Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-04-18

single battery from Sumter.
Five of Andersons men are slightly wound
ed.
The steamer Isabel is now steaming up, and
will take Gen. Beauregard to Sumter, which |
will be turned over by Major Anderson to the
Confederate States. Anderson and his com
mand, it is reported, will proceed to New York
in the Isabel.
Maj Anderson and his men leave tonight in
the steamer Isabel at | o'clock for New York. |
The fleet is still outside.
It was a thrilling scene when Major Ander-
son and his men took their formal leave of Fort |
Sumter.
REPORT FOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
The reporter of the Associated Press arrived
at Charleston Saturday morning, and he gives
the following details, those of Friday evening
being supplied by eye witnesses:
The terrific firing reached an awful climax on
Friday at 10 o'clock, p m. The heavens were
obscured by rain clouds, and It was as dark as
Erebus. The guns were heard distinctly, the
wind blowing in shore. Occasionally a shell
would burst in midair, directly ever Fort Sum-
ter. Nearly all night long the streets were
thronged with people, full of excitement and
enthusiasm. The house-tops, the battery, the
wharves, the shipping, the church-steeples, in
fact every available place was taken possession
of by the multitude. The discharges of cannon
gradually diminished as the sun rose. AL! the
clouds disappeared as the day began to break
few random shots were fred from the con-
federate batteries, to which Fort Sumter replied
only occasionally. Soon it became evident that
Sumter was on fire. A dense smoke was seen
gradually to rise to the ramparts. Some sup
posed that this was merely signal from Major
Anderson to draw in the feet TO his aid AT
| IL a.. A. Al. -
ing at anchor and could clearly be distinguish
ed. -Four vessels were ranged in line, directly
over the bar, apparently blockadiug the port
Their long black hulls and smoke-stacks proved
them TO be federal steamers. 1t was universal
ly expected that the engagement would now be-
come general. BY the aid of glasses it was
thought that movement was discernible to
this end by two of the warships.
At ten O'Clock in the morning, attention was
again riveted upon Fort Sumter, which was
now beyond doubt OIL fire. The flames were
seen to burst through the roofs of the houses
within its walls, and dense columns of smoke
shot quickly upward. Major Anderson now
scarcely fred shot. Bursting shells and grape
scattered like hail over the doomed fort, and
drove the soldiers under cover, from the iron
battery at Cummings Point. a continuous fire
was kept up. Its rifled cannon played sad hav-
oc with that portion Of Fort Sumter facing it.
The firing from the floating battery and from
Fort Moutre continued very regular and accu-
rate.
Cummings Point is only 1900 yards from Fort
Sumter, and any one can imagine what havoc
the regular fire of Cummings Point battery
must have created. That battery mounted three
10 inch columbiads, three GA Founders, three
mortars and one rihed cannon. The men work
ing these guns made them terribly effective
| ba rp1o ;p;,, h,.t bo
weak fire Major Anderson kept up. 1t was
commanded by Major Stevens of the Citadel
Cadets. Under his direction, each shell that
was fired found destination within Fort Sum
ter and during the entire bombardment, scarce
ly one missile of this character missed its mark.
On the other side of the harbor, directly OPP
posite Fort Sumter, is one of the strongest sides
of Fort Moultrie. During the last three months
it has been strengthened and protected by every
appliance that military art could suggest. The
gunners were perfectly secure while at work.
From this point throughout the engagement
vast numbers of heovy balls were discharged.
Behind this, near Sullivan's Island the float
ing battery was stationed, with one GA and two
40 Founders. Its sides of iron and palmetto
logs were impenetrable. Every shot from it
told on Fort Sumter, and the men in charge Of
it were so secure in their position that some OF
them INDUCED in sold er's pastimes, while 9th
ers played five cent ante, euchre and bluff. The
mortar battery at Mount Pleasant was 500 yards
from the floating battery and two mortars were
mounted within excellent range of Fort Sum-
ter. The shells from this mortar were thrown
with great precision.
You now have all the positions Of the works
bearing directly on Fort Sumter. During all
of Friday morning the greatest activity at all
points was displayed. Three times Major An.
| hor fro md t,.;co hf
! succeeded in putting out the flames, and to dc
this, it was necessary to employ ell his force
passing along water. To get water, it was nee
essary for some of his men to go outside thf
walls and hand the buckets in through the port
E holes, during all of which time they were ex-
: posed to a most terrific fire from the various
E batteries. This last expedient was not resorted
to until the fort on fire for third time, ant
the flames had increased to an alarming pitch.
Meantime Major Anderson's guns were sil4pt
He allowed his men to be exposed to the CALLING
fire but for few moments, and then ordered
them in and shut the batteries, as the smoke
was too thick to work them. At noon tn,
. flames burst from every quarter of Fort Sum
: ter, and the destruction of it was complete.
The confederate flag was hoisted late Sunda,
afternoon, and Anderson embarked on the lsa
bel. His men looked hearty and well. The
u all came out with the honors of war, by orde
: of Beauregard. A general order was issued b,
S the latter on Sunday, prlising the confederate
, troops and clarifying the victory.
The fire is all extinguished in Fort Sumte
but the magazines are considered dangerous
: The walls are injured much less than was re
Y ported, and workmen are clearing away the rub
Dish.
y The administration has taken hold of tn
= matter in earnest On Saturday the Presiden
If issued the following Proclamation:
c By The President Of The United States:
d PROCLAMATION
e Whereas. The laws of the United States hav
q been for some time past and now are opposed
Is and the execution thereof Obstructed, in tn
States of South Carolina, Georgia Alabama
:, Florida, Mississippi, louisiana, and Texas, b
u combinations too powerful to be suppressed b
RI the ordinary course of Judicial proceedings, q
- by the powers vested in the Marshals by law
+ Now, therefore, /, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Pres
>, ident of the United States, in virtue of tn
" power in me vested by the Constitution and III
e laws have thought fit TO cali forth, and do here
&c by call forth, the Militia of the several State
of the Union, TO the aggregate number OF 10
u 900 in order to suppress said combination
g and to cause the laws to be duly executed
. The details for this object will be immediatel
:, communicated to the State authorities throug
ha War nanartnant