Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-04-23
Description of the Attack on Fort sumter.

Description of the Attack on Fort Sumter
CHARLESTON, April 14.-The morning of Sat
urday dawned beautiful and clear. The air wa
balmy and refreshing, and the streets were sool
again filled with citizens-male and female
white and black, young and old, thronging th,
battery, wharves and steeples. A few random
shots were fired from the Confederate batteries
Sumter occasionally replying. 1t then became
apparent that the fortress, on which all eve.
were rivited, was on fire. A dense mass q
smoke was seen gradually to rise above tho
ramparts Some supposed it was merely sig-
nal from Anderson to draw in the fleet to his
aid which was in the offing quietly riding Al
anchor. Four vessels could be clearly distin.
guished ranged in line directly over the bar. and
apparently blockadiDg The port completely their
long, black hulls and smoke stacks proved them
to be Federal steamers. Every one anxiously
awaited the issue, and the suspense was very
exciting. Will they come in and engage the bat
teries? was the query OF every one. Poltroons
if they do not, was the response of every one.--
The batteries fully expected the engagement to
become general, and by the aid OF glasses it was
thought that movement was made to this end
by two of the war ships. ALI on shore soon
thought to see the sand flying from Morris Is
land batteries.
About 10 o'clock all attention was riveted on
Sumter. Beyond all doubt fire was raging in
the fort The flames soon burst through the
roots of the houses within the walls and the
densest smoke and flames issued in Volumes
At this time Anderson scarcely fired 8 shot
The continual bursting of shells and showers of
grape over the guns On the ramparts droYe the
soldiers under cover From THERON battery on
Cummings Point q continuous fire was kept up.
Its rifed cannon played sad havoc on that por-
ton. OF Sumter facing it. The fire from the
Floating Battery and from Fort Moultrie was
very regular.
standing on Charleston Battery and looking
seaward you have on the right the Mortar Bat
terry and Fort johnson, nearest the city and two
miles and half off. a mile and half from
Fort Johnson is Cummings Point Battery,
mounting three ten-inch coluInbiads, three sixty
four Founders, three rnortars and one rifed can
non. Cummings Point is only fifteen hundred
yards from Sumter, and it can readily be ina
gined what havoc regular fire created. The
men working the guns were perfectly protected
by the sand redoubt, which was scarcely injured
by the weak fire which Major Anderson kept up
on it. The battery was commanded by Major
Stevens, with the Citadel Cadets under his di.
rection. Each shell from this battery found it's
destination within Sumter, and during the en-
tire bombardment scarcely one missile of this
character missed its mark.
On the other side of the harbor,- directly op-
posite Sumter, on one of its strongest sides, Law
Fort Moultrie, which, during the past three
months, had been strengthened by every appli
ance which military art could suggest. Its mer-
Ions, moat, glacis, ~embrasures, ETC., perfectly
protected the weak walls of The old fort, and
made the gunners secure while at work at this
point. Throughout the engagement vast num-
bers of hot shot and heavy balls were discharg-
ed. Behind the point on Sullivan's Island,
nearest Charleston, the Floating Battery was
stationed with two sixty four and two forty-two
Founders, and its impenetrable sides of iron and
palmetto logs rendered the men so secure that
they INDUCED, during the contest, in pastimes
with cards, etc. Mount Pleasant Battery, five
hundred yards from the Floating Battery, mounts
two mortars within excellent range of Sumter,
and from here the shells We're thrown with the
greatest precision. 1a1fsJ siI b g38
| Thus you have all the positions of the works
bearing directly on Sumter. Through Friday
morning all these batteries were actively engag-
ed. Three times Anderson's barracks were set
on fire, and twice his men extinguished the
flames, but to do this it was necessary to employ
all the force in drawing water. More effective
| ly to do this 1t was necessary that some men
should go outside the walls and hand buckets
through the port holes, being meanwhile ex-
posed to the terrific fire of tue batteries. This
expedient for obtaining water was not resorted
to until the third time the quarters were on fire,
and the fire and flames had increased to such an
alarming pitch. Meantime Major Anderson's
guns were silent and his enemies actiYe.a By
noon the flames burst from every quarter and
from many Of the port holes, and it soon became
evident that the destruction Of the fortress was
complete. ag ~
| ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
| The fort is burned into a mere shell not q
particle of woodwork can be found. The guns
on one side of the parapet are entirely dsmount-
ed; others split, while the gun carriages are
knocked into splinters 9lN - i3.
| Major Anderson saysthe accuracy of the firing
surprised him, and that if he had had two hun
dred more men, one half would have been killed
tor want of suitable protection. 3Ta ll5eo d
| When Colonel Chestnut, aid of General Beau
regard, went to offer assistance after the fire, be
lsays the fort was like an oven, and he could
hardly breathe. 1t was so hot that Major An
derson received him in one OF the easements
Inquiry being made how many were killed he
/ said, "None." "How many on your side? ?''-
"None," was the response. "Thank God" re-
piled Major Anderson, "!here has been higher
Power over 3s.'
soy ~ 40 Pl0PooeSAOuS ~ hSus
such a people, O6e Of the officers in the fort
remarked that they had endeavored not to fire
on exposed individuals. "Yes," said Major An
derson, Il gave orders not to sight men, bnt te
silence batteries" aa..I /,
As regards harbor defence, the fort is just as
good as ever. The easements are perfect, the
guns there in prime condition and bear on both
Isides.
I II Major Anderson was obliged to thrown over
board large quantity of powder to prevent ex.
tplosion, and it Was floating around the fort to-
day.
The fort has been garrisoned by the Palmetto
Guards, and put under command of Lieutenant
Colonel Ripley, who commanded Fort Moultrie
i after the departure of Major Anderson, M
The Majors feelings were spared in every re-
Ispect, and no person except authorized aids al
lowed inside. The harbor is full of boats SAILING
around the fort. But no parties without bust.
ness are permitted to land:
Before going into action Major Anderson sen,
word, by an Aid OF Gen. Beauregard, to the Gov.
ernor, thanking him for the kind attentions du
ring the past two months and very solemnly
said, Farewell, gentlemen. If we do not meet
again here, hope we shall meet in better
world
The Confederate flag and Palmetto flag were
hoisted on separate spars simultaneously.
The fire has broken out afresh in the ruins o
the fort. Two engines have gone down to one.