New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-19


deputy which brought the second communication con-
sisted of Major Lace, Col Chism, Roger A. Pryor,
Senator Chestnut aud others. Major Andersons reply
was considered by them for fifteen or twenty Minutes
when they returned an answer that the batteries would
omen their fires in one hour. This al 81 O'Clock on
Friday morning. After this reply the deputy OF Gen.
BesuregaId Immediately left
The sentinels were immediately removed from the
parspets of Fort Sumter, tie posterns closed the flag
drawn up and an order to the troops not to leave
the bomb proofs Oh any account, until summoned by
tbs drum. At4;30 a. m one bombslell was thrown
at Sumter bursting immediately over the fort After
the pause Of few moments the firing became general
on the mart of the batteries OF the Secessonists, doing
he greatest credit to the artillerists The command
did not return single shot until the men had had tier
breakfast.
As the number Of was 80 small and The garrison
30 nearly exhausted by the several months OF siege
which they had gone through, II WAS necessary TO nus
band then strength. The command was therefore
divided into three relief equal parties, who were to
work the different batteries by turns, each four hours
| The first relief opened upon the iron batteries nj
Cummings Point, at distance of 900 yards, the
iron floating battery, distant 800 or 1000 yards at
the end OF Sulliyans Island the enfadng battery on
O'Clock in the morning, Capt. Doubleday firing the
| first gun, and all the points named above being
opened upon simultaneously. For the frs four hours
the firing was kept up with great npidity; the en-
lhusiasm of the men, indeed, great that the
second and third reefs could not be kept from the
guns This accounts for the fact that double the num-
Der of guns were at work daring the first four bour
than at ANY other time
Shells burt with the creates, rapidity in every por-
ton of the work, hurting the loose brick and stone in
all directions breaking the Windows, and setting fire
to whatever woodwork they burst against The solid
shot firing Of the enemy batteries, and particularly OF
Fort Moultre, was directed n, the 5arbeite guns OF
Fsrt Sumter disabling ten-inch coiunlbiad phey
had but two one eight-inohss umbsd one forty-two
FOUNDER and two eigl-nch sea-coast bowitzen, and
also tearing large portion Of the paapet away. The
| firing from the batteries on Cummings Point were
scattered over the whole of the gorge rear of the
| foit 1t looked like sieve The explosion OF
| shells, and the quantity Of deadly missiles
that were hurled i'll every direction
and q. every instant of time made it almost certsin
death 60 of the lower tier Of casemens, and also
made the working of the barbetie upper uncovered
guns, which contained all heaviest metals, ard ny
which alone We could throw shells, quite impossible
DufinE Inc uhN lntIt VAR A1ut t'h '"
time thu, there was Gee saton Of the whizzng OF balls
which were sometimes coming hall dozen ut once
There was not portion Of the work which was not
seen ia revere that is, exposed by tho rear from
mortaIs
On Friday before dinner, several of the vesseIs of
The feet beyond the Bar were through the port
holes. Tbcy dipped their flag The command ordered
Sumters hag 70 be dipped in return which done,
a.. I'LL. hnr in TIE
flagstaff was located in the open parade, which is about
the center Of the open space within the forl Ser-
eean, Hart raw the flag of Fort Sumter haa wey
down and, supposlng that it had been cut by the
cnemys shot rushed through the fire to assist in
getting up Shortly after ii had been reraisod,
-he bnrs, and cut the halyard but the rope was go
nertwined round the hayaTds, that the flag wcod not
fall.
party wac sent the magazines TO make cartridges OF
the blankets and shire, the sleeves Of the latter being
readily converted into the purpose desired. Another
great misfortune that there was not an instrument
in the fort by which they could weigh powder, which
Of course destroyed all attempt at accuncy of firing
Nor had they tangent scales breech sde other in
strunent- with which TO point gun.
When il became dark render il impossible 10
sce the ,ec, Of their shot the rorhoes closed
f,- the night willie the batteries Of the SecessiOHiss
continued ibeir lire the whole night.
Duiiup Friday the officers barracks were three times
e on fire by the shells and three timer put out under
the mo- CALLING and destructive firing This was The
only occasion on which Majr Anderson allowed Tie
men 10 xpose tbcnsclye. without an absolute neces-
sIy Tie guns Of the parnpot-which had been Pon'ed
he DIV before--werr fired eandt stinely by some Of
tbc men slipping mp on Top.
The Grine Of the aed guns from the iron battery on
Cummings Point became extremely accurate in the
afternoon of Friday cutting ont large quantities Of the
nafonry about the emhra.ures Al every shot throwing
concrete among the cinnonisrs and slightly wonnding
aud stunning others. On. piece struck Sergeant kear-
psu IN old Mexican war veteran, striking him on the
head and knocking bin down. Upon being revived,
le was asked if he war hunt badly. He replied No;
waa only Knocked down temporarily" and lie Went
% work again
Meals were served At the Guns Of he cannoniors,
Will. the gum were being fred and pointed. The lire
commenced in the morning soon as possible
During Friday night he men endesvorcd to climb |
the fassta for the purpose Of fastening new baliards
the old ones having been cut by shot but found il I'M
possible. The flag remained fast.
For the fourth time the barracks were get on lire .
early on SATURDAY morning, and attempts Were made
b put il ont But il war soon discovered that red-hot
shot were being thrown into the fort viii the greatest
ppidiy and it became evident that il would BE- inpos-
ibe 20 pu out the couAsraiion. TIE whole garrison
wss hen SET ST work. or as many could be spared,
to remove the powder from the magazines which was
Desperate work rolling barrels If powder through the
FIRE.
Ninety odd barrels lad been rolled out through the |
flames WREN the heat became go great as To make ].
nv a..