Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-04-16
IAPH.
FAIR IN a

! FROM IN ls!szs3l| s1,. associated PRESS
CHARLES THE reporter OF
| the associated arrive in this city
until Saturda Consequently lie
lost the opportN description OF
the pyrotechnic fiday night which
was according IA |sses, grand. The
terrific firing reach full climax at ten
| o'clock at night IN ems were obscured
| by rains and clouds was dark as "ere-
bus" The guns wei card distinctly, the
wind blowing in shorN Sometimes a shell
would burst IN mid air directly over Fort Sum-
ter. Nearly all night lGig all the streets were
thronged with people, full of excitement and
enthusiasm The hoketops, the battery, in
fact, every available pl9ce was taken posses
sion of by the hhultitu,)e.
The discharge of cannon gradually dimin-
lshed as the sun rose. I'll the clouds which
rendered the night so dae and dismal, disap'
peared as day began to bikak. While the air
became most beautiful, baypy, and refreshing.
The streets were filed A gain with persons
! male and female, old and young, white and
black Some went TO the bNttery, some to the
wharves, and sop" d Il steeples OF the
churches A few. Z shots were fired
from the contedera' \ to which fort
Sumter only reptile nally. Soon it
became eviuent that - las ON hre, and
all eyes were placed upon NJ The dense
smoke that issued from it was Seel gradually
TO rise TO the ramparts. Some SuppOscd that
this was merely signal from Major Ander-
son TO draw in the fleet and TO aid him.
AT this time the fleet was ih the ofing
quietly riding at anchor, and couN clearly be
distinguished. -Four vessels were ranged in
line directly over the bar apparently block
aiding the port. Their long black hus and
smoke stacks proved them to be federal sleam-
ers. Every one aixiously awaited 10 see
what they would do. The suspense was very
exciting. On all sides could be heard /" Will
the vessels come in and engage the batteries
If they do not they are cowardl5 poltroons.
Every person on the battery fully expected
that the engagement would become general.
BY the aid OF glasses it was thought that
movement was being made to this end by two
of the war ships, and it was thought that the
sand would soon begin to fly from the Morris
Island batteries.
AT 10 O'Clock in the morning attention was
again riveted upon Fort Sumter, which was
now beyond doubt on fire. The flames were
seen TO burst through the roots OF the houses
within its walls, and dense columns of smoke
shot quickly upward. AT this time Major
Anderson scarcely fired shot. The guns on
the ramparts OF Fort Sumter had no utlerance
in them. 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. lis rlfied cannon played sad havoc with
that portion OF Fort Sumter facing it. The
firing from the floating battery and from Fort
Moutrie continued very regular and accu-
rate.
Standing on the Charleston battery, looking
seward, you have on the right mortar bat
Terry and Fort johnson, q miles from the city.
Half IL mile from Fort Johnston is the iron
battery OF Cummings Point mounting three
l0-inch Columblads, three 64-pounders, three
mortars and one rifled cannon. Cummings
Point is only 1000 yards frcm Fort Sumter,
and SO any one can imagine what havoc tile
regular fire Of Cummings Point battery must
have created. The men working the guns
made them terribly effective. The sand re-
dout was scarcely injured by .he weak fire
Major Anderson kept up on the battery. 1t
was commanded by Major Stevens Of the Cit
abel Cadets. Under his dircct'JH EACH shell
That was fired found its destinay<h within Fort
Sumter, and during the entiW commandment
scarcely one missile Of this>characler missed
its mark. 81
site tort Sumter, il OF the strongest sides
of fort Nloullriep During the last three
piHncs III a Tss AZ y every sp
merlons, m@ats glaces, and a. res
are perfectly protected The weak vans OF
the fort were made perfectly secure for the
gunners while at work. From this point
| throughout tleS engagement, vast numbers of
shot and heavy balls were discharged. Be-
hind this, and near Sulliyan's Island, the float.
ing battery was slatiol i,h two ga and
two AZ Founders. lis .on and pal
metlo logs were impeneTdTic. Every shot
from it told toR fort Sumter, and The men in
charge Of j. were SO secure i'll their position,
that some Of them INDUCED in soldiers pas
times, while others played five cent ante,
euchre, and bluff.
The mortar battery at Mount Pleasant was
five bundled yaids from the floating battery,
and was mounted with two mOriars within
excellent range of Fort Sumter. The shel S
| from this mortar were thrown with great pre-
cision. You now have all the positions of tile
works bearing directly on Fort Sumter. All
| through Friday morning the greatest activity
at all points was displayed. Three times
| Major Anderson's barracks were set on fire,
and twice lie succeeded in putting out the
| flames, and to do this it was necessary to EN-
| ploy all his force passing along the water.
10 get water it was necessary Tor some of his
men TO 20 outside the walls and hand the
buckets in through port holes, during all
which time they were exposed to most ter
rifle fire from the various batteries. This last
exRedent was not resorted to until the iort
was on fire for the third time and the flames
had increased to an alarming pitch.
In the meantime, Major Anderson's guns
were silent. He allowed his men to be ex.
posed to the Calling fire upon them but tor a
few nome nts and then ordered them in and
shut the batteries, as the smoke was too thick
TO work them AT noon the flames burst from
every q .arter Of Fort Sumter, and the destruc-
ton ot it was complete.