The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-04-23
INCIDENTS OF THE COMMANDMENT
AND SURRENDER.

AND SURRENDER.
Fort Sumter was delivered up on Saturday to
Capt. Ferguson, one of Gen. Beaurcgard's aids,
despatched to receive it, and raise upon its walls
the Confederate flag. Previous to leaving, Major
Anderson carefully pointed out the location of the
mines which he had laid to defend his post; also
the powder magazines, with the danger to which
he might be exposed by the progress of the fire,
ETC After performing these Offices, he delivered
up the keys
1t is understood that Major Anderson lad in
tended to fire salute of one hundred guns before
striking the United States flag, both the national
salute of thirty-four or thirty-six guns, and the
Presidents salute of twenty-one guns. This not
being particularly agreeable to the captors of the
fort he determined to fire full salute, but one
without special point. The accident hich hap
pened to his gunucrs put stop to his intention.
immediately upon seeing the fatal effect, Major
Whiting wrote an order for the Confederate troops
to bury the body in the parade ground Of Fort
Sumter. with all the honors Of War, and sent a
copy to Major Anderson, who was vislbly affected
by this token of respect towards his brave garrison
by their victorious enemies.
The Confederate flag and the ensign of South
Carolina were hosted simultaneously on the ram
parts looking towards Charleston The two flag
staffs upon which the colors had been raised had
been dashed to two guns one another by Com
modore Hartstene and rose some fifteen feet above
the parapet. 1t is stated that Anderson's flag
staff at Fort Sumter was touched by balls seven
times before the final shot which cut it down.
The Aalyard was cut below the flag on the morn
ing of the 18th. At Fort Moultrie, where foated
Doth the Confederate and State colors, the folds of
the former were pierced by balls the latter by g.
In the terms of equalization it allowed to
Major Anderson to salute his flag, and 1t was per-
haps expected that he would fire the usual COM
PIGMENT Of twenty-ore guns; but reaching that
number, he still went on to fire, and the appre-
hension was that he might exhibit the discourtesy
of numbering thirty-four. But he continued still
to fire up to fifty, and then slowly lowering his
flag, the shouts from assembled thousands upon
the shores and the steamers, and every species of
water craft, announced that the authority of the
late United States upon the last foot of Carolina s
soil was finally withdrawn.
1t had been noticed, that at the firing of the
seventeenth gun, there was the sound as of two
reports, and the impression that two guns had
been fred together; but the party, re-embark-
ing, were on their way to Fort Sumter, they were
met by boat, which amour ced that one of the
cannons had exploded and made tie earnest re-
quest that the boat would return to Sullivan s
Island for fire engine, from the apprehension that
the magazine might be in danger. This obtained,
the party again started for the fort, and made
their entrance.
1t were VAIN to attempt detailed description OF
the scene Every point and every object in the
interior Of the fort to which the eye turned,
except the outer walls and classmates, which are
still strong, bore the impress of ruin 1t were as
if the Genius Of Destruction had tasked its
energies to make the thing complete, brooded over
by the desolation Of ages 1t could scarce have
been developed to more full maturity Of ruin.
The walls Of the internal structure, -oofess, bare,
blackcned and perforated by shot and she'll, hung
in fragments, and seemed in instant readiness to
tutter down. Near the centre of the parade
ground the hurried grave Of one who had
fallen from the recent casualty To the left Of
the entrance who seemed to be at the
verge of death. In the ruins to the right there
was another The shattered flagstaff, pierced by
four balls, lay sp fawling on the ground. The
parade ground was strewn with fragments Of shell
and of the dilapidatcd buildings. At least four
guns were dismouuted on the ramparts, and at
every step the way was impcded by portions of the
broken structure. And so it was that the authori-
ties compelled to yield the fortress, had at least
the satisfaction of leaving it in condition to in
spre the least possible pleasure to its captors.
Major Anderson and his command marched out
to the tune of Z" Yankee Doodle" They were
dressed in full uniform, and carried their arms.
Major Anderson looked care-wor and deeply
de>pondcnt, produced, no doubt among other cir
cumstances, by the sad accident which happened
whilst saluting his flag.