The Sun. — London, England, 1861-04-26 00:00:00

THE WELLINGTON, 160, PICCADILLY. —Gentlemen are respectfully informed that the :SALOON DINING ROOMS are now OPEN for the Supply of LUNCHEONS and DINNERS, from One to Nine o'clock Set Dinners and Dining from the carte in the most varied form. Dinners from the joint, 2s. Whitebait is now scr yeti daily. THOMAS PRICE, Superintendent. T HEATRE -ROYAL, HAYMARKET, Les nee, Ms. J. B. Ettaket422B. THIS EVENING, the performances will comme,nes with a new and original Comedy, entitled BLACK SHEEP. Mr. Backstone. Mr. Compton, Mr. Howe, as.; Mrs. Wilkins, Mrs. Charles Young, Miss Lovell, tize. After which, will be revived, with entirely new scenery and effects, and all the original music by the late Sir Henry Bishop, the melodrama of THE MILLER AND HIS MEN. COmiienceiii: OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.- ILessee and Manager, Mr. A. Harris. THIS EVENING, THRICE 'MARRIED. Messrs. Shore, Meadows, Garden, and Miss C. Leclercq. Followed by HAMLET. Hamlet, Mr. Pechter. Snp ported by Hermann Vezln, Ryder, Meadows, &c ; Misses Heath, Elsworthy, and R. Leclercq. W THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI._ NEW Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. Last Two Nights for the present (in consequence of the re appearance, on Monday next, of Mr. and Mrs. Boucicault in "The Colleen Bawn ") of the great sensation Drama of " Maggiore the Prestigiator." The Adelphi "Census " taken every night. - THIS EVENING, the new drama, MAGLIORE, TITE PRESTIGIT A 7 OR. Messrs. B. Webster, J. L. Toole, D. Fisher, Sze.; Miss K. Kelly, Miss 11. Simms, scc. To be followed by a new apropos Sketch, TILE CENSUS: Messrs. J. 1,. Toole, Eburne, Romer, C. J. Smit h ; Miss Kate Kelly, Miss E. Th orne , and Mrs. Chatterley. After which, THE FOOL OF THE FAUILI. Mr. rani Bedford, C. J. Smith, Eburne, Miss Laidlaw, and Miss Julia Daly. Doors open at half past 6—Commence at 7. CANTERBURY -BALL CONCERTS!! Westminster-road. Proprletor.. ..... .C. Morton. A. Grand Selection from Verdi's new Opera, IL CORSARO, (This opera has never been produced in this or any other country, except at these Concerts), having met with that de cided success which charactise i the most popular works of this great Master, will be performed EVERY EVENING ; together with a Selection from LA FIG LIA DEL fIEGGI BIENTO, by Donizetti, Principal Artistes—lllss Russell, Madame Maria, Miss Tyrrell, Mr. H. Herbert, Signor Tivoli, IL Drummond, and C. W. Bernard. Director, PM.. F. Jonghmans. The Comic Department comprises Messrs. E. Marshall, A. B. Hollingsworth, J. Blanchard, F. Bell, W. H. Welland, and the Brothers Conrad. John Melba's Three celebrated Pictures will remain on view a short time longer in the Fine Arts Gallery of the Establishment. HIGII WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tau DAY.—Morning, 2h. 28m.—Afternoon, 2h. 54m. To-moußo - vr.-Morning, 3h. 26m.—Afternoon, 3h. 38m. THE WEATHER..—SuN OFFICE, APRIL 26, 1461. TszaMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 61—highest since noon yesterday. 43—Iowest this morning and during the night. 59—this day at noon. BAROMETER-30 . 14 ; rising. IVIND--Nest-N.-Westerly—fresh; with cloudy cool weather. ,7)4 p l „-- ! ,:_v_ .4A.0.i, :-...- ,c , ,0,44; ~,,-,---: •-..,,,„ ..._„...,, ,t,g.) -- 7 'NIL. , :--'-'7,t , i' - ' ,, , - -:-,\:'4 •/,...-- < i t-' - ... • To t .,.. ,t .. 6 ,-;..` , . ._ ,1L _ , :',;2 3 .. ;i - ,s ) 4 f 0 :.. ....I_,i,,_;:b t,..... • , ! , , • - n .7.';;; 14 (*':`,., VI ~_~ t_t;r,ir_ THE SUN. LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1881. With painful interest will every Englishman read the news of this morning from America. It makes us all feel what we felt when we read of the Prince of WALES' reception in America—that we are one people, one race, after all—makes us reci procate the sailor sentiment of the American naval commander who aided our men under their sad misfortune at the Taku Forts, that " blood is thicker than water." We hate slavery and slave holding —we are angry with the narrow-minded protectionism of American Tariffs; but we remem ber that we have ourselves been guilty enough of both, not many years ago, and our hearts ache at the thought of descendants of Englishmen shed ding again each other's blood in war. We de precate the injury to commerce ; we are grieved to see free institutions disgrace themselves in the sight of gradually falling dospotism : but over and above all that, we lament that the members of one great branch of our own vast family, should be found divided against one another, and shed ding each other's blood. Perhaps, in the literal sense, blood may not have been shed yet. There is no account of lives lost. It is said to be certain that none of the officers of the garrison were wounded, and that none of the Carolinians lost their lives. What the little band of Federal private soldiers suffered seems to be yet unknown, though we can hardly think that we should not have heard of the death of any of them as amongst the most important of events. But if there be not in this case the peculiar feelings with which the loss of the first one or two lives in a cause is regarded by the English race, more, per haps, than by any other race on earth, there is everything in the surrender of Fort Sumter to wound the pride of the Federal Government and to enrage the great Republican party, till it throws aside all moderation and rushes with determination to conquer, into the contest. Yirstlg, the Government sends to one of its own fortresses, to supply it with provisions and men, or both. Secondly, the sight of the Government yes- His is made the occasion by the Southern com mander of summoning the fort to surrender. 71&clly, when Major ANDERSON refuses, which, as the soldier of the Federal Government, he was bound to do—for the Government was supporting him, and not authorising him to strike his flag—the Carolina Forts open fire upon him. When he replies to it, they overwhelm him from seven batteries with a continuous fire of 40 hours. The first gun was thus fired by the South ; and it was not a mere formal fire, but one which compelled a brave man and his brave little band to surrender to its extent and continuance. All the brief statements of the effects of the surrender are but what we might be certain would follow. " Washington is in a frantic state of excitement." " The Republicans wild with indignation." " War the sole topic in every circle." " Volunteers and Regulars under arms," " Wash ington itself anticipating an attack ;" but, it is added, "the President calm and composed," and that an "extra session of Congress had been sum moned"—an act, we believe, necessary, if war is to be commenced in earnest, since the President is not in regard to declaring war; he must have the con sent of the Senate in doing it. What course things will now take must be only matter of speculation. Yet few of us pro bably can avoid conjecturing, from what we already know, the probable results. We do know that on neither side is the spirit of fighting wanting. Ame ani' are exceedingly vindictive, and in the South t hey are bloodily vindictive. They think nothing °I ; t hey seem rath er t o g l ory i n, the most ferocious duels, and in brutal assaults, like that upon Senator Suaista, those who have merely offended them by eloqu ent Party and political attacks. The South applauded and rewarded the ruffian who h a lf mur dered Mr. s ready by surp r i se . Th e South is enough, i n _ pint of temper , for any amo un t o f fighting, but ho it will raise mono to kee troops together r e mains p to be seen, and it is t oo y poor to create an army of seif -supporting volun teers. Yet it has seemed hitherto desirous to pre a,,,,,,ivaiinthboe.utfrinomon e th y e , cipitate the conflict , which may consciousness that it could not keep its army on foot. Perhaps th e c hi e f q uestion Still is Nivh.4,, c an , and what will th e N or th do ? Excepting the stores which the treason of FLOYD betrayed to the South, the Federal Government must have all the naval and military resources of the late Union at ___ ... _ its disposal. The navy belongs entirely to the North, an d all the dookyards in actual use are [ there also. The militia of the North is vastly greater than that of the South. It has the small regular army at its disposal, and when the ships are recalled from foreign countries, .and those awaiting completion fitted out for service, the North will be omnipotent by sea; Its chief strength in a quarrel with the South, if it does not mean to march through the wavering Border States to a useless military conflict with the scattered towns, endless forests and swamps of the cotton States, will be its navy. With little or no bloodshed it can blockade all their ports, can annihilate their customs, and compel them to personal taxation, poor as they are, to raise any money at all. If the Go vernment at Washington does not act from mere irritation, it will in all probabilty do its chief work by sea. This would also be less offensive to the border states ; who now, can hardly deny the right of the Government to vindicate its honour. It has borne with the seizure of its property, and with the capture of a place guarded by one officer and an invalid Irish soldier ; it cannot well be asked to put up with the bombardment of a fort and the firing on its garrison for forty hours ; compelling at last its brave commander to strike the Federal flag. It is impossible to forget, however, that passion may now take the reins into its own hands. Mr. LINCOLN, whatever his own desires, may not be able to pursue any longer the Fabian policy. The North heartily despises the South, and it may re solve to put it down at any cost. Intelligent Americans, whom we have met with here, think it will certainly:cometo this. The North knows-that if it cuts forth its strength, naval and military, it can compel the South to submit, and now that the challenge has thus been given, the gentlemen we refer to think that it will be accepted and fought out. If so the issue can hardly doubtful. Double the militia, the navy, the money, the military stores, are all with the North; while the South has only its " Mean Whites,". desperate fellows, it is true, for soldiers; few rich to pay them ; not a ship of war, but it has 4,000,000 of slaves to keep down, while the North is fighting against their masters. The Opposition and the Government have con fronted each other in the matter of the Budget like two skilful fencers with their foils crossed. Whe ther the buttons are on or not, it is almost impos sible to detect, from the rapid movement, upon either band daring the past two evenings of sus tained contention. Whether the Opposition means mischief, whether it takes as its motto miching malecho, or whether it is all this while only grumbling impotently—who shall say ? Will it strive to pink the Government in carte or tierce — to force a division upon the second, the third, or the fourth resolutions ? Has it an eye capable of discriminating the " flaw" in the budget ? or is it fated to be bewildered by the very variety of - the exceptions that may be taken to it ? Between the temptation to reduce the tea and sugar duties and the temptation to dock another penny from the Income-tax—will the prospect of any amendment whatever (as NOODLE fell between the two stools of the proverb) fall to the ground ignominiously. They would—if they could : or perhaps we should rather say more correctly— if they had but the power to recognise the fittest plea, the aptest opportunity. It is hardly so much the power that is:wanting, as the skilful selection of the plea. It is scarcely the will that is needed—it is the discrimination of the opportunity. In its financial policy, actually, in one sense, Govern ment is • whimsically illustrating anew the wisdom of the old wily axiom divida et 2mpera. The Opposition is—at any rate as yet— so far divided in opinion as to which of the various exceptions that can be taken (with a show of reason) to the Budget shall be taken, that at the present moment there is absolutely no amendment at all before the house by reason of that very uncertainty and apparent bewilderment. As Mr. WHITESIDE wittily expressed it last night—the problem put to himself by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the construction of the Budget was—" Given a deficit, a bad harvest, declining trade, doubtful prospects, and continued reductions in the per manent revenue of the country—to find a surplus !" e That has, consequently,been weak point Number One in the financial policy of the Government ! Namely the illusory and wholly hypothetical and abso lutely suppositious character of the Surplus ! Shall they go in, that Strong Opposition, shall they resolutely go in for the maintenance of that fact, for the demonstration of that truth—namely, that the surplus is simply an illusion, is purely imaginary, is literally non-existent ? Shall they, in point of fact, say—You are arguin g upon false premises; you are talking of certain remissions of taxation in the shape of a dropped penny upon the income-tax, and of a total abolition of the paper duty by reason of the balance of revenue and expenditure for the next financial twelve- , month showing an estimated surplus of nearly two millions sterling, of £1,923,000 altogether—but looking into your calculations more closely, we find that your estimated surplus is, after all, no surplus whatever, but actually, instead of that, a deficit ! Shall they, the Strong Opposition, go in for the declaration of that fact, in preference to all the other facts that can be brought forward in antagonism to the Budget ? Or shall they, taking a more superficially popular course, accept, as proven, the Chancellor of the Exche quer's statement that there is a surplus —say even a surplus of all but two millions, of £l,o23,ooo—and then insist upon the advisability of applying that surplus rather to the remission of twopence upon the Income-tax, or of a penny upon the Income-tax and a diminution of that other grinding war tax still wrung out of the pockets of the people in a time of peace, the duties levied upon tea and sugar —rather than abolish altogether those paper duties, n spleen , S suspected and by getting rid of which Mr. GLADSTON Eis Upet of designing simply to gratify his o wn at the same time to throw a sop to a certain Cer berus glowering alarmingly upon the other aide of that gloomy Styx of the Gangway ! As was so often the case with the late Sir ROBERT PEEL, the Great Sir ROBERT PEEL—three courses (and then of course their dessert, or, shall we read it, their deserts) lie at this moment, for their choice, before the Opposition. Firstly—to deny the existence of the surplus, and (so denying it) to go for no, or at any rate for a very moderate, reduction. Say (if any reduction) of just one penny upon the income tax. Secondly—accepting the surplus as proven—to argue for the further reduction of the Income-tax by another penny in preference to the tctal and sum mary abolition of the paper duties ; duties yielding upon the year £200,000 more than the annual proceeds of one penny upon the Income-tax. A penny of Income-tax, as we all know, bring ing in £1,100,000, and the paper duties £1,300,000 within the financial year. Thirdly —still accepting the surplus as secure and reliable 'even to the extent of £ 1 ,923,000-e-to insist upon diminishing the 100 per cent. impost upon tea and the 50 P* cent. impost upon sugar, before sweeping away rashly the whole of the duty upon paper ! 'the Paper d u t y y i elding annually as we have seen £1,300,000, far tax while in a ti me o f peace the Poo. incomes, the war tax upork tea, and THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAV EVENING, APRIL, 26, 1861. LATEST NE WS. CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA. FALL OF FORT SUMTER. (Fain the New York, Herald, April 14.) CHARLESTON, APRIL 12. Civil war has at last begun. A terrible fight is at this moment going on between Fort Sumter and the fortifications by which it is surrounded. In my last despatch I stated that negotiations had been reopened between General Beauregard and Major Anderson. This was done with a view to prevent an unnecessary effusion of blood. The issue was submitted to Major Anderson of surrendering as soon as his supplies were exhausted, or of having a fire opened on him within a certain time. This he refused to do, and accordingly, at twenty-seven minutes past four o'clock this morn ing Fort Moultrie began the bombardment by firing two guns. To these Major Anderson replied with three of his barbette guns, after which the batteries on Mount Pleasant, Cummings' Point, and the Float ing Battery, opened a brisk fire of shot and shell. Major Anderson did not reply, except at long in tervals, until between seven and eight o'clock, when he brought into action the two tiers of guns look ing towards Fort Moultrie and Stevens's iron battery. Up to this hour (three o'clock Friday afternoon) they have failed to produce any serious effect. Despatches received at headquarters from the various forts report that all is going on admirably, and no men hurt. Major Anderson has the greater part of the day been directing his fire principally against Fort Moultrie, the Stevens and Floating Battery, these and Fort Johnson being the only five operating against him. The remainder of the batteries are held in reserve. Some fifteen or eighteen shots have struck the Floating Battery, but made not the slightest im pression upon its iron-cased sides. The Stevens Battery is also eminently successful, and does ter rible execution on Fort Sumter. Breaches, to all appearance, are being made in the several sides exposed to fire. Portions of the parapet have been destroyed, and several of the guns there mounted have been shot away. Major Anderson is at present using his lower tier of casemate ordnance. The fight is going on with intense earnestness, and will continue all night. It is not improbable that the forts will be carried by storm. The soldiers are perfectly reckless of their lives, and at every shot jump upon the ramparts, observe the effect, and then jump down cheering. A party on the Stevens' battery are said to have played a game in the hottest fire. The excitement in the community is indescrib able. With the very first boom of the gun thou ! sands rushed from their beds to the harbour front, and all day every available place has been thronged bf ladies and gentlemen, viewing the solemn spec tacle through their glasses. Most of these have relatives in the several fortifications, and many a tearful eye attested the anxious affection of the mother, wife, and sister, but not a murmur came from a single individual. The spirit of patriotism is as sincere as it is uni versal. Five thousand ladies stand ready to-day to respond to any sacrifice that may be required of them. The brilliant and patriotic conduct of Major Anderson speaks for itself, and silences the attacks lately made at the North upon his character and patriotism. Business is entirely suspended. Only those stores are open which are necessary to supply articles re quired by the army. Governor Pickens has all day been in the resi• deuce of a gentleman which commands a view o, the whole scene, a most interested observer. Genera Beauregard commands in person the entire opera• tions, and thus far they have moved with the utmost system and success, It is reported that the Harriet Lane has received a shot through her wheelhouse. She is in the offing. ` No other government ships are in sight up to the present moment, but should they appear the entire range of batteries will open upon them. Troops are pouring into the town by hundreds, but are held in reserve for the present, the force already on the island being ample. People are also arriving every moment on horseback, and by every other conveyance. Within an area of fifty miles, where the thunder of the artillery can be heard, the scene is magnificently terrible. CHARLESTON, APRIL 12, G P.M. Captain R. S. Parker brings despatches from the Floating Battery, stating that up to this time only two have been wounded on Sullivan's Island. He had to row threugh Major Anderson's warmest fire in a small boat. Senator Wigfall in same manner bore despatches to Morris Island, through the fire from Fort Sumter. Senator Chesnut, another member of the staff of Gea. Beauregard, fired a gun, by way of amuse ment, from Mount Pleasant, which made a large hole in the parapet. Quite a number have been struck by spent pieces of shell and knocked down, but none hurt seriously. Many fragments of these missiles are already circu lating in the city. The range is more perfect than in the morning, and every shot from the land tells. Three ships are visible in the offing, and it is believed an attempt will be made to-night to throw reinforcements into Fort Sumter in small boats. It is also thought, from the regular and frequent firing of Major Anderson, that he has a much larger force of men than was supposed, At any rate, he is fighting bravely. There have been two rain storms during the day, but without effect upon the battle. Everybody is in a ferment. Some of those fight ing are stripped to the waist. CHARLESTON, April 12, 11 p.m. A heavy rain caused a suspension of hostilities between 7 and 11 o'clock, except an occasional gun. Major Anderson is busy repairing damages. He receivedtwenty-nine full sh o t s f rom Stevens ' bat tery making the brick s fly from th e wa ll s i n alone, lo n e , all directions. It is estimated that from twelve to eighteen hundred balls and shells were fired during the day. Over ore hundred shells took effect inside the fort. Orders have been issued to send Major Anderson a bomb from all the batteries every twenty minutes during the night, to keep him wide awake, making about two a minute. Major Anderson fired only two barbette guns. Two more were dismounted. His shots at Fort Moultrie were generally bad, most of the balls going over. The same was the case with the Floating Battery, to which he was very particular in his attentions. A ball penetrated the Moultrie House, where a party of gentlemen were sitting in the Parlour, watching the fight. It entered the second the war tax upon sugar, mulct the toiling people of England yearly to the dreadful tune of £22,000,000. How will the Opposition act as to the selection of the Amendment ? Or—for that doubt also still lies open before it— will the Opposition end all this cantankerous discussion by moving no substantial Amendment whatever upon Mr. GLADSTONE'S Resolutions ? We :believe that up to the present moment the Opposition is itself undecided as to the course it shall pursue in this matter eventually. Monday may put an end at last to these coy hesitations. There may appear at length a distinct amendment upon one of the Resolutions : or this perhaps more probably—a reservation of the energies of the Opposition for " the tug of war," when Greek meets Greek in Committee. story, and travelled into the kitchen. The gentle men scattered miscellaneously. The first shot was fired from Fort Johnson, on Morris Island, by Capt. James, and the second by Lieut. U. H. Gibbs. This was not answered until three o'clock this afternoon. The first shot from Stevens' Battery was fired by the venerable Ed mund Ruffin, of Virginia. That ball will do more for the cause of secession in the old dominion than volumes of stump speeches. It is a most remarkable fact that, after 15 hours' heavy cannonading, not one person has been placed hors de combat. There are no tidings from Fort Sumter. The schooner Petrel, Capt. S. F. Coste, received four shots, but no damage. Three United States vessels are certainly out side. They were signalled by Major Anderson lowering and raising his flag. The attempt will probably be made to reinforce him during the night. The mortar berries are now blazing away. The scene is magnificent. CHARLESTON, April 12-12.30 p.m. It is utterly impossible to reinforce Fort Sumter to. night, as a storm is new raging. The mortar batteries will be playing on Fort Sumter all night, CHARLESTON, APRIL 13. The cannonading is going on fiercely from all points—from the vessels outside, and all along our coast. APRIL 13, 10 A. 3, Fort Sumter is on fire. It broke out in the officers' quarters about two hours ago. Major, Anderson has slacked his fire, but not ceased fighting. It will not materially impede operations, as the amount of woodwork in the fort is quite small. The day is oppressively warm. I have just learnt, from an authoritative source, that no demand for the surrender was made upon Major Anderson, but simply a demand for evacua tion. The distinction is marked in a political sense as important. APRIL 13, 10.30 A.M. At intervals of 20 minutes the firing was kept up all night on Fort Sumter. Major Anderson ceased firing from Fort Sumter at 6 o'clock in the evening. All night he was en gaged in repairing damages and protecting the bar bette guns on the top of the fort. He commenced to return fire at 7 o'clock this morning. Fort Sumter seems to be greatly disabled. The battery on Cummings' Point does Fort Sum ter great damage. At 9 o'clock this morning a dense smoke poured out from Fort Sumter. The Federal flag is at half mast, signalling distress. The shells from Fort Moultries and the batteries on Morris Island fall into Major Anderson's strong hold thick and fast ; and they can be seen in their course from:the Charleston Battery. The breach made in Fort Sumter is on the side opposite Cummings' Point. Two of its portholes are knocked intc one, and the wall from the top is crumbling. Three vessels, one of them a large-sized steamer, are over the bar, and seem to be preparing to parti cipate in the conflict. The fire of Morris Island and Fort Moultrie is divided between Fort Sumter and the ships of war. The ships have not as yet opened fire. (LATu NEWS.) An explosion has occurred at Fort Sumter, a dense volume of smoke ascending. Major Anderson ceased to fire for about an hour. His flag is still up. It is thought that the officers' quarters in Fort Sumter are on fire. CHARLESTON, APRIL 13, 12 NooN. The ships in the offing appear to be quietly at anchor. They have not fired a gun yet. The entire roof of the barracks at Fort Sumter are in a vast sheet of fame. Shells from Cummings' Point and Fort Moultrie are bursting in and ovEr Fort Sumter in quick suc- cession. The Federal flag still waves. Major Anderson is only occupied in putting ou fire. Every shot on Fort Sumter now seems to tell heavily. The people are anxiously looking for Major Anderson to strike his flag. Two of Major Anderson's magazines have ex ploded. • Only occasional shots are fired at him from Fort Moultrie. The Morris Island Battery is doing heavy work. It is thought that Dnly the smaller magazines have exploded. The greatest excitement prevails. The wharfs, steeples, and every available place are packed• with people. The United States ships are in the offing, but have not aided Major Anderson. It is too late now to come over the bar, as the tide is ebbing. (FROM ANOTHER SOURCE.) CHARLESTON, April 13, 12 noon. Major Anderson is hemmed in by ruins and fire. Every building in Fort Sumter is burning. He has blown up one or two to arrest the flames. This does not in any wise diminish his strength. He has been compelled to cease firing altogether. The ships outside are supposed to inaugurate the blockade. ordnance is in process of erec tionA .obnattthereycoiftyheßaavtytery,a fashionable promenade, where thousands are tow congregated, watching the battle. Major Ander son ' s 'an h as b ee n shot away, and now waves from a pole on th e rampar t s . It is reported that Major Anderson is bl ow i ng up the casemates seaward with a view to escape in boats during the night. Offers have been received from Virginia of any number of mon required for fighting. duty. EVACUATION OF FORT SISMTER; CHARLESTON; via ArGUSTA, APRIL 13. The confederate flags float over its walls. None of the garrison or Confederate troops are hurt. Another correspondeat saTs : --11 The bombard ing has closed. Major Anderson has drawn down the stripes and stars, and displays a white flag, which has been answered from the city, and a boat is on the way to Sumter!' ArniL 13, P.M. The Federal flag was again hoisted over Fort Sumter, when Percher Miles, with a flag of truce, went to the fort. In a few minutes the Federal flag was again hauled down by Major Anderson and a white one unfurled. General Beauregard, with two aides, has left for Fort Sumter. Three ire companies from Charles ton are now on their way to Sumter to quell the fire before it reaches the magazine. Fort Sumter has unconditionally surrendered. Ex-Senator Chesnut, ex-Governor Manning, and W. P. Miles have just landed and marched to Governor Pickens' residence, followed by a dense crowd, wild with joy, reported;that the Federal flag was shot away by the Palmetto Guards at Morris Island, In all 2,000 shots have been fired. No Carolinians killed. Major Anderson and his men, under guard, were conveyed to Morris Island, The bells are ringing out a merry peal, and our people are 'engaged in every demonstration of joy. It is estimated that there are 9,000 men under arms on the islands and in the neighbourhood. .RrC..} that the wood-work and officers' quarters at Fort Sumter are all burnt. None of the officers were wounded. The fort will be taken possession of to•night by the Confederate troops. A boat from one of the vessels outside the har bour communicated with General Simons, in com mand of the forces on Morris Island, and made a request that one of the steamers be allowed to enter the port for the purpose of taking away Major Anderson and his command. An arrangement was agreed upon by the parties to stay all proceedings until nine o'clock to-morrow. THE GENERAL PRESS DESPATCHES. CHARLESTON, April 12, The ball has opened —war is inaugurated. The batteries of Sullivan's Island, Morris Island, and other points were opened on Fort Sumter at four o'clock this morning. Fort Sumter has re turned the fire, and a brisk cannonading has been kept up. No information has been received from the seaboard yet. The military are under arms and the whole of our population are on the streets. Every avail able space facing the harbour is filled with anxious spectators. The firing has continued all day without inter• mission. Two of Fort Sumter's guns have boon silenced, and it is reported that a breach has been made in the south•east wall. Of the nineteen batteries in position only seven have opened fire on Fort Sumter. The remainder are held in reserve for the expected fleet. Two thousand men reached this city this morn ing, and embarked for Morris Island and the neigh bourhood. Intercepted despatches disclose the fact that Mr. Fox, who had'been allowed to visit . Major Ander son on the pledge that his purpose was pacific, employed his opportunity to devise a plan for sup plying the fort by force, and that this plan had been adopted by the Washington Government, and was in progress of execution. The Floating Battery and Stevens' Battery are operating freely aad Fort Sumter is returning the fire. It is reported that three war vessels are outside the bar. Charleston, April 12—Evening. The firing has ceased for the night, but will be renewed at daylight in the morning, unless an at tempt is made to reinforce the fort, which ample arrangements have been made to repel. .... The Pawnee, Harriet Lane, and ;third steamer, ar© reported off the bar. Troops are arriving by every train. CHARLESTON, APRIL 13, Major Anderson has thrown out a raft loaded with men, who are passing up buckets of water to extinguish the fire. The fort is scarcely discernible. The men on the raft are now objects of fire from Morris Island, and with good glasses the balls can be seen skipping over the water and striking the unprotected raft. Great havoc is created among the poor fellows. It is surmised that Major Anderson is gradually blowing up the fort. He scarcely fires a gun. At half-past 11 o'clock the flames were bursting from all the portholes. The destruction of Fort Sumter is inevitable. It is stated from a reliable source that up to 10 o'clock to-day no one at Fort Moultrie was killed. Eleven shots from Fort Sumter penetrated the floating battery below the water line. The few shotared by Major Anderson early this morning knocked the chimneys from the officers' . quarters at Fort Moultrie like a whirlwind. Major Anderson's only hope now is to hold out for aid from the ships. Two ships are making in towards Morris Island, with a view to land troops and silence the batteries there. Four vessels, two of them large steamers, are in sight over the bar. The largest appears to be en gaging Morris Island. The flames have nearly subsided in Sumter; but Major Anderson does not fire any guns. General Beauregard left the wharf just now in a boat for Morris Island. The excitement is increasing, if anything. I have read a letter from S.. C. Boylston, dated Moultrie, six o'clock this morning. He says not one man was killed or wounded. The iron battery had been damaged. The rifled cannon of the battery did great execution on Sumter, and were all aimed into Anderson's portholes. Three of Sumter's barbette guns were dismounted, one of which was a 10-inch columbiad. A corner of Fort Sumter, opposite Fart Moultrie, was knocked off. The steamers Water Witch, Mohawk, and Pawnee, it was thought, were tha first three vessels szen in the offing. IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENCE. Charleston, April 12, 1861. The following is the telegraphic correspondence between the War Department at Montgomery and Gen. Beauregard immediately preceding the hostilities. The correspondence grew out of the formal notification by the Washington go vernment, which is disclosed in Gen. Beauregard's first despatches : LATEST NEWS. - CHARLESTON, APRIL 13. We have seen IV. Porcher Miles, who has just returned from a visit to Fort:Sumter. He assured us that no one was killed at Fort Sumter. This is reliable, and puts at rest all previous reports about Sumter. Major Anderson has reached the city, and is the guest of General Beauregard. Oar people sympathise with Major Anderson, but abhor those who were in the steamers off our bar and in sight of our people, and did not even attempt to reinforce him. The Fairfield Regiment, 1,000 strong, has just passed the Courier office on its way to Morris Island. There now 10,000 men under arms in the har bour and on the coast. Judge Magratb, who has just returned, reports Gen. Beauregard to the Secretary of War. Charleston, April 8, 1861, L. P. Walker, Secretary of War : An authorised messenger from President Lincoln just informed Governor Pickens and myself that provisions will be sent toFort Sumter peaceably, or otherwise by force. P. G. T. BEAT:REGARD, The Secretary of War to General Beauregard. Montgomery, April 10, 1861. Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard, Charleston : If you have no doubt of the authorised character of the agent who communicated to you the intention of the 'Wash ington Government to supply Fort Sumter by force, you will at once demand its evacuation ; and if this is refused, proceed in such manner as you may determine to reduce it. Answer. L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War. General Beauregard to the Secretary of War. Charleston, April 10, 1861. L. P. Walker, Secretary of War : The demand will be made to-morrow at twelve o'clock. P. G. T. BEAUREGARD, The Secretary of War to General Beauregard. Montgomery, April 10, 1861. General Beauregard, Charleston : Unless there are especial reasons connected with your own condition, it is considered proper that you should make the demand at an early hour. L. P. WALTER, Secretary of War. General Beauregard to the Secretary of War. Charleston, April 10, 1861. L. P. Walker, Secretary of War, Alontgomery The reasons are special for twelve o'clock. P. G. T. BEA.UREGARD. General Beauregard to the Secretary of War. Charleston, April 11, 1861. L. P. Walker, Sect etary of War : Demand sent at two o'clock; allowed till six o'clock to answer. P. G. T. BEAUREGARD. The Soeretary of War to General Beauregard. Montgomery, April 11, 1861. General Bcauregard, Charlean : Telegraph the reply of Major Anderson. L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War. General Beauregard to the Secretary of War. Charleston, April 11, 1861. To L. P. Walker, Secretary of War : Major Anderson replies : I have the honour 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 honour and nay obligation to my Government prevent my compliance. He adds : Probably I will await the first shot, and if you do not batter us to pieces we will be starved out in a few days. Answer. P. G. T. BEAUREGARD. Tho Secretary of War to General Beauregard. Montgomery, April 11, 1861. Gen. Beauregard, Charleston : We do not desire needlessly to bombard Fm t Sumter if Major Anderson will state the time at which, as indicated by him, he will evacuate, and agree that, in the meantime, he will not use his guns against us, unless ours should be employed against Fort Sumter. You aro thus to avoid the effusion of blood. If this or its equivalent be refuse], reduce the fort as your judgment decides to be the most practicable. L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War. General Beauregard to the Secretary of War. Charleston, April 12, 1861. L. P. Walker, Secretary of War : He would not consent. I write to-day. P. G. T. BEAUREGARD• WAR EXCITEMENT IN NEW YORK. Intense excitement prevailed throughout the city last evening on the receipt of the news that an engagement had tiAken p'--ace d Chaxlestou• In accordance with their usual astuteness, the evening papers had published telegraphic despatches of a quiet state of things at what may now be termed the seat of war. Those who read these papers :of course had their fears for the time quieted, and went home with the calm satisfac tion that blood had not as yet been shed. What then was their astonishment, a few hours later, to hear the newsboys vigorously shouting. the " extry Herald," with the bombardment of Fort Sumter and the details of a terrible struggle ? The city, calmed into quiet by the peaceful re ports of the afternoon, woke with a start, when the hoarse voice of myriads of newsboys, re sounding through our streets in the solemn still ness of night, proclaimed the news. During the day the curious and anxious had sought the bulletin boards of the newspapers to post themselves in regard to the progress of events at the South, and around the various offices crowds were gathered until evening. At the hotels and bar-rooms, in the same manner throngs were col lected, who discussed the probable object which the government had in sending out the recent armed transports, the result of an attempt to reinforce Fort Sumter, where the present troubles of the country would end, &c. The excitement, however, was not great, owing to the peaceful but incorrect news published by the evening papers, and men lounged around the hotels and places of public resort calmly glancing over the news. In ttie evening, however, the thrilling intelligence began to spread. Thousands thronged to the Herald office, and newsboys bearing papers under their arms sped through the streets of the city. The news spread like, wildfire, and but one sentiment seemed to pervade every mind—where would the strife, now so terribly commenced, end, The anxiety to hear the news was well depicted in the scenes which met one at every turn. Under a lamp post at each second street might be seen some individual with an extra Herald, either drinking in its intelligence alone or reading aloud to some companions. In the cars, the vestibules of the hotels, and in the barrooms, the same thing was to be witnessed. At the New York Hotel, which, during the last campaign rendered itself particularly obnoxious to the Wide-Awakes and Republicans, a scene of considerable excitement prevailed. The guests, in a measure Southerners, gathered in the halls and passageways and conversed with great vehemence on the important news which the extra Herald had laid before them. In the lower hallway the sofas were occupied with these personages, and to one group the attention of our reporter was par ticularly directed. " Well, I hope," said one, " that the Charles. tonians will do honour to themselves." "And they have done so," replied the party addressed, "judging from the news of the Herald." The conversation continued in a similar strain, and the conduct of General Beauregard and Major Anderson and other matters were discussed. At the other hotels similar scenes of excitement were to be witnessed, and the papers containing the news flourished in everybody's hand. EFFECTS OF THE WAR NXWS IN BALTIMORE. Baltimore, April 12, 1861. The Charkston news was not generally promul gated here until after night. .It produced a pro found sensation, and general expressions of regret at the prospect of bloodshed. There is a great diversity of views, but the general expressions are ou the side of the Government. EFFECTS OF THE WAR NEV S IN THE VIRGINIA horizon, and others have a horizontal sweep of fire of 180 degrees. In addition to. these weightier preparations for defence, the walls are pierced everywhere for muskets, of which there are end less numbers ready and loaded. The magazine contains seven hundred barrels of gunpowder and an ample supply of shot, powder, and shells for one year's siege, and a large amount of miscellaneous artillery stores. The garrison rig - amply supplied with water from artificial wells, which are supplied by the frequent showers of rain. In a defensive or strategical point of view, Fort Sumter radiates its fire through all the channels from the sea approach to Charleston, and has a full - sweep of range in its rear or city side. The fort is: sufficiently out of range from a land artillery attack, so that all apprehensions for breaching it from that source may be at rest, unless by guns of superior calibre. The maximum range of the guns from Sumter is three miles ; but for accurate firing, suffi cient to hull a vessel, the distance would require to be reduced one-half of that figure. The war garri son of the fort is six hundred men, but only seventy nine of that number are within its walls, with the labourers-409 all told. The embrasures for musketry on the side of the work exposed to the fire of the batteries of Cum mings' Point and Fort Johnson have been filled with solid flagging, filled in with lead, and now ball and bomb proof, adding materially to the strength of the work. Inside, the magazine and hospital have been protcted by stone traverses, and the parade cleared. STATE CONVENTION. Richmond, April 12, 1861. The fourteenth resolution was adopted with Mr. Scott's amendment. This being the last resolution the committee took ,he proposed amendments to the constitution. The Wise substitute was rejected. Adjourned. Hon. John Tyler received this afternoon from Montgomery copies of official despatches between General Beauregard, Major Anderson and Secre tary of War Walker. These were printed and cir culated in the Convention. Considerable sensation was caused, but there was no indication that the Union men will consent to secede without the co operation of the border States. The public mind is greatly excited. EFFECTS OF THE WAR NEWS IN MOBILE. Mobile, April 12, 1861. There is intense excitement and rejoicing here. Fifteen guns have been fired in honour of the attack on Fort Sumter. PENNSYLVANIA ARMING FOR THE WAR, Harrisburg, April 12, 1861. . _ A bill has been reported • in the house appro• priating half a million dollars for arming and equipping the militia of the State. It provides for the appointment of Adjutant, Commissary and Quartermaster Generals by the Governor. The War Bill passed both Houses to-night with out amendment. Governor Curtin waited at the Executive office to sign it. It is signed. The Charleston despatches about hostilities were announced in both Houses, and produced a profound sensation. _ _ Mr. Smith, a democratic member of the Houk, after the Charleston despatches were received, changed his vote to aye on the 'War Bill. All the democrats of both Houses voted against it. The bill appropriates 500,000 dols. for the pur pose of arming and equipping the militia; autho rises a temporary loan ; provides for the appoint ment of an Adjutant-General, Commissary-General, and Quartermaster-General, who, with the Governor, are to have power to carry the act into effect. FORT SUMTER—THE STRONGHOLD OF MAJOR ANDERSON. Fort Sumter is a modern truncated pentagonal fort, built upon an artificial island at the mouth of Charleston harbour, 3.4 miles from the city of Charleston. The island has for its base a sand and mud bank, with a superstructure, if we may so term it, of the refuse chips from several northern granite quarries. These rocks are firmly embedded in the sand, and upon them the present fortification is reared. The island itself cost 500,000 dols., and was 10 years in construction. The fortification cost another 500,000 dols., and at the time of its occupancy by Major Anderson was so nearly com pleted as to admit the introduction of its armament. The walls are of solid brick and concrete masonry, built close to the edge of the water, and with out a berm. They are sixty feet high, and from eight to twelve feet in. thickness, and are pierced for three tiers of guns on the north, east, and west exterior sides. Its weakest point is on the south side, of which the masonry is not only weaker than that of the other sides, but it is not protected by any flank fire, which would sweep the wharf. Once landed, an entrance may, at the 'present state of the construction, be easily made.; for the blinds of the lower embrasures, though six inches in thickness, may yet be easily blown away, and even if this was impossible, scaling ladders can reach those of the second tier, which are not pro.. tected in this manner. The work is designed for an armament of one hundred and forty pieces of ordnance of all calibres. Two tiers of the guns are under boom-proof casemates, and the third or upper tier open, or, in military parlance, en barbette ; the lower tier for forty-two pounder paixhan guns; the second tier for eight and teminch columbiads, for throwing solid or hollow shot, and the upper tier for mortars and twenty.four pound guns. The full armament of the fort, however, had not arrived there when Major Anderson took possession ; but since its occupancy by the present garrison no efforts have been spared to place the work in an efficient state of defence, by mounting all the available guns and placing them in salient points. As we be fore remarked, the full armament of the fort is not in position, as only seventy-five of the one hundred and foi ty guns required for it are now mounted. Eleven paixhan guns are among that number, nine of them commanding Fort Moultrie, which is within easy range, and the other two pointing towards Castle Pinckney, which is well out of range. Some of the columbiads, the most effective weapon for siege or defensive operations, are not mounted. Four of the thirty-two pounder barbette guns are on pivot carriages, which giyes them the entire range of the FORT MOULTRIE. Fort Moultrie, which first opened its batteries upon Major Anderson and his command, is one of the sentinels that guard the principal entrance to Charleston harbour. It is opposite to and distant from Fort Sumter about one and a half miles. It is, more properly speak ing, a huge water battery, without any guns under cover. Its armament consists of 11 guns of heavy calibre and several mortars. The outer and inner walls are of brick, capped with stone and filled with cart, making a solid wall of 15 or 16 feet in thickness. This work has been much. ' strengthened recently, and presents a saucy front to Fort Sumter. It is now in command of Major Ripley, formerly of the United States army, who has under his command several hundred experienced artillerists. THE IRON FLOATING BATTERY. This novel war machine, designed for harbour ope. , rations, is now anchored near Sullivan's Island, coin. , manding the barbette guns of Fort Sumter. It is con structed of palmetto logs, sheathed with plate iron, and is supposed to-be impregnable against shot. It is embrasured for and mounts four guns of heavy calibre. It requires 60 men to operate it. The first impression on seeing this machine is that of immense solidity. The outer or gun side is covered with six plates of iron—two of them of the T railroad pat , - tern, placed horizontally, and the other four bolted one over the other, in the strongest manner, and running vertically. The wall of the gun side is' full four feet thick, constructed of that peculiar pal metto wood so full of fibrous material that 64- , pounders cannot pierce it. The main deck is wide and roomy. In 19 open chambers, on the port side of the deck, we found a profusion of shot-34-pounders—while just be yond them is an immense pile of sand bags which protect an overhanging roof, under which is to be placed the hospital. This also protects the magazines (three in number), under which is the hold proper. There are six entrances to the hold, which will contain, if necessary, over three hun dred men. It is kept in place by four heavy wedges, driven down by a species of ram, which will hold it fast, and prevent any swaying around by the tide. The nearest point of land to Fort Sumter is Cummings' Point, distance 1,150 yards. On. this point is the celebrated railroad iron battery: It consists of a heavy framework of yellow pine loge. The roof is of the same material, over which dove tailed bars of railroad iron of the T pattern are laid from top to bottom, all of which is riveted down in most secure manner. On the front it presents an angle of about 30 degrees. There are three port holes, which open and close with iron shutters of the heaviest description. When open, the muzzles of the columbiads fill up the space completely. The recoil of the gun enables the shutters to be closed instantly. It is asserted, on high military authority, that this inclined plane effectually re sist guns of the heaviest calibre, first, because no shot can strike it except at an obtuse angle, which would cause the ball to glance; second, because its power of resistance is sufficient to withstand the fall of the heaviest shells. The columbiad guns, with which this novel battery is equipped bear on the south wall of Sumter, the line of fire being at an angle of about 35 degrees. This is not, of course, consi dered favourable for breaching; but owing to the fact that the wall is loop-holed for musketry through out its entire length, which, of course, weakens it a great deal, the effect of shot upon it would, we think, even at the distance of 1,150 yards, effect a breach within a reasonable time. The work is in charge of several companies of the regular army of the Confederate States. If employed to reduce Fort Sumter, this battery will prove quite formidable. The Fort Johnson batteries consist of two huge sand works, containing mortar and seige gun bat teries. These works are one and one-fourth of a mile from Fort Sumter, and at present manned by two companies of regular artillery. The position of this old fort, which is on the side of the harbour opposite to Fort Moultrie, so that Fort Sumter lies between the two, is of the utmost importance as a con necting point in the defence of the harbour, and has been considered by the highest military authority as the key to all the defensive works in the harbour. Against the attack of forces by land, or a boat attack by the S tono river, it must be considered an essential element of defence. CASTLE PINCKNEY. Castle Pinckney is a•siiall work, situated on the southern extremity of " Shute's Folly Island," be tween the Hog and Folly channels. Though in itself not a +very considerable military work, yet, from its position, commanding as it does the whole line of the eastern wharves, it becomes of the utmost importance for it to be held by the State authori ties. It is, in fact, the immediate outwork of the city, useful to annoy an invading fleet should it pass the outer forts, and to render their landing very difficult, if not impossible. In its plan it presents to the south a semicircular face; the eastern and western faces are formed by the line of rampart fol lowing the direction of the tangent to the circular arc at its extremity, and for a distance of twenty yards ; the northern side is plain ; at both the north eastern and northwestern angles are semicircular bastions, the outer extremities of the arcs being tan gent respect!vely to the eastern and western sides of the fort. There are two rows of guns—the lower being in casemates (bombproof), the embrasures for which are about seven feet abov e l e w wa t er mar k, and the upper being en barbette. The height of the rampart is twenty, and the width thirty-two feet. The width of the outer wall and of the para pet :is six feet, the depth of the casemates is twenty feet, height ten ; the diameter (east and west) of the castle is one hundred and seventy feet. The entrance is on the northern side, on either side of which are the officers' and privates' quarters, messroom, &c. The ascent to the barbette is ma t de on the north-eastern and north-western corners of the terre-paradeplein. In the centre of the latter is the furnace for heating shot. Around the foot of the scarp wall is a breakwater, about twelve feet in width, horizontally, which has its western side extended in a " tangent direction to the south, to form the landing. The landing is protected by the fire of several guns sweeping its length. The armament of this castle consists of about 25 pieces, 24 and 32 pounders, a few sea coast mortars and six columbiads—the latter not being mounted. In the magazine is a sufficiency of ammunition, including shot and loaded shell. This work has been of late put in as thorough re pair as possible. Owing to the want of ventilation and the reverberation of the sound in an engageme nt the lower tier of guns would soon become uesids, s hot would res t o h r i t s h i g her than the and the occupants would be obliged to In entirely to the barbette guns and mei tars. case the exposure to the enemy's direct not be great, for the parapet is hi he hnlks of most ships, and much use, yet if an enemy if we possessed Forts Sumter and g adjoining shore. As to the itn p o rtoaugnihct alth o ugh,reeireihtuaneolt be of comparatively little u poe sessed it, its proximity to the city would enable the garrison to damage Charleston seriously. OTHER WORKS. 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