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

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 shots from Stevens' bat-
tery making the bricks fly from the walls in
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 Anderson's
'an has been shot away, and
now waves from a pole on the ramparts.
It is reported that Major Anderson is blowing 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 :