Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-04-19
Captain Doubleday's Account of the
Battle at Charleston.

landed at the Battery, ana was received by an
immense crowd. His carriage was surround
ed by the people, who expressed in cheers and
other demonstrations, their congratulations,
and he was followed by an immense throng
through Broadway to the Brevoort House,
where he joined his wife. The following is a
digest of Capt. Doubeday's statement
The demand Tor a surrender OF fort Sumter
was made April llth, and was refused, not on
ly by Anderson, but also by the unanimous
voice of his command. On Friday morning.
at three o'clock, the rebels sent word that
fire would be opened in an hour, and at four
the fire opened ON us from every direction in
Guiding hidden battery. The fire opened
with vOlley from seventeen m0rtars, firing
ten inch shells, and shot from thirty three Co
lumbiads. We took breakfast, however, very
leisurely. The command was divided into
three watches, each under the direction of two
officers.
After breakfast, they Immediately went to
the guns, and opened fire on Fort Moultrie,
Cummings Point, and Sulivans Island. The
iron battery of Cummings Point was of i'm
mense strength, and most Of our shots glanced
off, Major Anderson refused to allow the men
to work the guns on the parapet, on account
of such a terrific fire directed there. Scarcely
room was left in Moultrie inhabitabe Sew
era shots went through the floating battery,
but it was but little damaged. Two guns on
the IRON battery were ulsHOuQteu.
A man was stationed who cried "shot' or
"shell, when the rebels fired, and the garri-
son was thus enabled to dodge. at first the
workmen were reluctant to help work the
guns, but they afterward served them most
willingly and effectively against the iron bat
terry. The barracks caught fire several times,
Friday, but We're eXtinguisLed by the efforts
OF Mr.. Hart Of New Yo.k and Mr. Lyman Of
Baltimore, both volunteers. On Saturday the
the main gates were burnt. The magazine
was surrounded by fire, and ninety barrels of
powder were taken out and thrown into the
sea.
When the magazine was encircled by the
fire, all our materials were cut off and we
had eaten our last biscuit two DAYS before
The men had to lay on the ground with wet
handkerchiels on their faces to prevent smoth-
ering. A favorable eddy of wind, was all that
saved our lives. Cartridge bags gave out,
and five men were employed to manufacture
them out of our skirts, sheets, blankets &C.
1t will take a half a million dollars to repair
fort Sumter S interior. Most of their Shot
were aimed at the flag. The following is the
conversation between Anderson and Wigfill:
Wigfall said :-"Mr. Beuregari wishes to
stop this, sir.
Anderson only replied, "Well, we'll"
Wigfall-- You've done all that can be done
what terms you will evacuate the fort.
Auderson-Gen. Beauregard is already ac-
quainted with the terms
Wigfall-Do l understand that you will
evacuate on terms proposed.
Anderson-Yes, and only on those
Wigiall then returned. Ten minutes after
wards Col. Chestnut and others came from
Beauregard, asking if Anderson wanted help,
stating that Wigtall had not seen Beauregard
for two days, and had no authority for his de-
mand on Anderson, to which he replied =
''Ihen we've been sold. We will raise our
flag again-but they requested him to keep it
down until communication can be had with
Beauregard. The firing then ceased, and
three hours after another deputation came
agreeing to terms previously decided upon.
On Sunday morning, the steamer Isabel
came down and anchored off the fort. When
all the baggage was put on board the steamer
Clinch, which was used as a transport between
the fort and the Isabel, the troops were under
arms, and portion were told off to salute the
flag, and when the last of the fifty guns were
fired the flag was lowered amid loud and
hearty cheers of the men, who then formed in
gorge and embarked to the tune of Yankee
Doodle. Two men were killed on the second
round of the salute, by a premature explosion
OF the gun, and four were wounded, one badly
and left at Charleston. Monday we steamed
down the harbor and were transferred 10 the
Baltic, sailing Tuesday morning.
Fort Sumter has not been reinforced on any
occasion. The Baltic arrived off Charleston
on the morning of Friday, after the firing on
fort Sumter commenced. The Pawnee and
Pocahontas arrived the next day. The Pow
haitian and Atlantic have not been seen there
The steam tugs have been blown to sea, and
have not been seen. During all the while
the fleet was off Charleston, heavy gale
was blowing The day of Major AndersOns
evacuation, preparations were made for an at
tempt to reinforce him that night. A schoon-
er was seized, and an agreement was made 10
pay the p lot and captain $500, to put men into
the fort, but the for. was evacuated before the
attempt could be made. Captain Fox had in
structions to attempt to provision the fort with
out troops. If fired on he was to rush in the
best he could, but the gale prevented the. arri-
val of the tugs and transports.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS
Among the many incidents Of the battle, is
that OF Mr.. Hart Il volunteer who, when the
flag was shot down and the rebel fire concen.
trated on the flag staff, gaantly nailed up the
stars and stripes amid a deadly fire and the
cheers of the United States troops.
AS the Baltic came up the harbor, to-day,
salutes were fred from all the forts and i'm
mense throngs on the Battery were nearly
wild with excitement and enthusiasm An
0erSOuS DrOtuef OuuCSIo SAPiSoe the uetpeSl
Indignation at the aspersi)ns cast on their
brave commander. Numerous friends waited
on Major Anderson and the other Fort Sumter
officers, during the afternoon and the appear.
ance of any officer or soldier from fort Sum
ter. in the street, was the signal tor crowd,
and enthusiastic cheers. The Fifth regiment
paid their respects to Major Anderson this al.
ternoon, to which he responded from the bal.
cony of the Brevoort House, ~ returning his
simple military salute amidst the cheers and
vociterations of thousands. Both Major An
derson and his command show numerous ef-
tects Of their gallant siege. The following is
Major Andersons despatch to the secretary OF
war -
"SIR Having defended Fort Sumter thir.
ty-four hours, until the quarters were entirely
burned, the main gates were destroyed by
fire, the gorge wall seriously injured, the
magazine surrounded by flames, and its door
closed from the effects of heat, four barrels
and three cartridges of powder being the only
thing available, and no provisions but pork
remaining, accepted the terms of evacuation
offered by Gen. Beauregard, they being the
same as offered by him on the 11th inst, prior
to the commencement OF hostilities, and
marched out OF the fort Sunday afternoon, the
14th inst, with colors flying, drums beating,
and bring away the company and private prop
erty, and salutng my flag with fifty guns.
ROBERT ANDERSON,
Major OF First Artillery"