New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-18

smoke materially interferred with the operations.
At forty-eisht minutes past l2, the flagstaff. on
which the stars and stripes we're dispAseA vas
struck by 8 shell, aud fell within the ~ ASN
au interval of sixteen minutes the American
coors were run up to staff by the sioe vi
chimney at the northeast corner OF the ioft'
In this interval the redoubtable Wigian TOOK
upon himself q singular responsibility. lie ieit
Morris Island in boat, accompanied oy Dr.
Godins Young, and rowed across to Fort sum-
ter. 1t is said by himself that be gained an
entrance through one of the classmates. de
sought Maj. Anderson, and told him that fearing
he was in distress be had come to urge him,
seeing that he had done all his Government could
expect from him, to surrender the fort to Gen.
Beauregard. Maj. Anderson acted upon this
advice and ran up q white flag by the side of
the national ensign. 1t was precisely at half.
past one that the surrender was made.
must leave you, when possessed Of all the
facts, to pronounce judgment on the parties who
are responsible for this catastrophe. On the
shoulders of Buchanans corrupt Government Of
course, rests much of the blame. 1 cannot help
expressing sorrow, however, that Maj. Anderson
should have consented to retain the command OF
Fort Sumter, if his Government compelled him
to stand quietly by aud see preparations made
which he could easily have preyented-for
purposes of treason. blame not the feet, for
l know not under what orders they were acting.
All know is, that surf boats could have re-
enforced Maj. Anderson in the darkness OF last
night, with comparatively little danger, AT
present / blame not Maj. Anderson. His position
was doubtless unpleasant, and may have been
untenable, though it certainly might have been
worse, for the facts show that not single man
was killed in the encounter. / presume ne did
all that mortal man could do TO hold the Gov
eminent property. 1t must have been his inten-
ton all along to do this. or, as an honorable
man, be would have resigned long ago.
Your readers will, in the GOODNESS of their
Northern dispositions" fancy that there is not
much room for Dragging and bombast in the
fact that twelve thousand men have surrounded
a fort manned by not more than seventy, and
have obtained possession Of it. The Chiyalry
think otherwise. Every street rings with shouts
of victory. know some families who cried with
distress and sorrow on hearing that the flag Of
their country had been smitteD down, but church
bells are pealing forth music in honor of the sue
cess which has attended the arms Of the antago-
Cheers rent the air as Gov. Manning and Wig
fall-druDk with excitement, if not with whisky
proceeded up Broad street, pretending to carry
in triumph the sword Of United States officer,
while drums beat, sslutes fired, and the Rebels
were everywhere jubilant- Late in the evening
an immense crowd assembled round the Charles
ton Hotel, and called out old Gov. PickeDs. who,
in the course of long speech, said that the
Stars and Stripes had been humbed for the first
time by South Carolina, that their slave-cOde
ensign was now raised on all tie forts. and that
il never should be lowered, So help him God.
We shall see.
SUNDAY, April IA, 1861
This morning is clear and beautiful, the Pow
hataD, Harriet Lane, Baltic, and Illinois, are
visible in the channel beyond the bar. The Pal
nettoans are not sober yet. Of course. strong
dose of blasphemy is being administered In the
churches The old Bishop ut St. Philips, and
Rector Keith at ST. Mlchaei's, both attribute this
signal and bloodless victory to the infinite mercy
If God, who specially in,erposed ms hand in be-
half of their righteous " cause. The clergy in
our days seem very willing to 90 with the stream,
md are ever ready TO call black white, TO order.
They are in this instance making it their special
mission to become stumbling block in the path
Of truth and justice, and law and order. At
noon, Gen. Beauregard, Gov. Pickens, and their
staff went down in the steamer Charleston to
witness the surrender and evacuation. The
steamer Isabel was specially chartered to take
Major Anderson 10 New-York, but the oficerr
and men of his command were, with their bag
sage, transferred to the transport ships In the
fling Major Anderson saluted his flag with one
10 the tune of Yankee Doodle. The American flag
sas lowered, and DOW the Palmetto flag and the
Confederate flag both wave over Fort Sumter.
They were, OF course, saluted all round the bar
Dor, and Capt. Murray of the New-York steamer
Nashville, who was compelled to enter Charles
ton on Saturday with the United States flag or not
enter at all, went out of his way, and out Of bis
duty to ,alute the Confederate flag, by firing
seven guns.
OF course, there are many incidents connected
with this affair which time forbids my relating
now. The Charleston newspapers have the most
ridiculous and untrue accounts Of the "great
victory" as they call the fight between twelve
thousand men on the one side and sixty seven on
the other, a battle in which not life was lost,
aud nobody was hurt, if may except poor
old horse. struck by stray shot, but expected
10 recover. The last bulletin at The Mercury
office states that he is doing well. On Friday.