The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-04-17
WAR ooMMENcEp!!FORT sUMTER TAKEN!
official Rebel Correspondent,
TIE REBEES A TT4cK SUMTER.


War Depal tment at Montgomery and Gen
Beauregard, Immediately preceding hostil-
ties:
The correspondence grew out of the for
nal notification by the Washington Govern
ment which iSdiselosedi in Gen, Bcaurcgard's
first despatch.
No 1.-CnARLEsToHr S.--To l.. P. Walk
CT, Secretary Of Wa7.-An authorized mes
>age from President Lincoln Just Informed
Gov. Pckers and myself, that provisions
will be sent to Fort Sumter, pcaceably, or
otherwise by force.
(Sisned) G. 7. BEAuREGAED.
No. 2.-MoNTGoMERr. April 10-General
CT. BeaurcgarG, Charleston :-Ifyoi have
no doubt OF the authorized character of the
agent who communicates to you the inten.
ton of the Washington Government to
supply Fort Sumter BY fbrce, you will at
once demand its evacuation, and if this is re-
fused, proceed in such manner as you may
determine 10 reduce IT. Answer
(Signed) L. p. WALKER,
Secretary of War.
No. 3-CHARLEsToN. 10.-L. p. Walker,
Secretary of War: The demand will be
made tomorrow at u o'clock.
(Signed) c. Il. BEAuREGxrp.
No 4-MoNrGoMERy. lo.-To Gen. Beau.
regard, Charleston : Unless there are es-
pecial reasons connected with your own con-
ditions, it is considered proper that you
should make the dem nd at an early hour"
(Signed) L. P. WALKER, Sec'y Of War.
No. 5-CUARLEsToS, 10.-To L. p. Walk
er, Montgomery /: The reasons are special
for p o clock (Sisned) G. 7. BEAuREGARr.
No. 6.-CHARLEsToN, Ito L. p. Walk
err, Secretary CT War, Montgomery DE
mand sent at o'clock allowed till o'clock
to answer" (Signcd) G.. T. BEArnEGARp.
No. T.-MoNTGoMERY, April 1l.-To Gen.
Beauregard, Charleston telegraph tie
reply of Major Andersen. (SignedA
E~P. WALKER, Secretary Of War.
No, s.-CHARLEsroN April Ito L. P.
Walker, Secretary Of War. Montg, merry -
Major Anderson replies: al have the honor
to acknowledge the receipt of your communi
cation demanding the evacuation Of this fort.
and to say in reply thereto, that it is a de,
manl which regret that my sense of honor
and my obligations to nv Government pre-
vent my compliance" He adds, "Probabry
will await the first shot. and if YOU do not
batter US to pieces, we will be starved out in
few days > Answer (SignedL
G.. T. BEAUREGARD.
No. 9.-MoNTGoMEEY, April 11.-Gcncral
Beauregard, Charleston We do not desire
needlessly to lombard Fort Sumter. TT
Major Anderson will state the time at hich,
as indicated by him, he will eyactate and
agree that in the meantime he viii not use
his guns against us. unless ours should be
employed against Fort Sumter. You are
TINS TO avoid the effuSion of blood. If this
or its equivalent he refused, reduce the fort
as your j, dgment decides to be the most
practicable. (Signed,) E. p. WALKER,
Secretary of War
No. 10.-CHEaLEsToN, April 12.--To L.
P. Walker, Secretary of War, Montgomery !:
lie would not consent. | write TO day.
CHARLESTON, April 12-The ball has
opened war is inauguratcd.
The batteries Of Sullivan Island, MORT i,
Island, and other points were opened on Fl.
Sumter at o'clock this morning.
Fort Sumter has returned the fire. and a
brisk cannonading has been kept up. No
inforaat'en has been received from the sea
board yet The military are under arms,
and the whole Of our population are on the
streets, and every available space facing the
harbor is filed with anxious spectators.
New Yo2K, April 12.--The Hera,ds Spc-
cal says; Fort Moultric began the BON.
hardment with two guns, to which Major
Anderson replied with three shots from his
barhette guns. after which, the batteries at
Mount Pleasant, Cummings Point, and the
floating battery opened brisk fire Of shot
| q An
intervals, until between 7 and 8 o'clock.
when he opened from two tiers of guns look
ing towards Fort Moultrie and Stevens bat
terry, but at 3 O'Clock failed TO produce scri-
Gus effect
During the greater part of the day Major
Anderson directed his shots principally
against Fit Moultrie, the Stevens and Float
ing battery and Fort johnson, they being
the only ones operating against him. Fifteen
or eighteen shots struck the Floating Battery
without effect. Breechcs to all appearances
being mlde in The sides of Fort Sumter cx-
posed TO the fire. Portions Of the parapet
were destroyed AID several guns shot away
The fight will continue all night. The
fort will probably be carried by storm. 1t
is reported that the Harriet Lane received
shot through her wheel house. She is in the
ofiing. No other Government ships are in
sight. The troops are pouring into the city
by thousands.
No. 3.-CiTARLEsToN, 12-The firing has
continued all day without intermisSion. Two
of Fort Sumter's guns have been sifeneed
1t is reported that breech has been made
in the South east wall The answer to Gen
Beauregard's demand by Major Anderson
was, that he would surrender when his sup.
plies were exhausted, that is, if he was not
reinforced.
Not casualty has yet happened to any OF
the forces Of the 10 batteries in position
Only have opened fire on Fort Sumter. the
remainder held in reserve for the expected
fleet. Two thousand men reached this city
this morning and embarked for Morris Is
land and the neig hborhood
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE Southern
Commissioners left for the South to-day
Their last communication has not been dlvul-
gcd.
The communication from the Southern
Commissioners charges the Administration
with sr IS de. option under the pretaxt;lhat
they would evacuate Fort Stunt r, and now
they have sent an army to reinforce and pro-
vision it. They say the government at
Montgomery earnestly desire peace and the
responsibility of civil war rests on the Ad
ministration. They return to an outraged
~ la u, 80, ~