Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-05-18
pIcKENs COURT HOUSE, s. c. SATURDAY, MAY 49, 1861


shells. Our brave troops, carried away by
their naturally generous impulses, mounted
the different batteries, and ut every discharge
from the fort chcered the garrison for it's pluck
and gallantry, and hootcd the fleet lying mac
two just outside the bar About ! 80 p. NJ, 4
it being reported to me that the flag was down,
Git afterwards appeared that the tiag-staff had
bcen shot away,) and the conflagraton, from
the large volume of smoke, being apparently
on the increase, sent three of my Aids with
message to Major Anderson, to the effect
that;sccing his Aug no longer flying, his quar-
tcrsan flames, and supposins rIm 551Be in dis
trcss, | desired to offer him any assistance he
might stand in need Of. Before my Aids
reached the fort the United States flag was
displayed on the parapcts, but remained there
only short time, when it was hatlcd down,
and white flag substituted in its place.
When the United States flag first disappeared,
the firing from our batteries almost entirely
ceased, but re.opcncd with increased yigor
when it rcappearcd on the panpct, and was
continued until the white flag was raised, when
it ceased entirely. Upon the arrival of my
Aids at Fort Sumter, they delivered their
message to Major Anderson, who replied that
he thanked inc for my offer, but desired no
assistance. Just previous TO their arrival,
Colonel Wigfal, one of my Aids, who had
been detached for srccn duty on Morris
Island, had, by order of Brigndicr- cneral
Simons, crossed over to Fort Sumter from
Cummings Point in an open boat, with Pri-
vato William Gourdin Young, amidst heavy
fire of shot and she'll for tho purpose Of asccr-
tanning from Major Anderson whether his in
ten'on was to surrender, his flag being down
n hjS mart I, ~.
fort, the Colonel had an interview with Major
Anderson, the result of which was, that Major
Anderson understood him rs offering the same
conditions on the part of General Beaurcgard
as had been tcDdcrcd him on the 1th inst,
while Colonel Wigfall's impression was that
Major Anderson urconditionally surrcndcrc |,
trusting to the generosity of General Bcaurc.
gard to offer such terms rs would be honora.
bic and acceptable to both parties; meanwhile,
before these circumstances were reported to
me, and in fact soon after the Aids had dis
patched with the offer of assistance had set
out on their mission, hearing that white flag
was flying over the fort | sent Major Jones,
the chief Of my staff, and some other Aids,
with substantially thesamc propositions had
submitted to Major Anderson on the 11th
Instant, with the exception Of the privilege Of
salotng his flag The Major (Andcrson) re-
piled lit would be exceedingly gratifying to
him, ms well US tohis command, to be permit
ted to salute their flag, having so galantly de-
Tended the fort, under such trying circum.
stances, and hoped that General Beaurcgard
would not refuse it, rs such a privilege was
not unusual" he further snd, f" he would
not urge the point but would prefer to refer
the matter again to General Bcaurcgard." -
The point Wis, therefore, left open until the
mattcr was submitted to nc. Previous 10 the
return of Major Jones, [ sent fire engine,
under Mr.. NJ. II. Nathan, Chief of the Fire
Department., aud Surgeon General Gibbcs, of
South Carolina, Will, several of my Aids. to
offer further assistance to the garrison OF Fort
Sumter, which was declined | very cheer
fully agreed TO allow the salute, as an honora-
bic testimony to the gnllnn'ry and fortitude
with which Major anderson aud his command
had defended their post, and informed Ma
!ior Anderson OF my decision about half-past
seven o clock, through Major Jones, my chief
OF stall The arrangements being completed,
Major Anderson embarked witt his command
on the transport prepared to convey him to
the United States fleet, still lying outside the
bar, and onr troops iAncdaely garr:soncd
the fort, and before sunset the flag of the
Confederate States floatcd over The ramn,rts
of Sumter
| commend in the highest terms tho cal.
antry of every one under my command, and
1T is with diilidcncc that will mention any
corps or names, ior fear of doing injustice to
those not mentioned, for where all have done
their duty well, it is difficult to discriminate.
Although the troops out of the batteries bear
ing OH Fort Sumter were not so fortunate as
their comrades working the guns and mortars,
Still their services were equally MS valuable
and as commendablc, for they were on thoir
arms at the Channel Batteries and ut their
posts and bivouacs, and exposed to severe
weather. and constant watchfulncss, expecting
every moment, and ready to repcl, reinforce
imcnts from the powerful fleet of the bar; and
to all the troops under my command award
much praise for their gallantry, and the cheer
fulncss witt, which they met the duties re-
quired of them. feel much indebted to
Generals r. G.. M. punoyant and James ST.
mons, and their stats, especially Majors Evans
and DcSaussurc, s. G. a., commanding on
Sulliyan's and Morris Islands, for their valu-
able and gallant services, and tho discretion
they displayed in executing the duties de-
yolving on their responsible positions. Of
Lieut.. Col. II. s. Ripley 1st Artillery Bat
talon, Commandant of Batteries OH Sullivan's
Island, | cannot speak too highly, and join
with General Dunovant, his immediate COM
mandcr since January last, in commcnding IN
the highest terms his sagacity, experience
and unflagging zeal would also mention
in the highest terms Of praise Captains Cnl-
~ 4.