Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-04-26
CAPT. DoUBLEDAY's ACCOUNT.

The demand to surrender Fort Sum ter was
made on Thursday, the llth inst and was
refused not only by Maj Anderson, but by
the unanimous voice of his command
On Friday morning at three o'clock, they
1.-THE rebels) sent us word that fire would
be opened On us In an hour. The Major
resolved not to return fire before daylight,
as he did not wish tn waste shot or strength.
At the appointed time, t O'Clock, fire
opened upon US from every direction, one
battery was opened upon us which we had
not calculated upon. 1t was hidden bate
ry and it took us BY surprise In every di-
rection fire was playing upon US. The fire
opened with volley Of Il mortars, firing 10
inch shells, and shot from 35 heavy guns,
mostly columbiads.
The crashing against the walls Of the fort
was most terrific many Of the shell taking
effect inside the fort.
We took breakfast at 6I O'Clock. on Fri
day, very leisurely. The command was di-
vided into three relieves or watches each con-
sisting of an equal proportion of the men,
under the direction of two officers.
The first relief was under the command of
Capt. Doubleday OF the artillery, and Lieut..
Snyder of the engineers.
After breakfast they Immediately went to
the guns, and opened fire upon Fort Moul
trie. the batteries on Cummings Point and
SulIvan's Island.
The iron battery on Cummings Point was
of immense strength. Most of our shots
struck it and glanced off
The fire was so terrific on the parapet of
our fort that Maj. Anderson refused to allow
the guns to be manned, in fact there would
not have been man left if they had been
allowed to work on the parapet guns.
Fort Moultrie. from our successive firing,
was considerably damaged. Scarcely room
in it was in a habitable condition. A great
many of cur shots struck the embrasures
full, with due effect.
We put several shots into the floating
battery-Iight through it-but it was little
damaged.
We understand that two of the guns on
the iron battery had been dismounted by our
fire.
The rebels had gun which they fred at
our embrasures with effect, and four OF
Doubleday's men were wounded, having re-
ceived contusions by pieces OF bricks chiPped
of the edges of the embrasures.
We fred into the battery which had pre-
viously fired upon the Star of the West
The Bakely gun shot was very success
full.
Our men owed their safety to the extreme
care taken of them by the officers. We kept
a man on the watch all the time, ho, when
the enemy fred informed the garrison what
was coming. He cried shot or shell as
the case might be, every fire.
We had to force the men to take shelter
behind the columns as the shots were an
nouneed They had to be thoroughly forced
to dodge.
This course had to be taken, owing to the
sparseness of men in such large Tort
The Baltimore workmen were, at nrst'
rather reluctant to take hold. But before
long they were, if anything, more determln-
ed than any of the garrison to hght LOT their
flag. We had abandoned one OF our guns
owing to the close fire kept upon 1t.
Hearing a gun from that direction, mas,
tened to the spot and found the abandoned
gun in actual service; party OF the Baitl-
more men were serving it with good effect
| found one of them stopping on his hands
and knees and laughing till the tears stream
ed from his eyes | asked them what they
were doing.
This man could give no answer but 'hlt 1t
right in the centre, shit it right IN the
centre" and still laughing.
He was making holes in the iron battery
The rebels aimed at our flagstaff. All the
batteries seemed to be concentrated on that
consecrated pole They first succeeded In
chafing it, then they brought it down
The effect of the shot upon the rear OF the
officers quarters AMI barracks was most ter
rife.
The barracks caught fire on Fridaysmo,r,n'
ing several times, and were put out by Mr'
Hart Of New-York, and MIR. Lyman ofbal-'
timore, (both volunteersl and Others