The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-14
FHE ENGAGEMENT In CHARLESTON UABBOR.
FULL PARTICULARS FROM THE CHARLESTON PAPERS.

/ pregnant
events that may in all probability result in either
total cessation of all our troubles or lead to the
disastrous effects of long, bloody and determined
contest. That the spirit of troops of our leaders
/ and indeed of our whole population, is thoroughly
| aroused, all have The promptness and ce-
erity of action the part of the patriotic military
with whom We are surrounded, gives feeling Of
universal confidence and security, that will result
most benefcially in any event If we are to have
war, assured of the preservation of honor
at least by the valiant hearts and strong arms that
fight our battles; and if victory crowns our efforts
we know 1t will be properly and justly used. The
spirit OF our troops gives every evidence of this.
! Tie zeal and alacrity they have shown, manifest
it. The hardships they have endured, exhibit tn G
interest they have in the State, and the LOYALTY
with which they stand up for the cause of South
| Carolina.
None, therefore, were surprised when the deem.
toned cannons of the batteries and forts occupied
by the troops of the Commonwealth, spoke in tones
of thunder on Wednesday morning. The telegraph
had warned US of the approach of a vessel bearing
reinforcements and supplies to the United States
Garrison in Fof Sumter. The Notifications that
had been thrown up on the points commanding the
stronghold, had been notified Of the intention of
the Government at w Arlington, and for twelve or
fourteen hours, every one had prepared himself for
the event that was sure to come, with the attempt
to land reinforcements at Sumter
The aid expected for the garrison at this place
did arrive. Early in the morning. between the
hours of six and seven o'clock, the city was in
ordnance in the harbor 1.-The Star of the Vest
was the exclamation of all. Cone" "two,''
| three, flour" guns the contest is begun. In a
few minutes people from all parts of the CITY came
from their houses and seen rushing out 10 the
waters edge. The streets were soon thropged
with eager men, hurryng towards the Battery and
the wharves to ascertain all that could be learned
oil the noise made by the guns in the ofIing. The
cannon, as long as they discharged, went off
in regular, deliberate succession clearly evincing
that in serving them the utmost military precision
had been attained, and reflected great credit upon
| those managing them.
With the naked eye nothing of what was
| going on in the harb0r could be discovered and
consequently the most intense exciemeni prevailed
to lind out what bad caused the cessation of re.
c c3sfE after seventeen or e9h'"o Ia ' dis
TWAS not until half an hour or so, that the DO
pulace, by this time fully aroused to the import
| ance of the movement, evidently made by our
troops, was put in possession of the facts of the af
falr. In the meantime crowds of people had gath
cred IN the most convenient localities for procur.
| ing information. The Bulletin boards of the news.
paper Offices the wharves and street corners were
! filled with people, and every scrap of intelligence
was greedily devoured.
| RELIABLE NARRATION OF FACTS.
| From the most reliable authority, eve.witnesses
OF the affair, we enabled to lag before our read
| ert the following account of it:
About SIX and a half O'Clock, or thereabOuts the
steamer Gen. Clinch, Capt. Relyea, having discov.
cred the approach of the Star of the West, sig
tHe W OF the battery late
| y thrown up on the beach at Morris Island This
vessel, it is known, left her wharf sometime during
| the evening before, with guard of eighty men
from the ranks of the Palmetto Guards and the
| Irish volunteers. The DUTY assigned them was to
| keep strict surveillance over the harbor and to
make such signals as had been agreed upon in the
event of the approach of renforcements to the for
tress IN possession of the United States troops as
well as to report the approach of any vessel that
may appear in the oiing. In the early grew of the
morning, the guard-boat first deserted the steamer
heading in from the sea-and with as much CELEBRITY
as possible, performed the remaining part of the
| task assigned her.
As as signalled, the entire camp on Morris
Island was astir. There was no need for the
reveille beat to quarters. The men were already
| at their posts before the orders were given. For
some minutes they remained in anxious SUSPENSE
ready for what every one believed sure to come,
| and that-a volley from the heavy guns of Sumter
| As soon as the Star of the West rounded the
point she took to what termed ''Ship Channel -
inside the bar, and proceeded straight forward,
until nearly opposite the work on Morris Island,
not more than three-quarters of a mile from the
battery, and within excellent range of the guns
AT this position of affairs the command was giyen
to lire, and ball was sent whizzing athwart the
| bows of the steamer. This significant hint to
proceed no further was noticed in no other manner
by the vesses than by displaying a large flag of the
| Federal Union. AS as the Stars and Stripes
were run up to the masthead, the act of defiance
| was met with a succession of heavy shots from
| the fertilization. The vessel continued on her
| way, with increased speed, but one or two shots
taking effect, she concluded to advance no further,
and TINS conclusion was fastened by the shots from
Moultrle, which, though harmless and out of range
ofthe steamer still gave evidence that hotter work
was on hand if further attempt was mad to pro-
coed.
The ''star of the Vest was clearly made out as
the name OF the vessel, so that there was no mis-
take on this point. She was possessed of no arma-
ment As soon as five six shots had been fired
upon her from Morris Island, and many more
from Moultre, it was evident that she would lower
her coors to half mast She veered about so as to
avoid any further messengers of this kind from the
fertilization, which, with one or two more dis
charges, finally ceased.
THE DAMAGE DONE
The steamer very trifng only two of about
seventeen shots-all that was fired-took effect
upon her. One struck the vessel about the forward
part of the bow, the other amidsbiPs in the vicn-
ty OF the whee-house. No idea of the extent of
damage done could be ascertaned, indeed it could
not have been known whether she had been struck
at all, had it not been for the heavy, dull sound
and subsequent crash, always accompanying the
ball that "makes its mark' in a naval Engagement.
AT all events she could not have been badly injured
or disabled for even while the firing continued she
rounded to and started off seward As soon as
this intention was shown all firing was instantly
suspended.
FORT SUMTER.
While the engagement lasted, no demonstration
whatever was made by the command in possession
OF the irowning -Sumter-except the OPEN
ing OF the PORTFOLIOS and running out Of the guns
which bear upon Morris Island and Moultrie. Ma
lor Anderson, however, prudently forbore to fire,
and no doubt experienced great relief when he saw
the vessel steamng out of the harbor.
THE FEELING AT CASTLE PINCKNEY.
At Castle Pinckney, under command of Colonel
Pettigrew, the ardor of the men knew no bounds
The greatest eagerness was shown by all to have a
shot at the stranger, with the intention of bringing
out the fire of Fort Sumter. The guns of the Cas-,
tie were all manned simply upon the spontaneous
m AMI nj thn
his post without command of the officer in charge
1t was with the greatest difficulty that he could re-
strain them from firing and it was not until per-
emptory order to that effect was given that thew
held themselves aoof from the batteries. The
eagerness at Forts Moultrie and Johnson was equal
~ great-though the garrison at the former were
gratiiied in the privilege of number of harmless
shots. Better luck to them next time.
WHO FIRED THE FIRST SHOT
Since the event of the crisis, much curiosity has
been excited to learn the man who fired the first
shot. After diligen inquiry, we believe it is set
tied that the honor belongs to the Washington
Light Infantry. Though this corps is not station
ed in the entertainments Morris Island, from
which the first gun fired, still, a single repre-
sentative OF the corps, we are informed was at one
OF the guns, and to him befell the duty. We be-
lieye the name of the gentleman is Lieutenant J.
l.. Branch.
After all the facts of the affair in the harbor had
become generally known throughout the city, the
excitement IN no wise aDated. Several companies
OF troops never before in actual service were called
out and sent to different localities where their
presence might be needed. and every preca ton
was taken by the energetic administration to Sc
cure all points that might be useful.
In the streets, military uniforms were numerous
Old and young assumed the "cloth of war;" and
took their places in the ranks. War, actual war.
seemed inevitable; but with the thousand and one
rumors that flew about, nothing could be set down
as certain.
THE FLAG OF THREE
Towards eleven o'clock, boat from Fort Sum
ter, bearing an officer in full uniform with a white
flag, was seen to approach the city. The officer
was met at the wharf by one or two gentlemen,
and was suffered in quietness to land. He gave
his name as Lieut.. Hall, U. 5. a., bearer of dis.
patches from Major Anderson, commanding Fort
Sumter, to the Governor of South Carolina and
enquired the way to the Governors quarters. I'm
der the guidance of several gentlemen the Lieuten-
ant was taken to the City Hall, followed by an i'm
mense though orderly and unexcted throng-at-
tracted by curiosity to learn the object of his mis-
sion.
After arriving at the City Hall, it was found that
the Governor did not occupy any portion of the
building, and after delay Of several minutes to
learn where the Executive could be found, the off
Ger was Joined by gentleman in military habit,
who undertook to give him conduct.
While waiting at this point, the crowd outside in
creased at tremendous rate. The Court room
was filled; the stairs were filed and even the street
was densely thronged, though not the slightest in
dignity, either by word deed, was inflicted upon
the representative of the United States In perfect
security he was allowed to take his way to the Gov
ernor, with whom he afterwards remained for over
two hours.
The object of the mission not being known, crea-
ted great excitement among the peope-so much
ms off I;p