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

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.