The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-26

blockading the port. Their long black bulls
and smoke stacks proved them to be federal
steamers. Every one anxiously awaited to
see what they would do. The suspense was
very exciting. On all sides could be heard,
Will the vessels come in and engage the
batteries" Why do they hold OFF,"
Every person on the Battery fully expected
that the engagement would become general.
By the aid of glasses it was thought that
movement was being made to this end by
two of the war ships, and it was thought
sand would soon begin to fly from the Nor
ris Island batteries.
At ten o'clock in the morning attention
was again riveted upon Fort Sumpter, which
was now, beyond a doubt, on fire. The
flames were seen to burst through the roofs
of the houses within its walls, and dense
columns of smoke shot quickly upward. AT
this time Major Anderson scarcely fired
shot. The guns on the ramparts of Fort
Sumpter had no utterance in them. Burst
ing shells and grape scattered like hail over
the doomed fort, and drove the soldiers
under cover. From the front battery at
Cummings Point a continuous fire was kept
up. Its rihed cannon played sad havoc
with that portion of Fort Sumpter facing
it.
The firing from the floating battery and
from Fort Moultrie continued very regular
and accurate. Standing on the Charles
ton battery and looking seward, you have
on the right mortar battery and Fort
Johnston, distant from the city two and
half miles. Half mile from Fort Johns
ton is the iron battery of Cummings Point,
mounting three ten inch columbiads, three
sixty.fou Founders, three mortars and one
riAed cannon. Cummings Point is only
fifteen hundred yards from Fort Sumpter,
and so any one can imagine what havoc
the regular fire Of the Cummings Point
battery must have created. The men
working the guns made them terribly efec-
tive. The sand redoubt was scarcely in.
jured by the weak fire Major Anderson
kept up Oh the battery. 1t was commanded
by Major Stevens OF the Cita lei Cadets.
fired found destination within Fort Sump-
ter, and, during the entire Commandment,
scarcely one missile of this character missed
its mark.
On the other side of the harbor, directly
opposite Fort Sumpter, is one OF the strong
est sides of Fort Moultrie. During the last
three months it has been threngthened by
every appliance that military art could sug-
gest. Its marlons meats, gaces, and EN-.
brasures are perfectly protected. The weak
walls oil the fort were made perfectly secure
for the grnners while at work. From
this point throughout the engagement
vast numbers OF shot and heavy balls were
discharged. Behind this and near Suliyan's
Island the floating battery was stationed
with two sixty.iou and TWO forty-two
Founders. Its sides of iron and palmetto
logs were impenetrable. Every shot from
it told on Fort Sumpter, and the men in
charge OF it were so secure in their position
that some OF them indu ged in soldiers
pastimes, while others played five cent ante
euchre and bluff.
The battery at Mount Pleasant was five
hundred yards from the floating battery and
was mounted with two mortars within ex.
cellent range of Fort Sumpter. The shells
from these mortars were thrown with great
precision. You now have all the positions
of the works bearing directly on Fort Stump.
ter. All through Friday morning the
greatest activity at all points was dis
played. Three times Major Anaerson's
barracks were set on fire, and twice be sue.
ceeded in putting out the flames and to do
this it was necessary to employ all his force
passing along water. 10 get water it was
necessary for some of his men to go outside
the walls and hand the buckets in through
the port holes, during all which time they
were exposed to most terrific fire from the
various batteries.
This last expedent was not resorted to
until the fort was on fire for the third time,
and the flames had increased to an alarming
pitch. Meantime Major Anderson's guns
were silent. He allowed his men to be ex-
posed to the calling fire upon them but for
few moments, and then ordered them in
and shut the bltteri,s, as the smoke was
too thick to work them. At noon the
flames burst from every quarter OF Fort
Sumpter, and the destruction of it was COM
plete.
DIR. 5. Wylie Crawford, passed Assistant
Surgeon United States Army, who was
wounded In Fort Sumpter is a native of
Philadelphia, is son Oh the Rev. DR..
Crawford, formerly Professor in the Aca-
demcal Department of the University of
Pennsylvania, and he claims the same ven.
cradle institution as his medical Alma Ma
ter. Although quite young man, he has
~SNA1 Nn6~0SN "S'A'SiJ anu ASdlOuSlJ tUc
service Of bis country.
Bishop Lynch, Roman Catholic, yester-
day celebrated tie bloodIess victory of Fort
Sumpter with TIE Deum and congratulate
tory address. In all the churches allusiors
were made to the subject.
The Episcopal Bishop. wholly blind and
feeble, SAID it was his strong persuasion,
strengthened by travel throughout every
section of the state, that the movement in
which the people were engaged was begun
by them in the deepest conviction of duty
to God, and God had siguaIly blessed their
dependence on him. Ii their is a war, it
will be purely war of self defence.
The first gun from Fort Sumpter was
fired by Captain Doubleday. All the off.
GERS and men look hearty, and appear to
be well fed. 1t is said they have plenty of
provisions.