The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-05-03
Cummings Point, which had been broken
On thu adnoa On the harhefta aouo.al of

Cummings Point, which had been broken
on the edges. On the barbette, several of
the guns had been injured. One had been
struck by ball from Moultrie and cracked.
One gun was dismounted, two large guns,
one Of them a ten.inch Oolumbiad had been
thrown over by the recoil from the neglect
to throw them out of gear.
b The gorge had been struck by she'll and
shot in great many places; some of these,
thrown from the English rifled cannon in
embrasure at Cummings Point, had pene-
trated the wall to the depth OF from twelve
to eighteen inches. The crest of the para
pet had been broken in many places, and
some of the buildings badly injured. The
officers quarters were riddled with shot,
the floors broken through, and the roofs
partially destroyed. Some of the officers
effects that could be removed were taken at
once to the classmates.
. Early this morning fragment Of shell
cut off one of the flag halyards, but owing
to the fact that the remaining halyard took
q turn round the topmast, the flag did not
fall, and thus it remained through the night.
At daylight on Saturday the firing from
the gun batteries was resumed on Fort
Sumpter. The batteries of the fort were
opened soon after, and the firing was kept
up vigorously until the supply of cartridges
gave out. 1t was observed that about
three shots minute took effect on Fort
Sumpter. About 81 o'clock the quarters
took fire from shell fired fl Fort Moul-
trie, and after the quarters took fire hot
shot were fired from Fort Moultrie, which
scattered the embers and spread the conAa.
grafton.
It was now impossible to extinguish the
fire, which blazed violently, and which soon
spread to the neighborhood of the maga-
zine. Barrels containing powder were ia
ken out of the magazine and rolled under
the classmates. The fire, however, soon
communicated with the barracks above,
and the barrels were thrown into the sea.
The lower magazine was closed and earth
heaped around the door. The fire contin.
ued to spread, and finally extended to the
barracks and classmates, where the Offices
and hospital were quartered. By the exer.
lions Of tina men not on duty at the guns, it
was prevented from communicating with
the lower story. The whole fort and the
tier of classmates were filled with smoke,
which made it difficult to breathe. Still the
firing continued from Fort Sumpter. At
twenty minutes OF one, the flagstaff, which
had been grazed some eight times, was shot
away. 1t was soon replaced on the ram.
parts. At IN P. NJ, boat was seen ap-
preaching from Cummings Point. 1t con-
tanned Gen. Wigfall, with small boats
crew, consisting of one white man and two
negroes. The main gate was burning at
the time, Immediately over the entrance to
a mine. MIR. W. passed around the Fort
until ne came to the first embrasure, leav-
ing bis boat at the wharf. He there met
soldier looking through the portfolio, to
whom he said that he was Gen. Wigfall
and wished to see Major Anderson at the
main gate. He held in his hand a sword
to which was attached white handker.
chief. The soldier at once ran along the
classmates to inform Maj. Anderson, and
Lieut.. Snyder started at once across the pa
rade to the main gate to meet Gen. Wig.
fall. On reaching the exterior they saw
the boat. The men called out, much excl
ted, }: where can we 60 for safe place 2"
Major A. replied, " stay where you are
that is the safest place."
Gen. Wigfall not being there, Major An
derson returned, while Lieut.. Snyder fol-.
lowed Gen. Wigfall around the outside and
overlook him as be was crawling through
an embrasure, and called out to him, Major
Anderson is at the main gate.
Wigfall passed into the casemate and was
met there by Capt. Foster, Lieut.. Mead and
Lieut. Davis. He said, 81 wish to see Mai.
Anderson 1 am Gen Wigfall, and come
from Gen. Beauregard."
He then added, i'll an excited manner,
"Let up stop this firing. You are on fire,
and your flag is down. Let us quit"
An officer replied, mo, Sir, our flag is
not down. Step out here and you will see
it waving over the ramparts."
"Gen. Beauregard wants to stop this"
said Wigfall. "Here's a white flag, will
anybody wave it out of the embrasure."
One of the officers replied. ''that's for you
to do, if you choose
Wigtall responded, eff there is no one
else to do 1t, may l do it :" and jumping
into the embrasure waved the flag toward
Moultrie. The firing still continued from
Moultrie and the batteries on Sullivan's
Island: In answer to his repeated requests
one of the officers said, zone of our men
may hold the flag" and Corporal Binghurst
jumped into the embrasure. The shot con.
tinuing to strike all around him, he jumped
down again, after having waved the flag a
few moments, and said, damn it-they
don't respect this flag, they are firing at it"
Wigfall replied, " They fred at me two
or three times, and stood it, and l think
that you might stand it once"
Wigfall then said, +" If you will show a
white flag from your ramparts, they will
cease firing"
An officer replied, If you request that
a flag shall be shown there, while you hold
q conference with Major Anderson, and for
that purpose alone, Major Anderson may
permit it." .. sud-
At this point Major Anderson came up.
Wigfall said, 81 am Gen. Wigfall, and
come from ten Raaurorardo. he s,nuto 10