The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-04-25
The True story Of Fort sumter BY Capt.
Doubleday.

The True story Of Fort sumter BY Capt.
i Doubleday.
i The following is digest of Capt.
Doubleday's statement: ssThe demand
to surrender Sumter was made on the
18th, and refused, not only by Ander-
son, but by the unanimous voice of his
command. On Friday morning, at 8
O'clock, the rebels sent word that the
fire would be opened on us from every
direction including hidden battery.
The fire opened from volley from sew
enteen mortars, firing ten inch shells,
land shot from thirty three guns, mostly
columbiads. We took breakfast, how
ever, very leisurely. The command
was divided into three watches, under
the direction of two officers. After
breakfast they Immediately went to
their guns, and opened fire upon Moul-
trie, Cummings Point, and Sullivan's
Island. The iron battery at Cum
mings' Point was of immense strength.
and most of our shots glanced off
Anderson refused to allow the men to
work the guns on the parapet on ac-
count of such a terrific fire. .-sr i
"There was scarcely room left in
Moultrie inhabitable. Several shots
went through the floating battery, but
it was little damaged. Two guns on
the iron battery were dismounted. A
man was stationed who cried "shot''
Eor {" she'll" when the rebels fred, and
the garrison were thus enabled to
dodge. AT first the workmen were re-
luctant to help work the guns, but af.
forwards they served most willingly
against the iron battery. The barracks
caught fire several times on Friday, but
the flames were extinguished by the eff
forts of Messrs. Hart, of New York,
and Lyman of Baltimore, both yolun-
teers. r3
con Saturday the officers quarters
caught fire from the shell, and the main
gates were burned. The magazine
was surrounded by fire, and ninety bar
rels of powder were taken out and
thrown into the sea. When the maya
zine was encircled by fire all our mate
rails were cut off, and we had eaten our
last biscuit two days before. The men
had to lay on the ground with wet
handkerchiefs on their faces to prevent
smothering, and a favorable eddy of
wind was all that saved our lives. The
cartridge bags gave out, and FIVE men
were employed to manufacture them
out of our shirts, blankets, sheets, &c.
!" 1t will take half a million dollars
to repair Fort Sumter's interior. Most
of their shots were aimed at the FLAG.
"The following is the conversation
between Major Anderson and Wigfall
The latter said: "Gen. Beauregard
wishes to stop this, sir" Anderson
only replied, "Well, wel.". Wigfall-
You've done all that can be done,
and Gen. Beauregard wishes to know
upon what terms you will evacuate the
fort. Anderson" General Beaure-
gard is already acquainted with the
TERMS" Wigfall- /" Do l understand
you will evacuate on the terms pro-
posed" Anderson" Yes, and only
on those" Wigfall then retired. A
few minutes after Colonel Chestnut and
others came from General Beauregard,
asking if Anderson wanted any help,
stating that Wigfall had not seen Beau
regard for two days, and had no au-
thority for his demand on Anderson, to
which the Major replied, Then we've
been ssSla.-~We will raise our flag
again." But they requested him to
keep it down till communication was
had with Beauregard. The firing then
ceased, and three hours after another
deputation came, agreeing to the terms
previously decided upon.
con Sunday morning the steamer
Isabel came down and anchored of the
fort, when all the baggage was put on
the steamer Clinch. The troops were
under arms. A portion were told to
salute the flag, and when the last of the
fifty guns were fired, the flag was
lowered amid the loud and hearty
cheers of the men, who then formed
and embarked to the tune of Yankee
Doodle. Two men were killed on the
second round of the salute by the pre-
mature explosion of a gun, and four
were wounded, one badly, and left at
Charleston.
EFFORT Sumter has not been rein
forced on any occasion. -
"The Baltic arrived off Charleston
the morning Of Friday, after the firing
commenced on Sumter. The Pawnee
and Pocahontas arrived on the next
day. The Powhattan and Atlantic
have not been seen. The steam tugs
have been blown to sea, and have not
been seen. 4a
"The day that Major Anderson
evacuated preparations to reinforce
him had been made for an attempt that
night. A schooner was seized and an
agreement made to pay the pilot and
captain $500 to put them in the fort,
but the fort was evacuated before the
attempt could be made, Capt Fox had
instructions to attempt to provision the
fort. without troops. If fired on, he
was to push in the best he could, but
the gale prevented the arrival of the
tugs and transports" .z
Among the many incidents of the
battle is that of Mr.. Hart, volunteer,
who, when the flag was shot down
n