Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-04-16
HOSTILITIES COMMENCED
Bombardment of Fort Sumter!!
From tae Charleston Courier, April 18th. ]

1
HOSTILITIES COMMENCED
Bombardment of Fort Sumter!
At about O'Clock on the afternoon o.
Thursday, Gen. Beauregard made demand
on Major Anderson for the immediate sur
render of Fort Sumter. through his Aids. Col
Jas. Chestnut, jr., Col. Chisolm and Capt. Lee
Major Anderson replied that such course
would be inconsistent with the duty he was
required by the Government to perform. The
answer was communicated by the General-in
Chief to President Davis.
This visit and the refusal of the comman.
dant of Fort Sumter to accede to the demand
made by Gen. BeauEegard, passed from tongue
to tongue, and soon the whole city was in
possession of the startling intelligence. Ru-
NOR, as she is wont to do, shaped the facts to
suit her purposes, enlarged their dimensions,
and gave them a complexion which they had
not worn when fresh from the pure and art
less hands of truth.
A half an hour after the return of the or
derlies it was confidently believed that the
batteries would open fire at O'Clock, and in
expectation OF seeing the beginning of the
conflict, hundreds congregated upon the Bat
terry and the wharves, looking out on the
bay. There they stood, straining their eyes
over the dark eXpanse OF water, waiting to
see the flash and hear the boom of the first
gun. The clock told the hour of Ii, and still
they gazed and listened, but the eyelds grew
weary, and at noon of night the larger por-
ton of the disappointed spectators were plod-
ding their way homeward.
At about 9 O'Clock, Gen. Beauregard re-
ceived q reply from President Davis, to the
telegram in relation the surrender of Sum-
ter. by which he was instructed to inform
Major Anderson that if he would evacuate
the fort he held when his present supply of
provisions was exhausted there would be no
appeal to arms. This proposition vas borne
to Major Anderson by the Aids who had de-
livered the first message. and he refused to
accept the condition. The General-ln-Chlef
forthwith gave the order that the batteries be
opened at half past 4 O'Clock on Friday
morning. Major Anderson's reply was decl-
sive of the mOmentous question, and Gen.
Beanregard determined to apply the last ar
gument.
The stout soldier had resolved to make a
desperate defence. and the bloody trial OF
strength must be essayed. The sword must
cut asunder the last tie that bound us to a
people, whom, in spite of wrongs and ia
Justice wantonly inflicted through long
series of years, we had not yet utterly hated
and despised. The last expiring spark of
affection must be quenched in blood. Some
of the most splendid pages in our glorious
history must be blurred. A blow must be
struck that would make the ears of every
Republican fanatic Jingle, and whose dread
full effects will be felt by generations yet to
come. We must transmit heritage OF rauk-
ling and undying hate to our children.
We pause to contemplate the terrible
prospect. Hurried OF by the rapid course
of events, vexed and distracted by increasing
irritations, astounded by the glaring treache-
ry of our enemies, lost in wonder at their
egregious stupidity, we had not fully COM
pretended the nature of the work we were
about to begin. Now, while the ear was
waiting for the roar of cannon we saw clearly
the magnitude of the crisis. While those
solemn hours were passing silently away, we
the tremendous undertaking in
all its aspects, bearings and consequences.
We paused, but it was not the pause of
hesitation or doubt. We had long since
made ourselves familiar with the dangers that
over our pathway, and had they
been .en-fold greater We would have dared
do what we have done, with the same steady
courage and immovable resolution. We had
marked out a way for our feet, and we would
pursue this road let what may oppose our
progress. This pathway was traced by the
finger of honor, and Heavens own light rests
upon it. During these dark hours, heavy
with the anguish of mothers, sisters and
wives. and wet with their tears, we paused to
reflect and pray. We refreshed our spirits
with glorious memories. We felt the inspira-
ton of a just and holy cause and sublime
purpose, and disguised with childish tri6ing
and studied perfidy. we looked to Heaven for
direction and blessing, and turned our backs
forever upon our former brothers.
The crisis had arrived, and we were fully
to meet it. The work that awaited
the morrow was of momentous character,
but we had counted the cost, and had resolv-
ed to do it or die in the attempt.
At the gray of the morning of Friday the
roar of cannon broke upon the ear. The ex-
pected sound was answered by thousands
The houses were in few minutes emptied of
their excited occupants, and the living stream
poured through all the streets leading to the
gharves and Battery. On reaching our beau
tiful promenade we found it lined with ranks
Of eager spectators, and all the wharVes COM
handing a view of the battle were crowded
,bickly with human forms. On no gala ocoa-
hon have we ever seen nearly SO large
humber of ladies on our Battery as graced
he breezy walk On this eventful morning
There they stood with FACILITATING hearts and
,alid faces, watching the white smoke as it
'ose in wreaths upon the soft twilight air,
md breathing out fervent prayers for their
gallant kinsfOlk at the guns. o! what a
conflict ragged in those heaving bosoms be-
ween love for husbands and sons, and love
or our common mother, whose insulted hon.
u and imperilled safety had called her faith
ul children to the ensanguined field.
At thirty minutes past four O'Clock the
conflict was opened by the discharge OF she'll
row the Howitzer Battery on James Island,
,nder the command of Capt. Geo. S. James,
ybo followed the riddled Palmetto banner on
l. IL c Of
The sending of this harmful messenger to
dai. Anderson was followed by deafening
xnlosion. which was caused by the blowing
m of building that stood in front of the
,attery. 80
While the white smoke was melting away
uto the air, another she'll, which Lieut. w.
hampton Gibbs has the honor of having fired,
pursued its noiseleSs way towards the hostile
:.
The honored missive described its beauti- |
al curve through the balmy air, and falling
within the hostile fortress, scattered Its dead
Y contents In all directions. Fort Moultrle
hen took up the tale of death, and in mo |
nent the guns from the redOubtable Gun
.ttery on Cummings Point, from Capt Nc
;ready's Battery, from Capt. Jas. Hamilton's
floating Battery, the Enfilade Battery, and
ther Notifications spit forth their wrath at
he grin, fortress rising so defantly out of the |
ca ;,
Major Anderson received the shot and she'll |
n silence. And some excited lookers-on, lg- |
Iorant of the character Of the foe, were nu-
mt with conjectures and predictions, tnat re-
lived the hope fast dying out of their hope |
al and tender hearts. But the short-lived |
ope was utterly extinguished when the |
deepening twilight revealed the Stars and |
stripes floating proudly in the breeze. The
,atteries continued at regular Intervals to |
,elch iron vengeance, and still no answer |
vas returned by the foe. About an hour at |
er the booming began, two balls rushed his |
ing through the air, and glanced harmless |
rom the succeed bricks of Fort Moultrie. |
The embrasures of the hostile fortress gave |
orth no sound again till between six and |
even O'Clock, when, as if wrathful from en- |
orced delay, from casemate and parapet the |
lifted States officer poured storm of iron |
ail upon Fort Mouitrie, Stevens Iron Bat
Z Tt,a Arno a