Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-05-17
ABBEVnLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, FRIDAY MORNING. MAY IT, 1861

in an open boat, with Private VIM. Gour
din Young, amidst heavy FIRE of shot ane
shell, for th, purpose Of asaertaining from
Major Anderson whether his intention wa.
to surrender, his flag being down and hi.
quarters in flames: h reaching tile fort
the Colonel had an interview with Maio,
Anderson, tbs result Of which was, tina,
Major Anderson understood him as offer
ing the same conditions on the part of Gen
eral Beauregard, as had been rendered him
on the 1lth inst., while Colonel Wig.
falls impression was that Major Anderson
uncoaditio nally surrendered, trusting to the
generosity Of General Beauregard to offer
such terms as would be boporabIe and ac-
ceptable to both parties meanwhile, before
these the circumstances were reported to me-
and in fact soon after the Aids, whom |
had dispatched with the offer of assistance
had set out on their mission, hearing that a
white flag was flying OYER the fort, I sen.
Major Jones, the chief Of my Staff, and
some other Aids, with substantially the
same propositions Ihad submitted to Major
Anderson on the l1th inst, with the ex-
ception Of the privilege of saluting his flag
The Major (Anderson) replied it would be
exceedingly gratifying to him, as well as
to his command, to be permitted to salute
their flag, having so gal|antly defended the
fort, under such trying circumstances, and
hoped that General Beauregard would not
refuse it, as such privilege was not unus,,.
al Hc further said, he would not urge
the point, but would prefer 10 refer the mat,
ter again, to General Beauregard.' The
point was, therefore, left open until the mat
ter was submitted 10 me. Previous to the
return Of Major Jones, L sent q fire engine
under.Mr. NJ. II. Nathan, Chief Of tho Fire
Department, and Surgeon General Gibbes
of South Carolina, wi,liseveral of my Aids
10 offer further assistance to the garrison Of
Fort Sumter, which was declined. Ivery
cheerfully agreed to allow the salute rs an
honorable testimony to the gallantry and
fortitude with which Major Anderson and
his;command had defended their post, and
informed Major Anderson of my decision
abouthalf-past seven o'clock, through Ma
jor Jones, my Chief Of Staff. The arrange.
mcnts being completed, Major Anderson
embarked with bis command, on the trans.
port prepared to convey him to the u United
States fleet, still lying outside the bar, and
our. troops Immediately garrisoned the Fort
ano'befurc sunset the flag of the Confeder-
ate States floated oyerthe rampar,s Of Sum
fer. -
commend In the highest terms the
gaIIantry of every one'under my command
and it is with difidepce that I will mention
any corps or names, for fear Of doing in.
justice to those not men,iohed, for where
all have done their duty well, it issalficul,
to discriminate. Although the troops ou,
OF the batteries bsaripg on Fort sumte,
were not so fortunsfe as theif comrades
working the guns and mortars, still their
equally as valuable and as c6,pmendabIe
for they were on their arms at the Channe
Batteries, and at their posts and biyouiacs
and exposed to severe weather, and con
slant Ratchfdluess, expecting every moment
and dsfeady to renel, endorsements from The
powerful feel. ftha Bar; and to sail the
troops under my command 4 award much
praise for their gaIlantry and the, ,ebssfthl-
pess with which they met the duties re-
.qhired Of them. Ifeei ni,icIr indebted to
Gsnerals R. G: NJ. Dunovantand, James 81.
NOUS and their, Stats, especially Majors
Evans aud. DsSaussure, s. GA, command.
Ing on suIIRao's and; Morris Islands ffo5ir ffor
their valuable anfgallantf sersides and the
discretion they displayed ii. Executing tie
duties deyolving Oh Sthsir responsible posi-.
tionsi or Lieut., Il. sss Ripley, lst ssiljety
Battalion, Cenmandants sSf Bttterissoasu
iivan's island, 81 oanaot Spsak too highly
and Join with General Baudysnt; hbSim.
mediate eoinnandsr. since yainsaiay last, ii
keemmepdipg il the highest terms hi saga,
fcitys pefisnce; .sDd unaaaging azealsIsvi
wonId also pjuaae highest sstaasso q
| pyaisssC Captasas gsihonf snd IfalISb6diss
lAssists tsns q ,onsf a1danis s. Bstfsriss d
Colonel Ripley, s,and tlls efollosengs Con.
lmsndss Of sBsttssisson ,salliyan,s. Issapd;
fspt y. IEkniii a3 goMmandibes die
Float tiBg Esttssifss IND Dan assssn GuGf- -dapts.
/ Bpslsse ssd iaa., { Eide d 5lss as Damp I
Ese asH D1soys md Lsp,s, Wagner,
fRheit, ass4 alsSt;,ss ard sPa.ker.s ~.
ntaofs sss:s an. Dsssussa.s. Gas.
/ sd sopd Arl;assg ifah con d saaut ),
Hasseiies on sssjs e soe. Htse6. u .prsise
/ esHsa sgiyep, q y M sssd thss ma,
doskisg sassg gn IS isdgsiS So xnapps. I'M ];
:t1pspts Isst Of his