The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-04-24
DETAILS OF THE TAKING OF FORT
SUMTER.
CHARLESTON, April IA, 1861.

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CHARLESTON. April il, 1861.
The reporter for the Associated Press did no
arrive in this city until yesterday saturday
morr ing, consequently he lost the opportunity
TO give description of the pyrotechnic display
on Friday night, which was, according to eye
witnesses, truly grand.
The terrific firing reached an awful climax a,
ten O'Clock at right. The heavens were obscured
by rain Clouds and il was as dark as Erebus.
The guns were heard distinctly, the wind blow
ing in shore. Sometimes a shell would burst in
mid air directly over Fort Sumter. Nearly all
night long all the streets weie thronged with
people. full Of excitement and enthusiasm. The
house-tops, the Battery, the wharves, the ship
ping IN fact, every available place taken
possession Of by the multitude. The discharges
Of cannon gradually diminished as the sun rose
All the clouds which rendered the night so dark
and dismal disappeared.
As day began TO break, while :he air became
most beautiful, balmy, and refreshing the streets
were filed again with persons. male and female.
old and Young, white and black some went 10
the Battery, some to the wharves, and some 10
the steeples Of the churches. A few random
shots were fired from the Confederate batteries,
to which Fort Sumter only replied occasionally.
Soon it became evident that Sumter was on FIRE,
and all eyes we're riveted upon il. The dense
smc Ike that issued from il was gradually TO
rise the ramparts. Some supposed tha, this was
merely signal from Major Anderson 20 draw in
the fleet TO aid him
At this time the fleet was in the oifing, quietly
riding at anchor, and could clearly be distin-
gGlshed. Four vessels were ranged in line, di-
rectly over the bar, apparently blockading the
nnr Tfotr Iona hull ,,nAs b. L.
proved them to be Federal steamers. Every
one an1iously awaited to see what they would
do. The suspense was very exciting. On all
sides could be heard, "Will the vessels come in
and engage the batteriesg" "If they do not
they they are cowardly poltroons" Every per-
son on the Battery fully expected that the EN-
gagement would become general. BY the aid of
glasses 1t was thought that a movement was be-
ing made to this end by two Of the war ships,
and it was thought that the sand would soon be-
gin to fly from the Morri. Island batteries.
At 10 O'Clock in the morning, attention was
again rivited upon Fort Sumter, which was now
beyond q doubt Oh fire. The flames were seen
to burst through the roofs of the houses within
its walls. and dense columns of smoke shot
quickly upward. At this time Major Anderson
scarcely fired a shot. The guns on the ramparts
of Fort Sumter had no utterance in them. Burst
ing shells and grape scattered like hail over the
doomed fort, aud drove the soldiers under cover.
From the Iron Battery at Cummings Point a
continuous fire was kept up. Its rifed cannon
played sad havoc with that portion of Fort Sum-
ter facing it. The firing from the Floating Bat
terry and from Fort Moultrie continued very reg.
ular and accurate. Standing on or near the
Charleston Battery and looking seaward, you
have on the right q mortar battery and Fort
I'll a 4 II.lf
mile from Fort johnson is the Iron Battery OF
Cummings Point, mounting three ten inch colum-
bisds, three sixty-tour Founders, three mortars
and one riled cannon. Cummings Point is
only fifteen hundred yards from Fort Sum-
ter, and so any one can imagine what havoc
the regular fire of the Cummings Point Battery
must have created. The men working the guns
made them terribly effective. The sand redsubt
was scarcely injured by the weak fire Major An
derson kept up on the battery. 1t was cOmman-
ded by Major Stevens of the Citadel Cadets.
Under his direction each shell that was fired
found destination within Fort Sumter, and du.
ring the entire bombardment scarcely one mis-.
sile of this character missed its mark.
On the other side of the harbor, directly Op-
posite Fort Sumter, is one of the strongest sides
of Fort MOutrie. During the last three months
it has been strengthened by every appliance that
military art could suggest. Its merlons, moats,
gaces, and embrasures are perfectly protected.
The weak walls of the fort were made perfectly
secure for the gunners while at work. From
this point throughout the engagement, vast mum
bers of shot and heavy balls we're discharged
Behind this and near Sulivan's Island, the float
ing battery was stationed, with two sixty-fOul
and forty-twO Founders. Its side Of iron ant
palmetto logs were impenetrable. Every sho
from it told on Fort Sumter, and the men II
charge of it we're so secure in their position tina
some of them INDUCED in soldiers pastimes
while others played five cent anti, euchre, an'
bluff
The mortar battery at Mount Pleasant va
500 yards from the floating battery, and wa
mounted with two mortars, within excellan
range of Fort Sumter The shells from thi
mortar were thrown with great precision. YO'
now have all the positions of the works bearinI
directly on Fort Sumter.
All through Friday morning the greatest &C
tivity at all points was displayed. Three time
Major Anderson's barracks were set on fire, an
twice he succeeded in putting out the flame,
aud to do this it was necessary to employ all hi
force in passing along water. To get water
was necessary for some of his men to 20 outsid
the walls and hand the buckets in through tn
portfolios, during all which time they were el
posed to a most terrific fire from the va-iou
batteries. This last expedient was not resorte
to until the fort was on fire for the third tim
and the flames had increased to an alarmin
pitch. Meantime Major Anderson's guns wer
silent He allowed his men to be exposed {
the CALLING fire upon them but for a few moments
and then ordered them in, and shut the bate
les, as the smoke was too thick to work then
At noon the flames burst from every quartz
of Fort Sumter, and the destruction Of it vi
complete.