, 1861-05-17

/ is Cummings Point battery, mounted three
lOinch Coumbiads, three 64-pounders,
three mortar and one riaed cannon. Cum
mings' Point is only 1900 yards from Fort
. Sumter, and it can be readily imagined
! what havoc a regular Ifre created. The
men working the guns were perfectly pro-
tected by the sand redoubt, which was
scarcely injured by the weak fire which
Major Anderson kept upon it. The bat
} terry was commanded by Major Stevens,
with the Citadel cadets under bis direction
J Each shell from this battery found its des-
tination 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
opposite Sumter, on one Of its strongest
sides, lay Fort Moultrie, which during the
past three months had been strengthened
by every appliance which military art could
suggest. Its merlons, moat, glaciers, en-
brasures, ETC., perfectly protected the weak
walls Of the old fort, and made the guuners
secure while at work from this point
Throughout the engagement vast numbers
Of hot shot and heavy balls were diseharg-
ed. Behind the point on SulliVan's Island,
near Charleston, the floating battery was
situated with two 64-pounders and two AZ
Founders, and its impenetrable sides Of
iron and palmetto logs rendered the men so
secure that they INDUCED during the con
test in pastimes with cards, etc.
Mount Pleasant battery, 500 yards from
the floating battery, mounts two mortars
within excellent range of Sumter and from
here the shells were thrown With the great
est precision.
Thus you now have all the positions Of
the works bearing directly on Sumter
Through Friday morning all these batteries
were actively engaged. Three times An
derson's barracks we're set on ERE, and
twice his men extinguished the aamesi but
to do this it was necessary to employ all
the force in drawing water.
More effectively to do this, II was ueees-
sary that some men should 60 outside The
walls and hand buckets through the port
holes being meanwhile exposed to the ter
rife Gre Of the batteries. This expedient
for obtaining water was not res0rted to IN
til the third time the quarters were on fire,
and the Ere an flames BAD increased to such
an alarSahlg pitch, Monutipae Mujor An
deFsons guns were silent, and his enemies
active. By noon the flames burst from
every quarter, and from many Of the port
holes, and It soou became evident that the
destruction Of the fortress was complete.
INCIDENTS or THE SURRENDER
A Charleston dispatch relates the follow
ing incidents s.
Major Anderson stated that be surren-
dered bis sword to Gen. Beauregard, as
the representative Of the Confederate gov
ernment. Gen. Beauregard said be would
not receive il from so brave q man. He
says Mai. Anderson made staunch fight,
and elevated himself In the estimation Of
every true Carolinian.
During the FIRE, when Major Anderson's
flagstaff was shot away, boat put of
from Morris Island, carrying another
American aag for him to 6ght under-a
noteworthy instance Of the honor aud chiv-
airy Of the South Carolina Seceders and
their admiration for brave man.
During the raging Of the flames in Fort
Sumter the officers and men were obliged
TO lay on their faces 10 the classmates 10
pANNcAe eAASNeAAsas
Major Anderson expresses himself much
pleased that no lives have been sacrificed,
and SO that 10 Providence alone Is to be |
attributed the bloodless victory. He COM
pliments the firing Of the Carolinians, and
the large number Of exploded shells lying
around attest their effectiveness.
The number Of soldiers in the fort was
10, besides rs workmen, who assisted at
the guns. His stock Of provisions was al
most exhausted, however. He would have
been starved out in two days more.
The entrance to the fort was mined, and
the South Carolina officers who visited It
after the surrender were told to be careful,
on account Of the heat, lest It should ex-
plOde.
The scene in the city after the raising Of
the flag Of truce and the surrender is indes-
chbable; the people were perfectly wild.
Men on horseback rode through the streets
proclaiming the news, amid the greatest
enthusiasm.
The forces Of Major Anderson were en-
tireIy inadequate to eHectually work the
guns, and attend to the incidental require
ments. It is not to be wondered at, under
the circumstances, that Fort Sumter sur
rendered. The men were on duty thirty six
hours, With balls or shells striking the case
mates and guns Of the fort constantly.
Competent military men st..a that the 10
tense vibration or shock produced on the
brain and nervous system OF those in the
vicinity is terribly exhausting.
At the siege Of Sebastopol the men who
worked the guns were relieved every TWEEN
" minutes, and groomed with whisky and
flannel to enable them to endure the con.
cussion produced by the fring Of their own
guns aud the shock Of the enemy's balls
and shells striking the fertilization. The
conclusion attending the firing Of a colum-
bad in the enclosed casemate Of a fort is
said TO be terrible.
In contrast with the inaction Of the war
aeet, it is stated that on old slave passed