The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-12

mrrciai Preparations for War. &c., &c.
The Charleston Courier, of Thursday, fur.
nishes the particulars of the firing on the
steamer Star of the West by the South Caro-.
Ina troops. The troops had been notified
fourteen hours in advance of the expected ar
rival OF the steamer, and arrangements had
ven made To signal her & The account say:
sCKSE IN THE CITY.
F7riy in the morning. between the hour. ot
si, aud seven, the city was IN tenseiy excited al
,ha expected reports of heavy ordnance in III.
harnor The Star of The West" was the ex
Exclamation Of all. "Oae," ''fwo," "thre- y
"hur'' guns-'he contest is begun. Ina few
,nlnutes people from all parts OF the city came
tom iheir houses, and were seen rushing on,
4, the waters edge. The streets were soon
ihrouged with eager men, hurryipg towards
m, Battery aud The wharyes TO ascertain all
that could be learned of the noise made by the
runs In the cling. The cannon, rs long as
ihey were discharged, went of In regular, de.
Ub-rate succession, clearly eyi.cing that in
serving them The utmost military PRECISION
had been attained, and reflected great credit
upon those managing them.
with the naked eye nothing of what was
going on in The harhor could be discovered
and consequently the most intense excitement
prevailed 10 find out what had caused the ces-
alton Of reports after seventeen or cight teen
had been discharged.
1t was not uutil half an hour or so that the
nopulsce, by this time fully aroused to the
ilnpor lance Of he movement videntIy made by
cur troops, was put in possession OF the fact,
OF the affair. In the mean time, crowds OF
people had gathered in the most conNenianI
localities, tor procuring information. The
bniieliu boards OF the news 1aper offices, the
wharves and street corners, were filled win
people, and every scrap OF intelligence was
gretdIiy devon red.
NARRATION OF FACTS
About six and half O'Clock, or thereabo Is,
the steamer General Clinch, Capt. Relyea,
hayin discovered the approach of the Star OF
the West signalied the fact to the occupan Is
Of the battery lately thrown up on the beach
at Morris lsland.. This vessel, il is known.
left her wharf sometime during the evening
before, win a guard Of eighty men from the
ranks Of the Palmetto Guards and the Irish
Volunteers. The duty assigned them was TO
keep strict surveillance over The harDor, and
10 make sncb signals as had been agreed upon
in The event OF the approach of rein fOrcement Is
to the fortress in possession OF the United
States troops, rs well as To report the approach h
of any vessel that may appear in the off ing
In the early grey of tue morning the guard
boat first described the steamer heading il.
from the sea, and with much ceieriiy as
possible performed the remaining part of The
task assigned her.
AS s5u. as sisnalled, the entire camp on
Morris I>iaEd WAS astir. There was no need
for the re,eiiIe beat 10 quarters The men
were already at their posts before the oTucTe
were given. For some minutes they RENAL L ed
in anxious suspense, ready for what every one
believed sure 10 come, and that-a volley from
the heavy guns of Sumter.
As soon as the Star Of The West rounded the
pJiu she took TO what Is termed "Ship Char 4.
nell" inside the bar, i.nd proceeded straeh
forward, until nearly opposite the work on
Morris Island, not more Than three uarterS
Ci "A mile from the battery, and within excel
lent range OF the guns. Al this position or az
iaIrs the command was given 10 fire and a bail
WAS sent whIZZiug athwart the bows of the
n n a
further was noticed in no other manner by
the vessel than by displaying a large flag OF
the Federai Union. a soon as the Stars an d
Stripes were run np 10 the mast head, the act
If defiance was met ith Il succession of heavy
shots IRON the fortilic2tiOn. The vessel con-
timed on her way, with increased speed; but
one or two shots taxing effect, she concluded
to advance no iurther, and this conclusion was
has tened 0y The shots from Mouitrie, which
though harmless aud out OF range of tne
steamer stIii gave evidence that hotter WORK
wGs On hand Il further attempt was made tO
proceed.
The star OF the West" was clearly made
the name Of the vessel, SO That there
was no mis- axe THIS poiut. She was pos.
sessed OF armament. As soon AS f1ve or III
shots had been fired upon her from Morris
Island, and AS many more from Moultrie, II
was evident that she would lower ler colors
to half mast. Sac yeered about SO AS 10 avoid
any further messengers OF this kind from th,
toTtlncalions, which, with one or TWO more
discharges, finally ceased.
THE DAMAGE DONE
The steamer was very trIhing, only two ol
about seventeen shots-all that was fired
took effect upon her. One struck the vessel
about The forward part OF the bow, the other
amtdshlps, in The vicinity of the wheel I-house
No idea OF The extent of damage done could
he asceTtaine0, indeed il could not have been
known whether she had been struck at all had
1t no. been for the heavy, uall sound, and sub.
seq quent crash, al ways accompanying the ball
tn.Jt tstaa fG m "a pn apnu
A all events she could not have been bad "
injured or disabled for even while the firing
Continued she rounded 10 and started off sea.
ward. As soon this intention was shown
all firing was Instantly suspended.
Fort SUMTER.
While the engagement las Ted, NJ demons ira
ton whatever WAS made by the command IN
possession OF the frowniug tortress-Sumter-
except the opening of the port holes and run
nIng out of The guns which bear upon Morris
lsiand aud MUuitrie. Major Anderson, HOY =
ever, prudentIy foTbore 10 fire, aud no do ubt
experienced great relief when he saw The yes
sci S canning out Of The harbor
THE KFRELInG AT CASTLE PINCKNEY.
Al Ct&tl PlEckney, under command ofCol.
Pe tgreW. the ardUr of the men knew no
bounds. The greatest eagerness was shown
by ali 10 have ii shot at the stranger, win the
lItentlon of bringing out the fire OF Fort
Sumter. The guns of the Castle were all
maj ned simply upon the spon nianeous move
Inent OF the men themselves Each sprang TO
post, without command of the officer in
cha ge. Ii was with the greatest difficulty
u d ne could restrain them from firing aud
H. was not until peremptory order to that ef-
lect was gwen That they neid them selves aioof
from The batteries. The eageruess at Forts
Mouitrie ana johnson was equally great
though the garrison at the former were grati-
fed in the privilege of a number of harm less
shots. Better luck TO them next time
WHO FiRkD THE FIRST sHoTl
Since the event OF the crisis, IN uch curiosity
F... ,gAd
ths1rsi shot. After diligent inquiry, we be-
lieye it il settled that the honor belongs 10 the
Washington Light Infantry. Though this
corps is not stationed in the entrenchment Is on
Tired stii1 a singie representative OF the corps,
We are informed, was St one OF the guns, anu
to him beiei the duty. We believe the name
Of the gentleman is Lieut. j. l.. Branch.
THE CITY.
After all the facts of the affair in the har-
Dor had become generally known throughout
the city, the excitement ia nowise abated-
Several companies Of troops, never before In
actual service, were called out and sent to dit
ferent localities, where their presence nigh
bs needed. and every precantion was taken b,
the energetic administration TO secure al
poinis hat might De useful
ln the streets, military Uniforms were nu.
meTous. Old and young assumed the "cioth
ol war" and took their places ia the ranks
war, actual war, seemed inevitable; bat with
The thousand aDu one rumors that flew about
nothing could be set down AS GER ain.
THE FLAG OF TRUCE
towards eleven o'clock, d boat from Fort
Sumter bearing an officer in tull uniform,
win white flag, WAS seen TO approach the
city. The officer was met at the wharf by one
or TWO gen ntleDeD, and was suffered in aiet-
ness To land. He gave his name as Lieut..
Hall, U. ;. A, bearer of dispatches from Mai.
Anderson, commanding Fort Sumter, 10 the
tosernor OF South Carolina, and inquired
the way 10 the Governors quarters Under
the guidance Of several gentlemen the Lieu
tenant was taken To tie City Hall, followed
Dy hA immense, though order ly and excited
throng-atlractsd by curiosity 10 learn the O b.
jeet OF bis mission. =
After arriving at the City Hall, ii was found