The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-04-27

! ceased firlnE fni the same reason.
On the 18th instant, Major Anderson AGAR
| ordered the batteries to be worked and return
a vigorous fire on the enemy. The RAPID
| discharge Of ball and sh.ll from the Scccs
sionisls, contribute to make the searching
air around the Fort almost intolerable tc
| breathe The fire Of General Bcauresard'.
troops was so desperate that it WAS impossible
TO work the barbetie guns. which had % be
abandoned in consequence. The difficulties
under which Major Anderson labored was
increased by the fact that portion of his men
! had to be employed in making cartridges
which caused intervals between the discharge
of his guns, not otherwise intcnled or eX.
| pectcd
On the morning Of the 18th instant. the
southeast portion of the barracks Of the fort
| took fire. and the aamcs soon spread rapidly
! 'hrea trnng a fea, lui death to tie gallant
defenders. When the rcvolutionsts observed
| the confingation, they increased their fire, to
!he surprise of the officers of the Fort, who
did not expect such ii proceeding. Indeed,
| the impression was general that the troops OF
South Carolina would come over under flag
Of truce and cxtinguish the flames.
Nearly all Major Anderson's command
| were then engaged in the labor of reducing
OF Pntins out the fire, which spread SO rapid
| ly, that it approached the precincts of the
magazine. where ninety barrels Of powder
| were stored.
| All the troops were then ordered to remove
| the powder, which, after dangerous labor,
WAS covered with wet blankets and take
out. The precaution was rendered douhly
| necessary by the circumstance that the cop
Ter doors of the powder chamber were no.
enough almost TO cause immediate ignition. -
The air, too, which surrounded the fort. was
similar to the blast Of an over heated furnace.
and threatened immediate mortality among
the men, who were Obliged to cover their faces
continually with wet cloths, to extend their
painful existence. Still the fire of the Rcvo-
lutloniSts was Kept up. and the powder which
was saved in order to escape anticipated OK.
plosion had 10 lie thrown into the sea. a
few of the troops. however. manned the guns.
with the object Of showing by their weak and
vain fire, that they were sill alive, and would
die protecting the National Flag
At this juncturc. General Bcauregard des-
patched messenger. inquiring if Major AN
derson would evacuate the Fort. Ma jur An.
der>on replied that he was ready 10 do so on
the conditions he had named two days before,
but the Major did not offer TO surrender the
fort When Gen. Beaurcgald heard the
| reply, he sen: another messenger to the fort.
otlIlng that Major Anderson might leave the
| t",t on his own conditions being in mill
larry phrase The honers of war. Major An
derson accepted the proposition. and the
steamer Isabel, belonging to the Reyou
t'"nlsts, afterwards came alongside the fort.
when the commandant, troops and laborers
harked.
The American ensign was then lowered
from the flag staiTof the fort, and placed over
| the Isabel, during which ceremony a salute of
'll'y guns was fired in respect to the colo,s.
AS the Isabel glidcd over the waters with the
tcde'a troops. the American flag was raised
and baud on board struck up Yankee
Doodle"
The evacuation Of the fort was necessity,
as existence there under the circums anccs
was an lnposs,b,iiy.
The following IS Major Auderson's dispatch
| to the Secretary of War:
Sir: Having defended Fort Sumter for
'hlr'y-iour hours until my quarters were
entirely burned, and the NAN gates destroyed
by fire. the gorge wall seriously injured, my
magazine surrounded by tl1mcs, and its door
closed from the effects of the heat, four bar.
re's and three cartridges of powder being
available. and no provisions but pork re-
naming, accepted the terms of evacuation
offered by General Beauregard, being the
same as offered by him on the llth inst,
prior to the commencement of hostiliIics, and
marched out of the fort on Sunday afternoon l,
the l4ih instant, with colors flying, drums
beating and bringing away both company
and private property, and saluting my flag
with nifty surs. ROBERT ANDERSON.
CAPT. DoUELEDAY's STATEMENT.
Capt. Doubleday says that the demand to
surrender Fort Sumter was made on the llth
but was refused not only by Major Anderson
but by the unanimous voice of the command.
On Friday morning. at 3 O'Clock, the
rebels SEM word that the fire would be opened
in an hour. At o'clock the fire opened on
us from every direction, including a hidden
battery. The fire opened with a vnlley from
seventeen mortars firing ten inch shells, and
shot from thirty-threc guns, mostly colum.
biad,
We took breakfast very lcisurey. The
command was divided into three watches
each under the direction of two officers
After breakfast, they Immediately went 10
the guns and opened fire on Fort Moulrie
Cummings Point, and Sullivan's Island Iron
immense strength, and most of our shot
glanced off Major Anderson refused to
allow the men to turn the guns on the parapet
on account Of such terrific fire being direct
cd there.
There was scarcely room in Fort Moultrie
left in habitable condition. and severa
shots went through the floating battery, but il
was but little damaged. Two guns on the
Iron Battery were dismounted. man was
stationed who cried shot or shell when the
rebels Hired, and the garrison was thus enabled
to dodge.
At first the workmen were reluctant ia
help to work the guns, but afterwards saved
most willingly and cffectnally against the
Iron Battery. The barracks caught fire
several times on Friday, but were extin-
| Suished by the efforts of Mr.. Hart. of New
York, and Mr.. Lyman, Of Baltimore, both
volunteers.
On Saturday the officers quarters caught
fire from she'll. The mail gates were burnt
and the magazine was actually surrounded
by fire, and ninety barrels of powder, which
had been taken out, were thrown into the sea
When the magazine was encircled by fire
all our materials acre cut of, and apc had cate,
our last biscuit t,co days before! The mer
had TO lay on the ground with wet handker
chiefs on their faces to prevent smotherng
and favorable eddy of wind was all tina
saved our lives Our cartridge bags gave out
and five men were employed to manuiactur.
them out of our shirts. sheets, blankets, &c
1t will take half million dollars to repa
Fort Sumter's interior. Most of their sho
were aimed at our flag.
!