New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-04-20

The Raising OF the Flag a Fort Sumter,
April 4, 1865.

April a, 1865.
The following report of the raising of thu
flag at Fort Sumter was first published in the
Davenport (Iowa) Gazette, May 2, 1866, ant
afterward reproduced in the same paper, May
}, 1867. We reprint it to-day as faithful
narrative of the events round which patriotic
memories cluster, and which will never lose
their interest till the stars of the old flag have
faded
AT sunrise on the morning of the 18th Of
April, 1868. the steamer w. w. Colt, trans
port, was blowing her way up the channel to
Charleston, bearing party who were to part
cpate IN the ceremony of re-raising the flag oil
our country over the dilapidated ramparts oil
Fort Sumter-the same old flag which had
been lowered just four years previously to re-
bcllion, and which, after its period of retire
ment, was again to faunt forth, now free from
the charge of being the emblem of a nation
with the dark stain of human servitude upon its
escutcheon. The craft was well filed. Briga.
der General Littleiield, the commander of the
post at Port Royal, his staff, other officers, a
number of civilians, and a fair sprinkling OF
ladies constituted the company. The noble
steamer Arago lay in the ofhng, riding at an
Choir, and we knew she contaiped a freight oil
intellect which was to be present on the august
occasion before us.
We passed Fort Wagner, Cummings Point,
and Fort Moultrie, then Sumter itself, stand
ing out In the bay, isolated, torn, ragged, and
crumbllng, its brown and dingy outline cutting
the sky like some old European ruin of the
feudal ages then Fort johnson and Castle
Pinckney, and in a short time the steamer was
at the wharf in Charleston.
Aboard again, We cast anchor abreast of the
fort an hour before nOon and prepared to go
ashore in small boats. Already upon the ram
parts were groups of people, the dress of the
citizen and that of the soldier being about
equal, and among both classes the dusky sons
of the South were freely interspersed. Upon
landing we passed through double line of col
ored troops, thence up wooden stairway, con-
strueted Tor the purpose, to the top of the fort
and on the inside, by descending shorter ight
OF steps, we came upon large circular area
from the center of which shot up the flagstaff
From the base OF the latter, upon one side
was thrown up an elevation or dais, upon which
chairs and seats were placed for the speakers
and their associates. and slight railing around
and an arch within were wreathed with
freshly gathered evergreeAs, freely intermingled
with roses, together with the national colors. A
semi-circHlar space in front of the elevation
with seats for the audience. Those who were
to conduct the ceremonies had not yet come
The Arago had not yet given up its honored
occupants.
Meanwhile the Planter, steamer command
ed by Captain Robert Small, came up filled
with people of both sexes from Charleston
This cargo did not seem to be nor act like
cattle; yet, a twelvemonth ago, perhaps, the
great majority of them were so esteemed by
their masters.
Nor must it be omitted that upon our arrival
at Charleston we had the cheering news first
impaired that Lee had surrendered the Army
of Northern Virginia to General Grant. This
enlarged materially the feeling of enthusiasm
IT such thing were possible. Presently a
small steamer put off from the Arago. She
wound her way through the channel and up to
the wharf at the foot of the outer steps, and
soon after, amid the most deafening cheers. a
distinguished company took their places upon
the platform. OF course the first to be noted
was General Robert Anderson, the hero of
Sumter in its days of depression, and now come
back TO be the instrument giving it Il browning
and immortal glory-a fine looking and most
benignant old man, of tender heart and full of
emotion. Then Henry Ward Beecher, with
his excellent physical development and proudly
glancng eye and intelligent face. Then Viii
liam Lloyd Garrison, the man who has grown
old in fighting slavery had "a price put upon
his head by the South, and yet lived to see the
day when in the very gates of his enemies he
can stand up, ever powerful and always con-
sistent, and amid his consummated work, have
gentle and soothing word for his prosecutors,
mingled with his overlooking Joy at the de-
liverance of the captive. Then George Thomp-
son, the greatest of English orators, it is said,
and certainly the most noble champion Of
emancipation which our transatlantic brethren
can produce, hunted from this country years
ago like felon, but now its hoEored guest
and Theodore 1ilton, the able editor of the
Independent, and Henry Wilson, Senator from
Massachusetts, and William d. Kelley, Repre-
sentative from Pennsy lvania, were there And
among the military were General Dix and
General Doubleday, the companion in arms of
Anderson also, Generals Gilmore, and Saxton.
and Hatch, and Littleiield, and Townsend.
Rear Admiral Dahlgren and Commodore Gil
iiss, Commodore Rowan, and other officers
represented our gallant navy, and many others
OF note also graced the occasion with their
presence.
The ceremonies were opened with the recita-
uon OF the 1e De0m Laudamus, the audience
responding. The Rev. Mr. Harris, chaplain U.
.; A, who oiliciated at the raising of the flag
when MAJOR Anderson removed his command
from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, December
Inc hev Dr. Storrs then read Psalms l26, AZ,
%, and part of Psalm 20, and concluded with
the GLORIA Pat'ae, the people throughout again
responding from printed slips. General +. d.
Townsend, A. A. g., u. S. A, then read Mai
Anderson dispatch to the Government, dated
April lS, 1861, announcing the fall of Fort
Sumter. AT this stage of the proceedings
General Anderson and Sergeant Hart stepped
forward, mall bag was unlocked, and from it
was produced the same old flag which years be-
lore had fioated over Sumter This was at
tached to the halyards, surmounted by a beau
tiful wreath of flowers, and amid the roar of
cannon and glorious strains of music and the
deaiening shouts of an excited multitude, as
eehdea gracefully to the top of the staff and
huhg itseIf Joy0usly out upon the wind with no
star ooliterated, and with all its hues undimmed
save by the softening hand of time. Whilst
oeihg raised to Its lofty seat, the generous old
banner detached from the garland about its
mead an exquisite boquet, and dropped it, in
graceful acknowledgment, at the foot of the
stan. An adopted son of Iowa caught it up,
ana amid the almost fearful entreates of ladies
and gentlemen about him for lust the smaIIea,
leaf, resolutely subdued his natural disposition
TO divide with his friends, believing that such n
precious relic should remain in tact. and all
around yielded to the propriety of the decision
i he wreath was wholly prepared by Miss Hor
sey, young lady of Charleston, ID wears of
age, and the material came from the garden of
the house In which ID. N Cooley, of iowa. one
OF the United States tax commissioners now
resides NV"
The vast assemblage then sung our great
national lyric. With swimming ewes chorus
OF earnest voices, clothed with heartfelt sent.
ment, was lifted up from redeemed Sumter