The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-18
THE BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER-IN
CIDENTS OF THE FIGHT.

THE BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER-IN
CIDENTS OF THE FIGHT.
The Charleston papers of Monday contain full &C
counts of the bombardment and surrender of Sum
ter on Saturday last. The telegraph put in pos
session of the main facts but we gather the follow
ing interesting details from our fes:-
= THE FLAGSTAFF SHOT AWAY.
At quarter before O'Clock another tremendous
cheer from the watchers upon our batteries called
me to my point of observation, just in time to SCI
the Flagstaff of Fort Sumter, bearing the flag Of th
United States, falling heavily inside the fort
From this auspicious moment the impression became
general among our men that the fortress would bt
ours before night fall
For fifteen or twenty minutes ! could en-
sign the fort, but, at the end of that time,
deserted a large United States flag elevated amid
the smoke close on the North wall of the fort
Meantime small boat had shot out from the beach
of Cummings Point towards the wharf of Fort
Sumter. | afterwards learned that it contained
Col. Louis T. Wigfall, Aid to Gen. Beauregard, and
private G0urdin Young, of the Palmetto Guards.
Col. Wigfa bore flag of truce upon his sword
white flag also waved upon Fort Sumter, and in
short time the conclusion of the negotiations was
announced to us by the disappearance the United
States flag from the fort.
THE SURRENDER ANNOUNCED.
The rest Is briefly told Col. Wigfall returned
and notified the captains of the several companies
to inform their respective commands that the fort
The scene that followed was altogether indescrib-
able. The troops upon the hills cheered and
cheered again. horseman galloped at full speed
along the beach, waving his cap to the troops near
the lighthouse. These soon caught up the cry,
and the whole shore rang with the glad shouts OF
thousands.
The first burst of exultation oyer, all eyes were
turned to the fleet in the ofing and the guards re-
sumed their wonted rounds upon the batteries
which have so nobly yindicated the independence
of the State.
INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE.
/ Although during the thirty-four consecutive
hours through which the bombardment lasted
not man was injured in any way upon our side,
it cannot be said that our altogether escaped
| Major Anderson's balls AS Captain Jones was
standing in the Point Battery O spent ball, which
had struck the sand bags above, rolled over,
striking him upon the back of the neck, but not
with sufficient force to hurt him. The ball. 81
! pounder, was preservd as mements Of the oc
| casion.
The first gun fired from the iron battery at Cum
mings' Point was discharged by the venerable Ed
muuc Ruflin. He subsequently, shot all the guns
and mortars used during the action.
THE SCENE AT FORT SUMTER.
An officer who visited the fort after the
! terms of evacuation made states that the
scene there presented is beyond conception. With
out, the walls have the appearance, ,at distance OF
! having been covered with an immense number OF
| brick poutices spattered in every direction. This
is the shattering effect of the shot. Within the
entire fort aspect as if the hand of the de-
stroying angel had swept ruthessly 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 she'll
| which had been rained upon the stronghold lay in
! great quantities upon all portions of the parade
! ground.
The appearance of both Major Anderson his off.
! GERS and the meD, 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 waged beyond con-
troll they looked worn, haggard and ready to drop
! with sheer exhaustion.
! When the fire was at its greatest height Major
| Anderson stated that the only manner in which
! they could breathe by lying fat upon the
! ground within the casemates, with their faces to
! the earth, while, added to the danger, the
casonal 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 for
titication, that is due the preservation of life Ma
| ior 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 suTren-
der would have necessarily resulted.
lie also remarked that yesterday was one Of the
proudest days of his life, for while he had endeavor
ed to do his duty officer, he had not taken
the life Of a fellowbeing.
THE TERMS OF CAPITULATioN.
General Beauregard decided upon the following
terms of Andersons capitulation
That iS-First ailording all proper facilities for
removing him and his command together with
company arms and property and all private prop
erty.
Second y-That the Federal flag he had so long
and so bravey defended should be saluted by the
vanquished on taking it down.
Thirdly-That Anderson should be allowed to
fix the time of surrender.
THE SALUTE.
In the terms of capitulation it was allowed to
Major Anderson to salute his flag, and it per-
haps expected that he would fire the usual compile
ment of twenty one guns, but reaching that num-
ber, he still went on to fire, and the apprehension
! was that be might exhibit the discourtesy of num-
bering thirty-four. But he continued still to fire
up to fifty, and then sowly y lowering his flag, the
shouts from assembled thousands upon the shores and
| the steamers and every species OF water craft, an
nounced that the authority of the late United
| States upon the last foot of Carolna's soil was
| finally withdrawn.
1t had been noticed that at the firing of the sew
enteenth gun, there was the sound as Of two re-
| ports, and the impression that two guns had
been fired together; but the party re embarking
on their way to Fort Sumter they met
by boat, which announced that one of the casOns
had exploded, and made earnest request that
the boat would return to Suvan's Island for fire
engine, from the apprehension that the magazine
might be in danger. This obtained, the party
again started for the fort and made their entrance.
| OF those suffering from the casualty we have
! mentioned, was killed upon the spot; two were
wounded, it is supposed mOrtally, and were left for
medical treatment; and two others, badly wound
ed, also, at their earnest solicitation, carried
| off.
THE PRESENT GARRISON.
Fort Sumter is now garrisoned by the detach-
ment of Company B, under Capt. Hallonquist, and
portion of the Palmetto Guard Captain Cuth-
bert The command has been given to Col. Ripley,
who won bright laures at Fort Moultrie in the
recent engagement.
The rockets thrown up at Stono on Saturday eve-
ming caused unnecessary alarm in this city. by
| der of Gen. Beauregard, two of the aids of Gov.
| Pickens, with a detachment of volunteers, COM
posed principally of Virginians and GeOrgians
here on a visit, went on board the Lady Davis, to
proceed to WappOo Cut; but, before they got
der way, the order countermanded as it was
| discovered that there was cause for apprehen.
| sion.
The flag of the Confederate States and the Pal
metto were raised on Fort Sumter simultaneously
| the former by Col. Jones' chief of Gen. Beaure
CARDS staff, and Col. Ferguson.
Four hundred and seven shots were fired from
the floating battery, and hundred from the
Dahlgren battery. Both are under the command
of Capt. J. Il. Hamilton.
YOUTHFUL HERO
Paul B. Lalane son of well known fellow.
citizen, and in his twelfth year, in the Stevens
Battery throughout the glorious bombardment o
the 18th and 18th, and did gallant service as
youthful member of the Palmetto Guard. lie
fired seventeen Shots and was more than ready tC
be useful and active, in all means within hi;
strength.
An elder brother, of military age, was regular
member of the Palmetto Guard, who have acquir.
ed enviable reputation by the efficient connections
with the Iron Battery.
We have no fears of the subjugaton OF people
where the boys thus trained.
THE FAMOUS FLOATING BATTERY.
Our patriotic friend, James Jefords, who fur
nished large portion of the iron work and smith
work for the Floating Battery, and was engaged L
assist in mOoring it, ]uld not consent to abandon
it at the interesting moment when it to b.
used. He remained volunteer, and did eff
cent service, and at his; intervals of leisure tool
notes and memoranda of his observations made
with good glass. He has favored us also with
view of diagram sketch taken by himself
and representing the condition and appearance o
the Floating Battery aft the action.
There are twenty five well-detned marks OF balls
and many traces Of gancing shots. The deepes
indentat0n does not exceed seven inches, and seve
raj others measure two, three or four inches.
The repulsive power and virtues of the palmetto
fortified and coated with iron, in this case, wer
signaly exhibited and the predictions of many
who considered themselves 'knowing Ones" con
cerning the slaughter pen, have been falsifed t.
their great regret no doubt
1t is now established beyond doubt that a float
ing fortress or battery of palmetto can be made i'm
egnable-especially when the sons Of the Pamet
to are the engineers, builders and defenders.
Mr.. Jeffords reports that the Floating Batter
received in all 16 shots from Fort Sumter, and dis
charged 400 balls in return, of which very larg
proportion nit the mark and brought the brio
. dust.
STEVENS BATTERY.
Major Anderson and Lieut.. Davis have expresse
IL