The Van Buren press., 1861-04-17
No. = Walker to Beauregard.
Telegraph the reply of Major Anderson.
No. 8-Beou,e0nyR In Will,

OO. o"0e0UJtyuy6 20 W0xfeP.
Major. Anderson replies, have the hon
or TO acknowledge the receipt Of your COM
municatiou demanding the evacuation oil
this fort. and to say IN reply thereto, that
it is demand. with which regret that my
sense of honor. and my obligations to my
Government prevent my compliance. He
adds, probably l will await the first shot,
and If you do not batter US to pieces, we
-hsll'be starved in few days.
No. Walker to Beauregard.
| We do not desire, needlesaly, to lombard
Fort Sumpter. If Maj. Anderson will state
the time at which, as indicated by him, he
will evacuate. and agree, that in the mean
time he will not use his guns against us,
unless ours should be employed against
Fort Sumpter. You are thus to avoid the
| effusion of blood, if this or its equivalent
he refused, reduce the Fort as your judg-
ment decides to be most practicable.
No. 10-Beaxregard to Walker.
He would not consent, l write to-day.
A dispatch from Charleston says inter
cepted dispatches disclose the fact that MIR.
Fox, who had been allowed to visit Major
Anderson, on the pledge that his purpose
was pacific, employed his opportunity to
devise plan for supplying the Fort by
force. and that the plan had been adopted
by the Washington Government and was
in progress of exseution.
A later dispatch from Charleston. dated
April 18th. says the batteries of Sullivan's s
Island, Morris Island, and other points
were opened on Fort Sumpter at 4 o'clock
this morning. Fort Sumpter has returned
the fire, and brisk cannonading has been
kept up. No information has been received
from the sea board yet. The military are
under arms, and the whole of our popula-
tion are on the streets, and every available
space for viewirg the harbor is filled with
anxious spectators.
Another dispatch. says the firing has
continued all day without intermission.
Two of Fort Sumpter's guns have been ST.
fenced, and it is reported that breach has
been made in the southeast wall.
Not casualty has yet happened to any
of the forces; of the nineteen batteries in
position. only seven have opened fire on
Sumpter. The remainder are held in re-
serve for the expected fleet.
Two Thousand men reached this city this
morning, and embarked for Morris Island,
and the neighborhood.
The bombardment continues from the
floating. Stevens and other batteries. Sum-
ter continues returning the fire. 1t is re-
ported that three war vessels are now off
the bar.
A fourth dispatch, says the firing has
ceased for the night, and will be renewed
early in the morning.
Ample arrangements have heen made to
prevent reinforcement tonight.
The latest dispatch. says the lombard
ment has RECOMMENDED with mortars. and
will be kept up all night. 1t is supposed
Anderson is resting his men for the night.
Vessels cannot get in. The storm is rag
ing and the sea rough, making it impossi-
ble to reinforce tonight. The floating
battery works well. Two men are reported
to have been wounded on Sulivan's Island,
and number struck with spent projectiles
1t is also reported. that the Harriet Lane
received shot through her wheel-house.
Fifteen to eighteen shots struck the float
ing battery without effect.
A regiment of Kentucky volunteers at
Louisville have been ordered by the War
Department at Montgomery, to hold them
| selves in readiness.
An extra session of the Confederated
Congress has been called for April 29th.
1t is said the expedition to reinforce Fort
| Sumpter. was against the advice of Gen.
Scott, who urged the evacuation of Sump-
| ter and Pickens.
CHARLESTON, April 13.
The cannonading is still going on fierce
ly from all points. from the vessels outside
and all along the coast. 1t is reported that
Fort Sumter.
Latcr-12 o'clock NJ to 10 P. NJ.
At intervals of twenty minutes, firing
was kept up all night on Sumter. Major.
Anderson ceased firing from Sumpter at 6
o'clock in the evening. All night he was
engagaged in repairing and protec+ g the
barbat guns Two of Major Anderson s
magazines exploded. Only occasion al
shots are fred from Moultrie. The Morris
Island battery is doing heavy work. Great
excitement prevails. The wharfs and stee-
pies and every available. place is packed
with people. The United States ships are
in the offing. but have not aided Maj. An
derson. 1t is now too late to come over the
bar. as the tide is ebbing. The ships ap-
pear quietly At auchor. They have not
fred gun yet. The entire roof of the bar
racks is one sheet of fame. Shells from
Cummings Point and Moultrie are burst
ing in aud over Fort Sumter in quick sue
cession.a Tie Federal flag still waves.
Major Anderson is only occupied in putting
out fires. Every shot on FoIt Sumter now
seems to tell severely. The people are anx-
iously looking for Major Anderson to strike
his flag. it is stated from reliable source
that at 10 o'clock to-day. no one at Moul-
trie was killed. Eleven shots from Sumter
struck the h"a.ing battery below the waite,
line. The few shells fred by Maj. Ander-
son this morning. Knocked the chimneys
from the officers quarters At ,Moultrie.
| Major Andcrson's hope Is TO hold out fol
aid from the ships. Two ships are making
in toward Morris Island with view to land
troops and silence the batteries. Fort Sum.
ter is undoubtedly on fire. The flames ars
raging all around it. Major Anderson has
thrown out raft. loaded with men who
are passing up buckets of water to extin-
guish the fire. The Fort is scarcely dis.
cernible. The men on the raft are now OBJ
jects Of fire from Morris Island. With
glasses. balls can be seen Skipping and stri.
king che unprotected raft Great havoc i.
! created among tn. poor fellows. - ~
| Il 10 Tsurmised that Mai Anderson is
srAddAlly allowing up the Fort. He scarce.
ly fires n 0un At Ill nsclr.ck 1svr.~ -a.s