Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-01

II sHouiN 90 "oSAuE-tfk1S - nn-lo SGAlc
right.
raise one thousand dollars 10 assist in the cqull
ment aad purchase Of arms for the county
CulDeper.
Under the Tth resolution the Chair appoiu
ed the following gentlemen as the committee
ChaS. II. Hays, ChaS. L. Crittenden, Georg
II. Coous, VIM. II. Browning, JAS. VI. ButtoI
Thos. Hill, Haywood D. Luckctt, VIM. Green
s.. Pierre Gibson, Alex. Taliaferro. James :
S!ringfeilow, DR.. John Washington Ashby.
Evacuation Or Fort acknowledgements
OF Fort. Sumter-0ccupation of For
Monltrie by South Carolina TroopG.
From the Charleston Courier of Eriday.l
Throughout the city yesterday the creates
excitement prevailed in relation 10 the new
from Forts Mou!trie and Sumter. As earl j. 4
eight o'clock in the forenoon The ru,nors Of IN
destruction Of the former Of these militar,
posts, and the occupation Of the latter by IN
forces Of the United States, were circulated
1t was at first currently reported and believed
that Fort Moultric had been laid in ruins, tia
the guns were spiked, and the carriages, &c.
together with the barracks, burned, and tina
the post had been entirely abandoned. The :c
ports spread like wild-iire, and soon gnincc
currency in every part Of the city. Crowds "
citizens anXiouSly inquired Of each other TIL
latest intelligence in relation to the affair
squads collected on every corner If the streets
and in front Of the public resorts, 10 canvas
tine subject.
The newspaper offices were bcsiegcd, tbs
hotel halls were %thronged. ani even the graTs
anil min, pnftlo,nov, n ttn Stat.
Convention Shared in the general excitement,
On o:l hands anger and indignation were cx'
pressed at the supposed perfidious conduct Of
the Federal authorities, at whose instance il
was at first thought the movement was made.
The people were greatly incensed at the idea
of :. wilful breach OF those assurances Of non
actIoa which had been volunteered by the Gov
ernment at Washington, and upon which 50
much reliance and confidence had been placed
by the entire population that every impulse
to take the necessary precautions Tor their own
safety had been restrained.
Instinctivcly men flew to arms. Orders
were Immediately issued to the following com,
panics to hold themselves in readiness for ser
vice: Washington Light Infantry, Capt. G. II.
Sinlorton; Carolina Light Infantry, Capt. +.
G. Pinckney; Meagher Guards, Capt. Ed. Nc
Cready, Jr., all together forming a portion OF
the Regiment Of Rifles, commanded by Col.
j pettigrcw and Major Ellison Carers; also,
FaSstic ARTILLERY, cart r. }. P56I;t", sJffF.;;@ N7EfsIh:
ARTILLERY, Capt. G. II. Walter; German
Artillery, Capt. c. Nohrden, all under com.
mand Of Lieut.. Col. ". G. DeSauSsure; Adjn-
:art. James Simmons, Jr.; Sergeant Major, z.
Priolcau Ravenei; !QuartermaSter Sergeant, j.
Z. Macbeth; Surveyor, A. Barhot; Surgeons,
Geryais Robinson and Middleton Michel
Also, the Palmetto Guard, Capt. Thomas Mid
dlcton, and Cadet Riicmen, Capt. V. S. FL.
Ali the military forces thus ordered oIi
promptly obeyed the summons, and the streets
were soon enliTened by the appearance Of in
members Of the different organizations
their uniforms. .About.noon the excitement
in the streets had attained the highest pitch.
The convention was known 10 be in secret con-
clave, and it was believed that this was the
matter Of their deliberations. The
streets swar!ned with people. Additional flags
we're displayed frotu the stores and houses Oh,
he principal streets. The custoln-houSe, and
,thcr houses formerly in the possession of the:
United States Government, displayed the bunt-
of the inluut Republic Of South Carolina
Every one looked upon the war As actually
and all seemed to feel that their bretiI-
en- were in the field. and themselves began to
row restless at the prospect Of inactivity and
Later in tho day, however, the excite.uen,
vas somewhat abated, when it became known
hat the movement, on the part OF the forces OF
ne United States at Fort Moultric, was not at
he Instance Of the Administration at Wash
iIgtol, but was merely a precautionary mea-
ure taken by Maj. Anderson, under conviction
bat his position within the fortress or Sulli.
ans Island would not be t~enahie. il attacked
n it hy well organized and disciplined troops.
he contralictioi: Of the first reports. in rcla-
ion TO ,il: damage done The fort by the troops
hat had evacuated it, also had = tendency to
Hay the excitement Of the occasion.
fuRT SUMTER AS OCCUPIED.
In order 10 ascertain truthful statements Of
he actual damage done TO the fort, q the
aGses of the movement, and Of the state Of al
t:rs generally, reporters were despatched to
&c scene during the forenoon. On the way
cross the harbUr the hosting Of an American
AZ from, the staff at Fort Sumter Gt precisely |
2 o'clock, gave certain indication that the
..ronchoid was occupied by the troops Of the
.nitcd States. On n nearer approach the for
was discovered to be occupied, the guns
Spcarcd to be mounted, and %sentinels were
OH duty, and the place to give every
IN OF occupancy and military discipline.
he grim fortress (rownci defiance on every |
the busy notes of preparation rc>ounded
its unforbidding rcccsscs, and every
hing seemed to indicate the utmost alacrity in
he work on hand.
roKr MoULTEIE ARD lTs CONDITION.
Turning towards Fort Mouliric, q dcrse
loud Of smoke was seen to pour from the end
,ciug the sea. The flag staff was down. and
he whole place had m air Of desolation and
bardnumeut quite the reverse of ITS husy look
NJ week acO, when scores Of laborers were
in adding to its strength al The works
Kill and experience could suggest.
IN the immediate vicinity Of the rear or InId
idc entrance, however, greater activity Gas
,n,iccablc. Al the time Of our visit n large
nrcc Of hands had been summoned to deliver
their implements, for transportation III Fort
Around on every side were the cvl-
fences of labor il the Fertilization OF the Work.
II many places a portion Of the dcfcnccS were
,rcng,henri by every appliance that art could
usyvSt, or ingenuity devise; while in others,
he unculnplcted works gave evidences Of the
almost confusion. On all hands the process Of
goods, furniture and munitions, was
q, going On. The heavy guns upon tho RAIN
Of Ihc fort were thrown down from their
urriaces, aud spiked. Every ounce OF powder
nd every cartridge had been removed from the
magazines; and, i'll fact, everything like small
rms, ~rloit;ng. trovis;":is, ac:oulrcl"en's' and
thcr Munitions of war, had been removed oil
nd dcpoS;,cd--ncilling but heavy balls and
,sclcSS cannon remained.
The cntirc place was, to all appearances, III
cred up with the odd ends and fragments OF
'ar's dcsolation. Confusion could not have
'ccn more complete had the late occupants re-