib- 
 ited the utmost coolness and courage. Their aim was directed 
 
6 
 
 u^inst the barbette ffuns to the nortli, ami aijcainst the officers' 
 quarters on the <»j>j)(>site side of the Ibrt ; the liuiis whieh they 
 wiTc exf)ecte<l to eiitihule heiiiir imtiected by a traverse liastil}- 
 erected l>y Major Amh'rsoii two nights before the cannonade 
 i-onin»enced. How well tiieir tire was pointed is told by the 
 riddh'd condition of the barracks, upon which this batter}-, 
 witl> Fort Moultrie ami the Floating Battery, i>lnyed. Capt. 
 JIallonqnist commanded both this battery and the mortar bat- 
 tery between Fort Moultrie and the Cove, where Lieut. Flem- 
 ming was stationed, and showed hiniself a thorough sohiier by 
 his braver}-. The mortar l)attery was decidedly one of the 
 best managed and most efficient in service, contributing mate- 
 rially to the reduction of Sumter. 
 
 Elrcrn o clock. — A messenger from ^lonis' Island brings the 
 news that the shot glance from the iron covered batteiy at 
 C'umming's Point, like mai-l)les thrown by a child on the l»ack 
 ol' a turtle. The upjjer portion of the south-west wall of Fort 
 Sumter shows ])lainly the etleot of the terrible cannonade from 
 llie formidable invention of Mr. V. H. Stevens' patriotism and 
 ingenuity. 
 
 A boat reached the city from the Floating ]^attery about 
 half-past twelve o'clock, and re))orted that a shot from Fort 
 Sumter jienetrated the top or shed of the structure, and three 
 shots struck the sand bags in the rear of the Battery. 
 
 Twelve o'clock. — "We have just learned by an arrival from 
 Cummings' Point, that the batteries there continue doing good 
 service — Stevens' Battery ver}- successful. Not a single casu- 
 alty has happened. The troops are in the best spirits. Two of 
 the guns at Fort Sumter a])pear to Ije tlisabled. Considerable 
 damage has been done to the roofs of the officer's quarters. 
 
 One o'clock. — The following was received from ]\I orris' Island. 
 One gun in Stevens' Battery temporarily disabled, Anderson's 
 fire having injured the door of the embrasure. The damage 
 will be repaired speedily. Three steam vessels of war were 
 seen oif the bar, one of them supjioscd to be the Harriet Lane. 
 
 The veneralile Jvliiiuml IJulfin, who, so soon as it was known 
 a battle was inevitable, hastened over to Morris' Island and 
 was elected a member of the Palmetto Guard, fired the first 
 gun from Stevens' Iron Battery. Another son of the Old 
 I)ominion was appointed on General Beauregard's Staff on 
 Thursday, bore dispatches to the General in command, from 
 Brigntlier-GeneralJames Simons, in command of .^[orris' Island, 
 during the thickest of the fight, and in the lace of a munlerous 
 fire from Fort Sumter. Col. I^\ger A. Pryor, in the execution 
 of that dangerous commission, passeil within speaking distance 
 of the hostile fortress. 
 
 Fort Moultrie has fully sustained the prestige of its glorious 
 name. Here, Col. Ripley, wh<j was commandant of all the 
 jM'lillery of Sullivan's Island and Mount Pleasant, made hin 
 headipiarters. The battery bearing on Sumter consisted of 
 
nine guns, in command of Lieut. Alfred Rhett, Avith a detacli- 
 ment of seventy men, Company B. It lired very nearly gun 
 for gun with Fort Sumter. We counted tl\e guns from eleven 
 to twelve o'clock, and found them to be fortj'-two to forty-six, 
 while the advantage was unquestionably upon the side of Fort 
 Moultrie. In that fort not a gun was dismounted, not a 
 wound received, not the slightest permanent injury sustained 
 by any of its defences, while every ball from Fort Moultrie left 
 its mark upon Fort Sumter. Those aimed at the barbette 
 guns swept with a deadly fire the parapet of the battery bear- 
 ing on Cumming's Point, and also that against Sullivan's Island, 
 clearing the ramparts of men, striking the guns, or falling 
 ^\-ith terrible etfect upon the walls and roofing of the quarters 
 on the opposite side of the fortress. Many of its shells were 
 dropped into that fort, and Lieut. John Mitchell, the worthy 
 son of that patriot sire, who has so nobly vindicated the cause 
 of the South, has the honor of dismounting two of its parapet 
 guns by a single shot from one of the Columbiads, which at 
 the time he had the office of directing. During the morning. 
 Major Anderson had paid his respects to all, and had tested 
 the Fhxvting Battery and the Iron Batter}', and made nothing 
 for the trouble. The last two or tlu'ce hours before dark, he 
 devoted himself exclusively to Fort Moultrie, and the two fort- 
 resses had a grand duello. Game to the last, though much 
 more exposed. Fort Moultrie held her own, and, il is believed, 
 a little more than her own. Towaixls night, several i"Ounds of 
 red-hot shot were thi'own into the barracks of the enemy. 
 This battery has received universal applause and admii-ation. 
 
 A brisk fire was kept up by all the batteries until about seven 
 o'clock in the evening, after which hour the guns boomed, 
 throughout the night of Friday, at regular intervals of twenty 
 minutes. The schooner Petrel, J. L. Jones, commanding, while 
 lying otf the mouth of Hog Island Channel, was fired into from 
 Fort Sumter, about half-past eight o'clock. One shot took etfect 
 in the bow oi'the schooner, and several passed over her. 
 
 It were vain to .attempt an exhibition of the enthusiasm and 
 fearless intrepidity of our citizens in every department of this 
 eventful day. Jioats passed from post to post Avithout the 
 slightest hesitation, under the guns of Fort Sumter, and with 
 high and low, old and young, rich and poor, in uniform or with- 
 out, the common wish and constant effort was to reach the posts 
 of action ; and amid a bombardment resisted with the most con- 
 summate skill and perseverance, and with the most efficient 
 apjiliances of militar}- art and science, it is a most remarkable 
 circumstance, and one Avhich exhibits the infinite goodness of 
 an overruling Providence, that, so far as we have been able to 
 learn from the most careful inquiry, not the slightest injury has 
 been sustained by the defenders of their country. 
 
 It may be added, as an incident that contributed no little 
 interest to the action of the day, that from early in the fore- 
 
8 
 
 noon three vessels of war, two of them supposed to be the Har- 
 riet Lane and Pawnee, lay just beyond the bar, inactive speeta- 
 tors of the contest. 
 
 CLOSE OF THE BOMBARDMENT. 
 
 Second Day, Saturday, April 13, ISGl. 
 
 We closed the account of the <;i'and military diorama in ]iro- 
 grcss on our Bay amidst the clouds and gloom and threatening 
 perils of Friday night. The firing, abated in the early evening, 
 as though fur the concentration of its special energies, com- 
 menced again at ten o'clock, and amid gusts of rain, and clouds 
 that swept the heavens, the red hot shot and lighted shells, 
 again streamed from the girt of batteries around, and concen- 
 trated in fearful import over Fort Sumter. Of the etfects little 
 Avas visilde, of course, and anxious citizens, who from battery, 
 spire and housetoj), had bided the peltings of the storm, mute 
 spectators of the splendid scene, could only wait the ()])ening of 
 tlie coming da}- foi confirmation of the l>0])es and fears with 
 which the changes in the scene successively insj)ired them. As 
 dawn ai)proaclied, the firing again abated, and wlien the rising 
 sun threw its flood of light over the sparkling waters fi-om a 
 cloudless sky, it was but hy random shots from outlying bat- 
 teries, with scarce an answer from Fort Sumter, that spectators 
 were assured the contest still continued, and that human feel- 
 ing was not in harmony with the grace and glory of the scene. 
 It was but a little Avhile, however, before the enei-g}' of action 
 was restored, and as the work of destruction still went on, it 
 was feared that still another day of expectation and uncertainty 
 / was before us. A light issue of thin smoke was early seen at 
 / Sumter. At seven o'clock, a vigorous and steady fire was 
 opened from Fort Moulti'ie, and a heav}' cannonade ensued. 
 But at eight o'clock the cry arose from the wharves, and rolled 
 in one continuous wave over the cit}', " Four Sumter is on 
 Fire !" The watchers of the night before, who had retired 
 for a few moments, were aroused, occupations were instantly 
 suspended, and old and young, either mounted to their points 
 of observation, or rolled in crowds upon the Battery, to look 
 upon the last and most imposing act in this great drama. 
 The barracks to the south had been three times set on fire 
 during the bombardment of the day before, but each time the 
 flames Avcre immediately extinguished. Subsequently, how- 
 ever, a red-hot shot from Fort Moultrie, or a shell from else- 
 Avhere, found a lodgment, Avhen the fact was not apparent, and 
 the fire, smouldering for a time, at length broke forth, and 
 flames and smoke rose in volumes from the crater of Fort 
 Sumter. The wind was blowing from the west, driving the 
 smoke across the fort and into the embrasures, where the 
 
9 
 
 gunners ^vere at "work, and pouring its volumes through tlie 
 port-holes ; the firing of Fort Sumter appeared to be renewed 
 •with vigor. The fire of the Fort, long, fierce and rapid, how- 
 ever, was gradually abated, and although at distant intervals a 
 gun was fired, the necessity of preserving their magazines and 
 of avoiding the flames, left the tenants little leisure for resist- 
 ance. ]>ut the fii'ing from without was continued with re- 
 doubled vigor. Every batteiy poured in its ceaseless round of 
 shot and shell. The enthusiasm of success inspired tlieir cour- 
 age and gave precision to their action ; and thus, as in the 
 opening, so in tlic closing scene, under the beaming sunlight, in 
 view of thousands croAvded upon the wharves and house-tops, 
 and amid the booming of ordnance, and in view of the five 
 immense ships sent by the enemy with reinforcements, h'ing 
 idly just out of gun shot on the Bar, this first fortress of des- 
 potic power fell jii-ostrate to the cause of Southern Indepen- 
 dence. 
 
 About eight o'clock. Fort Moultrie had commenced to pour 
 in hot shot, to ])revent the extinguisliment of the spreading 
 flames, and to kindle new fires in all the quarters. The fight 
 between the two forts was terrific. At this time, Sumter fired 
 fifty-lour shots at Moultrie in one hour, tearing the barracks to 
 pieces. But the Avork was vain. Moultrie was too much for 
 Sumter. In five minutes, she returned eleven shots. At 
 about nine o'clock the flames aj)peared to be abating, and 
 it was apprehended that no irreparalde injury had been sus- 
 tained; but near ten o'clock, a column of white smoke rose 
 high above the battlements, followed b}' an explosion which 
 was felt upon the wharves, and gave the assurance tliat if the 
 magazines were not exploded, at least their temjjorary ammu- 
 nition were exposed to the element still raging. Soon after 
 the barracks to the east and west were in flames, the smoke 
 rose in redoubled volume from the whole circle of the fort, and 
 rolling from tlie embrasures, it seemed scarcely possible that 
 life could be sustained. Soon after another column of smoke 
 arose as fearful as the first. The guns had been completely 
 silenced, and the onl^' o])tion left to tlie tenants of the fort- 
 ress seemed to be whether they would perish or surrender. 
 At a quarter to one o'clock, the staff, from which the flag still 
 waved, was siiot awa^-, and it was long in doubt whether, if 
 there were the purpose, there was the ability to re-erect it. 
 But at the expiration of about twent}' minutes, it again ap- 
 peared upon the eastern rampart, and announced that resist- 
 ance was not ended. In the meantime, ho\vever, a small boat 
 started from the city wharf, bearing Colonels Lee, Pryor and 
 Miles, Aides to Gen. Beauregard, with offers of assistance, if, 
 perchance, the garrison should be unable to escape the flames. 
 As the}' approached the fort, the United States' flag re-ap- 
 peared ; and shortly afterwards a shout from the Avhole circle 
 of spectators on the islands and the main, announced that 
 
10 
 
 the wliite fla:; of truce was wavini^ from tlio ramparts. A 
 small boat had alreaily been seen to slioot out from Cumminij.s' 
 Point, in the direction of the fort, in which stood an ottieer 
 with a white flag upon the ])oint of his sword. This officer 
 proved to be Col. Wigfall, Aid to the Commanding General, 
 who, entering through a port-hole, demanded the surrender. 
 Major Anderson replied, that "they were still firing on him." 
 "Then take your flag down," said Col. Wigfall: "they will con- 
 tinue to Are upon you so long as that is up." 
 
 After some further explanations in the course of which it 
 appeared, that Major Anderson's men were fast suffocating in 
 the casemates, the brave commander of Sumter agreed that he 
 would, unconditionally, surrender — subject to the terms of 
 Gen. Beauregard, who, as was said by Col. AVigfall, "is a sol- 
 dier and a gentleman, and knows how to treat a brave enemy." 
 When this parley had been terminated, another boat from the 
 city containing Major Jones, Cols. Chesnut and Manning, with 
 other officers antl the Chief of the Fire Department and the 
 Palmetto Fire Company came up to the Fort: All flring had 
 meantime ceased. The agreement to unconditional surrender 
 was reiterated in the presence of new arrivals, and Messrs. 
 Chesnut and Manning immediately came back to the city to 
 bring the news, when it was also positivelj' stated afterwards, 
 that no one was killed on either side. It may seem strange, 
 but it is nevertheless true. The only way to account for the 
 fact is in the excellent protection offered by the unparalleled 
 good works behind which the engagement was fought. The 
 long range of shooting must also be taken into account. In 
 addition to this, on each side, the men, seeing a discharge in 
 their direction, learned to dodge the balls and to throw them- 
 selves under cover. A horse on Sullivan's Island was the only 
 living creature deprived of life during the bombardment. 
 
 General Beauregard decided uj)on the following terms of 
 Anderson's capitulation : 
 
 That is — First affording all proper facilities for removing 
 him and his command, together with company arms and prop- 
 erty and all private property. 
 
 Secondly — That the Federal flag he had so long and so 
 bravely defended shoubl be saluted by the van(|iiished on 
 taking it down. 
 
 Thirdly — That Anderson should be allowed to fix the time 
 of surrender; to take place, however, son\o time during the 
 ensuing day (Sunday.) 
 
 These terms were the same as those offered before the con- 
 test. In pursuance of this programme, Major Anderson indi- 
 cated Sunday morning as the time for his formal surrender. 
 
11 
 
 THE SURRENDER OF FORT SU.AITER. 
 
 Sunday, April 14, 18G1. 
 
 On Sunday morning, April 14, ISGl, at half-past 12 o'clock, 
 his Excellency Governor Pickens, with his Aides, and ]\[essrs. 
 Jamison, JIarllec and ]\Iagrath, of his Executive Council, and 
 Gen. Beauregard, with his Aides, Messrs. JMiles, Pr^-or, jManning, 
 Chesnut and Jones, and many distinguished gentlemen, invited 
 to 1)e jiresent, took their departure in a steamer from Southern 
 Wharf, and were horno in the direction of the Fort. As we 
 advanced, it was a])parent, however, that the evacuation was 
 not completed. Though the steamer Isabel, at the re(piest of 
 Major Anderson, had been ])resent from nine o'clock, and the 
 expectation had been occasioned that ver^^ soon thereafter his 
 command would be tinder way, still causes of delay had inter- 
 vened. To avoid the embarrassments of a premature arrival, 
 the party was landed upon Sullivan's Island. Availing them- 
 selves of the opportunities thus atlbrded, they visited the 
 floating battery, the Dahlgrcn batterj", the enlihuling batter^', 
 and were asceiuling the mortar battery, when the booming of 
 the guns upon the parapets of Fort Sumter, announced the 
 lowering of the " stars and stripes." In the terms of capitu- 
 lation, it was allowed to Major Anderson to salute his flag, and 
 it was ])erhaps expected that he would fire the usual compli- 
 ment of twenty-one guns; but, reaching that number, he still 
 went on to fire, and the a]iprehcnsion was, that he might 
 exhibit the discourtesy of numbering thirty-four. Eut he con- 
 tinued still to fire, up to fifty, and then slowly lowering his 
 flag, the shouts from assembled thousands, upon the shores and 
 tlie steamers, and ever}' species of water craft, announced 
 that the authority of the late United States upon the last foot 
 of Carolina's soil was finally withdrawn. It had been noticed 
 that, at the firing of the seventeenth gun, there \vas the sound 
 as of two reports, and the impression was, that two guns had 
 been fired together; but, as the party, re-embai'king, were on 
 their way to Fort Sumter, they were met by a boat, Avhich 
 announced that one of the caissons had exploded, and made the 
 earnest request that the boat would return to Sullivan's Island 
 for a fire engine, from the apprehension that the magazine 
 might be in danger. This obtained, the party again started 
 for the fort, and made their entrance. 
 
 It were vain to attempt a detailed description of the scene. 
 Every point and every ol)ject in the interior of the fort, to 
 whicli the ej^e was tui'ned, except the outer walls and case- 
 mates, which are still strong, bore the impress of ruin. It 
 were as if the Genius of l)estruction had tasked its energies 
 to make the thing complete, brooded over by the desolation of 
 ages. It could scarce have been developed to a more full ma- 
 turity of ruin. Tlie walls of the internal structure, roofless, 
 
12 
 
 hiiro, blackened, aiul perforated by sbot and shell, hung in frag- 
 ments, and seemed in instant readiness to totter down. Xear 
 the centre of the parade ground was the hurried grave of one 
 who had fallen from the recent casualt}'. To the left of the 
 entrance was a man who seemed to l)e at the verge of death. 
 In the ruins, to the right, there was another. The shattered 
 flag-statf, pierced l>y four balls, lay sjirawling on the ground. 
 The parade-ground was strewn with iragments of shell and of 
 the dilapidated buildings. At least four guns were dismounted 
 on the ramparts, and at every step the way was impeded by 
 portions of the broken structure. And so it was that the 
 authorities, compelled to yield the fortress, had at least the 
 satisfaction of leaving it in a condition calculated to inspire 
 the least possible jileasure to its captors. 
 
 Of all this, however, the feeling was lost when, ascending to 
 the parapet, the brilliant panorama of the ba}' appeared. And 
 Avhen, fi'om this key to the harbor, the view expanded to the 
 "waving outline of main and island, and M'hen, u])on this key, 
 the tlag of the Confederacy, together with the Palmetto flag, 
 Avere both expanded to the breeze ; and when the deafening 
 shouts arose from the masses clustered upon botits and upon 
 the siiores, and when the batteries around the entire circuit 
 shook the fortress with the thunders of their salutation, the 
 feeling that the victor}' was indeed complete; that the triumph 
 was a fact accomplished; that liberty had indeed been vin- 
 dicated, and that the State had established her claim to the 
 skill and courage necessary to the cause she had the intellec- 
 tual intrepidity to avow, thrilled in the breast of every one of 
 Carolina's sons, as seldom has such feeling thrilled in the 
 breasts of any men before. Shortly after the arrival, the gar- 
 rison marched out, and were received on boai'd the Isabel; 
 which, however, from the condition of the tide, was unable to 
 inove off, and it was a somewhat unpleasant circumstance that 
 Major Anderson and his command should have been made 
 unwilling spectators of the exultations insi)ired In* their defeat. 
 
 Of those suffering from the casualty we have mentioned, one 
 was killed upon the spot; two were wounded, it is supposed 
 mortally, and were left for medical treatment; and two othei-s 
 badly wounded, also, at their earnest solicitation, were carried 
 off. 
 
 The occasion was not without the charm and interest afford- 
 ed by the presence of the fair. The lady of his Excellency 
 Clovernor Pickens, and the wife and daughter of Attorney- 
 rjeneral llayiie, witnessed the ceremony from the boat, and 
 Mrs. Henry Jionnetheau has the distinction of being the first 
 in the fort^under the flag of the Confedei-acy. She was down 
 to attend the sister of Lieut. Davis, her guest during the period 
 of her brother's confinement to the fort, and with the eye and 
 genius of an artist, it Avas, doubtless, with a feeling of especial 
 pleasure that she Avas favored with the opportunities of this 
 occasion. 
 
13 
 
 Col. Riple}' was put in command. The departments of the 
 service, necessar}- to bring the fort to order, were distributed. 
 The men were preparing such rude appliances for comfort as 
 the dreary place admitted of; and as, at twilight, we steamed 
 off for the city, of those standing upon the ledge around the 
 base of the fort, the last to be seen was the venerable Kdmund 
 ]iuffin, of Virginia, Avho, with canteen and blanket strajtped 
 upon his shoulder, seemed to be submitting with exemplary 
 complacency to the experience of a volunteer. 
 
 THE FIGHT AS SEEX FROM CUMMINGS' POINT. 
 
 [from a SPEOIAL CORRESrO.vnENT ON" MORRIS ISLAND.] 
 
 On Thursday morning, when I came to Morris Island, it was 
 evident that the term of prejiaration antl practice was soon to 
 close. The men all expected the order to open fire that night. 
 And, indeed, there were reasons enough to justify the belief 
 that it would be given. It Avas generally known that a fruit- 
 less demand for the surrender of Fort Sumter had been made 
 that afternoon. And, from what was known of Gen. Beaure- 
 gard, nobody imagined that he would delay action man}- hours 
 after such a refusal. Besides, the unusual ]>roceedings at the 
 batteries bearing on Fort Sumter showed plainl}- that we were 
 u])on the eve of battle. The sand-bags, which screened from 
 Anderson's view the 42-pounders at the Point Batter}^, were 
 hastily removed as soon as it was dark; the Avorks in the 
 neighborhood of the Point were all lit up with lanterns; the 
 guns were loaded, shotted and sighted, and the men Avere kept 
 at their posts long after their usual time for retiring. Thus 
 matters stood until a few minutes after eight o'clock, when, to 
 the great chagrin of the impatient 3-oung gunners, their officers 
 gave the order to return to their quarters. The companies ac- 
 cordingly^ filed off, as usual, to their camps, the tattoo resounded 
 over the dark sand hills, the tents were soon tenanted, and the 
 men furgot their disappointment in sleep. 
 
 THE BOMBARDMENT OPENED. 
 
 A light rain commenced falling soon after midnight and con- 
 tinued, with intermissions, for several hours. At half-]iast four 
 o'clock in the morning of Fridays the moi-e wakeful of our men 
 were aroused by the distant boom of a shell. We afterwards 
 learned from the sentinels that it came from the Fort Johnson 
 mortar battery. In a moment the camps were all astir. The 
 long roll summoned a few drowsy ones to the ranks, and the 
 eager squads, convinced that the time for action had at last 
 arrived, trotted off at a quick pace towards their respective 
 
14 
 
 posts. Everything being in readiness, the three batteries of 
 Morris Ishind, bearing upon Fort Sumter, opened immediately. 
 It was not 3'et daybreak, and the scene, which at that moment 
 was novel, was pictnivs(|ue as well. The course of the shells 
 on their fiery way could l)e easily traced until they exploded in 
 a white cloud of smoke, followed by a dull detonation, over the 
 parapets of Fort Sumter. The etfect of the solid shot was also 
 percejitilile M-ith l!ie naked eye. At each dischai'ge of tiieguns, 
 either the water adjacent to the foi't would be dashed uj) in great 
 sheets of spra)*, or the dense brown ch>ud of crumliliiig brick 
 and mortar would mark the spot upon the ramparts liit by the 
 balls, !^^ea^while we could see that the liatteries at other points 
 in the harbor were as actively emi)loyed as our own. Ever and 
 anon the shells flew out from the mortar batteries at Fort John- 
 son, Sullivan's Island, and Mount Pleasant. The Floating Bat- 
 terj'", stationed in the Cove, was quite hidden from our view by 
 the smoke from its own guns, but it was not dillicult to see the 
 effective execution of its 42-pounders upon the north parapet of 
 Fort Sumter. Quite a large portion of the Sullivan's Island 
 shore was also wrapped in the white smoke, but the incessant 
 flashing from the merlons of Fort Moultrie assured us that 
 Ripie}' was hammering away with characteristic vigor. At . 
 first the Morris Island batteries alternated regularly with tli^ 
 others, but later this arrangement was found embarrassing, audi 
 our batteries fired at the discretion of the officers eoninuuiding ; 
 them. 
 
 now TIIK GUNS WERE MANNED. 
 
 Here, perhaps, I ought to give some account of the men Avho 
 "worked the guns in this portion of the harbor. The batteries 
 ■which bore upon Fort Sumter from Morris Island are three in 
 number, mounting in all six guns and six mortars. The outer- 
 most of these is the now famous Trapier Battery, in itself a 
 monument of engineering science and energ}-. It is comj)osed 
 of massive beams and sand-bags, and contains at this time three 
 eight-inch mortars. AVhen the work was first built, it also 
 mounted some heavy guns; but these have been removed, their 
 carriages and closed emlirasures remaining to show the position 
 which they occupied. The Trapier Batter}' was manned by the 
 Marion Artillery, Captain King, assisted, towards the close of 
 the bombardment, by the Sumter Oiuards, Captain Iiussell. 
 The former company labored incessantly at their jiitces, fron\ 
 the opening of the bombardment until Saturday morning. 
 Their fire was skillful, and but very few of their shells failed 
 to explode either in or over the fort. 
 
 The next work, and nearer to the cit}' than the Trapier bat- 
 ter}', is the Stevens, or Iron Battery — a novelty in military 
 engineering — planned by and constructed under the supervision 
 of an estimable son of this State. The etliciency of this unicpie 
 
15 
 
 fortification was a matter of no little concern to many previous 
 to the action : but all doubts Avere immediately disjtclled by 
 Major Anderson's tests, as I shall presently relate. The Iron 
 Battery contains three heavy Columbiads. It is flanked by 
 immense slopes of sand bags, and these are luirrowed very 
 curiously, but securely, Avith places to retreat, which the sol- 
 diers call " ratholes " but which are in reality very dry, capa- 
 cious and comfortable chajubcrs, except, perhaps, tliat the 
 ceiling might be a trifle higher. And here I may as well say 
 that all tiie fortifications have one or more of these rat-holes, 
 to be used as a magazine, a hospital or as quarters for the relief 
 according to circumstances. Passing from the Iron Batter^^ 
 we come to the Point Battery, a large work containing three 
 ten-inch mortars, two 42-pounders, and the newly arrived rifle 
 cannon, presented to the State by Charles K. Prioleau, Esq., 
 now in Liverpool, and juiiior partner in the firm of John Frascr 
 k Co. It Avill, doubtless, be a great satisfaction to that gentle- 
 man to know that his timely gift was so serviceable to our 
 ti'00]>s. The gun has patent side-sights attached, b}- means of 
 which the greatest accuracy of range was obtained, and each 
 of its conical l)alls crashed throngh its nuirk with telling effect. 
 Both these last named important j)osts. the Iron and Point Bat- 
 teries, wei-e held by the Palmetto Guards, Captain Cuthbert — a 
 gallant corps, Avhich, for numbers, alertness, efficiency and un- 
 exampled coolness in action, Avon the respect and admiration of 
 all Avho saAv them during the fight. I think that their oflicers 
 must be proud of such men, and I know that those officers ai'e 
 not uuAvorthy of their command. The tAvo batteries manned 
 by the Guards Avcre commanded by Major Stevens, of the Cita- 
 del Academy. Captain Cuthbert dcA'Oted himself especiallj' to 
 the direction of the Iron Battery. The rifled cannon Avas 
 Avorked by a squad of the Palmetto Guards, under the superin- 
 dence of Captain Thomas, of the Citadel Academy. I should 
 not omit to mention the fine looking companies in charge of the 
 long line of batteries pointing to the Ship Channel and extend- 
 ing along the Avhole extent of the Morris Island beach. Al- 
 though the}' Avere not called into action, Ave cannot forget that 
 it is to their sleepless A'igilance Ave must attribute the indis])osi- 
 tion of the fleet to reinforce Anderson's garrison. Perhaps 
 through the foolhardiness of our enemies, they may yet luiA-e 
 an opportunity of \'indieating their valor in the fight as Avell 
 as their \'igilance on the Avatch. 
 
 ANDERSON OPENS HIS BATTERIES. 
 
 At half-past six o'clock a dull, unpleasant drizzle began to 
 fall, and tlie leaden sky betokened a dreary day. Our guns 
 kept pounding iiuliscriminately at the AA-alls, parapet and quar- 
 ters of Fort Sumter, but for nearly tAvo hours no reply came. 
 The Fort seemed as if all Avithin Avcre asleep; not a casemate 
 
16 
 
 ^v^ls opciK'd, and tlicre was no niovenu'nt noticeable in any por- 
 tion of the post, excepting the flajiping of the United States 
 fla«^, floating defiantly from a very loftj'^ staff. Thus things 
 continued until a few minutes after seven o'clock, when a shout 
 from the hundreds peeping over the sand-bags announced that 
 Anderson had opened firo. He began with his heavy casemate 
 guns beai-ing upon C'ummings' Point. His first ett'orts were 
 directed to batter down the Iron Battery. For a time his shots 
 were watched with intense interest, but after fifteen minutes' 
 firing it became aiii)arent that he could make no serious impres- 
 sion ujion the iron-cased roof Ball after ball reltoundeil from 
 the close layers of railroad iron, and splashed their way harm- 
 lessly through the marsh beyond. Most of his shots were aimed 
 too high, and whizzed above the battery without striking it. 
 These went ricochetting over the surface of the water, tearing 
 up vast masses of the sea-weed, and giving a terrible fright to 
 hundreds of the sea-fowl, which rose in every direction from 
 the marsh. The effect of the shots which hit the iron battery 
 was not perceptible to those within, except by the noise of the 
 concussion, and even this was not so loud as we had expected. 
 
 At half-]iast seven o'clock, the flash from the parapet of Fort 
 Sumter announced that Anderson had begun to work his bar- 
 bette guns. This, however, did not continue very long, for the 
 continual explosion of our shells in every dii-ection, on and 
 around the ])arapets, soon admonished him of the risk of ex- 
 posing his men in that position. At twenty minutes before 
 eight o'clock, an alarm from our guard boats cruising about the 
 bar, announced a steamer in the offing. Looking out from the 
 crest of the sand hills Avith n\y glass, I could descr}^, in the far 
 distance, a large steamer, very similar in apjiearance to those 
 which pi}' between Chai'lcston and New York. It w:is after- 
 wards ascertained to be the Nashville. Later in the day three 
 other vessels were seen — two of them evidently men-of-war. 
 They made no attempt, however, to come in, but lay together 
 in the offing throughout the day. About half-past ten o'clock, 
 a shot froni Anderson struck the middle port of the Iron Bat- 
 tery, crushing in the iron plates that protected the guns, 
 making an indenture of several inches. The ball did not pene- 
 trate, but glanced off like the othei-s over the marsh. The 
 force with whicli it struck the door, however, unfortunately so 
 disarranged the lever by which the port was opened and closed, 
 that it was found impossible, dui-ing the remainder of the day, 
 to work that gun. The other two kept up a brisk fire through- 
 out the Avhole of the bombardment. 
 
 The firing from all the batteries on both sides of the harbor 
 was maintained steadily until nightfall. Major Anderson, dur- 
 ing the afternoon, appeared to have become convinced that his 
 efforts to riddle the Iron Batter}^ were ineffectual, for the steady 
 fire Mdiich he had kept up against Cummings' Point was trans- 
 ferred to Fort Moultrie, the Dahlgren and the Floating Batte- 
 
17 
 
 rie> on tlie other side of the bay. He took care, however, at 
 irreguhn* intervals of rifteen or twenty minutes, to send a shot 
 whizzing over our heads, and this kept our men upon the qui 
 vive. At one time I noticed that tlie direction of his shots 
 against Morris Ishand was changed from the Point batteries to 
 those farther out. Perhaps he meant to rake tl>e camps, the 
 sight of Avhich was phunly enough indicated by our flags. If 
 such was his design, his aim was very creditable, for the balls — 
 some said grape — whistled a few feet above the heads of the 
 Sumter Guards, Avho had been detached from the Seventeenth 
 Regiment, and posted as a reserve at the head of the line of 
 tents, to act as a relief to the Marion Artiller}', at the Trapier 
 Battery. Whenever a flash from the south-eastern casemate 
 announced that a shot was coming, it was somewhat ludicrous 
 to notice the sudden dodge of hundreds of heads behind the 
 sand hills, and the abject prostration of such of the darkies as 
 had not alread}' betaken themselves to the other extremity of 
 the Island. A few minutes before seven o'clock, the fire from 
 Fort Sumter ceased. Shortly afterwards our guns also stopped 
 firing. At half-past seven the rain, which had been lowering 
 all day, began to fall in torrents, and most of our men sought 
 such shelter as was to be had. The storm was a trjing one. 
 The wind howled drearily over the sand hills, and the rain 
 descended with a foi'ce and volume, against which the slight 
 tents and leaky sheds — the only available cover — were a poor 
 protection. The storm continued, with an occasional lull, until 
 near morning. Meantime our gallant young gunners at the 
 Mortar Batteries, nothing daunted by the disagi'ceable rain, 
 had kept up their firing of shells during the entire night, 
 though at somewhat longer intervals than before. Tlie Sumter 
 Cruards deserve special mention for the alacrity with which 
 they performed the laborious and unpleasant duty of strength- 
 ening tl\e foot of the Iron Battery with sand-bags. For many 
 hours of the night during the worst of the storm they Avorked 
 steadily, lifting the wet and heavy bags into position, and 
 when day broke the face of the work was even stronger than 
 on Fi'iday. 
 
 SECOND DAY OF THE BOMBARDMENT. 
 
 Saturday morning, the loth of April, a day long to be re- 
 membered in our annals, as marked by the close of the most 
 extraordinary bomijardment on record, came in bright and 
 glorious. The clouds had cleai'ed awa}', but the rain liad left 
 the ground moist, and the air pleasantly cool. About sunrise 
 a vigorous fire was re-opened from our guns. The efteets of 
 the first day's bombardment could now be easily seen without 
 the aid of a glass. The south and east facades of Fort Sumter 
 were completely pitted by balls, and from what Ave had seen of 
 the fire from Sullivan's Island and the Cove, Ave kncAV that the 
 north fa.-ade could not be in much better condition. The edge 
 
18 
 
 of the parapet was in many places cut off, a number of the 
 guns were dismounted, and the einhrazures of the casemates 
 were so battered, that the reguhvrity of their outline could 
 hardly be distinguished. The chimneys and roof of the bar- 
 racks were also perforated in many places by our balls. The 
 guns of Fort Sumter did not re-open fire until seven o'clock, 
 when the shots began to pour in quick succession from the 
 casemates pointing towards Fort Moultrie, llipley's men re- 
 turned shot for shot, and at each discharge from Sullivan's 
 Island, we could see great fragments of the parapet of Sum- 
 ter toppling over into the water. 
 
 FORT SUMTKU ON FIRE. 
 
 At ten minutes after eight, A. M., a thick black smoke was 
 seen issuing from the southern portion of Fort Sumter, and a 
 moment later, a wild shout of triumph rang along the sand- 
 hills, and was heartil}- echoed across the water from Sullivan's 
 Island and Fort .Johnson, as we saw the red flames ])iercing 
 the top of the barracks, and borne eastward l)y the high wind, 
 wrapping the entire parapet in dense clouds of smoke. The 
 sight infused new confidence into our men, and the bombard- 
 ment immediately became far more rapid and fierce than at 
 any previous time. The singular coolness with which our gun- 
 ners had, until then, performed their duty, seemed for a mo- 
 ment to have given way to the excitement of the novel scene. 
 The bombs flew so thick and fast, that we could see them 
 exploding in groups over the flaming fortress, while only a few 
 seconds intervened between the hammering fire of the heavy 
 ordnance. The fire blazed furiousl}-, until the whole line of 
 the barracks on the south side of Fort Sumter Avas swept 
 away, leaving only some of the crumbled, blackened and tot- 
 tering chimne3's towering over the ramparts. Then the fire 
 burned lower, the flames sank behind the parapet, and we were 
 left in ignorance as to their further progress. In the course of 
 the forenoon, we noticed several violent explosions, ap])arently 
 doing serious damage to the fort, but whether these were 
 caused by the fire communicating to hand-grenades and like 
 combustibles, or to the magazines, we could only conjecture. 
 During the progress of the conflagration, for a longtime Major 
 Anderson maintained a steady and terrible firing against Fort 
 Moultrie, but very few guns were fired towards Morris Island. 
 
 THE FLAG-STAFF SHOT AWAY. 
 
 At a quarter before one o'clock, another tremendous cheer 
 from the watchers upon our batteries called me to my point of 
 observation, just in time to see the flag-staff of Fort Sumter 
 beai'ing the flag of the United States falling heavil}' inside the 
 Fort. It fell from the effect of a shot fired from Fort Moultrie, 
 and aimed by Lieut. W. C. Preston, Company A, relieving 
 
19 
 
 Company B, at the time under the efficient command of Lieut. 
 AVagncr. From this auspicious moment, the impression became 
 general among our men that the fortress would be ours before 
 night fall. For fifteen or twenty minutes I could see no ensign 
 over the fort, but, at the end of that time, I descried a large 
 Ignited States flag elevated amid the smoke close on the north 
 wall of the fort. Meantime a small boat had shot out I'rom the 
 beach of Cummings' Point towards the wharf of Fort Sumter. 
 I afterwards learned that it contained Col. Louis T. AVigfall, 
 Aid to Gen. Beauregard, and Private Gourdin Young, of the 
 Palmetto Guards. Col. AVigfall bore a flag of truce upon his 
 sword. A white flag also waved upon Fort Sumter, and in a 
 short time the conclusion of the negotiations was announced to 
 us by the disappearance of the United States flag from the fort. 
 
 THE SURRENDER ANNOUNCED. 
 
 The rest is briefly told Col. Wigfall returned and notified 
 the Captains of the several companies to inform their respective 
 commands that the fort was unconditionally surrendered. The 
 scene that followed was altogether indescribable. The troops 
 upon the hills cheered and cheered again. A horseman gal- 
 loped at full speed along the beach, waving his cap to the 
 troops near the Light-house. These soon caught up the cry, 
 and the whole shore rang Avith the glad shouts of thousands. 
 The first burst of exultation over, all eyes were turned to the 
 fleet in the offing, and the guards resumed their wonted rounds 
 upon the batteries which have so nobly vindicated the inde- 
 pendence of the State. 
 
 A NIGHT IX THE HARBOR— A CRUISE AFTER THE 
 
 EXEMY. 
 
 Steamer Seabrook, Stono Inl?:t, ") 
 April 12, l.sGl. j 
 
 About seven o'clock on Thursday evening last, two of the 
 South Carolina vessels, under command of Commodore Harts- 
 tene, left Charleston for a cruise off the bar. 
 
 The squadron consisted of the steamers Clinch and Sea- 
 brook. The foi*mer was the flag-ship. Both have been fitted 
 up with a view to service in tlie liarbor, and are furnished with 
 twelve-pounder howitzers, and a force sufficient to serve them. 
 There was no want of ammunition. In short, every prepara- 
 tion was made for a successful cruise. The following are the 
 officers of the Clinch: Lieut. Pelot, Commanding; Lieut. 
 Porcher; Midshipmen R. H. Bacot and G. 1). Bryan. The 
 Seabrook was commanded as follows : Lieutenant Com- 
 manding J. M. Stribling J Lieutenant Evans j First Assistant 
 
20 
 
 Eiii!;incer, J. H. Lo]>or; Assistant .Siirircon K. AV. (Jibbos; Gun- 
 ner Cudd}', and Midshipmen In<j;rabani and Wilkinson. The 
 Lady iJavi.s, also t'onns a ])ai-t olthe squadron, but she was not 
 on duty last night. Her ottieers consist of liieut. J)ozier, Com- 
 inonding; Lieut, (irimble; Fir.st Lieut. ]Ienr\' A. Mullins, act- 
 ing Pilot ; First Assistant Engineer (ieddes; Third Assistant 
 Engineer Yates, and Midshipman Thomas. The Clinch had 
 taken her position near the l)ai" early in the afternoon, and 
 according!}' it was the Seabrook that left Charleston at 7 
 o'clock, clieered by the large crowd at the wharf Altout half 
 ])ast seven, under easy head of steam, the various conjectures 
 in regard to what would be the probable reply of ^fajor Ander- 
 son to the summons to surrender, Avcre suddenly cut short by 
 the look-out reporting a rocket seaward. All eyes were in- 
 stantl}' turned in that direction, and tAvo red rockets burst in 
 the air, followed by the burning of a blue light. Fort Johnson 
 ])roniptl3" recognized the signal that our enemy had made his 
 sippearance, sending up the answering rocket almost the in- 
 stant the blue light, displayed by the Clinch, disappeared. 
 Excitement and preparation for whatever might occur immedi- 
 ately succeeded. The howitzers were manned, the decks were 
 st.rip])cd, guns, revolvers and ammunition were distributed. 
 AVhen all that could be had been done, silently sped the steamer 
 on her course, steadily she a])proachcd Fort Sumter, all black- 
 ness in the distance. Suddenly a hail was heartl, and a hoarse 
 voice shouted "the pirates are otf the bar." "AVhat steamer":'" 
 v,'as asked. •' The liari-iet Lane, twelve miles out," shouted the 
 name gruff voice, and we were then informed that she alone, of 
 all the expected cruisers, had been seen. Great eagerness was 
 at once manifested to reach our destination. It was fully ex- 
 pected an attempt would be made to land troops in boats. 
 This it was the purpose of the expedition to prevent. Finally, 
 at 8 o'clock, the Steamer lay otf the Clinch, when a pilot boat 
 brought a confirmation of the approach of the Harriet Lane. 
 Commodore llartstene then took possession of the flag-ship, 
 and twenty men were transferred from the Clinch to the Sea- 
 brook. The hour at which Major Anderson was to indicate his 
 decision by the firing of a shell, having arrived, all eyes were 
 strained in the direction of Fort Sumter. As minute after 
 minute elapsed, and the stillness and blackness of Fort Sumter 
 remained unbroken, the belief Ijecame genei-al that Major An- 
 derson had surrendered. 
 
 In the meantime the squadron lost not sight of its duty. 
 Both vessels cruised all night in search of the expected war 
 boats, just within the bar. It was the original intention of the 
 Con\nianding Officer to have proceeded out to sea, but as the 
 wind increased, and there was everj' indication of a " heavy 
 blow," the pilots said it could not be done with safety. In this 
 manner an hour passed, supper was eaten — 10 o'clock arrived, 
 and yet Fort Sumter had given no signal, nor had the slightest 
 
21 
 
 appearance of hostilities been noticed on the part of our batte- 
 ries. Belief now became certainty, and not one of us but ex- 
 pected to steam into Charleston for breakfast, after saluting 
 the Palmetto Avaviuiif over that much coveted " four acres of 
 land." The expedition, however, redoubled its vii^-ilance, in 
 order to prevent the possibility of surprise. Lieut. Striblini^ 
 sleeplessly paced the deck all night. Ilis enerijy and persever- 
 ance overcame all obstacles. Lieut. Evans took the first watch 
 as officer of the deck; Midshipman Inu;raham took the second ; 
 .First Assistant En<^ineer Lojior the third; (luuner Cuddy 
 the fourtii; and Midshipman Wilkinson the morninj;- watch. 
 Scarcelj', however, had the latter officer entered upon the dis- 
 charge of his duties, before he made a report that cleared up 
 all doubt, as to the decision of Major Anderson and the deter- 
 mination of General Beauregard. 
 
 At 4.40 A. >i., the signal shell was thrown from Fort Johnson, 
 and shortly afterwards the contest — a contest that will make 
 the 12th of April, 18G1, a memorable day in histor}' — for the 
 possession and occupation of Fort Sumter commenced. Shell 
 followed shell in quick succession ; the harbor seemed to be sur- 
 rounded with miniature volcanoes belching forth fire and smoke. 
 Still Major Anderson gave no sign of resentment, save the defi- 
 ance expressed at his flag-staff. But a shell from Cummings' 
 Point bursts on the parapet — the brave Cummings' Pointers are 
 getting the range ! Another falls quite within ; and now Fort 
 Moultrie seems to have got the range ; and the Floating Bat- 
 ter}', which the North believed a humbug, begins to indicate 
 her position. She's not exacth'- at her wharf in Charleston, nor 
 is it positive she will not take a position nearer still to Fort 
 Sumter. It is getting to be warm work for Major Anderson. 
 There, I see a flash — there goes the first shot from Fort Sumter, 
 right plump at Cummings' Point. A considerable interval 
 elapses, which is improved by all the batteries within range of 
 Fort Sumter, and then the question of whether I\[njor Ander- 
 son will keep up the fire is definitel}' settled. Casemate follows 
 casemate with dogged deliberation. But Avhilst all this was 
 transpiring, we were rapidly steaming out to sea. There goes 
 the whistle of the General Clinch, and we haul up close and 
 receive orders to follow in her wake. We come to anchor, and 
 presently Lieut. Stribling starts from his seat, seizes a glass, 
 and looks eagerly eastward, lie reports a steamer, «nd what 
 he supposes to be a brig, standing straight in. The vessels are 
 at a great distance, however; but Avhen we see them more 
 ])Iaiidy, we are almost satisfied that we have had a sight of the 
 Lincoln squadron, or at least a portion of it. The General 
 Clinch makes another signal, and we haul in our anchor and 
 steam towards Cummings' Point. As Ave go by battery after 
 battery, we can see the men on the beach waving their hands 
 to us, and distinguish a fiiint cheer. At last we come to anchor 
 close in, where an excellent view of the firing was obtained. 
 
22 
 
 In a l)rief period tlic stoanuT wliicli had been seen off the bar 
 became phiiiily visible at C'umiinngs' Point. She was taken for 
 the Harriet Lane. Tlie sijuadron immediately steamed out to 
 sea, and as we iieared the stran<;e steamer, she ran Jip the Pal- 
 metto fla^. It is believed to have been the Nashville, Captain 
 Murray, from New York. At tirst she made for the squadron, 
 but afterwards ohani^ed her coui'se, and when last seen was 
 headinjj; for Charleston. 
 
 Stono was reaehecl about ten o'clock, A. M., Avithout any fur- 
 ther adventure, and as the vessel came to anchor, Fort PaU 
 metto tired a gun. Commodore JIartstene went on shore, and 
 made a report. It apjjcars that this was the first intelligence 
 of the commencement of hostilities that had been received; 
 the firing of the guns not being andilile at this distance, in con- 
 sequence of the wind. 
 
 At seven o'clock we left Fort Palmetto. All was quiet there. 
 No steamers were in sight, and the Fdisto had arrived with 
 Captain Shedd's command, consisting of eighty tall, stout, 
 fighting men. The men are in the best of 8j)irits. and have 
 made up their minds to fight to the death. Captain Pope and 
 the Lafayette Artillery have been at this forti*ess for the last 
 thi'ce months, and they have made it almost impregnable. 
 Their battery fully commands Stono Inlet, and woe to the 
 unlucky vessel with Yankee colors that escapes the breakers 
 and gets within range. 
 
 The firing of our batteries was audible for miles, and the 
 large volume of smoke issuing from Fort Sumter created almost 
 universal belief that Major Anderson had surrendered. 
 
 SCENES AND INCIDENTS OF THE BOMBAilDMENT. 
 
 APPEARANCE OF FOUT SUMTER 0\ SATURDAY EVENING. 
 
 An officer, who visited the fort soon after the terms of evac- 
 uation M'ere made, states that the scene there presented is 
 be^'ond conception. "Without, the walls have the appearance, 
 ut a distance, of having been covered with an immense number 
 of brick poultices spattered in every direction. This is the 
 shattering effect of the shot. Within, the entire fort wore an 
 aspect as if the hand of the destroying angel had swept ruth- 
 lessly by, and left not a solitary object to i-elieve the general 
 desolation. The blackened walls of the officers' and soldiers' 
 quarters were yet smoking, ashes and embers met the eye at 
 every turn, Avhiie the shot and shell which had been rained 
 upon the stronghold lay in great quantities upon all portions 
 of the parade ground. 
 
23 
 
 CONDITION OF THE GARRISON. 
 
 The ap'pearaucc of both Major Anderson, his officers and tlie 
 men, indicatcul the terrible nature of the ordeal from which 
 they had just cnieri;-ed. Deprived of sleep for many liours, 
 fatigued with their labors at the guns, and prostrated by their 
 battle with an element which waged beyond their control, they 
 looked worn, haggard, and read}' to drop with sheer exhaus- 
 tion. When the tire was at its greatest height, Major Ander- 
 son stated the only manner in which they could breathe was 
 by hiA-ing flat upon the ground within the casemates, with 
 their faces to the earth; while added to the danger was the 
 occasional explosion of the piles of shells collected for service 
 at different ])oints within the fort. It is to the fact that so 
 few men were in the fortification that is due the preservation 
 of life. Major Anderson himself stated, that had there been 
 two hundred more, not less than one-half of them must have 
 been killed, owing to the absence of sufficient room, under the 
 circumstances, for their protection. As it was, their provisions 
 would have given out in two days more, when an unconditional 
 surrender would have necessarily resulted, lie also remarked, 
 that yesterday was one of the proudest daj-s of his life, for 
 while he had endeavored to do his duty as an officer, he had not 
 taken the life of a fellow being. In conversing with those 
 about him, Anderson was free in expressions of regret at the 
 necessity which compelled the destruction of public property. 
 On being introduced to Major Stevens of the Iron Battery, he 
 complimented that gentleman on the efficiency of his batteiy. 
 He assured the Carolina officer that his work could be no 
 better done. 
 
 THE EVACUATION. 
 
 The arrangements for the departure of Major Anderson 
 were completed on Sunda}' morning. At the early hour of five 
 o'clock. Commodore Ilartstene, and Messrs. Jones, Chief of the 
 Staff, and Pryor and Miles, Aides to General Beauregard, ac- 
 companied by Lieutenant Snyder, of Major Anderson's com- 
 mand, ])roceeded in the Clinch to the fleet off the Bar. They 
 found tlie comnianding officer. Captain Gillis, on board the 
 Powhatan. Lieutenant Sn^'der obtained an interview with 
 Captain Gillis, who asked and obtained permission to visit 
 Major Anderson, for the purpose of arranging for his depar- 
 ture. Accordingly, about nine o'clock, Captain Gillis and 
 Lieutenant Snyder wei-e deposited at Fort Sumter, when it 
 was decided that Major Anderson and his command would 
 accept the offer of the Isabel, which had been made to him. 
 
 Major Anderson and his command marched out to the tune 
 of "Yankee Doodle." They were dressed in full uniform, and 
 carried tlieir arms. Major Anderson looked careworn and 
 deeply despondent, produced no doubt, among other circum- 
 
24 
 
 stances, bj- the sad accident whioli happened while sahiting his 
 flag. AVhen the sahite of Major Anderson lo his flag had com- 
 menced, the Major was standing on the Isabel, when a gentle- 
 man inquired if thirty-four guns was the salute. "No," said 
 the i^fajor, "it is one hundred, and those are scarcely enough," 
 and then burst into tears. 
 
 tup: FIItE IN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 On Sunday afternoon, after Governor Pickens and Staff, and 
 General Beauregard and Staff had started from Sullivan's 
 Island to take ])ossossion of Fort Sumter, they were notified 
 that a fire had broken out, and that the magazine was in great 
 danger. The boat iinnu'diately jnit back to Sullivan's Island, 
 and took on board two Fire Engines that were on the Island, 
 and a company of regulars from the Floating Battei'v. The 
 Engines were conveyed under the command of ('ol. II. S. 
 Duryea, and upon their landing, a stream of water was imme- 
 diatcl}- thrown upon the fire nearest the magazine. Tlie brakes 
 \vere manned by a company of regulars, and by volunteers 
 from the noble Palmetto Guard. Col. Dur^-ea returned to the 
 city about nine o'clock on Sunday evening, for the purpose of 
 obtaining more engines. The .Etna Fire Company, with their 
 apparatus, and the Axe Company, with their new steam 
 engine, were almost immediately placed upon the steamer. 
 They went down to the Fort in charge of our very cfhcient 
 Chief, M. II. Nathan, Esq. The firemen played three streams 
 all night upon the burning mass, and partially succeeded in 
 arresting the progress of the fire. About half-past ten, in pur- 
 suance of notice on the bulletin boards, a detachment of five 
 firemen from each company, making fifty in all, left the city 
 under the command of T. Tapper, Esq., to relieve their com- 
 rades. At three o'clock, a report was brought by Col. Duiyea 
 that the companies were at last gaining upon the lire, and the 
 magazine was considered safe. 
 
 THE TREMATURE DISCHARGE. 
 
 The following arc the names of the men killed and wounded 
 by the premature discharge of the cannon in firing the salute : 
 Daniel Howe, killed almost instantly, and buried yestei'day, 
 the service being performed by the Roy. Mr. Yates; E^lward 
 Galway, mortally wounded, and carried to the hospital ; James 
 Hayes, George Fielding, John Irwin, (rcorge Pritchard. severely 
 wounded. The above are all of Company E, First Ilegiment 
 United States Artillery. 
 
 A soldier's burial. 
 
 The Rev. W. B. Yates, the zealous Pastor of the Seaman's 
 Chapel, had just concluded an impressive sermon at the Bethel 
 
on a special Providence, as illustrated In- the happy and brilliant 
 issue of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, when he was \Yaited 
 upon by an ofKcer and requested to perform the burial service 
 over the unfortunate soldier Avho had lost his life by accident. 
 With chai'acteristic promptness he answered the call, and. con- 
 veyed ill the Lodebar's boat, Avhich was propelled by the sinew}* 
 ai'nis of the young sailors of the School Ship, was in a few 
 minutes inside the walls of the fortress. He was received with 
 courtesy by the gallant Anderson, and performed the solemn 
 rites for the stranger soldier who had passed unhurt through 
 the battle, and fell under the arrow of death while his heart 
 was beating high with the hope of a joN'ous reunion Avith Avife 
 and children. Before committing the mangled body to the 
 dust, the minister pronounced an appropriate address to his 
 comrades in arms. The torn and mangled remains of the 
 brave soldier were then laid in a grave in the middle of the 
 3^ard, and after the earth had been heajied upon the sacred 
 spot, a volley Avas fired, the drum beat its solemn roll, and the 
 garrison was transferred to the Isabel. 
 
 LEGISLATORS AND SOLDIERS. 
 
 During the conflict, so gloriously triumphant, members of the 
 CoHA'ention, members of the Legislature, rendered zealous and 
 *\'aluable services at the different posts and batteries. Ex-Gov. 
 Manning, Hon. James Chesnut, Jr., and the Hon. Wm. Porcher 
 Miles, of Gen. Beauregard's Staff, exhibited a coolness, fearless- 
 ness and disregard of danger, Avhen moving from battery to 
 batterA", giving the orders of the Commanding-General, and 
 iiis])iring confidence among the troops, that Avas Avorthy of the 
 highest admiration. These gentlemen kept np constant com- 
 munication betAveen the batteries and head-ciuarters during the 
 bombardment, Avith shot and shell bursting over their heads 
 and all around them. On Morris' Island, besides the command- 
 ing oiticer. Gen. James Simons, there Avere of members of the 
 Legislature, Lieutenant-Colonel W. G. De Saussure of the Ar- 
 tillery, Col. T. G. Lamar, Capt. A. J. Green of the Columbia 
 Artillery, Col. Henry Buist, Col. Maxcy Gregg of the First 
 Regiment of Volunteers, a member of the Convention, and Col. 
 T. Y. Simons, also a member of the Convention, Avho, since the 
 adjournment, has been on Morris' Island as one of Brigadier- 
 General Simons' Aides. Other distinguished volunteers, both 
 from the CouA'cntion and the Legislature, accepted appoint- 
 ments on the Staff, or shouldered a musket in the ranks. 
 
 THE FLOATING BATTERY. 
 
 This poAverful structure Avas a great success. Upon its face 
 there are twenty-five Avell defined marks of balls, and many 
 traces of glancing shots. The deepest indentation does not 
 
26 
 
 exceed seven inches, and several others measure two, three or 
 four inclies. The repulsive power and virtues of the jialinetto, 
 fortified and coated with iron, as in this case, were signally 
 exhibited, and the predictions of many who considered them- 
 selves "knowing ones" concerning the slaughter pen, have 
 been falsified. It is now established beyond a doubt that u 
 floating fortress or battery of palmetto can be made impreg- 
 nable — especially when the sons of the Palmetto are the engi- 
 neers, builders and defenders. The Floating l^atterj' received 
 in all one hundred and sixty-three shots from Fort Sumter, and 
 discharged four hundred and ninety balls in return, of which, a 
 ver^' large ])roportion liit the mark, and In-ought the i)rick dust. 
 In the decisive fire of Saturday, which for a time threatened to 
 all appearances to suject the garrison to a greater calamity 
 even than war, the heroic band on tiie Floating Battery Avatched 
 with generous admiration the devoted daring of Major Ander- 
 son's garrison amid the flames. When amid these trying cir- 
 cumstances Fort Sumter re-opened in a well directed volley^ the 
 cry arose "three cheers for Major Anderson." They were 
 given with a right good will, and histily. 
 
 NARROW ESCAPES. 
 
 Although during the thirty-four consecutive hours through 
 which the bombardment lasted, not a man w^as in any wa_>» 
 injured upon our side, it cannot be said that our men altogether 
 escaped Major Anderson's balls. As Capt. Jones was standing 
 in the Point Battery a spent ball, which had struck the sancl 
 bags above, rolled over striking him upon the back of the neck, 
 but not with sufficient force to hurt him. The ball — a thirty- 
 two pounder — was preserved as a memento of the occasion. 
 
 Arthur P. Lining, a member of the Palmetto Gruard, stationed 
 at the Iron Batter^^, narrowly escaped death from Major Ander- 
 son's first gun ujion that point. He w^as upon the parapet, 
 about planting the Palmetto Flag, when the first ball from 
 Sumter passed w'ithin three feet of him, upon which he (still 
 retaining his position on the parapet) waved the Hag aloft, as 
 if in defiance of Sumter, amid the cheers of his comrades, and 
 retired behind the batter}'. 
 
 MARION AND SUMTER. 
 
 The bright-quartered flag of the Marion Artillery floated 
 proudl}' over the Trapier Batter}^ during the whole of the 
 bombardment. On Saturday morning, wdien the men at these 
 mortars were relieved by the Sumter Guards, the splendidly 
 broidcred l)lue banner, presented by some ladies a short time 
 ago to the latter Compan}', was placed side b}' side with the 
 ensign of the Marion's, and the rest of the action was Ibuglit 
 with both flairs wavin<>- over head. It was noticed as a sini>-ular 
 
coincidence that at the very moment when the emblems of 
 the Game Cock and the Swamp Fox were first flutterin<; 
 too-ether from the crest of the batter}^, the fire was discovered 
 issuing from the parapet of Fort Sumter. 
 
 IIOISTINCI OUR FLAGS. 
 
 The first Palmetto Flag was raised on Fort Sumter by Cols. 
 F. J. Moses, Jr., and J. L. Bearing, of Governor Pickens' Staff, 
 and the Confederate States Flag by Capt. Ferguson, of General 
 Beaui'cgard's Staff", and others, in the presence of the Governor, 
 Genei-al Beauregard's Staff, and a large number of gentlemen, 
 among whom Avci'e Chancellor Carroll and Judges Gh:)ver and 
 Wardhvw. A salute was fired from each of the batteries on the 
 raising of these flags. The detacliment of Pegular Artillery, 
 Company B, which served the Sumter Battery at Fort Moultrie, 
 under Lieuts. Alfred Phett, Mitchel and Bhike, has been 
 ordered to Fort Sumter, where the whole Company will remain 
 under Capt. Hallonquist, who is its Captain, and is already 
 there with the first detachment. 
 
 SUNDAY AFTER THE VICTORY. 
 
 The glorious issue of the bombardment was duly commemo- 
 rated in several of our Churches on the Sunday following the 
 surrender. The incidents in " Old St. Philip's" we wituesse<l 
 were deeply touching. The heart of the worshippers in that 
 sacred fane, consecrated by the precious historic memories 
 which made the glory of the " first temple" on this site, had 
 been poured out in devout thanki^giving to the Giver of Victory, 
 when a venerable old man, leaning on his staff", was led by the 
 Rector to the sacred desk. It was the Bishop of the Diocese, 
 wholh' blind and ])hysically feeble, yet with the eyes of faitii 
 discerning the light of Heaven, and rejoicing therein^ In his 
 exhortation, he said that not only a patriotic, but a personal 
 interest in the great event of the past week had brought him 
 to the city, and made him here abide until the battle had been 
 fought. Your bo3's were there and mine were there, and it teas 
 rit/ht that they should be there. Still the heart had inl}' bled ; the 
 strong man. as well as the tender woman, had quivered under 
 the influences of natural affection, for Ave Avere not children, avc 
 kncAv Avhat we were doing, and had counted the cost, and had 
 Aveighed in our ver}^ souls the AA'arfiire upon Avhich Ave Avere 
 going. And hoAv very marvellous had been God's doings ! 
 lIoAV unparalleled his agency. All our children had passed 
 through the fire unhurt ! " Xot unto us, not unto us, but unto 
 
28 
 
 Thv name. Oh Lord, lie the ji'lorv I" We forbear to follow the 
 <f(>()<l Bishop throuifh the afteetinir application which lie made 
 of this wonderful Providence of God, but cannot pass over the 
 strontc testimony which he bore to his firm persuasion, strength- 
 ened by travel through every section of our State in the dis- 
 charge of pastoral duty, that the grand moveuient in which our 
 jteople were now engaged, t\'as begun by them in the dee])est 
 conviction of duty to God, and after laying their case befoi-e 
 (rod — and God had most signally blessed our dependence on 
 him. 
 
 At the Cathedral of St. John and St. Finbar. Bishop Lynch 
 alluded in happy terms to the events of the previous two da^-s. 
 and a Te Deuni was chaunted in thanksgivinjL; for the bloodless 
 victory. 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF FOllT SUMTER. 
 
 Fort Sumter is built upon an artificial island, at the entrance of our harbor. 
 The foundation being of stone, it must be of the strongest nature. That portion 
 of the fort above the water line is of brick and concrete of the most solid charac- 
 ter. Its plan is a truncated pentagon, with one side parallel to the adjoining 
 shore, thus presenting an angle to the channel. Of the truncated angles the east- 
 ern, western and northern are simply formed into 7*a»»-co»i^)cc», whilst the other 
 two are formed of two small faces, making an angle of about fifteen degrees with 
 the sides of the pentagon. At each intersection of the small faces is a sally-port. 
 The height of the parapet above the water-line is sixty feet. On the eastern and 
 western sides are the barracks for the privates, mess-hall, kitchen, &c. On the 
 Southern side are the officers' quarters, which are finished in very handsome style. 
 It is mounted with the heaviest guns of the United States service, arranged in 
 three tiers, the two lower being Casemates, and the upper Barbette guns. The 
 Casemate guns are those which are fired from an embrasure in the Scarp Walls, 
 and are protected from the enemy's shells by an arched bomb-proof covering over- 
 head: the Barbette, those which fire over the parapet, which exposes the cauuoniers 
 to the fire of the enemy, although, in this instance, the height of the ra"mi)arts is so 
 great that there is ooniparatively no danger from the shot of an enemy's fleet. The 
 armament consists of 140 pieces, placed in the following order: The heaviest guns, 
 such as the ,32 and G4-pounders, on the first tier; 24 and 32-pounders on the second 
 tier; Colunibiads (3 and 10-inch) and heavy sea-coast mortars on the top of the 
 ramparts. The heaviest pieces are turned toward the harbor, the lighter toward 
 the land side; which side is further protected by musketry, for which loop-holes are 
 cut in the Scarp Wall. The number of each kind of gun is about thirty 64-pouud- 
 ers, the same number of 32-pounders, forty 24-pounders, ten of each calibre of 
 Columbiads, ten 13-inch and ten 10-inch mortars, capable of throwing about four 
 thousand (4,000) pounds of shot and four thousand three hundred (4,300) pounds 
 of shell at each discharge. On the terra-parade plain are situated two furnaces 
 for heating shot. The magazines are situated on the inner sides of the sally ports, 
 and contain, at present, 40,000 pounds of powder, and a proportionate quantity of 
 shot and shell. The landing to the fort is on the southern or land side, and is 
 formed by a wharf projecting towards the shore, and also extending the length of 
 that face. This fort would be nearly impregnable if finished and propei-lj' manned. 
 Its weakest point on the south side, of which the masonry is not only weaker than 
 that of the other sides, but is not protected by any flank fire, which would sweep 
 the wharf. Once lauded, an entrance may, at the present state of the construction, 
 be easily made, for the blinds of the lower embrasures, though six inches in thick- 
 
30 
 
 neFS, may yet be easily blown away. And even if this was impossible, scaling lad- 
 ders can reach those of the second tier, which are. not protected in this manner. 
 This concludes the brief sketch of a fort which is a most perfect specimen of civil 
 and military engineering. The whole work has been conducted in a manner that 
 reflects the highest credit upon the engineers, and is worthy to occupy the promi- 
 nent position that it holds. In conclusion, we take occasion to allude to one point 
 of especial beauty — the construction of the arches — of which there are nearly every 
 variety — the "Full Centre," the "Segment," the " Groined," the "Askew," and the 
 "Rampant" — and to add that the walls at their base are 12 feet thick, and at the 
 top 8i feet thick. Fort Sumter lies about one mile from the Shore, directly on the 
 main ship channel, which passes between the fort and Sullivan's island, on which 
 is located Fort Moultrie, about one mile distant. From the battery of Charleston 
 City Fort Sumter lies about five miles distant, standing out in the open bay, one 
 mile from the land on either side. Fort Moultrie is, in military phrase, commanded 
 by Fort Sumter. 
 
 THE GARRISON IN THE FORT. 
 
 Names. 
 
 J, |Reoiment or 
 Coiu's. 
 
 OlUOI.NAT, 
 
 Entuv into 
 Si; It VICE. 
 
 Where Born. 
 
 R. Anderson 
 
 Major 
 
 1st Artillery. 
 
 July 
 
 1, 1825, 
 
 Kentucky. 
 
 S. W. Crawford.. 
 
 Ass't Surgeon. 
 
 Medical Staff, 
 
 Marc 
 
 1 10, 1851. 
 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 Abner Doubleday, 
 
 Captain 
 
 l.st Artillery. 
 
 .lulv 
 
 1, 1842, 
 
 New York. 
 
 Trucmiin Sovmour 
 
 Ca])taiii 
 
 1st Artillery. 
 
 .hily 
 
 1, 184G, 
 
 Vermont. 
 
 Jetr. C. D,ivis 
 
 1st Lieutenant, 11 St Artillery. 
 
 June 
 
 17, 1848, 
 
 Indiana. 
 
 J. N. Hall 
 
 2d Lieutenant, 
 
 ].«t Artillery. 
 
 July 
 
 1, 1859, 
 
 New York. 
 
 J. G. Foster 
 
 Captain 
 
 Engineers . . . 
 
 .July 
 
 1, 1840. 
 
 New Hampshire. 
 
 Cr. W. Snyder 
 
 1st Lieutenant, 
 
 Engineers . . . 
 
 July 
 
 1, 1856, 
 
 New York. 
 
 K. K. Meade 
 
 2d Lieutenant, 
 
 Engineers . . . 
 
 .July 
 
 1, 1857, 
 
 Virginia. 
 
 Officers ? 
 
 Band 15 
 
 Artillerists 55 
 
 Total 79 
 
 Under the most favorable circumstances, this force would only be suflicicut to 
 operate nine guns. 
 
 WHO MAJOR ANDERSON IS — HIS CAREER. 
 
 The New York Leader lias a biographical sketch of the present eoininandor of 
 Fort Sumter, which is interesting at this moment. We copy a passage: 
 
 ■'Major Anderson is now about fifty-six years old, arid was born in Kentucky, 
 entering the Military Academy from that State, and graduating with distinction 
 on June 30, 1825. The record of his military service shows that he was promoted 
 to a first Lieutenancy in 1833, and made Captain by brevet in 1838, for gallantry 
 and successful strategy in the war against the Florida Indians. In the same year, 
 he was appointed Assistant Adjutant-General, with the rank of Captain ; the Cap- 
 taincy itself not coming until the October of 1841, and his present rank of Major 
 only reaching him last year. 
 
 "Jlajor Anderson has also performed a large amount of the staff duty incident 
 to the service a few years since, and before it was made distinct from duty in the 
 line. He acted as Assistant Inspector of the Illinois Volunteers, serving with 
 
31 
 
 Aliralmm Lincoln in the Blnck Hawk war of 18?.2. He was Assistant Instructor 
 and Instructor of Artillery at the Military Acadotny in the years 1S35, '6 and '7, 
 and was Aid-dc-camp to Major-Gencl-al Scott in 1838. 
 
 "During the Mexican war, the Major endured all the labors and dangers of the 
 campaign ; being severely wounded in the assault on the enemy's works at Molino 
 del Rey, and receiving brevet majority 'for gallant and meritorious conduct in 
 that action.' Major Anderson has also received from the Government many evi- 
 dences of its trust and confidence other than those bestowed by the War Depart- 
 ment. 
 
 "His last service, previous to his taking command of Fort Moultrie, was as a 
 member of the commission, ordered last summer by Congress, to inquire into the 
 manner of instruction at the AVest Point Jlilitnry Academy. The labors of that 
 commission (in which Major Anderson performed his part) have already been laid 
 before Congress. 
 
 "In physique, the Major is about five fegt nine inches in height; his figure is 
 well set and soldierly: his hair is thin, and turning to iron-grey; his complexion 
 swarthy; his eye dark and intelligent; his nose prominent and well-formed. A 
 stranger would read in his air and appearance, determination, and an exaction of 
 what was due to him. He has a good deal of manner. In intercourse he is very 
 Courteous, and his rich voice and abundant gesticulations go well together. He is 
 always agreeable and gentlemanly, firm and dignified, a man of undaunted courage, 
 and as a true soldier, may be relied on to obey orders, and to do his duty." 
 
 THE OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 The following is a copy of the oflicial correspondence which took place before the 
 bombardment commenced : 
 
 [No. L] 
 
 Gen. Bcnnrcf/ard's Dc-'patch to the Secretary of War. 
 
 Chari-eston, April 8, 1861. 
 To L. P. ■\rALKER: 
 
 Dear Sir: An authorized messenger from Lincoln has just informed Gov. Pick- 
 ens and myself that provisions will be sent to Fort Sumter, " peaceably if they can, 
 fvircibly if they must."' 
 
 [Signed,] G. T. Beauregard. 
 
 [No. 2.] 
 
 Reply of the Secretary of War to Gen. Beauregard. 
 
 Montgomery, April 10, 1861. 
 To Gen. EEArREGARD, Charleston : 
 
 If you have no doubt of the authorized character of the agent who communicated 
 to you the intention of the 'Washington Government to supply Fort Sumter by force, 
 you will at once demand its evacuation ; and if this is refused, proceed in such a 
 manner as you may determine t'j reduce it. Answer. 
 
 [Signed,] L. P. Walker. 
 
[No. 3.] 
 Gen lierrui-c'jnrd to the Secretary nf U'.j/-. 
 
 CnAiiLESTOX, April 10, ISfil. 
 To L. P. WAi.Krr. : 
 
 The demand will be uiadc to-morrow at twelve o'clock. 
 
 [Signed,] G. T. Beauregard, Brigiidier-Goncral. 
 
 [No. 4.] 
 The Serretnry nf Wur to Gen. Dcnurognrd. 
 
 Montgomery, April 10, 15*61. 
 To Gen. BKAuuEGAni), Charleston: 
 
 Unless there are special reasons connected with your own conditiuu, it is con- 
 sidered proper that j'ou should make the demand at an earlier hour. 
 
 [Signed,] L. P. Walker. 
 
 [No. 5.] 
 Oeti. Bvnurvgard to the Secreturi/ of War. 
 
 Charleston', April 10, ISCl. 
 To L. P. AValkkr: 
 
 The reasons arc special for twelve o'clock. 
 
 [Si^'ned,] G. T. Bkavregard. 
 
 [No. fi.] 
 Gen. Beaiireijard to Major Anderson. 
 
 IIeai)quautei!S Provisional Akmv, C. S. A., 
 Charleston, S. C, April 11, 1861—2, i-. m. 
 Sir: The Government of the Confederate States has hitherto forborne from any 
 hostile demonstration again.st Fort Sumter, in the hope that the Government of the 
 United States, with a view to the amicable adjustment of all questions between the 
 two Governments, and to avert the calamities of war, would voluntarily evacuate it. 
 There was reason at one time to believe that such would be the course pursued by 
 the Government of the United States, and under that impression my Government 
 has refrained from making any demand for the surrender of the fort. 
 
 But the Confederate States can no longer delay assuming actual possession of a 
 fortification commanding the entrance of one of their harbors, and necessary to its 
 defence and security. 
 
 I am ordered by the Government of tho Confederate States to demand the evac- 
 uation of Fort Sumter. My Aide.';, Colonel Chesnut and Captain Lee, ars authorized 
 to make such demand of you. All proper facilities will be affurded for the removal 
 of yourself and command, together with company arms and property, and all pri- 
 v:ite property, to any post in tho United States which you may elect. The fl:ig 
 wliich you have upheld so long and with so much fortitude under the most trying 
 circumstances, may be .«aluted by you on taking it down. 
 
 Colonel Chesnut and Captain Lee will, for a reasonable time, await your answer. 
 1 am sir, very respcctfullj'. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 (Signed,) G. T. Beaireoard, 
 
 Brigadier-General Commanding. 
 Major RonERT Ander.son, 
 
 Commanding at Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, S. C. 
 
33 
 
 [No. 7.] 
 Gen. Beauregard to the Secretary of War. 
 
 Charlf.stox, April 11, 1861. 
 To L. P. Walker : 
 
 Demand sent at two o'clock. Allowed till six o'clock to answer. 
 
 [Signed,] G. T. Beauregard. 
 
 [No. 8.] 
 Majiir Ainlersoii to Gen. Beauregard. 
 
 Headquarters, Fout Sumter, S. C, 
 
 April 11th, 1861. 
 
 General: I have the honor to •acknowled'^o the receipt of your communication 
 
 demanding the evacuation of this fort; and to say in reply thereto, that it is a 
 
 demand with which I regret that my sense of honor, and of my obligations to my 
 
 Government, prevent my compliance. 
 
 Thanking you for the fair, manly and courteous terms proposed, and for the high 
 compliment paid me, 
 
 I am, General, very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 (Signed,) Robert Anderson, 
 
 Major U. S. Army Commanding. 
 To Brigadier-General G. T. Beauregard, 
 
 Commanding Provisional Army, C. S. A. 
 
 [No. 9.] 
 The Sccrctarif of War to Gen. Beauregard. 
 
 Montgomery, April 11, 1861. 
 Gen. Beauregard, Charleston : 
 Telegraph reply of Anderson. 
 
 [Signed,] L. P. Walker. 
 
 [No. 10.] 
 
 Gen. Beauregard to the iSecrclary of War. 
 
 Charleston, April 11, 1861. 
 To L. P. Walker : 
 
 Major Anderson replied : " I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 communication, demanding the evacuation of this fort, and to say in reply thereto, 
 that it is a demand with which I regret that my sense of honor and of my obliga- 
 tion to my Government prevent my compliance." He adds verbally : " I will await 
 the first shot, and if you do not batter us to pieces, wo will be starved out in a few 
 days." Answer. 
 
 [Signed,] G. T. Beauregard. 
 
 [No. 11.] 
 
 The Secretary of War to Gen. Beauregard. 
 
 MoxTGOMERr, April 11, 1861. 
 To Gen. Beauregard, Charleston : 
 
 We do not desire necdlesslj' to bombard Fort Sumter. If Major Anderson will 
 state the time at which, as indicated by him, he will evacuate, and agree that in the 
 
 3 
 
34 
 
 meantime he will not use Lis guns afjainst us, unless ours sluiuld be cmpluj-ed 
 against Fort Sumlcr, j-ou arc authorized thus to avoid the effusion of blood. If 
 this, or its equiviilent, be refused, reduce the fort as your judgment decides to be the 
 most practicable. 
 
 [Signed,] I,. P, Wai.kkr. 
 
 [No. 12.] 
 Orii. lirixiirrijard to ^fnjor Anderson. 
 
 IIuADyuARTEns Provisional .\rmy, C. S. A., 
 Charleston, April 11, 1861—11, i>. ji. 
 Ma.ior: In consequence of the verbal observation made by you to my Aids, 
 Messrs. Chesnut and Lee, in relation to the condition of your supplies, and that 
 you would in a few days be starved out if our guns did not batter you to pieces — or 
 words to that effect — and desiring no useless effusion of blood, I communicated 
 both the verbal observation and your written answer to ray communication to my 
 Government. 
 
 If you will state the time at which vuu will evacuate Fort Sumter, and agree 
 that in the meantime you will not use ynur guns against us, unless ours shall be 
 employed against Fort Sumter, we will abstain from opening fire upon you. Col- 
 onel Chesnut and Captain Lee are authorized by me to enter into such an agreement 
 with you. You are, therefore, rc(iuosted t<> communicate to them an open answer. 
 I remain, very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 (Signed,) 0. T. Bkauregard, 
 
 Brigadier-General Commanding. 
 Majnr RoBKRT Andkrson, 
 
 Commanding at Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, S. C. 
 
 [No. i;i.] 
 
 ^f'lJol• Amlermm to (icii. licinref/ard. 
 
 IlEAi>yuARTi;ns, Four Si:mti;r, S. C, 
 2.30 A. M., April 12, ISGl. 
 General: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your second commu- 
 nication of the 11th instant, by Col. Chesnut, and to state, in reply, that corilially 
 uniting with you in the desire to avoid the useless effusion of bloo<l, I will, if pro- 
 vided with the proper and necessary means of transportation, evacuate Fort Sumter 
 by noon on the 15th instant, should I not receive, prior to that time, controlling 
 instructions from my Government, or additional sup])lies ; and that I will not, in 
 the meantime, open my fire upon your forces, unless compelled to do so by some 
 hostile act against this fort, or the flag of ray Govcrnraent, by the forces under 
 your command, or by some portion of them, or by the perpetration of some act 
 showing a hostile intention on your part against this fort, or the flag it bears. 
 r have the honor to be, General, 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 (Signed,) Houeut Anderson, 
 
 Major U. S. A. Coniiiianding. 
 To Brigadier-General (J. T. Beai RE(iAiU), 
 
 Commanding Provisional Army, C. S. A. 
 
85 
 
 [No. 14.] 
 (icn. Iieaui->'f/ard to the Secretary of War. 
 
 Chaui.estok, April 12, 1861. 
 To L. P. Walker : 
 
 He would not consent. I will write to-day. 
 
 [Signed,] (t. T. BEAuuEGAnn. 
 
 [No. 15.] 
 Jnmeit Chcuniit. Jr., ami Stephen D. Lee. Aidfis-de-Cnmp, to Major Anderson. 
 
 FoHT SiMTER, S. C, April 12, 1861, 
 3.20, A. M. 
 Sir : By authority of Brigmlier-Ceneral Beauregard, commanding the Provisional 
 Forces of the Confederate States, we have the honor to notify you that he will open 
 the fire of his batteries on Fort Sumter in one hour from this time. 
 We have the honor to be. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servants, 
 (Signed,) Jamks Chesmit, Jr.. 
 
 Aid-de-Camp. 
 Stephen D. Lee, 
 Captain S. C. Army and Aid-de-Camp. 
 Major Robert Anperson, 
 
 United States Army, commanding Fort Sumter. 
 
 [No. 16.] 
 (icn. licditreijdrd to the Secretari/ of War. 
 
 Charleston, April 12, 1S61. 
 To L. P. Walker : 
 
 We opened fire at 4.30 A. m. 
 
 [Signed.] G. T. Beairegarti. 
 
 Note. — Intercepted despatches disclose the fact that Mr. Fox, who had been 
 allowed to visit Major Anderson, on the pledge that his purpose was pacific, employed 
 his opportunity to devise a plan fur supplying the fort by force, and that this plan 
 bad been adopted by the Washington Government, and was in progress of execution.