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

that the wood-work and officers' quarters at Fort
Sumter are all burnt.

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 shots fired 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

here.

Four vessels, two of them large steamers, are in
sight over the bar. The largest appears to be en-
gaging Morris 'lsland.

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 the first three vessels
seen 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 :

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. BEAUREGARD,
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. WALKER, Secretary of War.
General Beauregard to the Secretary of War.
Charleston, April 10, 1861.
L. P. Walker, Secretary of War, Montgomery :
The reasons are special for twelve o'clock.
P. G. T. BEAUREGARD.
General Beauregard to the Secretary of War.
Charleston, April 11, 1861.
L. P. Walker, Secretary of War :
Demand sent at two o'clock; allowed till six o'clock to
answer. P. G. T. BEAUREGARD.

The Secretary of War to General Beauregard.
Montgomery, April 11, 1861.
General Beauregard, Charlest)l :
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, Seer( t iry 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 my 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.
The Secretary of War to General Beauregard.
Montgomery, April 11, 1861.
_ _

Gen. Beauregard, Charleston
We do not desire needlessly to bombard Fort Sumter if
Major Anderson will state the time at which, as indicated
by him, he will evacuato, and agree that, in the meantime,
be will not use his guns against us, unless ours should be
employed against Fort Sumter.
You are thus to avoid tho effusion of blood. If this or its
equivalent be refu3el, reduce the fort as your judgment
decides to be the most practicable.
L. P. WALKER, Seerctary of War.
General Beauregard to the Secretary. of War.
Charleston, April 12, 1861.
L. P. Walker, Secretary of 'War :
Ho would not consent. I write to-day.
P. G. T. BEAUREGFARD•

WAR EXCITEMENT IN NEW YORK.

Intense excitement prevailed throughout the
city last evening on the receipt of the news that
an engagement had taken Owe at charle§t9n.

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 Sallivan'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 been 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.
Teo 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 and 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 a third steamer,
are 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.