St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-02-21

! Arrival of the Wives and Child
rem of the Heroes of Fort Sum
ter. ~. . ~. 800
From the New York Tribune, 7th.. ~'
The steamship Marion, Capt: Adkins
arrived at this port yesterday 'afternoo,
from Charleston. She brought, as pass
engers, the wives and children Of the gar
rison at Fort Sumter
The families Of the soldiers at Fl Sum
ter are sent home by direction Of Majo
Andc: SON., in order to place them in safety
OF the whole number of persons,-62
who are thus returned to this city, 25
are children. ; 4 1'~.$ ' .
Shortly after their arrival they were
taken to Fort Hamilton, where they are
to remain for the present.. They repre-.
sent the garrison AS in excellent health
The statements, are conflicting in regard
to the provisions oc the Fort, though most
believe them to be very scanty. The sup
plies have been pork, corn, beef and -four,
without any vegetables. ;'::'.i =.
Major Anderson seems to have inspired
his men with enthusiastic tevotion-
Said one Of the women with whom we
converscd "Therc is not man. but will
fight for him, if it comes to that point; if
he is left there to be butchered" And
she added "it' it comes TO that, it will be
nothing but food Of human blood. They
have everything ready Tor all attack. If
they had men enough and provisions
enough, the Fort could never be TAKEN :
If they fight not a soul can come ont alive
1t is a shame," continued the woman, her
face flushing with indignation, while her
voice was trcmulous with emotion at the
thought of the appalling fate ii, store for
her husband: '''lt is a shame that the
President will leave them there in such
PERIL" eve had to leave our7husbands," :"
said another, "bccause there was not food
enough for us all. e.. And now the great
Government will, allow them to be. butch:
ercdw ~'.-
We spoke with a bright, intelligent lit:
tie girl, Of some ten years Of age, and ask
ed whether she would prefer living in F.
Sumter or Hamilton: She said she had
not seen Fort Hamilton yet, and DID not
know which she would like best: She
suid they lived as we'll as they could cx-
pcct to'in such plac', and added "Wc
had coffee and hard bread-.l,ey call sea-
bi.cu;t hard bread-and soft bread-that
is the bread they make at the fvrt-and
butter for breakfast" ~. = o~>A
@'Did YOU have ANYTHING else %,
ave could not get anything else :"
"And for dinncr?''
1--WE had corn beef and salt pork, and
sometimes bean soup and bread"
''For supper?" =. ..: (. ..--.4
1--WE had just the same for supper that
we had for break fast-coftee and bread
We never had any vegetables The last
day we: were there, We had some fresh
beef; that was all the fresh beet We ever
had. We had as much as We wanted, such
as it was. The men did the cooking, and
they are real good cooks. Major Ahder-
son said that when they came from Fort
Moultric they brought many things not in
reason, and: left behind scmc thing IS they
needed. They brought chairs without
bottoms, and tables without legs enough
to stand up:" 'i'
The women say that for time Major
Anderson was not allowed to receive let
tcrs, and that now letters show that they
have been opened previous to their reach
ing Fort Sumter. They could buy no.
thing in Charleston, not even pair Of
shoes for their Children Il FAX
1t was believed that the fort would bc
attacked on the closing of the border State
Conference it Washington, aud the garri-
son are fully aware that preparations are
making for an attack on the fort, and they
understand that the great floating battery
is nearly completed 1t is said to be im.
pervious to shot from the fort. Extra
watch is kept mig and day, and mary a
weary eye is turned daily toward The en-
trance Vt the harbor to catch the first
glimpse of:the hoped for. vessel with rein
torcements. IT,, .s,..;.:,.,:.
Not one of the garrison has deserted or
attempted to escape: They are all firm
and cheerful, ready to- resist any attack.
but they d., not Tor "a moment suppose
tu1t WY foShSHCJ uAu0 III uuiAnEA ~ IA
be left by the federal government to resist
all South Carolina: They would prefer
an attack to.tcing starved out: ''' :: s'5'
III No rein 'orce,nents had been received
when the Marion left, and, from Captain
Adkins statement it would appear that
difficulties would be met in entering the
harbor at Charleston with rei,iforccinents
or supplies The Charleston volunteers
are drilling daily, and they with. the aid Of
laborers are placing Moultrie aud other
forts on the harbor in tho. best state Of
defence" There are about three thousand
soldiers now in entertainments, and their
number is constantly augmented; by arri-
vals from the interior Of the state. 81 =:
Great difficulty is experienced by the
tfl1 =, a s.tIk