Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-12
OfficiaI Report of she sOmbardmenr OF
Fort Sumter.
HEADQUARTERS Provisional A. c. S., |
Charleston, April 16, 1861.

HEADQUARTERS IkONlslONAL a. ".
Charleston. April 16, 1861.
SIR: 1 have the honor to submit the following
summary statement of the circumstances OF the
surrender of Fort Sumter:
On the refusal of Mel. Anderson to engage in COM
pliance with my demand to designate the time when
he would evacuate Fort Sumter, and to agree mean
time not to use his guns against at twenty min
utes past three O'Clock tire morning of the 18th
INST gave him formal notice, that within one hour
my batteries would open on him. In consequence
of some circumstance of delay, the bombardment
was not begun precisely at the appointed moment,
and at thirty minutes past four O'Clock the signal
gun was fired, and within twenty minutes all our
batteries were in full play There was no res
ponse from Fort Sumter until about seven o'clock,
! when the first shot from the enemy was discharged
against our batteries on Cummings Point.
By eight o'clock the action became general, and
throughout the day was maintained with spirit on
both sides. Our guns were served with spirit and
energy. The effect visible in the impressions
| made on the walls of Sumter. From our mortar
batteries shells were thrown with such precision
and rapidty that ii soon became impossible for the
enemy to employ his guns barbete of which sew
! eral were dismounted. Tie engagement was con-
tnued, without any circumstance Of special note,
until nighuall, before which time the ire from sum-
ter had evidently slaekened. Operations on our
side sustained throughout the night provoking
| however only feeble response.
| On the morning of the 18th the action prose
cuted with renewed vigor, and about thirty minutes
past seven o'clock it was discovered our shells had
i set fire to the barracks in the fort As soon as
| volumes of smoke were seen rising from the fort
| indicating an extensive confagratOD, and Gppre-
bending some terrible calamity to the garrison,
| Immediately dispatched offer of assistance to
1 Major Anderson, which however with grateful &C
| acknowledgements, he declined. Meantime, being IN
! formed, about two o'clock, that white flag was
| displayed from Sumter, dispatched two of my
Aids TO Major Anderson with terms of evacuation.
In recognition Of the galantry exhibited by the gar
rison cheerfully agreed that on surrenderlng the
! fort the commanding officer might salute his flag.
By eight O'Clock the terms of evacuation were
| definitely accepted. Major Anderson having ex-
| pressed a desire to communicate with the United
States vessels lying off the harbor, with view to
arrange for the transportation Of the command to
some port in the United States of his officers,
accompanied by Captain Hartsteine and three of my
Aids was permitted to visit the officers in command
of the squadron TO make provision for that object
Because of an unavoidable delay, the formal trans
fer of the fort to possession did not take place
until four o'clock IN the afternoon Of the 18th inst
At that hour, the place having been evacuated by
| the United States garrison, our troops occupied
| it, and the Confederate Flag was hoisted on the
| ramparts of Sumter, with a salute from 1.-THE va
ousIbatteries.
The steamer Isabel having been placed at the SER
| vice of Major Anderson, he and his command were
transferred 10 the vessels off the harbor. The
| gency of immediate engagements prevents me from
| giving at present more circumstantIal narrative
of TIE incidents connected with the capture of Fort
| Sumter. When the reports from the various Com
| manders of all the batteries received, will
| hasten to forward you more detailed account
In conclusion am happy to state that the troops,
| both officers and soldiers, of the regulars Volun
| teers and militia and navy, by their energy, zeal.
perseverance labor and endurance before the attack
and by their courage and gallantry during its con-
tnuance exhibited all the characteristics of the best
soldiers and to my Staff regular and volunteer, am
much indebted for the prompt and complete execu-
| ton of nv orders which had to be communicated
in open boats during the bombardment to the differ
| ent batteries then engaged.
remain, sir, very respectfully, your Obedient
servant, G. L. BEACREGARD
| Brigadier General Commanding.
| Hon. L. ?. WALKER, Secretary of War, Montgomery,
| Alabama.