Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-04-18
w. ID. WALLACE.
BOMBARDMENT AT CHARLESTON
The Evacuation Of Fsrt Sumter-Embarke.
tion Of Major Anderaan

non OF Major Andersen.
The Charleston papers Of the 18th give the
following further particulars:
An officer who visited the Fort soon after the
terms of evacuation were made, states that the
scene there presented is beyond conception.
Without, the walls have the appearance at
distance, Of having been covered with an i'm
mense number Of brick poultices spattered in
every direction. This is the shattering effect
of the shot. Within, the entire fort wore an
aspect as if the hand of the destroying angel
had swept ruthlessly by and left not a solitary
object TO relieve the general desolation. The
blackened walls of the officers and soldiers
quarters were yet smoking, ashes and embers
met the eye at every turn, while the shot and
shell which had been rained upon the strong
hold lay in great quantities upon all portions
Of the parade ground.
The appearance of both Major anderson, his
officers and the men, indicated the terrible
nature of the ordeal from which they had Just
emerged. Deprived Of sleep for many hours,
fatigued with their labors at the guns, and
prostrated by their battle with an element
which wsgcd beyond control, they locke worn,
haggard and ready to drop with sheer exhaus-
ton.
When the FIRE was at its greatest height Maj
Anderson stated that the only manner in which
they could breathe was by laying fat upon the
ground within the casemates, with their faces
TO the earth, while, added to the danger, was
the occasional explosion of the piles Of shells
collected for service at different points within
the fort.
1t is to the fact that so few men were in the
ratification, that is due the preservation of
life. Major Anderson himself stated that had
there been two hundred more, not less than
one half Of them must have been killed owing
TO the absence of sufficient room, under the
circumstances, for their protection.
As it was their provisions would have given
out in two days more, when an unconditional
surroOAar yxOuld have riI al
He also remarked that yesterday was one of
the proudest days of his life, for while he had
endeavOred to do his duty as an officer, he had
not taken the life Of fellow being.
The interview between Major Anderson and
our Informant was not long one, and conse-
quently many interesting incidents connected
with Fort Sumter, which belong to the memo
rable occasion, must for the present remain
unknown.
During the evening, boat arrived at Nor
ris Island from one Of the northern vessels in
the ofhng, bearing a lieutenant and flag of
truce, his object being to arrange for the evac-
nation OF the soldiers with their property. He
also assured the commanding officer at that
point Gen. Simons) that hostiiities would not
take place during the night. The matter was
referred to Gen. Beauregard.
Meanwhile Major Anderson had himself ad-
dressed letter TO the latter officer, requesting
that the steamship Catawba should be at the
wharf Of Fort Sumter at o'clock this (Sun-
day. morning.
A: halfpsst 12 O'Clock his Excellency Goy.
Pickens, with his aids, and Messrs Jamison
and Msgrath, of his executive council, and
Cen. Beauregard, with his aids, Messrs Miles,
Pryor, Manning, Chestnut and Jones and mauy
distinguished gentlemen, invited to be pres
ent, took their departure in q steamer from
Southern wharf, and were borne in the direc-
tion of the fort. As We advanced it was ap-
parent, however, that the evacuation was not
completed. Though the steamer Isabel, at
the request of Major Anderson, had been pres
ent from O'Clock, and the expectation had
been Occasioned that very soon thereafter his
command would be under way, still causes of
delay had intervened. To avsia the embar-
rassments of premature arrival, the party
was landed upon Sullivan's Island. Awaiting
themselves of the opportunities thus afforded
they visited the floating battery, the Dahl
green battery, the enfilading battery, and
were ascending the mortar battery, when the
booming of the guns upon the parapcts CT Fort
Sumter announced the lowering Of the Z" stars
and stripes" In the terms of oapitula alton il
allowed to Major Anderson to salute his
flag, and 1t was perhaps expected that he
would fire the usual compliment of tweRty-one
guns; but reaching that number, he still went
on to FIRE, and the apprehension was that he
might exhibit the discourtesy of numbering
thirty-four But he continued still to fire up
to fifty, and then slowly lowering his flag, the
suOutS ALOAl dSecmOleu thousands upon the
shores and the steamers, and every species of
water craft, announced that the authority of
the late United States upon the lat foot Of
Carolins's soil was finally withdrawn.
1t had been noticed, that the firing of the
seventeenth gun, there was the sound as of two
guns, and the impression was that two guns
had been fired together; but, as the party, re-
embarking, were on their way to Fort Sumter,
they were met by a boat, which announced
that one OF the casons had exploded, and made
earnest request that the boat would return to
-eullivan's Island for IRE engine, from the
apprehension that the magazine might be in
danger. This obtained, the party again start
ed for the fort, and made their entrance
1t were vain to attempt a detailed descrip-
tion of the scene.
Shortly after the arrival, the garrison march
ed, and were received on board the Isabel;
which, however, from the condition of the tide
was unable to move off and il was a somewhat
unpleasant Circumstance that Mai. Anderson
and mis- command should have been made un-
willing spectators Of the Civilizations inspired
by their defeat.
of those suffering from the casualty we have
mentioned, one was killed upon the spot; two
wounded, il is supposed msrtalIy. and were
left for medical treatment; and two others bad
ly wounded, also, at their earnest solicitation
were carried of
The occasion wa. not without the charm and
interest afforded oy the presence of the fair.
Ao1y VI AAo bAOChCuCy uOF flCke0s, and
the wife and daughter Of Attorney G eneral
Hayne, witnessed the ceremony from the boat
and Mrs. Henry Bonnetheau has the distinc-
tion Of being the first in the fort under the q ag
Of the Confederacy. She was down to attend
the sister Of Lieut.. Davis, her guest during the
period Of her brothers confinement to the forts
and with the eye and genius Of an artist, it
was doubtless with feeling of especial plea
sure that she was favored with the opportuni-
ties Of this occasion.
Col. Ripley was put in command. The de-
partments Of the service necessary to bring the
fort to order were distributed. The men were
preparing such rude appliances for comfort as
the place admitted of; and as, at twilight,
We steamed for the city, Of those standing upon
the ledge around the base of the fort, the last
TO be seen was the venerable Edmund Rufin,
Of Virginia, who, with canteen and blanket
strapped upon his shoulder, seemed to be SUBJ
mitting with exemplary complacency to the
experience Of a volunteer
The following incident connected with the
surrender may be Of finterest:-Supposing that