The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-04-26
Surrender of Fort Sumter
Captain DOubicday's Statement.


Capt Doubleday, second in command at
Fort Sumter, has made a statement of which
the following is digest:
The demand to surrender Fort Sumter was
made on the llth, and refused, not only by
Major Anderson, but the unanimous voice
Of his command. On Friday morning at )
o'clock the rebels sent word that fire would
he opened upon US in every direction, inclu-
ding the hidden battery. The fire was open
ed with volley of /. mortars. firing ten-inch
shells. and shot from thirty-tbree guns. most
" Columbiads. We took breakfast, however,
very leisurelv. The command was divided
into three watches. each under the direction
of two officers After breakfast they imme-
diatelv went 10 the guns, and opened fire on
Fort Noultrie. Cummings Point and Sulli-
vans Island. The iron battery on Cumming 5
Point Was of immense strength. and most of
our shots glanced oil Major Anderson re-
fused to allow the men to work the guns on
the parapc',,n account OF Suc!. 1 terrible fire
dn neted there.
There is scarcely room left in Fort Sum-
Ter inhabitable. Several shots went through
the floating battery, but it was little damaged.
Two guns on The iron battery were di>mount-
el. \ man WAS stationed. who cried shot or
shell when the rebels fired, the garrison be
ing thus enabled TO dodge them. At first the
workmrn were reluctant To- help work the
guns. bat afterwards served most willing giv
and effectively against the iron battery. he
barracks cau4h; fire several times on FRIDAY,
bat were tytnguished by the efforts OF Nj
Hart Of New York ard Mr. Lyman Of Balli
more. both volunteers.
On Saturday the officers q .arters caught
ire from shell a.d Ike msin gates were burnt.
\ magazine was surrounded by fire, and
ninety barrels ot powder were tahen Out and
thrown into Tie .ed. Wien the magazine
was cnc!rcled b, fire, All our materials were
cut of. ans. W. had eaten our last biscuit two
DAYS before. Tne men had TO la, On the
ground with wet nahukcrcAlet> on their faces,
- prcvt,.t 81. tntriug. and a favorable edd,
Il wnd w,,> a. tina, saved our lives. Ih-
carIridse bags gave out. Five men were
cupiu}r to rm.autic'ure them oGt of our
>:..rt>. sheets. blankets. &c. 1t viii take hat
4 ml..!u,. o. dollars 10 repair For. Sumter ;
iDieror Most o.. their shot w4> aimed Al
our flag
Tuc following : the conversation which
occurred nelwrcu AuIel son and Wig.a.. The
.utt,r said:
"Geuera! Bear, gard wishes 70 stop this
>ir."
Anderson ONLY replied. Wei, well"
Wl-t.ll sad. "llu have done all that couic
oc do.s,. a.d tieucr..i Hea'.rvSl. wishes :,
know upon wa.t terms You viii efacuate III,
FORT
Anderson-"Genclal BeaurtsarG IS alread,
acquainted with he terms
WIstal!-"Do | understand that YOU vi.
eyacGA,t on the terms proposed -
AmGerson-"l aui Cn!y on those.
Wgtaii then returned. len minutes aftel
Colonel Che,nut and others came from Beau
regard asking Il Andersen wanted ;.nv help
and stating tina; Wg:al. had not seen Beau
rcgaIt. for two days, and had 10 auihor!i,
Tor his LcnaUd on AndeI>o... TO which NJ.
= jur .lAuci son replied. Then We have been
>u.L-vr viii RAISE cur flag again" But the,
requested him 20 keep il down until comml
nila,.on coulL be had with Brauresard Fl
: ring then ceased, and three hours after aroth
? cr drpOtslion came. agreeing 10 the term
: previously Gecid i upon.
On SUNDAY morning. steamer Isabel cam
: down and auchorcd of the togI, when al! Il.
bagga.r was rut on board The steamer Cline
/ winch Vas used a> transport between tn
fort and the Isabel. The troops were unGe
arms. a portion were told OF 10 salute tn
tag, and when the last of tlttv guns wer
4 iircd, the flag was lowered amid the loud an,
= hearty Ch, CTS Of the men. who then torme
p in the gorge. and embarked to the tune o.
"laAkye Doodle Two men were killed o
the second round OF the salute by the explo
SION o. 4 gun, four wounded. one badly. an
r. lett at Charleston. On Monday. the I>ab,
e steamed down the harbcr. and tranSirlre
. the troops 70 The Baltic, which sailed Tue.
DAY morning.
Fort Sumter had not been reinforced 0
any occasion.
The Baltic arrived off Charleston on II
7 morning OF Friday, after the firing on Foi
y Sumter had commenced. The Pawnee an
: Pocahontas arrived next day. The Powha
an and Atlantic had not been seen. TT
/ steam tugs have been blown TO sea and ha,
/ not been seen. During all the while tn
fleet was off Charleston, heavy gale ";
blowing The day Major Anderson evacui
ted, preparations for reinforcing him ha
j been made. to te attempted that night.
schooner was seized and an agreement mad
to pay the pilot and captain 5000 TO pu, NE
u IN the fort but the fort was evacuated beful
the attempt coulI be MADE.
Captain Fox had instructions to attempt
provision the fort, without troops. aad it fire
h on was 10 rush In the best way he could b,
the gale pre,e ,ented the arrival OF tugs al
transports.
n Among The many incidents of the bait
is that ui i Mr. Hart, volunteer, who, VIII
d the hag vas shot down and the rebel ii
4. concentrated on the flag staff, galantly nailt
the stars and stripes, amid deadly fire an
It the cheers OF the United States troops.
D Major AndersOn'> Dispatch to Govern
ment.
,e The following is MAJOR Anderson's dispat,
=, to the secretary of war:
~ SIR, having defended Fort Sumter uni
st our quarters were entirely burned. the ma
II gates DESTROYED 10y fire. the gorge wall sci
I