Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-12

I 10
| tive, as the enemy was driven from his barbette
| guns which he attempted to work IN the morning |
and his IRE was confined to his casemated guns but
in less active manner than in the morning and IL
was observed that several Of his guns en- bdrbetts
| were disabled
Daring the whole of Friday night. our mortar
batteries continued to throw shell. but in obedi-
euce to orders, at longer intervals. The night was
rainy and dark and as it was confidently expected
| that the United States feet would attempt to |
land troops upon the islands, or to throw men into
Fort Sumter by of boats, the greatest vigil
ance was observed at all our channel batteries, and
by our troops on both Morris and Sullivans Is
! lands Early on Saturday morning all oEr batter
| les re-opened upon Fort Sumter, when responded
vigorously for a time, directing its IRE specially
| against Fort Moultrie. About clock, A. M
! smoke was seen issuing from the quarters OF Fort
Sumter. upon this, the IRE of our batteries were
increased as a matter of course, for the purpose
| of bringing the enemy to terms as speedily as
| possible, inasmuch as his flag was still floating
| defantly above him. Fort Sumter continued TO
| fire from time to time, but at long and irregu-
| lar intervals amid the dense smoke, flying shot
| and bursting shells. Our brave troops, carried
away by their naturally generous mpulses,mounted
the different batteries and at every discharge from
the fort cheered the garrison for its pluck and gal
lantry, and hooted the fleet lying inactive just
| outside the bar. About E30 z. NJ, it being re-
| ported to me that the flag was down, lit after
wards appeared that the flagstaff had been |
shot awsy,] and the confagration from the
/
crease, sent three Of my Aids with message to
Major Anderson to the effect that seeing his flag no
longer flying, his quarters in flames, and supposing
him to be in distress, desired to offer him any as
sistance he might stand in need Of Before my Aids |
reached the fort the United States flag displayed
on the parapets but remained there only short time
| when it was hauled down, and white flag subst- |
tuted in its place. When the United States flag first
disappeared. the firing from our batteries almost
entirely ceased but re-opened with increased vgor
when it re-appeared on the parpet and was contin-
ued until the white flag raised, when it ceased
entirely Upon the arrival of my Aids at Fort |
Sumter, they delivered their message to Major AM
derson, who replied that he thanked me for my |
offer but desired no assistance. Just previous to
their arrival, Colonel Wigta one of may Aids. who
had been detached for special duty Morris Island
had by order of Brig. Gen. Simons crossed over to
Fort Sumter from Cummings Point IN an open boat
with Private VIM. Gourdin Young, amidst heavy |
fire of sut and she'll for the purpose of ascertain
ing from Major Anderson whether his intention was
to surrender, his flag being down and his quarters
in flames. On reaching the fort, the Colonel had an
interview with Major Anderson the result Of which
was that Major Anderson understood him as offer /
ing the same conditions on the part of Gen. Beaure
gard, as had been rendered him on the 18th inst,
while Col Wigfars impression was that Maj. Ander-
son Internationally surrendered trusting the gen
erosty of Beauregard TO offer su n terms as would
be honorable and acceptable to both parties mean
while before these circumstances were reported to
me and in fact soon after the Aids, whom had |
on their mission. hearing that white flag was fly
ing over the fort, sent MAJOR Jones, the chief Of
nv staff and some other Aids, with substantially
the same propositions. L had submitted to Major
Anderson on the 1th inst with the exception of the
privilege of salutng his flag. TIE Majsr Anderson)
replied lit would be exceedingly gratifying to him,
as well as to his command to be permitted to salute
their flag having CALAMITY defended the fort I'M
der such trying circumstances, and hoped that Gen.
Beauregard would not refuse it, such privilege
was not unusual" He further said "he would not
urge the point, but would prefer TO refer the mat
ter again TO General Beauregard" The point was,
therefore left open until the matter was submitted
| to me- Previous to the return of Major Jones, |
sent fire engine under Mr.. NJ. H. Nathan, Chief of
the Fire Department, and Surgeon-GeneraI Gibbs,
of South Carolina with several of my Aids to ster
further assistance to the garrison OF Fort SUMTER
which was declined. very cheerfully agreed to |
allow the salute as honorable testimony 10 the
galIsntry and forttude with which Major Anderson,
and his command had defended their post, and in
formed Major Anderson of my decision about half
past seven o'clock, through Major Jones' my Chief
| of Staff The arrangements being completed Maj. |
| Anderson embarked with his command on the
| transport prepared to convey him to the United
States fleet still lying outside the bar, and our
troops Immediately garrisOned the Fort and before
sunset the flag of the Confederate States hoated over
/ the ramparts Of Sumter.
I commend in the highest terms the galIlantry of
every one under my command, and 1t is with diff
/ dence that will mention any corps names, for
fear of doing injustice to those not mentioned for
where all have done their duty WELL it is difficult to
/ discriminate. Although the troops out of the bat
teries bearing on Fort Sumter were not so fortu-
| nate as their comrades working the guns and NOR
tars still their services were quite as Valuable and
"a commendable for they were on their arms at the
Channel Batteries and at their posts and bivoueces.
and exposed to severe weather and constant watch
fulness, expecting every moment and ready TO re-
| pel reinforcements from the powerful fleet of the
| the Bar; and to all the troops u=der my command
| I award much praise for their galantry and
the cheerfuness with which they met the duties re-
ouired of them. | feel much indebted to Generals
/ K. G. NJ Dunovant and James Simons, and their
| stats especially Majors Evans and; DeSAussure S.
| c. A. commanding on Sulhvans and Morris Islands,
for their valuable and gallant services and the dis
| erection they displayed in executing the duties de-
| vOlving on their responsible POSITIONS. VI Lieut.
Col R. S. Ripley, LIST Artillery Battalion, Command
ant of Batteries on Suvan's Island, cannot speak
| too highly and Join with General Dunovant his i'm
| mediate Commander since January last, in com~
| mending in the highest terms his sagacity expe-
| rience and unfagging zeal. would also mention
in the highest terms of praise Captains Calhoun and
Halonquist. Assistant Commandments OF Batteries to
| Colonel Ripley and the following commanders of
| batteries on Sullivan's Island: Capt. j. X. Hamil
ton. commanding the Floating Battery and DAM
Green gun: Capts Butler, s. G. A.. and Bruins, Aid
| de.Camp 10 Gen. Dunovant, and Lieuts. Wagner
| Rhett Yates Valentine and Parker
| To Iieut Col w. G.. DeSaussueF, Second Artl-
lery Battalion, Commandant of Batteries on Morris
| Island.
Dlayad the most untring energy, and his Judicious
| arrangements and the good management OF the Bat
| ferries contributed much to the reduction OF Fort
Sumter.
charge Of the Cummings Point Batteries. / feel
much indebted for his valu BILE and scientific assls
lance and the efficient working of the Batteries IN
der his immediate charge. The Cummings folnt
Batteries (iron-42-pounders and nortaTs) were
manned by the Palmetto Guard Captain leuthbert,
| and take pleasure in expressing my admiration OF
the service of the gallant Captain and his distin-
gushed company during the action. YOU'D also
mention in terms of praise the foio"lEg OolhmAhu-
era of Batteries at the Point. viz: Leutenants Arm
strong. of the Citadel Academy, and Brownfeld, of
the Palmetto Guard. also Captain Thomas, OF the
Citadel Academy who had charge CT the rlfie can
| uon and had the honor of using MS valusoie Wea-
Mana Gift of one of South Carolina distant sons 10
his native State-with peculiar effect Capt. J. q.
King with his company, the Marion Artillery, COM
manded the Mortar Battery in rear OF the cummings
Point batteries and the accuracy of his shell practice
was the theme of general admiration CaptGeorgeS.
lanes commanding at Fort johnson, had the hon
or of firing the first shell at Fort Sumter, and his
| conduct and those under him, was commendable
durinu the action. Capt. Martin, 5. q. A, COM
manded the Mount Pleasant Mortar Battery, and
With his assistants did good service. For a more
detailed account Of the galantry of officers and
men and nf the various incidents Of the attack on
Sumter would respectfully invite your attention
to the copies of the reports OF the different officers
| under nv command herewith enclosed. | cannot
close nv report without reference to the following
gentlemen: To his Excellency Governor Pickens
and Staff especially Coils. Lamar and bearing,
who were so active and efficient in the construction
of the Channel Batteries Coils Lucas and Moore,
for assistance on various occasions, and Col Dur
| yea and Mr. Nathan-Chief of the Fire Depart
ment for their gallant assistance in putting out the
fire at Fort Sumter when the magazine of the latter
was in imminent danger of explosion. Cen
eraI Jamison, Secretary of War, and General
| S. R. Gist, Adiutant- General, for their valuable
assistance in obtaining and dspstching the troops
| for the attack on Sumter and the defence OF the
batteries. Quartermaster's and COmmlssary- Irene
! rails Departmental Colonel Hatch and Colonei " a.
ker and the Ordnance Board especially Colonei
, Manigault, Chief of Ordnance. whose zeaI anu
activity were untiring. The Medical DePartmens'
whose preparations had been judiciously ana Alt
ply made, but which kind Provluen TTI &c. and
| Majors w nlIlDS anu