Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-16

AT about nine o'clock, Cenerai GcAvEr-
GARD received a reply from President D.
r!s, to the dispatch in relation 10 tia sur
render Of Sumter, by which he was Instruct
cd to inform Major A*rEazoH that If lie
would cvacuate the fort he held when his
present supply Of provisions were exhaust
ed there would be no appea! 10 arms. This
proposition was borne to Major -i:;ozEsoH
by the Aids who had delivered ;i.r FIRST
message, and he refused 70 accep; the con-
dition. The Gcncrai-in-Ch!cf forthwith
gave the order that the batteries be opened
at half-rast four o'clock Oh Friday morn
ing. Major ASnEEsoS;s reply WAS decisive
OF the lnolnentous question, and General
B~EArEEGARD determined to apply the las;
argument.
The stout soldier had resolved 10 make
Il desperate defence, and the blood: trial
Of strength must be eSsayed. The sword
must cut asunder the last tie that bound
us to . people, whom, i'll spite OF wrongs
and in justice wantonlv inflicted through q
long series Of years, we mad not yet utter
IL hated and despiscd. The last expiring
spark Of affection must DC qucnced in
blood. Some Of the most splendid pages
in our glorious history must be blurred
ALLOW must be struck that would make
the ears Of every Republican fanatic Jingle,
and whose dreadful effects will be !elt by
generations Yet 20 come. We must trans
nit Il heritage of ranking and undyin@ hate
to our children.
We paused to contemplate the terrible
PROJECT. Hurried on by the rapid course
Of events, vexcd and distracted by i~ncrcas-
irritations, astounded by the glazing trcach-
cry Of our enemies. lost in wonder Al their
egregious stupidity we had not fully COM
pretended the nature Of the work We were
about to begin. Nog, while the ear was
waiting for the roar Of cannon we saw
clearly the magnitude Of the crisis. While
those solemn hours were passing silently
away. we contemplated the tremendous Wn-
dcrtaking in all its asrerts, bearings aad
consequences.
We paused. but il wa2 no: the pause o.
| hesitation CT doubt. We had long since
made ourselves familiar with the dangers
that darkencd over our pathway, and had
they been ten-fold greater we would have
dared do what we have done. with the same
steady courage and immoyRblr resolution.
We had marked out = way for our feet,
and we would pursue this road Let THAT
may oppose Oar progress. This pathway
was traced Uy the finger Of homer, and
Heavens own light rests upon it. During
those dark hours, heavy with the anguish
Of mothers, sisters and wives, and re. with
their tears, nc paused T. reflect and pray,
We refreshed our spirits with glorious
memories. We felt the inspiration Of 4
Just and holy cause and . sublime purpose,
and, dissustcd with childish lr!ling and
studied pcridv, we looked 10 Heaven icr
direction and blessing; and turned cur
backs forever upon our former brothers.
The crisis had arrived, and re were fully
prepared 10 meet it.. The work thai await
Cd the morrow was CT 4 n.omcrtous char
| acter, but we had counted the cost. and
had resoly cd TO 10 or die in the attempt.
At the gray Of the morning CT Friday
the roar OF cannon broke upon the car. The
expected sound wasanswcred b. thousands
The houses were in 4 few minutes 2mptieG
Of their excited occupants, and the living
| stream poured through all the streets lead
ing TO the wharfS and battery. On reach
ing our beautiful promenade We found It
lined with ranks Of eager spectators, and
all the wharves commanding 4 riew Of the
battle were crowded tnickiY with human
forms. On no gala occasion have we ever
seen nearly so large = number Of indies on
our battery as graced the breezy walk Oil
this eventual morning. There they stood
with palpitating hearts and paid faces.
watching the white smoke a: it rose in
wreaths upon the soft twilight; air, and
breathing out fcrvcnt prayers for their gal
liant kinsfolks 1T the guns. 0! what Il
conflict ragged in those heaving bosoms be-
tween loYe for husbands and sons, and ioTc
for our common mother, whose insnltcd
honor and imperilled safety had called her
faithful children 10 the e~nsanGu:ncd ii::d.
at thirty minutes past four O'Clock the
conflict was opened by the discharge Of q
shell from the Howitzcr Battery on James
Island. under tho command of Captain
GEO. S. JAMEs, who followed the ridl!cd
Palmetto banner On the bloody battle fields
Of Mexico.
The sending CT this harmful .Ecsscnscrto
Major A-pEEsoS was followed by 4 deaf
cning explosion, which was caused b. The
blowing up Of = building that stood in front
Of the battery.
While the white smoke vas melting away
into the air another she'll which Lieut.. W.
IIsM7TE: GIBsEs has the honor OF haTing
fred, pursued lis n~o!:lcs5 way towards Inc
hostile fertilization.
The honorcd m;ssive described its beat
tiful curve through the balmy cir, and fall
ing within the hostile fortress, scattered
its deadly contents in I'll directions. Fort
Moul.rie then took up the tale of death,
and in = moment the guns FROM the re-
doubtable Gun Battery on Cummings
Point, from Capt. McCEEAn:'s Battery,
from Capt. Jas. HANuLZoS's Floating Eat
terry, the Enfladc Battery, and o:tcr for
titications spit forth their wrath 81 the
grim fortress rising so driiantly' cut Of the
sea.
Major ANDERSON received the shot and
shell in silence. And some excited look
ers-on, ignorant Of the character Of the
foe, were fluent with conjecturcs and pre-
dictions, that revived the hope fast dying
But the short-lived hope was utterly CO
tinguished when the deepening twilight
revealed the Stars and Stripes floating
proudly in the breeze. The batteries coz
tinued at regular intervals 10 beich iron
vengeance, and still no answer vas re-
turned by the foe. About M hour after
the booming began, two balls rushed HISS
ing through the air, and glanced harmless
from the succeed bricks of Fort Moultvlc.
The embrasurcs OF the hostile ~frotrcss gave
forth no sound again till between six and
seven O'Clock, when, IS II Wrathlu! from
enforced delay, from casentate anu parapet
the United States officer poured 4 storm Of
iron hail upon Fort Moullric, STEVENS Iron
Battery and the Floating Battery. the
broadsidc was returned with spirit Hr the
gallant gunncrs al these important posts.
The firing now began ii rnol earnest
| The curling white smoke ia. : above the
angry pieces of FREUD and and the jar
ring boom rolled at regulaF intervals on
the anxious ear. The atmosphere was
charged with the smell Of ':llainous salt
| petre, and as if in sYapa,n, With the mel
ancholy scene the say LAS coTcred with
, heavy clouds. and evcI thing wore Z SOM