The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-04-23
BOmbardEnent Of Fort Sumter.
80 INCIDENTS &c
From the Charleston Mercury.

Thursday, 18th Cen Beauregard made demand
on Major Anderson for the immediate surrender oi
Fort Sumter, through his Aids, Col. james Ches
nut, Jr, COL Chisholm and Capt. Lee Major
/ Anderson replied that such a course would be in
consistent with the duty he was required by his
niunicaed by the General-inChief to President
/ Davis.
At about 9 o'clock, General Beauregard re-
| ceived reply from President Davis, by which he
was instructed to inform Major Anderson that if
! he would evacuate the fort he held when his sup
/ ply of provisions exhausted there would be
no appeal to This proposition borne to
| Major Anderson by the Aids who had delivered
the first message, and he refused to accept the
condition. The General-in-C Chief forthwith gave
the order that the batteries be opened at halfpast
four O'Clock Friday morning. Major Ander-
son reply decisive of the momentous ques-
| ton, aEd General Beauresard determined to apply
the last argument
| The crisis had arrived, and we were fully pre-
pared to meet it. The work that awaited the
morrow of momcntous character but we had
counted the cost, and had resolved to do it or die
in the attempt.
| At the gray of the morning of Friday the roar
of cannon broke upon the ear. The expected
sound awakened thousands. I he houses were
in a few minutes emptied of their excited occu-
| pants, aud the living stream poured through all
the streets leading to the wharyes and battery.
At thirty minutes past four 0 clock the Conflict
was opened by the discharge of shell from the
howitzer battery james Island.
The sending of this harmful messenger to Major
Anderson was followed by deatening explosion,
which was caused by the blowing up of building
that stood In front of the battery.
Fort Moultre then took up the tale Cf death,
and in moment the gus from the redoubtab. e
Gun Battery on Cummings Point from Captain
McCreadys battery, from Capt James Hamilton S
floating battery, the iDflade battery, and other
tortfcations spit forth their wrath 1T the grim
fortress rising dctiantly out of the
Major Anderson received the shot and shell in
sileLce. Eut the deepening twilight revea ed the
Stars aud Stripes floating proudly in the breeze.
The batteries continued at regular Intervals to besch
iron venSt ance, and still no Was returned
by the toe About hour after the booming 2
began, two balls rushed Kissing through the air,
and glanced harmless from the stuccoed bricks OF
Fort Moultrie. The cmbrasures If the hostile
fortress gave forth sound again till between six
and seven o'clock, when, as ii wrathtul from en-
forced delay: from easement and parapet the United
States officer poured storm OF iron hail upon
Fort Moutrie, Stevens Iron Battery and the
Floating Battery. The broadsde was returned
with spirit by the gallant gunners at these I'M
portant posts The firing now began in good
earnest.
AT midday, Friday, during the heat Of the
engagement, Mag. Anderson made a signal of dis
tress to the men-otwar lying off bar, and on
Saturday again, while under fire from all the bat
teries, and troubled with the heat and smoke of
the burning barracks again lowered the flag Of the
United States, signal for assistance to his
naval allies The ships only from three to five
miles off, the day was br. ght aud clear, the water
smooth. but discretion the better part Of
valor. The Northern officers in command having
been so carefully selected for their fidelity t. their
section and superior trustWUrthincss i'll hostile
crusade against the South, were unwilling to incur
the risk OF running their ships into the harbor,
and engaging our batteries. They thought it
prudent not to attempt rcintorcemcnts in launches
The soldiers Of AbOitionisin left to their
fate, without an attempt TO relieve their pcrIlJus
condition. Their idle allies had the pleasure of
seeing them strike their colors to the Confederate
States. 1hey are commendable for their ea!lantry,
aud we trust that these brave mariners will re-
ccive a suitable comnIendation from their no less
gallant Jackson the second and his magnanimuus
Cabinet
We learn that Fort Sumter is uninjured in its
capacity for defence, no breach being made in the
walls, but that the quarters petcly de-
stroyed, notwithstanding the Palmetto Fire Com
pany despa ched to nut out the fire. The
quarters, on Friday, caught three times, and were
extnguished by the soldiers on Saturday, it was
impossible At one time the smoke within the fort
was 50 distressing that the men in the casemates
were constrained to place their mouths the floor
for breathing. Maj. Anderson has expressed ad-
miration aud surprise at the perfection Of practice
bv our batteries. lie was almost entirely pre-
vented, by this cause, from usin;: his barbette
guns. But for the paucity of his force and their
consequent ability to retire within the casemates
destruction Of life must have been irightful Thus
protected, they escaped with only five Wounded
none killed We understand four casemate and
FIVE barbctte guns have been dismounted by our
guns We also learn that Maj, Anderson aud
Lieut.. Davis have expressed their opinion that,
had they been allowed to use their sixty four
Founders IN barbete, bearing upon the iron bat
terry, they might have destroyed it. The accurate
FIRE Of the rife cannon was very annoying and
materially assisted in the defence Of Morris Island
The battle of Fort Sumter is a marvellous
affair in the bloodlessness of an engagement of
thirty-six hours and half 1t is sure the mer-
ciful finger of God. But to no human agencies
engaged in the business is greater praise due than
TO those who conceived and planned our defences
aud who have erected them in SO faithful and sub
stantia manner. To these cause.-the adnlira-
bic efficiency Of our defensive preparations and
the handsome manner in which the guns have
been used to annoy and cripple the enemy-is the
wonderful, unprecedented result due.
4 correspondent of the Columbia Carolinian
gives the following particulars:
One hundred aad ft3y-fve shots from Fort Snm-