Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-04-24
ARRIVAL OF MAI. ANDERSON.

ARRIVAL OF MAI. ANDERSON.
The steamship Baltic arrived at New York
on Thursday the 18th, with MAJ. Anderson anu
his command, which consisted of 80 men ana
10 officers; besides 43 laborers, who rendered
good service during the bombardment.
From the statement of Captain Doubleday,
after his arrival at New York, it appears that
Maj. Anderson did not surrender Fort Sumter,
but evacuated it. On Friday morning pre-
vious to the commencement of hostllties
Mai Anderson, in reply to question OF Gen.
Beauregard as TO when he would evacuate,
said che would evacuate the Fort on the 10Th,
unless he received supplies, or contrary in
structions from his government in the mean
time." Accordingly on Friday morning at
4 O'Clock the rebel batteries opened on Sum-
ter, and during the day at least $500 shot and
she'll struck the fort. On Saturday morning
all the batteries opened with redoubled fierce
ness, and some of the shell falling in the Of
icers quarters set them on fire. Ninety bar
rels of powder had been taken out OF the mag
aZinc and thrown into the sea but the flames
now encircling it, all materials were cut of,
and they had eaten their last biscuit 36 hours
before. The men had to lay on the ground
with wet handkerchiefs on their faces to keep
from smothering, and favorable eddy of
wind was all that saved their lives. The car
fridge bags had given out, and five men were
employed To make them out of the soldiers
shirts, sheets, blankets, &C., which were about
exhausted when Col. Wigfall made his ap-
pearance in the fort. Wigiall said that s'Gen
Beauregard wished to stop this, T" and wanted
to know .supon what terms Anderson would
evacuate.'' Anderson replied ssthat Beaure-
gard was already acquainted with the terms"
Wigfall left and about ten minutes afterwards
Col. Chestnut and others came from Beaure-
gard, asking if Anderson wanted any help, he
having his flag at half mast, and stated that
- l-I A.,tx fNr 4. Il
Anderson. To which Maj. A. .replied-ssThen
we have been sold. We will raise our flag
again. But they requested him to keep it
down until communication was had with Beau
regard. The firing was then ceased, and three
hours alter another deputation came to the
fort. The terms previously decided upon
were then acceded to; which were. that An
derson would evacuate on the l5th-take all
his private and company baggage and arms,
and be allowed to salute the American flag
before taking it down. On Sunday morning,
the steamer Isabel came down and anchored
off the Fort, when all the baggage was put on
board the steamer Clinch, which was used as
a transport between the Fort and the Isabel.
The men were still under arms. A portion of
them were told to fire off salute to the flag,
and when the last of the fifty guns was fired !,
the flag was lowered amid the loud and hearty
cheers of the men, who then formed in a
gorge and embarked, to the tune OF ss ankee
Doodle" Two men were killed on the second
round of the salute by the premature explo-
sion of the gun, and four were wounded, one
badly. They were left at Charleston. Ac-
cording to reports 40 of the rebels were killed
and about 100 wounded.
On Monday they steamed down the harbor,
| and were transferred to the Baltic, sailing on
Tuesday morning. Fort Sumter has not been
reinforced on any occasion. The Baltic ar
rived off Charleston on the morning of Friday :,
after the firing on Fort Sumter commenced.
The Parnee and Pocahonfas arrived on the
next day. The PoWhataH and .4tiantic have
not been seen. The steam Tugs have been
blown to sea, and have not been seen. During
all the while the feet off Charleston a
heavy gale was blowing. On The day that Maj.
ANDERSON eUacuafed, preparations TO reinforce
him had been made for attempt on that night.
Captain Fox had instructions to attempt to
provision the fort without troops, and if he
was fired on he was to rush in in the best man
ner he could, but the gale prevented the ar
rival of the tugs and transport.
The ordeal which Major ANDERsoN has un-
dergone for the last few months has been a
terrible one. From the 26h day of December
last, until learing The Fort in the transport, af-
ter the evacuation, Maj. ANDERsoN neUer SET
the officers of the command held with the
members of the press was free and full. They
declare unanimously that their commander acted
a 6Yare soldier and an honorable man. They
repudiate, ,cith Indignation, the idea of freach-
cry, and pronounce all such assertions 10 be false.