Newbern weekly progress., 1861-04-23
VOLUME III.

The following from the ChaTleatoh h"'ly
Courier of April y, descriptive of the excite
ment and anxiety experienced just on the eve
of the commencement of hostilities, will be
| read with interests just now, being SO similar
to the feeling of our own community:
RUMORs AND EVENTS.
Thursday is among the days that will never
be wiped out of the memory Of the inhabitants
of Charleston Since the glorious struggle in
which we are engaged was begun, our com
munitv has been often wrought upon by high
degree of excitement. But never has the tide
risen to so high a point as it reached Thurs
dsv. The feeling was fed by the dispatches
which appear in another column, by numerous
items of news mentioned in subdued terms,
and by countless reports which were without
foundation. Rumor had free access to every
ear Business was suspended, and had it not
been that anxiety darkened every face, one Ig-
norant of the course of events would have sup
posed that we were keeping holiday.
The bulletin boards were surrounded by
groups till the stars came out, and then the
Offices were filled with earger readers. The
hour of noon found knots Of ladies and gentle
men on the battery, and before sundown that
beautiful promenade was covered with anxious
spectators. 1t having been bruited that at the
ringing of the first bell, the batteries would
De opened upon the uGUdHL IOTtucdhioI, nun
dreds of eyes were looking out upon the ruff
fled bay, and there the impatient and anxious
stood despite the raw East wind, their nun Der
increasing every moment till patience and
strength were exhausted, and they retraced
their weary way homeward.
The preparations for defence, under the eye
of this anxious multitude, added not a little to
the feeling under which they had left their
homes. There on the green grass of White
Point Garden, stood the white tents of the Ci-
tadel Cadets, cleaning in the mellow light of
the stars. And the manful forms Of the brave
young soldiers were seen about the cannon,
which, had they been called to shot and sight,
would have reduced the number ofSouth Caro-
lna's foes.
report from the sea intensified the univer-
sal excitement. Late in the afternoon one of
our pilots reached the city and stated that he
had seen a steamer off the bar which he was
confident was the Hnrriet Lone The vessel
stood towards him, but as he did not desire to
give any information he kept on his course
1t was confidently believed that before the
day was passed the booming of cannon
would be heard, when another fact was COIN
municated from mouth to mouth. At about
o'clock p. NJ. Col James Chestnut, Jr., of Gen.
Beauregard's staff, accompanied by Coils.
Chisolm and Lee, left the city for Fort Sumter,
bearing the summons to Maj. Anderson for the
SURRENDER Oh lI13C 1ncY FeLuFnGU
between five ane six o'clock, with the reply.
As the precise nature of his answer has not
yet transpired, we pass it over in silence.
We might indulge in plausible predictions
and conjcctures concerning this important mis-
sion and the events of tho day, but We for
bear.
At about 10 O'clock the Commanding Gen
eral again communicated with Major Anderson,
and he was given until 1 o'clock to return an
answer.
The city is quiet. Were it not for the uni
forms in the streets would not suppose
were on the eve of a battle. We will not pene-
trate this placid exterior. The nature Of the
crisis be perceived in our homes Many
woman's heart is throbbing wildly, and the
couch of hundreds of mothers, sisters and
wives viii be watered with tears. But though
there may be weeping and anguish, no knees
are trembling and no faces are blanced with
fear.
Honor is dearer than life to South Caro-
linans It is better to die freemen than to live
slaves. We are tranquil under the shadow Of
the gathering cloud. We repose implicit con-
tidence in the brave hearts and strong arms of
the noble army that has gone forth to beat
back the base invaders of our sacred SOIL
The God of Battles is with our host, and we
are certain of victory.