The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-04-24
iFoR THE LANCASTER LgDGER.1

| v
the Ledger. see you have in that pape
given an account Of our trip rs far, rs Cam
den; that part will leave out. in fact, | ex
Ipect the most of your readers will see
full account of the battle before this reach
es them this may be interesting to thos,
who have relations in the army. We lef
Camden on Friday morning the 18th Inst.
for the seat of War, every man read,
trimcd Tor the battle. for we expected i
had commenced from the news we had re
ceived in Camden the most of our mcr
had procured canteens and other article.
necessary for campaign Soon after we
had got under way, the officers examined
all the cantcens TO see il they contained
hot or cold water : was pleased TO sec
that there was no iron" aboard. At many
points on the rout, (and particularly Mt Or.
anyeburg) we were cheercd by the ladies',
their white handkrrchiers hJated in the
breeze in such manner as I" a-sure us
that their hearts were with us. think that
| several of our volunteers could have spent
u few hours pleasantly nt OrLngcbYrg With
the ladies, particularly Squire Jack, Judge
! w and 5. ]. ID. they would have been
glad to see the iron horse stop and am
not sure but the Squire said woe, aud
would have liked to have got hold of the
rein, to stop him, but on he went mad Ian.
ded ns safe in Charleston about orc O'Clock
Friday evening. We could hear the can.
non roaring, the firing WAS slow but rcgu
lrr. The battle commenced about half past
four o'clock on Friday morning. The
company took quarters at the American
Hotel. About two o'clock wen, down to
the Battery where ! had . full view Of the
battle. Tho battery and wharf, was crow
dcd day md night with people "r all SORTS
sizes and colors. The firing MAS more rap.
| id in the evening than it had been in the
fore part of the day Anderson fought like
n tiger. but nli to no effect, our batteries
stood the storm without sustaining any ma.
icri,l injury, whilst shower Of ,hnt md
| shell WAS pouring into Fori Sumter from
| every quarter The DO mbarding continued
through the tight, and presented bcauti
fuI sight. 1t looked like streams OF fire
coming from many different points and
forming iulo Fort Sumter. Anderson
ceased iirin. early in the night, but opened
early on Saturday morning. lls fired rap.
idly until about eight o'clock, about that
time a clond of smoke bursied up from the
Fort, and soon the cry that Fort Sumter is
on fire passed through the immense crowd.
The ire at times would appear To bo nearly
eXtinguishcd but would soon burst forth
again until it appeared to spread entirely
over the inside of the fort. A fleet could
be plainly seen lying fl the bar "f North
Channel. This think was the most cow
ardly net that have ever Witnessed they
stood there and SAW Anderson snok ed out
they saw him show every sign Of distress,
and they did not attempt TO render any ns-
sistance. The Harriet Lane did start like
she intended 10 cross the bar bnt she was
tlred at by one Of oar batteries before she
got in reach Of our guns. She put back,
evidently having no notion of crossing the
bar when she started, hut she wished To be
able 10 report that she had been in our bat.
tie. If this is the best material that old
a be has. he vii! need more than seventy.
five thousand to reinke Fort Sumter. They
have the heels, but We have the bottom. !
must get back To my subject. Anderson
fired but few times after the fort wns Set
on fire. About one o'clock The flag stall at
For. Sumter was shot away IL Was raised
again in about twenty minutes, and n white
flag by The side of it, Col. Wigfall (aid TO
Gen. Beauregard) went to the fort with Il
white handkerchief on the point Of his
sword he entered the fort and called for
Major Anderson. and demanded u surrender
After n few words, Anderson agreed TO
make nm unconditional surrender. Col. w.
immediately came over 10 The city ~ re.
port to Gen. Bcauregard. When lie landed
aud told the news of the surrender ihe ex
cilcment exceeded anything that have ever
seen. II old Abe could have seen the nc.
groes cheering, waveing hats and handker.
chiefs, ] think that he would have con.
cluded that all wns OH one side here. IL
appeared to me that the breath Of the peo.
| Pile in Charleston would almost have con
sumcd black republican.
On Sunday morning bright and early tho
| face Of The water around Fort Sumter was
nearly covered with vessels OF all sizes
bearing the flags OF many different nations,
all anxious to witness the surrender aud
departure Of Anderson. He commenced
carrying his baggage &c, aboard OF steam.
or, he was permitted TO leave by whatever
conveyance he wished and carry his private
property side arms, &c, with him, aud 81.
lutte his flag. About two o'clock he finished
loading, lie then hoisled his flag and fred u
salute Of fifty four guns. It's strange 10
say That M person was killed or wounded
on either side in the battle, bul in firing the
salute two Of Andersons men were killed
and two wounded by the explosion Of some
cartridges
must say that Sunday was the proud.
est day of my life. | saw the enemies flag
struck amid the cheers Of thousands Of our
citizens ! saw the enemy that had fought
against us quit the last foot hold that III sy
had on our soil saw the flag Of my be-
loved Carolina and the flag Of the Southern
C0nfederacy proudly nnd deiantly floating
over the walls Of that fortress which has
been 30 long .hvid by our enemies. An.
| derson and hia men got aboard Of the
Steamer Isabel and was preparing to leave
for the North, when left for the city.
] left CharlestoR for home Sunday night.
Our friends Of the Lancaster Greys" were
all we'll and in good spirits. When left
Charleston our company was still in the
city, but understand that They went 10
Morris Island on Monday evening to join
the balance of their regiment. know that
this wac good news TO them for they were
anxious 10 no there. '"' IAMES