Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1861-04-19
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tuhRtEToN. lfth.
The Reporters of the Associated pr, ~ did
not arrive in this city till Yesterday (Satur.
day morninc) consequently he st the or,
purtnnity to give description If pyrotcch
mic display on Friday night, which was, ac.
cordag t. eyewitness, truly grand.
The terrific firing reached an awful china,
at 10 o'clock at night The heavens were
obscurel by rain-ciouds, and it was MS dark
as Erehus. The guns were heard distinctly
the wind blowing on shore. Sometimes d
shell would burst in mid-air, directly over
Fort Sumter. Nearly all night long all IL,
streets were thronsed with people, full Of ex.
citcmcnt and enthusiasm. The house tops
the battery, the wharyes, the shipping, and
in fact every available place was taken pos
session of by the multitudts.
The discharges of cannon were gradually
diminished as the sun rose. All the clouds
which rendered the night 80 Gark and dismal
disappeared as day began to break. while the
air became most beautiful and balmy.
The streets were filled again with Jcople
old and young, male and female, white and
black some went TO the wharyes, and some
to the st5eples of the churches. A few ran
dom shots were fired upon the Confederate
batteries, to which Fort Sumter replied occa-
sionaliy Soon it became evident that Sum-
ter was on fire. and all eyes were placed up
on it. The dense smoke that issued from il
was seen gradually 10 rise to the ramparts.
Some supposed that this WAS merely signal
from Major Anderson to draw in the fleet to
aid him.
At this time the fleet was in the otfing.
quietly riding at anchor, and could be clear
ly distinguished Four vessels were ranged
in line directly over the bar, apparently
blacSnding the port. Their long black hulks
and stacks proved them to he Federal steam
crs. Every one anxiously waited to see what
they Would do. The suspense was very ex
citing. On all sides could be heard-"Wil
the vessels come in and engage the batteries?
- they do not they are cowardly pol,roons. :
Every PRISON on the battery fully expected
that the engagement would become general
by the aid of glasses it was thought that a
movement was being made to this end by two
of the war ships, and it was surmiscd that
the sand would soon begin to 1y from the
Morris Bland Battery.
At 10 clock IN the IN 'rning attention
was again called to Fort Sumter, which WIS
now beyond doubt, on fire The flames
were seen 10 burst through the houses with
in its walls; dense clouds of smoke shot
quickly upwards. At this time NJ jor An
derson scarcely fired a shot, the guns on the
ramparts OF Sumter had no utterance in
them, burstei shells and grape scattered like
hail over the doomed fort, and Grove the sol
diers under cover From the Iron battery
at Cummings Point, a continuous fire was
kept up. Its riled cannon played sad hav-
oc with that portion Ut Sumter facing it
The fire from the floating battery and Fort
Moul;ric continued very regular and accu-
rate.
Standing on Charleston battery and look
ing scaward, you have on the rigbt Il mortar
battery and Fort johnson, distant -
miles, while from Fort johnson is the iron
blttery at Cummings Point, presenting
their ten inch coluinbiads, three sixty-iour
Founders, three mortars, and one rifle can
non. Cummings Point is only 1900 yards
from Fort Sumter, and 80 any one can mag
inc what havoc the regular fire of the bat
terry there must have created. The men
working the guns made them terribly effect
I'VE; the sand reioult was scarcely injured
by the weak fire Of Major Anders m kept on
the battery. 1t WIS commanded by Mai.
Stearns, OF Citadel Cadets Undsr his di-
rection each she'll that was fired found dts-
tination within Fort Sumter and during the
entire bombardnent scarcely one missile of
this character missed its max On the
other side of the harbor, directly opposite
Fort Sumter. is one OF the strongest sides of
Fort Moultrie. During the last three months
it has been strengthened by every appliance
that military art could suggest its meats,
slaceS and cinhrasurs are perfectly protect
cd. The Weak walls of the Fort were made
perfectly secure for the gunners while at
work. From this point, throu- bout the en-
gascment, vast numbers of shot and heavy
balls were discharged. Behind this and Sui
Iiyans Island, the floating battery was sta
toned, with two "a Founders Its sides Of
iron and Palmetto logs, were impenetrable
Every shot from it tod on Fort Sumter, and
the men in charge of it were SO secure in
their p sitions, that some OF them INDUCED
in soldiers pastimes while others played five
cent ante, euchre and bluff.
The M1rt,r Battery at Mount Pleasant
was 500 yards from the Floating Battery.
and was mounted with two mortars within
excellent range of Fort Sumter the shells
from these morttrs were thrown with great
precision. You now have all the positions
Of the works barring directly on For, sum
ter
All through Friday morning the greatest
activity at all points was displayed. Three
times Mai. Anderson's barracks was set on
FIRE, and twice he succeeded in putting it out,
and - do this it was necessary t. empl " all
lis force. Passing along to get water it was
necessary for some of his men 10 60 outside
of the wills and hand the buckets in through
the TT holes, during all which time they
W rc exp1Sel TO q most terrific fire from the
various bltteti,s. The last expedicnt was
not resortcd to until the fort was on fire for
the third time, and the flames had increased
70 an Alarming pitch. Meantime Maj An
d .rson's guns were silent. lie allowed his
men to b. exposed to the CALLING fire but for
icv moments. aud then o dered them in
and shut the batteries, as the smoke Was too
thick t, work them. AT noon the flames
burst from every quarter Of Fort Sumter and
the destruction Of it was complete.
The letters OF tie Washington corr spond-
ents contain many items of interest. We
copy the following from the Tribune letters !:
=. No blame is imputed to Major Anderson
by the Administration, and no whisper af-
ec;ing his fidelity and legality is tolerated
lie acted upon necessity contemplated by
his orders, which was to yield the fort in
case he should be encumpassed by an over
whelming force, or reduced to an extremity
by the want OF provisions. According to in
formation which reached here recently, his
supplies were expected to be exhausted last
Tuesday and hence the extraordinary efforts
which were made here to recruit his enftebled
garrison. Majr Anderson himself endes,v-