Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-04-18
$4,000 Volunteers Called For
EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS.

eratey commenced by the rebellious States
comprising the Southern Confedcracy. The
secessionists have made an unprovoked assault
upon the flag our country, and upon the lead
ers of this rebellion rests the responsibility
The peace policy so earnestly desired is at an
end. Our government can no longer eyade the
conflict forced upon it, and, thank Heaven, it
does not now seek TO evade or avoid the issue.
Civil war is dire calamity to any country, but
it is by no manner of means so great an evil as
anarchy. We have only to choose between the
two. The administration has accepted the issue
rendered, and accepted it too in manner beft-
ting great and prosperous country, loyal and
patriotic people. The country will heartily re-
spond TO all demands for men and money to
punish this audacity and to assert the supreme
cy of our national flag.
The various accounts of the battle at Charles
is telegraphed through hostile country, we do
not know exactly how much or how little to be-
leve. The following summary we have COM
piled from the various sources of information at
our command, and we think the facts generally
may be relied upon as tolerably authentic.
April Sth, Gen. Beauregard, commander of
the rebel forces at Charleston, telegraphed TO
L. p. Walker, Secretary of War of the Confed-
crate States at Montgomery as follows:
An authorised messenger from Mr. Lincoln has Just
informed Gov. Pickens and myself that provisions
will be sent to Fort Sumter peacefully, otherwise by
force.
To which Secretary Walker replied:
MONTGOMERY, April 1O.-To Gen. G. s. Beaure-
gard Charleston: II you have doubt of the author
ised character of the ngent who communicated TO YOU
the intentions of the Washington government to sup
ply Fort Sumter by force, you will at once demand
its evacuaton and if this Is refused proceed in such
manner as you may determine to reduce it.
Several other dispatches passed between the
parties relative to the time of making the de-
mand. On Thursday the 18th, at o'clock 2.
NJ, demand was made upon Major Anderson
to surrender Fort Sumter, and four hours
were allowed for reply. To this demand
Major Anderson replied:
81 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
your communication demanding the evacuation OF
this fort, and say in reply thereto, that it is demand
which regret to say that my of honor and my
obligations to my government prevent my complying
with"
At four o'clock Friday morning two guns
were fired from Fort Moutrie at Fort Sumter
to which Maj Anderson replied by firing three
of his barhette guns. After this general can.
nonading commenced from Fort Moultrie, Fort
Johnson and Cummings Point, Mount Pleasant
Morris Island, Stevens and the floating bate
ries. Fort Sumter returned the fire as briskly
and as effectively as possible. The action con
tnued all day Friday. Two of Fort Sumter''
guns were silenced and the walls of the For
somewhat damaged. No one was killed OF
either side and none in the Fort were injured.
The Herdlds special despatch of Friday says
During the greater part of the day Mao
Anderson directed his shots principally agains
Fort Moultrie, the Stevens and floating bat terry
and Fort Johnson, they being the only ones op
Grating against him. Fifteen or eighteen shot
struck the floating battery without effect.
Breaches were apparently being made in tn,
sides of Fort Sumter exposed to the fire. Por
tons of the parapet were destroyed. Severa
guns were shot away. The fight will continue
all night and the fort probably be carried b,
storm. Dispatches from the floating battery
at 6 o'clock, p. m, state that two men wer
wounded on Sullivan's Island. Quite a mum
her have been struck by spent pieces of shell
and knocked down though not seriously hurt
Three ships were visible in the offing, and i
was believed an attempt would be made Frida
night, to throw reinforcemenS into Fort Sum
ter by means of small boats. 1t is also thought
from the regular and frequ mt firing of Maio
Anderson, that he has much larger force @
men than was supposed. Two rain storms oc
Cured Friday, but did not dampen the ardor O
the combatants.
Major Anderson has only 20 or so men un
der his command, not enough to work NOR
than 10 or II guns while against him he ha
five heavy batteries, with from 10 to 80 gun
each, with six or eight thousand men, and rein
forcements constantly arriving Under sue
circumstances it will be absolutely impossible
for him to make protracted defence. Unles
he is reinforced by the government he must in
evitably surrender.
Maj. Anderson was engaged Friday night i
repairing damages and in protecting his bar
bette guns. The firing against the Fort wa
kept up all night and he commenced returnin
the fire of the enemy at I o'clock Saturda
morning, but at heightened intervals. The ri
fled cannon at Cummings Point battery onl
five-eghths of a mile distant did great excel
ton. At nine o'clock a hot shot fred fro,
Fort Moultrie set the barracks in Fort Stunt,
on Fire. The federal flag was lowered to ha
mast as signal of distress to the vessels in tn
offiing, but none of them Cor some unexplane
reason fred gun or attempted 10 come to IL
assistance of the Fort. The fire inside cause
the explosion Of several cartridges and she.
before they could be removed
At halfpast one O'Clock Saturday afternoc
the federal flag 'cas hauled do,on and Fo
Sumter passed into Tie hands Of the reJels.-
Mai. Anderson's defence was gallant and spiri
ed, but he was out of provisions and his me
were completely exhausted. A despatch to Il
Tribune in relation TO the surrender gives the
particulars:
During the conhagration, Gen. Beauregal
sent boat to Major Anderson. with offers
assistance, the bearers being Coils. w. 7. Mile
; and Roger Pryor of Virginia, and Lee. b
before it reached him flag of truce had bee
raised. Another boat then put off, containir
ex Gov. Manning, Major ID. r. Jones, and CO
Charles Allston, to arrange the terms of su
render, which were the same as those offered {
the llth inst. These were official. They sta
ed that all proper facilities would be afiord'
Tor the removal of Major Anderson and h
u command, together with the company arms al
o property, and all private property, to any pc
Y IN the United States he might elect. The tern