The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19

The Federal flag is at half mast, signal
ling distress The shells from Fort Moul.
trie and the batteries on Morris Island fall
into Major Andersoa's strong hold thick
and fast, and they can be seen in their
course from the Charles on battery.
s11aa5 4ria9Ia3cl CHARLESTON April Is.
a The cannonading is going on iercely from
all points from the vessels outside and along
our coast. 1t is reported that Fort Sump-
ter is on fire.
- j ,n I LATER. lsd a
& The entire roof the barracks at Sumpter
is in vast sheet of flames. Shells from
Cummings Point and Fort Moultrie are
bursting in and over Fort Sumpter in quick
succession. The Federal flag still waves.
Maj. Anderson is only occupied putting
out fire; every shot on Fort Sumpter now
seems to tell heavily. The people are anx-
iously looking for Maj. Anderson to strike
his flag.
1t is stated from a reliable source that
up to 10 o'clock to day no one at Moultrie
was killed. Eleven shots from Sumpter
penetrated the floating battery below water
line.
The few shots fired by Maj. Anderson
early this morning knocked the chimneys
from the officers quarters at Moultrie like
whirwind.
Anderson's only hope now is to hold out
for aid from the ships. Two ships are now
making in toward Morris Island with q
view to leave troops and silence the bate
ries there.
CHARLESTON, April Is.
Fort Sumter is undoubtedly on fire. The
flames are now raging all around it. Maj.
Anderson has thrown out raft loaded with
men, who are passing up buckets Of water
to extinguish the fire. The Fort is scarcely
disccrnible. The men on the raft are now
objects of fire from Morris Island. With
glasses balls can be seen skipping over the
water, striking the unprotected raft. Great
havoc is created among the poor fellows.
1t is surmised that Major Anderson is
gradually blowing up the Fort. He
scarcely fred gun.
At half past eleven flames were bursting
from all the portfolios. The destruction Of
Fort Sumter is inevitable.
-Four vessels, two of them large steamers,
are in sight over the bar, The largest ap-
pears to be engaging Morris Island.
The flames have nearly subsidized in Fort
Sumpter, but Major Anderson does not fire
any guns.
Gen. Beauregard left the wharf Just now
in q boat for Morris Island.
The excitement if anything is increasing.
l have received letter from S. 9. Boyls-
ton, dated Moultrie, o'clock this morning
He says not one man was killed or wounded
The iron battery had been damaged. The
rifed cannon Of the battery did great exc
cution on Fort Sumpter, and were all aimed
into Major Anderson's embrasures.
Three of Sumpter's barbette guns were
dismounted, one of which was ten inch
Columbiad. A corner of Fort Sumpter
opposite Moultrie was knocked of. The
steamers Water Witch, Mohawk and Paw
nee, it was said, were the three first vessels
seen in the ofing.
Another correspondent says the lombard
ment was answered from the city, and a
boat is on the way to Fort Sumpter.
The breach made in Fort Sumpter is
on the side opposite Cummings Point.
Two of the port holes are knocked into
one.
The walls from the top are crumbling.
Three vessels, one of them large sized
steamer, are over the bar and seem to be
preparing to participate in the conflict.
The fire of Morris Island and Moultrie is
divided between Sumpter and the ships of
war. The ships have not yet opened.
CHARLESTON, April ID.
Two of Major Anderson's magazines ex-
ploded. Only occasional shots are fired at
him from Fort Moultrie.
The Morris Island battery is doing heavy
work. 1t is said that only the smaller mag
azines have exploded.
The greatest excitement prevails. The
wharves, steeples, and every available place
is blocked with people.
United States ships are in the ofing, but
have not aided Major Anderson. 1t is two
late now as the tide is ebbing.
The ships in the ofing appear to be quiet
ly at anchor. They have not fired gun
yet.
LATEST.
FORT SUMPTER HAS SURREN-
DERED. The Confederate flag floats over
its walls. None of the garrison or Con.
federate troops are hurt.
WASHINGTON, April l3.
The reply of the President to the Vir-
ginia Commissioners, repeats bis purpose to
hold and occupy possession of property and
places belonging to the government, and
collect duties on imports, but not use force
except when necessary for this object. An
unjus' iAable assault has .een made upon
Fort Sumpter, and shall repress it if
can, and take places which cave been seized,
ann shall, to the best of my ability, repel
force by force. If the war news prove true,
shall probably withdraw the mails from
the seeded states. consider that the forts
and property in these states yet belong to
US. shall not attempt to collect duties by
armed invasion. l don't mean however
that may not use land force to relieve forts.
He reafirms his inaugural.
WASHINGTON, April IA.
Senator Douglas called on the President
tonight. He had an interesting converse.
tion on the present condition of the country.
I