Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-01
rHE NATIONAL CRISIS.
PARTICULARS OF THE EVACUATION AND 0CCU-
PATTON OF FORT MOULTRIE.
From the Charleston Courier, Of Friday.

Fort MOure had been laid in ruins that the guns were
spiked and the carriages &C. together with the barracks
burned aud that the post had been entirely abandoned
The reports spread ike wildre aid soon gained cur
rency in every part of the city Crowds OF citizens
auxiousy inquired of each other the latest intelligence III
relation to the affair; squads collected on every corner
Of the streets and in front OF the public resorts 10 can
the subject.
The newspaper offices besieged, the hotel haliS
were thronged and the grave aud serious gentle
men composing the State Convention shared IN the gene
raj excitement On all hands anger and ind gnauon was
expressed at the supposed pehdiog conduct oil Toe g
deral authorities whose instance was atrs though
the movement was made Tho people were greatly in-
censed at the idea of wilu breach OF those assurances
OF non-scton which had been volunteered by the Gov
erument at Washington, aud upon which so much re-
ance and confidence had been placed by the entire popu
at0n that every impulse to take he necessary preeau-
tons for their own safety had been restrained,
Instiuctvey meu flew to arms. Orders we're imineoi-
aely issued TO the following companies to hold them
selves in readiness for service Washington Light Iniah
try Capt c. H. Simonton; Carolina Light Infantry capt
b. G. Pinckuey; Meagher Guards. Capt I'D heCreldy,
Jr altogether forming portion OF the Regiment OF
Rifles commanded By Col j. j. "ettigrew and MAJ. Eli
son Capers also to the Marion Artillery Captain j. e.
King; Lafayette Artillery, Capt =. Pope Jr; wash
inc.on Artillery Capt c. II. Walter German Artillery,
Capt. e. Nobrden all under COMMAND OF Lieut. Col '"
&. DeSaussure.
An the military forces thus ordered out promptly
oheyed the summons and the streets soon euIyeu-
ed by the appearance Of individual members OF the diff
f,rent organizations in their uniforms.
About noon the excitement in the streets had attained
the highest pitch. The convention kLoWn to be in
secret concave and il was believed lat this the sub
ret matter of their deliberations The streets swGrmed
With people Additional flags displayed from the
stores and houses the principal streets. The Custom
House and other buildings formerly in possession OF the
United States Government displayed the bunting OF the
infant Republic of South Caroline Every oue looked
uooa the war as actually begun and all seemed to feel
that their brethren in tie field and themselves be-
gan grow restless at the prospect Of inactivity and su'
pense.
what abl;cd when became known that the movement
ON the part Of the forces Of the United States at Fort
Aouitre not at the instance OF the Administration
"a. Washington, but merely precautionary measure
taken hv Commander Anderson, under conviction that
di, position within the fortress on Sglyans Island would
not be teuabe if attacked in 10y well organized aud
scplned troops. The contradiction Of the first reports
o relation the damage done the fort by the troops
that had evacuated it, aI-o had tendency to alay the
excitement OF e occasion.
FORT SUMTER oCCUnIE
In order 10 ascertain truthful nen5 Of the actual
damage done TO the Forts Of the causes OF the move
uel; and hc slate % affairs generally, reporters we've
dispatched 20 the scene during the forenoon. GA the
wav across the hsrb3r the hosting Of American flag
rom the staff Of Fort Sumter, at precisely y o'clock,
gave certain indication tha The stronghold occupied
b the troops Of the United States OIa nearer approach
,Ie fortress di-coye cd TO be occupied the gan'
appeared Doe mounted, sad sautncls were discovered
oH duty and the place 10 give every sign OF occupancy
aud military discipline TIA, grim fortress frowued def
1uce on every ,it-le busy notes of preparation re-
sounded through ia ualorodiing Icc,s,es, aud every
.ug seemed 90 Indicate the umJs. alcy in The work
su hand.
BOZ. NoJlsElE AND ils CONDITION.
Turairg towards Fort Mou.trie, dense cloud OF
smoke 90 pour from the end facing the sea
The dtgsul down, and che whole place had an air
OF descalOu and abandonment quite the reverse Of H.
rusy ook one week ago. when scores OF hborers were
engaged u adding 10 it strength al that work sAi and
experience could suggest
f. ibe mm,di-,, vicinity Of tie rear or Landslide eu
trance however greater activity noticeable At the
time oil oCr visit large force OF haut- had been sum
aorsd 90 deliver mp Ga o. implements for transportation
TO Fort Sumter Around every SHE tie cyder-
r.s of labor 70 fle fertilization ot the WORK In many
1hcss apguial oi tDe deeac,s a.ie sjrea- .hea.d b.
cy ~ appliance tia. 900 could ugce, or ingenuity de-
.e. aa,.e in c,llrs o.. urcomr.ted wo.s gave evil
l...s of ,Hermo-t confusion. On al. hands the pro-
.s Of r...., ,ops .l.ljlra and rlr.i tiore Wa, YET
...ir- o, q.. t.q.v -a-. .n,, fj, r,n-,r,s Of ibo
For. ,,,. r1r aos from lair carriage. and srtpd
,r. rrr...,f ..g..rr aud every c4rridge had i..u
removed non. a.. rusr.z-ts. and - lsc. everything
Ike small -rs. clothing provisions ourr,rau;s and
ate5 mutations 1f rar had slu removed or and jcpo.
..,i-uoJ-ins pu. heavy balls and useless cannon re-
fa sized.
The eGtrr p,slt W 80 90 al appearances, Uttered mp
With the OH cajs and lr-cm MS OF wars d.,5Au0g.-
Confusion could not have been more complete bad tic
i.t. occr9si,s retired iu tLr face OF bc,ezlg foe
F.ac.,r.s Of Gun carriages az, broken 20 pieces be-
s.-eesd tie ramDlr. S8lG bags, and blrre Elled with
e4r.l crowned ;Ac walls aad we're hra..y mbeddrd "a
tleiT bomb D.o1t surface, au additional. sat guard
and outstanding the Heterogeneous scattering 81 ma
--ua.s and implements, Che walls Ot TIE tort cy,ucei
que d, gree OF energy ia preparing for az attack.
ditch some een feet vide aud about the same IN depth
.4.ropHl, the entire wall on three sides On the south
side or 'front.' clc- haas been commenced and PFC
TED re.,ly 90 completion with a rampant Of sand blga
barrels Nc
On one side of the porg pllsaio OF Palmetto crs Is
extended around the ramparts as a complete defence
AGAINST gcalldiug party. New embrasures have been
en-, I'm the walls so as 90 command the faces o. he bAs
,ions and di-,h These uo d, lenses are an incomplete
aud are eyiicaca of tha haste with which they were
ccrecl COusid.uc the inferior force 10 point OF num-
b.rs under bis command Maior Anderson had paid par
g,lbg attention to strengthening only small part Of the
tIr;.
greater portion Of tbe l,borcxptuisd spent up.
on he citadel or centre Of abe yes, point OF the po.i H.
This io had caused 90 be strengthened la every way
o0-LOlos we've ca. and Tytng arranged that
boz ease weteouoarted attack was made he would have
rc red from the outer bI. tons 10 the citadel and after
wards blown no the Other portions OF the fort For this
purpose mines had already been sprung and trains had
been Lad ready for the application Of The match. The
bsrak rooms ana every o;her part of TIE fort that wa
indelcnsible would have gone at q touch.
On the rlmparls Of the fort fronting Fort Sumter
were nine ciglj-inch ColumbiadS mounted on wooden
c-u-gs As soon @S tn' evacuation Of tAe Tort was com
peee carriages o. these guns were hcd and at the time
OF visiting the tort ye,er iay, we're nearly consumed
aud the Saas thereby disnouned These grrs, as well
"a those constituting the entire aruanen; OF the fortress
were spiked before Wa abandoned. This Is the only
damage done the iofuhcauon iurher than cutting doan