Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-04-18

49, @ " u ~
teries az Fort johnson, under commando
Captain James and Lieutenant Gibbs
worked steadily and efficiently, attracting
an occasional shot from their frowning an
tagonist.
At ten minutes after a. m. thisI
smoke was seen issuing from the southern
portion of Fort Sumter's barracks; tie
flames broke out visible to the eye. Al
times the fire appeared to be Almost extin.
guished, and then again would rise. Whit
it was in progress, three explosions occurred
from the fall of shells among the service
magazines or combustibles of the fort TIE
concentrated fire of all the batteries Was
steadily kept up, the progress of the flames
continued, and all the quarters were invel.
ved in conaagration dense cloud of black
smoke issued.
The fire from Fort Sumter became irreg.
ular and weak :; towards midday it almost
entirely ceased. Still the flag flew, and
shot and shell fell regularly and steadily
upon the beleagured fortress.
At midday, on Friday, during the heat
of the engagement, Maj. Anderson made q
signal of distress to the men-of.war lying
off at our bar, and on Saturday again, while
under fire from all the batteries, and troub
led with the heat and smoke of the burning
barracks, again lowered the flag of the U
States, as a signal for assistance to his ma.
val allies the ships were only from three
to FIVE miles off, the day was bright and
clear, the water smooth. But discretion
was the better part of valor. The North
ern officers in command, having been st
carefully selected, for their fidelity to thei1
section and superior trustworthiness in &
hostile crusade against the South, were un
willing to incur the risk of running thei,
ships into the harpor, and engaging ou'
batteries. They thought it prudent not tc
attempt reinforcements in launches. The
soldiers of Abolitionism were left to theil
fate, without an attempt to relieve theil
perilous condition. Their idle allies had
the pleasure of seeing them strike theil
colors to the Confederate States. They are
commerdable for their gallantry, and We
trust that these brave mariners will receive
a suitable commentator from their no lest
gallant J .ckson the I'd and his magnani
nous Cabinet.
At quarter to l o'clock the flag of the
United States on Fort Sumter went dowI
with its staff. For some twenty minutes
ne flag appeared above the fort. Col. L
T. Wigfall, accompanied by private Il
Gourdin Young, Of the Palmetto Guard
got into small boat pulled by negroes
They approached it from Morris Island
Col. Wigfall holding up his sword with q
white handkerchief tied upon it. Before
they reached the fort, however, the United
States flag, accompanied by white flag,
was held up on the rampant, which Col
Wigfall did not see. The Sullivan's Is.
land batteries not perceiviog the boat, con.
tinued their fire upon the United States
flag. The boat approached the wharf
Col. Wigfall, having entered the fort, call
ed for Major Anderson, and stated that he
was Aid-de- Camp to General Beauregard
that seeing his distress and the impossi.
bility Of holding the post, and that, as nc
flag was flying, he had come to claim sur.
render, in the name of his chief. He re.
piled to the inquiry what terms would be
granted, by stating that Maj. Anderson
could not make his own terms, but that
General Beauregard, a soldier and gen.
tleman, knew how to treat a gallant enemy.
Major Anderson must leave the details Of
the surrender to General Beauregard.-
Major Anderson then agreed to surrender
to General Beauregard, in the name of the
Confederate States, and at one o'clock and
FIVE minutes, struck the United States flag,
which had been standing in company with
the white flag The Sullivan's Island bat
teries ceased firing, and Col. Wigfall star.
ted to report to Gen. Beauregard.
Soon after the United States flag disap.
peared, three Aids de- Camp had been dis
patched from Headquarters; but Col. Wig
fall had anticipated Capt Lee, and Coils.
Miles and Pryor.
When the report was made of what had
occurred, Major Jones, the Chief of Gen.
Beauregard's staff, accompanied by Colonel
Charles Aston, was sent with authority to
arrange the terms given. These were to
the following effect:
All proper facilities will be afforded for
the removal of Major Anderson and COM
mand, together with company arms and
property, and all private property.
The flag which he has upheld so long,
and with so much fortitude, under the most
trying circumstances, may be saluted on
taking it down. r-
Major Anderson is allowed to determine
the precise time of yielding up the post,
and is permitted to go by sea or land, accor.
ding to his election.
At seven Major Jones returned to Fort
Sumter, and the 6Dal arrangements and
terms were definitely fixed.
We learn that Fort Sumter is uninjured
in its capacity for defence, no breach being
made in the walls, but that the quarters
are completely destroyed, Notwithstanding
the Palmetto Fire Company was dispatched
to put out the fire. The quarters on Fri
day caught three times, and were extin-
guished by the soldiers; on Saturday it was
impossible. At one time the smoke within
the fort was so distressing that the men in the
casemates were constrained to place their
mouths to the floor for breathing. Maj. An
derson has eynressed admiration and snrnrise