The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1861-04-16
the last and most IMPOSING act in this


the last and most IMPOSING act in this
great drama. II
times set on fire during e bo'nbardmcnt of
the day before, brit each 1me the flames were
immediately cxtinguishc'W Subsequently, how
ever rcd-Lot shot from fort Moultric, or a
shell from elsewhere, fnurda Judgement, where
the fact WAS rot apparent, and the fire, smoul-
lering for time at length -!broke forth and
flames and smoke rose in volumes from the cra-
ter of Fort Sumter. The wind was blowing from
the west, driving the smoke across the fort
and into the enlbrasures v a'erc the guuners
were at work and pouring lis volumes through
the port holes; tile firing Of Fort Sum-
ter appeared to he reEewed will: vigor. The
fire OF the Fcrt, long fierce and rapid, however,
was in fact much aLated, and although at dis
tant intervals guii,was fred, tie necessity Of
preserving their lhagazinesA.nd of avoiding
the flames, left tie tsrtSlitsr little leisure for
resistance. But the firing from without was
continued with rcdolblcdIyigor. Every bat
tcry poured in, its ctSsecss round of
shot and she'll. Tue enthusiasm OF success in
spircd their courage and g,se precision to their
action; and thus, Is in hd$pcning, so in the
closing scene, under the bgSs,ing sunlight, in
view of thousands crowdeGtapon the wharycs
and house tops, and amid the booming Of ord
nance. ard immense ships sent by the enemy
with reinorccments, lying tlly just ont Of gnn
shot on the Bar this first fortress of dcsroiic
power fell PROSTATE totlie cause of Southern
Independence.
At about o'clock the flames appeared to
be abating aud it was apprcllended that no ir.
reparabe injury had been sustained but near
10 o'clock a column of white smoke rose 'hieh
HS;ys aGsvs ras tas fl; ysRS'Ss sI,S 'Ss
assurance that if the magazines were not ex-
ploJed that their temporary provisions were
exposed to tile element still raging. Soon al
ter barracks to cast and west were in flames,
the smoke rose III redoubled volume from the
whole circle of tie fort, and rolling from the
embrasrres, it seeffEd scarcely possible that
life coula be sustained Soon after another
column of smoke arose as fearful as the first.
The guns had long been completely siIencal
and the only option left to the tenants of the
fortress seemed to he whether they would per-
ish or surrender.
Al quarter tO one U CfOck. tlc Stan from
which the flag still waved, was Slot away, and
it was long in douLt whether if there were
the purpose there was the ability to- rc-crcct
ii. But at the expiration of-al,out twenty
minutes, it again aETrrSd upon the eastern
rampant, and announced that resistance was
not ended. In the mentir &c however a small
boat started flom the citF-wllarf bearing Col
oncIs Lee, Manning, Pryor, and Miles, Aids
to Con- Bcauregard with offers of assistance
if pcrchancc the garrisomshoulj be unahlc to
escape the flames. As they approached the
fer the flag appcarcd, and as the firing from our
batteries was Gnabart1, they started to return,
and had progressed perhaps tie larger portion
Of the way when shout arose from the whole
circle OF spectators on the island aud the main
land. announcing that the white flag of truce
was waving from the ramparts. An Instant
after, Il small boat wiIaZ ZsttnSto shoot ont from
Cumnings PoRt, in the direction of the fort,
in wlicl, stood an officer with a white flag upon
the paintsof his sword. This officer proved to
be Col. 5Migfall, Aid to the Commanding Gen
er,ll, wllo entering thro aport hole, demanded
the surrender. Major Andersonrcricd;.th ;.that
5athry were still fring;oa-l-nrrs Then take your
flag down. said Col. Wigall;; ;;.tIey will con-
stinne TO fire upon YOU So long as that is up"
And further intcrcoulS lSe: resulting in surren-
ysFof4lls e fort, was ss;:,.i 80; il be more