Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-04-20
BoMBARDMENr OF FORT SUMTER.

Z
diorama in progress in our bay amid tho
clouds and gloom and threatening perils Of
Friday night The firing, abatcd in the ear
ly evening, as though for the concentration Of
/ its special energies, commenced again at ten
o'clock, and amid gusts OF rain and clouds
that swept the heavens the rcd hot shoot and
lighted shells again streamed from the girt Of
batteries around and concentrated In fearful
import over Fort Snmter OF the effects lit
tie visible, of course, and anxious citi-
zcas, who from battery, spire and housctop
had bided the peltings of the storm, mute
spectators of the splendid scene, could only
wait tho opening of the coming day for con-
irmation of the hopes and fears with which
the changes in the scene successively inspir-
ed them.
I Asdawn approached the firing again abated,
and when the rising sun threw its food of
light ayer the sparkling waters from cloud
less SKY, it was but by random shots from
outlaying batteries, with scarce an answer
from Fort Sumter, thatspectators even assum-
ed the contest still continued, and that hu-
man feeling WAS not in harmony with the
grace and glory of the scene. 1t wss but
little while however, teFore the energy of ac-
tion was restored, and the work of dcstruc-
tion still went on. and as oaf dreaded efforts
were indicated, it was found that still anoth-
er day of expectation and uncertainty vas be-
fore us. But at 8'o'elOek the ery arosc from
! the Battery, and rolled moro continuously over
the city, Fort Sumter is on Fire ~ The
watchers of the night before, who had retired
for few moments, were aroused, occupations
were instantly suspended, and old aud young,
either mounted to their points of observation,
or rolled in crowds upon the Battery, to look
upon the last and most imposing act in this
great drama.
The barracks to the south had been three
times set on fire during the bombardnent of
the day before, hut each time the flames were
immediately cxtingushed. Subsequently.
however, red hot shot from Fort MouItrie,
or shell from elsewhere, found lodgment,
where the fact WIS not apparent, and the Ere,
snouldering for time, at length broke FORTH
and flames and smoke rose in volumes from
the crater Of Fort Sumter The wind was
blowing from the west driving the smoke
across the fort and into the embrnsures, where
the cunncrs were at work and pouring its
volumes through, the port holesc;, the Gting at
Fort Sumter appeared to. be renewed with
ylgor. The fire of the fort, long, fierce and
rapid, however, was in fact much abated, and
although at distant Intervals gun was fired,
the necessity of preserving their magazines
w
little leisure for resistance But the firing
from without continued with redoubled
yigor, Every battery poured in its ccaseless
round Of shot and she'll The enthusiasm of
success inspired their courage, and gave pro-
cison to their action; and thus, as in the
opening, so in the closing scene, under the
bcaming sunlight, in view of thousands
crowded upon the wharvcs and house tops,
and amid the booming OF ordnance, and in
view of the five immense ships sent by the
enemy with reInforcementS, lying idly Just
out ot gun shot on the bar, this frat fortress
of dcspotc power fell PROSTATE to the cause
of Southern Independence,
At about 8 O'clock the flames appeared to
be abating, and it was apprehendcd that no
irrcparabie injury had been sustained; but
near 10 o'clock column of white smoke
rose high above the ba,tlemcnts, with an e1-
plosion which WAS felt upon the wharves, and
with the assurance that il the magazines were
not exploded, their temporary provisions were
, exposed to the element still raging. Soon
after the barracks to the east and west were
In fianes, the smoke rose in rcdoublcd volume
from the whole circle of the fort and rollins.
from the cmbrasurcs, it seemcd scarcely poss-
bic that life could be sustained Soon after
another column of smoke arose as fearful as
the first. The guns had long been complete
~ silenced, and the option lett to the tenants
OF the fortress seemed to be whether they
would perish or surrender.
AT quarter to one o clock, the staff from
which the flag still waved was shot away, and
1T was long in doubt whether. if there were
the purpose, there was the ability to re erect
it. But at the expiration of about twenty
minutes 1T again appeared upon the EASTERN
rampant, aud announced that resistance Was
not ended. In the meantime, however, a
small boat started from the city wharf, bear
ing CoIonels Lee. Manning, Pryor and Miles,
Aids to Gen. Beauregard, with Oilers of an
sistance, if perchancc the garrison should be
unable to escape the flames As they an
proachrd the fort the flag appeared, and as
the firing from our batteries was uuubatcd.
they started to return, and had progressed
perhaps the larger portion of tho way when
shout arose from the whole circle of specta-
tors on the islands and the main land, an-
nouncing that the white flag Of truce vas
wavlrg from the ran'parts An instance af-
ter small boat was seen to shoot out from
Cummings Point, in the direction of the
fort, in which stood an officer with Rhien
flag upon the point Of his sword This cfi-
ccr proved to be Col WigEll, Aid to tho
| Commanding General, who, cutcripc through
port hole, demanded, the surrender Minor
Anderson replied, that " they were still firing
! on him" Z" Then take Your flag down, :" said
Col Wigf*ll; they will continue to fire up-