The Van Buren press., 1861-04-24

company with the Baltic also the, Paw
nee, with her troops, and the Pocahontas
for Norfolk. The Powhattan was not, nor
had she been at Charleston, The pawnee
did not arrive at Charleston until after the
surrender Of Fort Sumter. During the
whole time the feet remained off the bar.
the wind blew gale from the southeast,
rendering the feet useless, so far as Fort
Sumter was concerned. Maj. Anderson
landed at the Battery, and was received by
immense crowd. His carriage was sur
rounded by the people, who expressed in
gratulations, and he was followed by an
immense throng through Broadway. to the
Brevoort'House. where he Joined his wife.
Capt. Doubleday, of Maj. Anderson S
command, makes the following statement
| The demand to surrender Fort Sumter was
made ON the 11th and refused, not only by
Anderson. but by the unanimous consent
of his command. On Friday morning at
o'clock, tho rebels sent word that fire
would be opened in an hour. and at 4
| o'clock the 6re was opened on us from every
direction, hcluding a hidden battery. Fire
opened witfA voliey from IL mortars, fir
ing tea. u B shells, and shots from 33 guns,
| mostly q mbiads. We took breakfast
however, bisurely; the command was divi-
| dcd into watches, each under direction Of
| two officers. After breakfast they imme-
diately went to their guns and opened fire
on Moultrie, Cummings Point and SulIi,
vans Island. The Iron Battery of Cum.
ming's Point was of immense strength, and
most of our shells glanced off Maj. An.
derson refused to allow the men to work
the guns on the parape. on account of sucl
terrific fire. There was scarcely a room
left in Moultrie inhabiteble several shots
went through the floating battery, but il
was little damaged. Two guns on the iron
battery wcra dismounted. A man was sta
toned. who cried shot or shell when the
rebels fired. and the garrison were thus ena
blcd to dodge. At first tho workmen were
reluctant to help work the guns, but after
wards they served most willingly and yer,
effectively against the iron battery. III
barracks caught fire several tines ON Fri
day but were sStlnga'sh",.. by the efforts ,
Mr. Hart, OF New York, Wyman, of Bal
timore, both Volunteers On Saturday til
oiheerS quarters caught fire from the shell
ana the Lain guns were burnt. The maga
Zin" was surrounded by fire, and ninety bar
rels of powder was taken and thrown int
the sea. When the magazine was encircle
oy fire, all our materials were cut off, an
we had eaten our last biscuit two days be
fore. The men had 20 lay on the groun
with wet handkerchiets on their faces to pre-
vent smothering, and favorable, stead
wind was all that saved their lives Th
cartridge bags gave out and five men wer
employed to manufacture them out of ou
sheets, blankets, shirts, DC.
1t will take half a million dollars to re
pair Fort Sumter's interior Most of thei
shells We're aimed at the flag.
The following is the conversation be
tween Maj. Anderson and Wigfall.
WigfaH to Anderson.
Gen. Deauregard wishes to stop this, sil
Anderson to WiayaU.
-Andtts5g only replied. Well. well.
WiWaN to anderson.
You have done all that can be done, an
Gen. Beaurogard wishes to know upon wha
terms You will evacuate the Fort.
anderson to WiataN
Gen. Beauregard is already acquainte
with terms.
HtyTdtL 10 I1defS0H.
4 l understand you will evacuate on tn
terms proposed.
Inderson to HigfaH.
Yes, and only on those.
Wigfali then retired few moments, al
ter which Col. Chestnut and others fror
t Gen. Beauregard, asking if Anderso
wanted any help, stating that WigfalI ha
four men wounded one badly and left q
Charleston. Fl. Sumter has not been rein
forced on any occasion.
: Regular Washington dispatches stat
!, that Capt. Cullom, of the corps of engin
eers, had been appointed Aid de Camp t
Gen. Scott. with the rank of Lieut.. Colo
mel.
Messrs. Carlisle and Dent, delegates c
, Virginia Convention, arrived yesterda
) morning. They are of the strongest Un
ion sentiments, and their presence occasion
much surprise. They say there is no fu,
ther use of them in the convention. Nj
Carlisle remarked that he left Richmon
, ga sad man.
1t is the intention of the War Depart
ment, to make companies enough in tn
District to yield a force approachin 800
men.
: The soldiers of the war of 1912, a,
: about adopting military organization an
are offering their services for the defence
: the seat of government. The Massachu
} setts and Rhode Island regiments, ana tn
; 7th Regi,nrnt of New Jersey, are expecte
Immediately.
A special government message had Jus
arrived from Pensacola. The War Depart
ment officially announces the establishment
of newimilitary department to be Gale
the depa&ment of Washington.
i Maj. Bail, paymaster Of the army, re
signed his commission. yesterday. A ru
NOR was ,aaoat in Washington, yesterda
morning. that Harper's Ferry was in th
hands of the authorities of Virginia, but
Baltimore dispatch of last night, says tn
report is false. There is full company Q
j United States artillerists stationed there
and a strong Union population.
! The excitement at Baltimore is iacreas
ing. The Union men are thronging tn
streets. determined to overawe the secess
sionists. The minute men have the Uniol
flag from their head quarters. The Cover
nor and Mayor will issue joint proclama
tion to prevent interference with the pass
age Of tho federal troops
The report sent OF the seizure of arms b
the police of Cincinnati, is without found
alton. The captain of the steamer Glen
wood, placed the arms in the possession Q
the police for safe keeping. So far as th