Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-04-25
From the Charleston Courier, 18th inst. BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER
 Full Particulars.

At about two o'clock, on the afternoon of Thursday, General Beauregard made a demand on Major Anderson for the imme- diate surrender of Fort Sumter, through his aids, Col Jas. Chestnut, jr., Col. Chis. holm and Captain Lee. Major Anderson replied that such course would be incon- sistent with the duty he was required by his government to perform. The answer was communicated by the general-in-chief to President Davis.
 This visit, and the refusal of the com mandant of Fort Sumter to accede to the demand made by General Beauregard, pass ed from tongue to tongue, and soon the whole city was in possession of the startling intelligence Rumor, as she is wont to do, shaped the facts to suit her purposes, en- larged their dimensions, and gave them a complexion which they had not worn when fresh from the pure and artless hands of | truth.
 A half an hour after the return of the orderlies it was confidently believed that the batteries would open fire at eight o'clock, and in expectation of seeing the beginning of the conflict, hundreds congregated upon the battery and the wharves, looking out upon the bay. There they stood, strain ing their eyes over the dark expanse of water, waiting to see the flash and hear the boom of the first gun. The clock tolled the hour of eleven, and still they gazed and listened but the eyelids now grew weary, and at the noon of the night the lager portion of the disappointed spectators were plodding their way homeward.
 At about nine o'clock, Gen. Beauregard received reply from President Davis, to the telegram in relation to the surrender of Sumter, by which he was instructed to inform Mai Anderson that if he would evacuate the fort he held when his present supply of provisions was exhausted there would be no appeal to arms. This pro- position was borne to Maj. Anderson by the aids who had delivered the first mes sage and he refused to accept the condition. The general -in-chief forthwith gave the order that the batteries be opened at half- past four o'clock on Friday morning. .- Mai. Anderson's reply was decisive of the momentous question, and Gen. Beauregard determined to apply the last argument.
 The stout soldier had resolved to make a 1 desperate defense, and the bloody trial of strength must be essayed. The sword must cut asunder the last tie that bound us to a people whom, in spite of wrongs and ln]us- tice, wantonly inflicted through long se- ries of years, we had not yet utterly hated and despised The last expiring spark oi affection must be quenched in blood. Some of the splendid pages in our glorious histoy must be blurred. A blow must be struck that would make the ears of every republi can fanatic jingle, and whose dreadful eff fects will be felt by generations yetto come We must transmit heritage of ranking and undying hate to our children.
 We pause to contemplate the terrible prospect. Hurried on by the rapid course of events, vexed and distracted by increas ing irritations, astounded by the glarine treachery of our enemies, lost in wonder d their egregious stupidity, we had not fully comprehended the nature of the work wt were about to begin. Now, while the cal was waiting for the roar of cannon we saw clearly the magnitude of the crisis. Whil' those solemn hours were passing silently away. we contemplated the tremendous un dertaking in all its aspects, bearings ant consequences.
 We paused, but it was not the pause o hesitation or doubt. We had long since made ourselves familiar with the danger that darkened over our pathway. and hat thsy been tenfold greater we would hay