Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-04-17
[Coerespondence Of the New York Herald
Our Special Dispatches from Charleston.

Civil war has at last begun. A terrible fight is at
this moment going on between Fort Sumter and the
Notifications by which it IS surrounded
In my last despatch stated that negotiations had
been re-opened between Gen. Beauregard and Maj.
Anderson. This was done with view to prevent
an unnecessary effusion of blood.
. The issue was submitted to Maj Anderson of sur
rendering as soon as his supplies exhausted or
of having fire opened on him within certain time.
This he refused 10 do, and accordingly, at twenty
seven minutes past four o'clock this morning Fort
Moultrie began the bombardment by firing two guns.
To these Maj. Anderson replied with three of his
barbette guns, after which the batteries on Mount
Pleasant Cummings Point and the Floating Bate
ry, opened brisk fire of shot and shell.
Maj Anderson did not reply, except at long in
tervais, until between seven and eight o'clock, when
he brought into action the two tiers of guns looking
towards Fort Moultrie and Stevens iron battery.
Up to this hour three o'clock Friday afternoon)
they have failed to produce any serious effect.
Dispatches received at headquarters from the va
rous forts report that all is going admirably, and
no men hurt
Maj Anderson has the greater part of the day been
directing his fire principally against Fort Moutrie
the Stevens and floating Battery. these and Fort
johnson being the only five operating against him.
The remainder of the batteries are held in reserve.
Some fifteen o: eighteen shots have struck the
Floating Battery but made not the slightest impress
sion upon its iron cased sides. The Stevens Bate
~ is also eminenty successful and does terrible ex.
ecution on Fort Sumter.
Breaches. to all appearance, are being made in the
several sides exposed to fire. Portions of the para
pet have been destroyed and several of the guns
there mounted have been shot away.
Maj. Anderson is at present using his lower tier
of casemate ordnance
The fight is going on with intense earnestness,
and will continue all night.
It is not improbable that the fort will be carried
by storm
The soldiers are perfectly reckless of their lives
and at every shot jump upon the ramparts, observe
A party on the Stevens battery are said to have
played game of the hottest fire.
The excitement in the community is indescriba-
ble With the very first boom of the gun thousands
rushed from their beds to the harbor 'front.' and all
day every available place has been thronged by Ia
dies and gentlemen, viewing the solemn spectacle
through their glasses. Most of these have relatives
il the several Notifications, and many fearful eye
attested the anxious affection of the MOTHER wife
and sister, but not murmur came from q single in
dividual
The spirit of patriotism is as sincere as it is uni
versal. Five thousand ladies stand ready to-day to
| respond to any sacrifice that may be required Of
| them.
Tho brilliant and patriotic conduct of Mai. An.
uHU StCcHCeS HS6 UGt0CkS Mt6-
w. made at the North upon his character and patr-
| otism.
Business is entirely suspended. Only those stores
are open which are necessary to supply articles re-
quired. by the army.
! Gov. Pickens has all day been in the residence Of
| gentleman which commands view of the whole
scene a most interested observer. Gen. Beauregard
commands in person the entire operations and thus
far they have moved with the utmost system and
success -r
1t is reported that the Harriet Lane has received
shot through her wheelhouse. She is in thu
ofing. No other government ships are in sight uE
to the present moment, but should they appear thu
entire range of batteries will open upon them.
Troops are pouring into the town by hundreds
but held in for the present. the force al
ready on the island being ample. People are alst
arriving every moment on horseback, and by every
other conveyance. Within an area Of fifty miles
where the thunder Of the artillery can be heard tn
scene is magnifcenty terrible.