Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-04-17
From the Charleston Courier. l3'h inst.
I|DsrII!4'EES COMMENCED
ReHiyarsIment OF Fert Sumter!

~ ab,i; > u'cl..ck, OIL the afternoon OF
THURSDAY. General Beaure.art made de-
man III Mi + .A",l-s|n l"r the l'nmc':i2i"
Surrender uf Fort Ei.er, through his -Ai!',
CO.. JAMES Cb.>l,rt. Jf., Col. C"i>o!:li a;:ii
Car:. Lee. " ,i,r Anderson replied sLat such
q c;l:,c would DC inc 'rsisicat with tie duty
he WAS req ire by his government /" per
f,m Tie a.:>war was 'oulrIliii:a;cd hE tls'
Gone al in. C!ii,f to PrcSi!e Davis.
inis visit, and the refusal ol the commail-
dn,.; of E,.; S,!m;cr IN acc.!c t" the ::eii,alnl
ma :.y Gn Beau.esa:il: passed from
tou..ic ,n io:,.ur, ari S"o:l tie whole city
wa, i, .ys. cs,::on .; lilc startling intelligence
Ru mr., as lie IS wont ;o,.n s!apesl the facts
20 ,uit hcr purposes, enlarged their 'ilmel-
siuns, AID gave them Il complexion which
thcv had not worn Wien lrcS:s from tAe pure
and ar;lg>S hands vi auth.
\ half all !lour after the return OF the or
de lies i; Was confidently believed that the
batteries we'll inlirn i:. at c'cht Clock, ana
in cx;4cc,atiou OF see:is ttc b.girn iig ui tb"
cor.,l,t. i!un.lrri, copyrighted upon the bat
tcr;' an the wh'rvc>, ."kins oGt On Tie bay.
Thee llry ,;n,I. s,r:si:rii'g their eyes over
the dark rX;,nl-e ii water, waiting 10 see tHe
flash and hear the boom OF the ilr:t gun
Til. clock ;ul,l the hour OF eleven, and Still
they eazr,l a::,; listened, hu: the cycl!d- grew
weary, and ut the noon of the night the larger
por;i..n q; ,Lc Disappointed spectators were
pl .,lding their way homeward.
Al about nine u'cock, General Beauresard
received Il reply from President Davis, 10 tie
telegram in relation TO tie SURE der ui SUN
ter. by which nc was instructed 10 Inform
M,ior Anderson that if lc would evacuate the
fort he held when his present supply OF pro-
visions was exhausted there would be no ap-
peal 10 arms. TEiS proposition was borne to
II ir Anderson br the Aids who had de!r-
ercl the FIRST message, and he reia,ed to nc,
ceut the condition. The General.in.Chiei
forthwith gave the old der that the batteries be
opened at halt-past fonr o'clock on Friday
morning. Major .inderson's reply was de-
cl.iyc oI the mumentous question, and Gener'
al Bcaurcgard determined to apply the last
argument.
The stout soldier had resolved to make a
desperate defence, and the bloody trial Of
strength must be eSsayed. The sword must
cut asundcr the very last tie that boald
us to people. whom, in spite Of wrongs and
Injustice wan;only inflicted through long
series OF years, we had not yet utterly hated
and despised. Tie las, expiring spark o! at
fac,ion inu,t he qucnche.i in blood. Some o.
1he most splendid pagys in our glorious hI>tI
tory must be buried. IL blow must re struck
that would make the ears OF every llepu!'li-
can fanatic tingle. and whose dreadful etl=ct>
will he telt by generations yet TO come. We
must transmit a heritage Of ranking and un-
dyin. hate to our children.
We aused TO contemplate the terrible pros
pcct. hurried on ,. the rapid course Of
events, ycxed and distracted by increasing r
ri;ations, astouaGed BY tie gI.rins lreAchcry
of our enemies, lost in wonder at their e:sregg-
ious stupidity, we had not fully conprehendcd
the nature Of the work we were ahuut TO be-
Gin. Now, while the ear was waiting for the
roar Of cannon we saw clearly the magnitude
of the crisis. While those solemn hours were
pa,>in. silently away, We contemplated the
tremendous undertaking in all It's aspects.
bearings and consequences.
We paused, but it was not the pause OF hes
itation or doubt. We Had long since made
ourselves fauilliar with the dangers that dark
encd over our pathway, and had they been
tcn-tpla greater We would have dared do what
we have done. with the same steady courage
and mrnuvaLlc resolution. We had marked
out way for our feet and we would pursue
this road let what may oppo.e our progress.
This pathway WAS traced by the finger OF hon,
or, and Heavens oGn light rests upon it
During those dark hours. heavy with the an-
olish of mothers, sisters and wives. a!ri we
with their tears, wc paused TO retiec; a!nl
pray. We refreshed onr spirits with glorious;
nleinoric> We felt Tie inspiration Of a j;l>
and holy cause and a sublime purpo c. ar.~
diSgusted with childish tritlng ANA studied
,.crtidy, We looked to Heaven !1r dlrection
and blessing, and turncl our backs forever
upon our former brother.
The crisis had arrived and we were full,
prepared to meet it. The work that awaited
the morrow was OF i nUmcntous character:
but we had counted tic COST, and had resolv-
I'd to do it or die III the attempt.
At the gray Of tie morning OF Friday the
roar Of cannon broke upon the ear. The ex
pccted sound was alS cred by thousands
The houses were in a few minute; enpticd OF
their excited occupants, and the living stream:
poured through all the streets leaulirg Ia the
w!larves and Battery. On reaching nLr beau
1;ful promenade we found it lined with ranks
tf carcr spectators, and AL the wharves com
laanllng a view of the battle " re- cruwle,i
,bickly With human forms. On no gala occa-
sion have We ever seen nearly 50 large a num-
her Of ladies on our Battery as grscei tic
breezy walk sn this crrntfui morning. There
thew stuad with lr.lpitaiins hears and palid
r L.: In, ,\.l,i nS
wrcat!ls upon the soft twilight sir. and breath.
iny ont frlvciit PRAYERS f"r Their gallant hI''a-
fix ut the cans. O. VIA, conflict ragged
in those hcayi hoS"n!> between love For
husbands AMI SUNS, and lore for or c""'nor
mother, whose i,suIicl i,onnr and inipcr;le'i
safety had called llcr faithful chil'lren To tie
c.,. aIi.,lincd field.
At Thirty minute, pas! f''r "cl"c TIE
cnnil;c; wa- opened hv the discharge al
Shell from the iInwizcr B.itrrY oa James
Island u,!'!c. The c,H'r,an'l o' Ca?allIG q.
S. james. u followed the rili T.! Palmetto
banner un the i,irn.iv battle ii,I'!s rf MrAicn.
The sending of tlS arrnfnl messenger to
Maior Anderson was followed hy a adea!crlng
cx plosion, which was caused hy the lowing
lp Of building that stood in front Di the
battery.
While the white smoke was melting away
nto the air another she'll, Which Lient. W.
Hampton ';ibbcs has the honor Of having
irel, p'lrsed its noi-elrsS way toward the
hostile l.rliication.
Tie ln..,.,! ru,s:ve 4! scr;'~'l i; s.crn';r,'
,ur,c tl,a, III thr in!"i; :.;r.
7itl;n tie hostile i,.:f;.S. s:.atf.'
v conten 5 in all diIerin,ns. Fort .lou,irle