Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-04-20

Highly Interesttng from Chnrleston-Rf-
fects of HTsjOr Anderson,s Flre-Tblrty
Men Killed In Fort mOuitrie Ste
vens Battery Silenced-Part ofthe Float
ing Battery Knocked Away, &c.
The following is an extract from private
letter received by gentleman in New York:
CHARBEsToN, April IL, 1851.
1t is painful duty to chronicle the first
effusion OF blood, which inaugurates a revo-
luton that history will blush to record. AT
twenty minutes 10 FIVE o'clock this morning,
after making the demand and being refused
its surrender, the batteries at Morris and
Sullivan's Islands opened upon Fort Sumter,
and have been constantly ffing ever since.
1t was not until after eleven o'clock that
Anderson returned their fre; but when he
did open, It was with power and vigOr
which carried conviction to every one that
they had one to deal with who understood
his business, and had the will to carry IL
out ..-.,.,--- ..5
It is indeed gloomy day; all business is
suspended, and nothing but the heavy boom
ing of the artillery, which is shaking the
city to its very foundations, disturbs the
silsnce and gloom which hangs like pail
over us. Every eligible spot that can be OBJ
tanned is occupied, and every eye strained
by the eager multitude of men, women aud
children to witness the conflict, though bnt
little can be seen, as the smoke obscures the
Notifications; but we can see the bursting
OF the bombs and the striking Of the balls.
The principal batteries now in service are
the iron battery on Sullivan's Island, the
floating battery and Fort Moultrie. The
chief discharges have been from mortars,
which we could tell from the bursting of the
shells. Most of the firing has been very
poor, many of the shells bursting a quarter
and half mile away, while Anderson has
made majority of his tell with fearful exc.
cution. t.a.
1t is impossible to ascertain with any cor
rectness the amount of damage that he ha:
done, as all the accounts which have cone
up are particularly biased, coming as they
do from their own camp; but 1 accidentally
| overheard confidential talk, in which one
! who had come up from the batteries admit
ted that thirty had been killed at Fort Moul.
| tIie, besides great many wounded. Th(
news from Morris Island is that none arr
hurt; but how unreasonable to one who ha!
witnessed the incessant firing, is the state
ment. Anderson has done nobly. For ter
consecutive hours he has kept up constan
fire, at an average of two discharges min
ute. Now tell me that he has done nj
damage. 1t has been acknowledged that on,
end OF the floating battery has been knocked
off, which will render it useless. '.t
| 1t is now over twelve hours since the &C
tion commenced, and the discharges from
the South Carolina batteries have average,
five per minute; and notwithstanding thi
vast amount of shot and shell which ha
been directed against Fort Sumter, as far a
can be seen by the glass, no damage has bee
done beyond the knocking away of tn
chimneys and the roof of the wooden rail
way. 1t has been reported that the Unite
States feet has arrived off the harbor
so, why don't they come to the relief c
Anderson If they do not, shall thin
they have country unworthy of the maj
All! it is sad sight to see the flashing {
the guns and hear the booming of heav
artillery, directed against the devoted garri
son. If my country can stand this insul
she is unworthy her national name, and lo
to her national honor. If eloquence, energ
or perseverance could do it, with my preseI
feelings l could go home and raise a reg
ment to wipe out the disgrace. Are yoi
Wide. Awakes dead? Never let it be sal
that they are. ..
Six P. M.-The FIRE is increased with tr
mendOus power by Anderson, who has ju
silenced the Stevens Battery. All hail
the noble man.