The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-01-18
STATE OF THE COUNTRY.
steamer star orthc West fred into.
SUMMARY OF DISPATCHES.
CHARLESTON, Jan 0.

| CHAhLisTON, Jun W
The steamer Star Of the West In endeay0ring
TO enter the harbor about daylight this morn.
ing was fired upon by tina garrison ON Morris
Island and also by Fort Moultrie. The steam,
CT put about and went to sea.
IL Is not known whether the steamer or any
person ON board Is injured. The belief Is tina,
no injury is sustained by tho boat, or to those
on board. Fort Sumter did not respond.
Lieut.. Hall, Of Fort Sumter, came to the
city about II o'clock, with nag OF truce. =
He repaired to the Governors quarters, fol-
lowed BY large crowd Of citizens. lie (iall)
was in secret communication with the Govern
or and Council for two hours.
At2 O'Clock Lieut.. Hall was sent In car
rage with the Governors Aids, to the wharf,
and returned to Fort Sumter. The object Of
Halls mission is not known. It was Supposed
il was relative to the firing ON the Star OF the
West.
q The people are intensely excited. No demon-
stration was made against Hall. Great curios-
ity Is manifested to know what Hall came Tor.
The citizens were drawn TO the wharyes early
this morning in consequence OF frequent re-
ports OF cannon from the seward. some IL
or IS reports were heard. Some of them pro-
ceedcd from Morris Island.
Later AT 10 o'clock this morning boat
with n white flag, from Fort Sumter, Contain
Hall bore q communication from Major Ander-
son TO Gov. Pickens. The following Is the sub
stance Of Mai. Anderson's communication 10
the Gov. ofSouth Carolina:
| Sir Two of your batteries this morning
fred on an unarmed vessel be ,ring tho nag OF
my Government. As have not been notified
that war has been declared by South carolina
against the United States, can but think this
hostile act was committed without your author
ity. Under that hope | refrain from opening
fire on your batteries. l respectfully ASK
whether the above mentioned act, without par
alle in the history Of this country or OF any
other civilized government, was in obedience
10 your instructions, and notify you that II II
Is not discamed shall regard II as IN net OF
war, and shall not, after reasonable time for
the return of my messenger, permit any vessel
TO pass within range Of my guns. In order to
save, as far rs in my power, the shedding oil
blood, beg you will take due notification OF
my decision, hoping, however, your answer
may justify, In any further contingency my
forbearance.
(Signed.) ROBERT ANDERSON.
Gov. Pickens replies, after stating the posi-
ton of South Carolina, that any attempt TO
send Government troops to reinforce the forts
will be regarded rs an act Of hostility, and any
ATTEMPT 10 reinforce Fort Sumter or TO retakc
any IOTts1NltniIl tHc Wu'eis w N"'N''''N-
will be regarded rs coercion Of the State.
Special agents off the bar have warned YES
sells with troops for Fort Sumter not to enter
the harbor.
He says special orders have been given not
10 fire into vessels until shot across their bows
should warn them Of prohibition. Under such
orders and circumstances the Star OF the West
was fired into, and the act Is perfectly jnstiied
by me. The Gov, In response to Major An.
dcrson's threat, says he major Anderson)
must be the judge Of his own responsibility.
and says his position In the harbor was act OF
federation on the part Of South Carolina. lie
concludes by saying that the act proposed by
Major Anderson cannot be reconcied with any
other purpose than that the Government Is i'm
posing on South Carolina the condition Of a
conquered province.
Major Anderson responds by acknowledging
tho Governors reply and says he deems i
proper to refer the matter to his Government,
deferrng the course indicated In his former
note until the receipt Of instructions from
Washington, and asks the safe departure and
return Of Lieut., Talbot to and from Washing
ton. ,,,.
The Gov. Immediately granted every facility
to Lieut.. Talbot.