New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-04-20
FROM CHARLESTON.
Thc Celebration Mt suns,cr.

Yesterday the city began 10 give eNluenOe Vi
She arrival of unusual number Of visitors from 'ue
North. Hacks plying. omnbuscs were crowded.
even wagons were doing driving Business ~ WIS
made known Tat Senator wilson was one OF inc D'"
somers and serenado was given him at night al 'ne
Eharlcsoa Hotel He was called on to MAKE speeoi'
SENATOR WILSON,
sf.cr thanking the band for the compliment Pald 10
him referred 10 the ,rost news Of Lees surrender
which had lust arrived II was WORTH coming 10 Sou'n
Carolina 10 bear This contest, he said had been Que OF
snonse ,oagntudc aud cost; but the result OF 1t.
rri,ad co1ltry-and more than all free county
orld rcpsv ne amply Tie OF all this boodshed
0esro,ed and now that Slavery was aunihiiatedW
should become great people. But We bad grave duties
10 perform which would take oil the resources oi 'De
craftsmanship and al the philanthropy OF the country
for oil the institutions OF Christian civilization followed
orr flag everywhere, and should at once begin to
organize industries and schools The Senator then re-
frred 20 the great sacrifices that had been made for the
National cause We had failed in the past. until We
did justices VIC had succeeded jast in proportion as VIC
did that which right toward ALL and in the future
the measure Of our justice would be The measure OF our
prosperity slso.
Gen. Wsshburne made speech also on the same oe'
oason.
Early iris morning "Gillmores Town" the
was comparatively crowded. Sightseers were every
xbere-aud thereby they prevented each other from
seeing the most noted feature Of sll-the silence and
desolaon which other times hang over that part Of
the city.
TEEN AND NOW.
At about 10 o'clock the Canoncus aud other trans
ports started. The wharves were crowded with pee
ple-large numbers Of officers children and oolored
loyalsts; very few white loya lists could be seem
At 10 O'Clock the CanOnicns started from the wharf
AZ Gen. Hatch entered the band struck mp Hail Coun
bia but left the wharf the tune Of the John Brown
soag was played On board this vessel were Gen. Hart
well Col Quincy Mr.. Hatch and about 80 teachers.
who were specially invited by The District Commander
Tho shipping presumed picturesque appearance
Fifty eight vessels profusely decorated with flags
-gunboats monitors, ard TIE Admirals flag ships and
conspicuous among them the low. raksh savannah,
built to run the blockade. but gaudily dressed 10
SHOW that her occupation was gone.
An overcast sky; stiff breeze blowing; thai pile OF
white sand With . few ohimncys sticking up inside is
Castle PinckBey-it stands fiat, long strip of land
that little fort in the center the river is Fort Rpcy
AWAY to the right Of SUMTER beyond it, are the,
famous Forts Gregg and Wagner and away to the LEFT
dhe river between dotted with gaiy dressed ship
ping and putting little tug-boats Is Fort Moultre for
which four years since storm Of fire was belched ont
against our flag and nationality. Look at the Santiago
de Cuba the Corneile. the Shenandoah, the Donegal
the John Adams the BIB, tne Wamsutta, the Wanda
the Sonona the six ssthnatc tugs the lean rowDoat
with the old flag gaily streaming from their prows-
sloops, gunbOats mOnitoTs-how prettly they sport
themselves to-day in Rebellion Roads - -Four months
ago they would have lain less quietly there with sam
ter in the hands Of the insurgents.
And four years ago, what different spectacle was
seen herei
On Friday, four years since there was far different
congregation Of people at the wharf than these loyal
negroes whom we left cheering and blessing inst
now Here is picture Of the scene at the wharyes
drawn by witness at the time, and Published in pam
phlet form in Charleston:
"A half an hour after the return Of the ordeIes Il
was confidently believed tha The batteries would open
fire o'clock and ia expectation o. seeing tie begin
ming of the conflict hundreds congregated upon the bat
fery and the wharves looking out the bay. There
thcy stood, sraning their eyes over the dark expanse
f yste waiting TO see tbe fash and hear the boom of
the first gun he clock told the hour Of H. and still
they gaIed and listened bat the eyeLds grew weary
and at the OF tho NIGHT the larger portion OF the
disappointed spectators Flooding their way home
ward. AT about o'clock gen: Beauregard received a
reply from President Davis TO the telegram IN relation
g. the surrender OF SUMTER by Which lie was instructed
to inform Major Anderson that If he would to the
fort be bed when bis present supply of provisions
exhausted, there would be appeal arms This
proposition borne 20 Major Anderson by the aids
scoept the condition.
"fhe Generaln.C hief forthwith gave the order that
the batteries be opened at Il O'Clock Fd0y morning.
Major AndeisOns reply decisive OF the momentOus
Question and Gen. BeauregGrd determined 10 app the
last argument The stout soldier had resolved 10 make
desperate defense, and the bloody trial of strength
must he assayed. The sword must cut asunder the last
tie that bound us 10 people whom In spite OF wrongs
and in justice wantonly inflicted through long series
of years. We had not set utterly hated and despised
The last expiring spark OF affection must DO quencbed
~ blood Some Of the most splendid pages IN our gor
Gus history must be blurred A blow must be srnck
Shat wOud make the Of every Republican fanatic
nrgle and whose dreadful effects will be felt by genera
tions vet 70 como. We must transmit q heritage Of
ranking and undying hate 10 onr children.
The restless activity Of Thursday night was gradu
ally worn down the citizens who had hfonged the bat
terry through the night, anxious and weary had sought
Their homes; the mounted guard which had kept watch
ant ward the city with the first grey streak OF
morning preparing 10 retire, when two guns, in
Quick succession, from Fort Johnson announced the
opening Of the drama. Upon that sgDal at % minutes
past o'clock H. the circle Of batteries with which the
grim frres. OF Fort Sumter IS beleagnled opened fire.
The outline OF this great volcanic crater Illuminated
with line of twnkEDg lights; the clustering shells
illuminated the sky above IL; the balls cattered thick
c. hail upon It's sides: citizsns aroused a forget
fitness VI their fatigue through many weary hours
rushed again 10 the points Of observation; and bet
break Of day, amid the bursting OF bombs and the
roaring Of ordnance and before Thousands Of spectators
whose homes and liberties and lives at stake
enacted this great in the opening drama Of this
niomeDtous military history
As the Of burst upon the startled city thet
expected sound answered by thousands The houses
were In few minutes empiied Of their excited occu.
pants, aDd the living stream poured through all the
streets leading the wharvCs and battery. On reach
ing our beautiful promenade found 1t lined with
ranks OF eager spectators, and all the whayes COM
panji1g view OF the battle were crowded Tricky
with human forms. On gala occasion have ever
nearly so large number of ladies' on our battery