Litchfield enquirer., 1861-04-18
Proclamation by the President
CALL TOR 75,OOO MEN
An Extra Session of Congress Called.
DETAILS OF THE FIGHT.

with three of his barbette guns, and the action soon became general and continued until it be- came too dark to operate with certainty, when the firing ceased, to be commenced again st day light on Saturday morning. Fire was opened by Gen. Beauregard at 4 A. M., from batteries. Major Anderson prompt ly returned the fire, and D. brisk cannoading was kept up all day. The fire of Fort Sumter was principally directed against Fort Moultrie and the floating battery. The latter work it is said was struck by l5 or IS shots, but not the slight est impression was made upon it's iron siies.- Anderson's guns were silenced and a breach made in the southeast wall of Fort Sumter. At 6P. M., it was reported that only two per sons had been wounded in Fort Moultrie, though number had been knocked down by spent pie ces of shell. From the regular and frequent fir ing of Fort Sumter, it was thought that its force was more numerous than had hitherto been SUD- posed.,
 At nightfall firing ceased On both sides.- Troops were arriving at Charleston by every train. -sg
 The telegraph reports the correspondence which passed between Gen. Beauregard and the War Department of Montgomery, preceding the opening of the bombardment. The first message was from Gen. Beauregard, and informed Mir Walker, the Secretary of War for the Southern Confectionery, that President Lincoln had notified Gov. Pickens and himself that Fort Sumter was to be supplied with provisions, peaccably if pos. sible, but by force if necessary. This was fol. lowed by an order to denand the evacuation of the fort, which demand was accordingly made at F o'clock, on Thursday, and Major Anderson was given until o'clock, to decide The reply of Major Anderson, which photographed in full, was, of course refusal to comply with the dc- mand, in language which can leave no doubt as to the high seaso of honor and mau!y patriotism of that gallant officer. This reply also convey ed an intima!ion that, if not battered to pieces, he woald probably b. starved ont in few days whcreupon Gen. Beauvegard was further in- struc:cd to ascertain whether Major Anderson W,uld agree to c"acuate within d given time, and not to use his guns against the belcaguerin2 force unless they fred upon him. This, however, Major Andersen positively declined to do, and the corrcspon tence closed Had lie acccded to tie proposition. it waula have rendered it ini- possible for him to give aid to any vessel which might attempt to furnish him with supplies
 DISPATCHES OF SATURDAY THE 18th.
 Major Anderson ceased firing from Fort Stun ter at six o'clock. All night he was engaged in repairing damages and protecting the barbett. guns on the top of the fort. He commenced to return fire at seven o'clock, Saturday morning.
 Shells from Cummings Point and Moultri are bursting in and out of Sumter in quick success ion.
 The Federal flag still waves.
 It is anxiously looked for Anderson to strike his flag.
 Seven shots from Sumter penetrated the float ing battery below the water line
 A few shots fired by Anderson early this morning knocked the chimneys from the officers quarters at Fort Moultrie like a whirlwind.
 Two ships ass. making in towards Morris Is- land with view to land troops and silence the batteries there. ..,...p
 Anderson's only hope is to hold out for aid from the ships.
 It is stated from reliable sources that up to 10 o'clock, to-day no one had been killed at Fort Moultrie.
 Fort Sumter is undoubtedly on fire-the flames are raging all around it.
 Anderson has thrown out raft, with men who are passing in water extinguish the fire within the fort, which is scarcely discernible.
 At half past eleven o'clock the flames were bursting from all the port holes, and the destruc tion of Sumter is inevitable. Four vessels, two of them large steamers, are in sight over the bar The larger one appears to be engaging Morris Island. The flames in Sumter have mostly sub sided but Anderson does not fire any guns.- Gen. Beauregard has left the wharf lat Charles ton,) in boat for Morris Island. The excite mcnt ia increasing.
 THE SURRENDER.
 Sumter ceased firing at 1a o'clock Saturday afternoon.
 After the flag staff of Anderson was shot away Col. Wlgfall and others went to Sumter with a flag, to offer assistance in extinguishing the flames He approached the burning fortr from Morris Island, while firing was raging on all sides, and effected landing at Sumter He approached the fort, hailed, and was met by An derson. The latter said he had just displayed a white Aag but the firing from the Carolina bat teries was keptup nevertheless. Wigfall replied that Major Anderson must haul down the Amer ican flag that no barley would be granted.- Surrender or fight was the word. Anderson then hauled down his flag and dis played only that of truce. All firing instantly ceased.
 Two others of Beauregard's staff, ex-Senator Chestnut and Ex-Governor Manning, came over in b. at, and stipulated with Major Anderson that his surrender should be unconditional for the present; subject to terms of General Beac- regard.
 Major Anderson was allowed to remain with his men in actual possession of the fort, while Chestnut and Manning came over to the city, ac- companied by members of the Palmetto Guard, bearing the colors of the company. These were met by hundreds of the citizens, and as they