Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-02-04
The Story OF Fort Sumter Retold.

We welcome every contribution to our
war literature which comes from real and
intelligent participant. Such is the little
volume of "Reminiscences Of Forts Sumter
and Moultrie," by Msjor-General Abner
| Doubleday who was then Capt. Doubleday.
company E, lst Artillery. lie was the only
officer of Northern extraction and antl-slav
cry sentiments in Charleston harbor, and
| his conduct and book are marked through
ont by healthy Northern animus. Capt.
| Doubleday makes it clear that Anderson
was Southern man W strong pro-slavery
views, and under almos overwhelming per-
sonal, social and political pressure with the
South that he did not act with the firm
ness and alertness of man placed in the
forts to seize and retain every advantage.
Nevertheless, at the final and crucial mo-
ments,-frst. Of the transfer from Fort
MOultrio to Fort Sumter. second. of the
| bombardment,- Anderson did not hesitate,
but did his best.
There were two companies comprising
| about TO men IN possession of Fort MOultrie
In the Fall of 1860, all veteran and reliable
| soldiers. and the officers, says Doubleday,
were remarkable for sobriety and good
character. The old fort was untenable, and
rapidly became more So as the rebel mill
| TIA ONSupicu INT utleuDOIluB NllldEt anu
| began 20 throw up works. Still, laborers
were got from Baltimore (who turned out
to be Southern sympathizers), and prepara
! tiOns for defense were made. Anderson dis
closed his purpose to abandon the fort to no
| one, lest some indiscretiOn should betray it.
| Capt. Doubleday gives the following spirit
ed account Of the transfer, somewhat col-
densed
Anderson had broken up his own mess,
and on the last evening Of our stay (De
cember 2S) | lett my room to ask him to
take tea with US. The sun was Just setting
as | ascended the parapet steps and ap-
preached him. lie was IN the midst of
group Of officers, each Of whom seemed 81
lent and distant. As passed our assistant
surgeon, . remarked, " It's fine evening.
Crawford" lie replied in hesitating
manner, showing that his thoughts were
elsewhere. | saw plainly that something
unusual had occurred. Anderson approach
ed me. and said quietly, " have deter
mined TO eyacuate this fort Immediately,
for the purpose of occupying Fort Sumter.
| can only allow you 20 minutes to form
your company and be in readiness to start"
! realized the gravity of the situation at
glance. We were watched by spies and
vigilance committees who would undOubt-
edly open fire upon Us. a soon as they saw
the object Of the movement | was natu-
rally concerned. too. for the safety of my
wife. who was the only lady in the fort at
the time, and who would necessarily be ex
posed to considerable danger. | first went
TO the barracks, formed my company, IN
spected it and saw that each man was pro-
| perly armed and equipped. This lett ne
ten MINUTES. dashed over to my quar-
ters told my wife TO get ready Immeil-
ately, and, as the fighting would probably
! commence IN a few minutes, advised her 10
take refuge with some family outside. be-
| hind the sand-hiils She hastily threw her
apparel into trunks. which were carried
outside the main gate, where We took sad
and hasty leave OF each other. Everything
being in readiness, We passed out OF the
main gates and silently made our way for
| quarter Of . mile to a spot where the boats
were hidden behind pile of rocks. There
was not q single human being in sight. Il
was after sunset. and It was hoped that We
should escape the notice OF the guard-ooats.
bile the steamer was yet a!ar of, | took
of my cap and threw open my coat to con-
ceal the buttons. also made the men take
of their coats and use them to cover their
muskets. which were lying alongside the
r0w-lOcks. hoping in this way to pass for
party OF ishar,r~ returning 10 Fort Sumter.
The paid4e-N ll-.- stopped within one hun
dred yards OF u. but, after watching Us
Tor while. the steamer passed on. As We
ascenGed the steps of the wharf. crowds of
w0rkmen rushed out to meet Us, wearing
sece,sionis. emblcms and calling out angri-
Is. What are these soldiers DONG hero2'
formed Iny men, charged bayonets, drove
the mass into the fort. seized the guard
room and posted sentInels.
rt.- +b1- .Lar, x~or, thu. ,u.r.hs &
| cquiyocation. during which the rebels were
/ throwing up works IN range OF the fort aHd
daily passing and repa>sing with supplies.
We nave not space to reproduce the story
Of the siege and b1mblriment. Mrs. D0u-
blciay seems TO have been Il very plucky
woman. sending the garrison matches, can
dies and other necessarles. She and Mrs.
/ Capt. Seymour paid them one visit at night
/ by rOw-bOat. bat Doubleday had to split up
/ his table for fuel TO keep them warm, and
their visit was not prolonged. Mrs. Double
day soon wen; to Washington. where Pre-I-
/ dent Lincoln at once made her acqualnt-
ance, and used her information and her let
tiers from her husband. Major Anderson 5
wife was not present. She was native of
/ Georgia. where Anderson had plantation,
be had Just sold his slaves, but the buyer
refused payment on the ground that An
T
story Of the b)mbarGment itself, Double
/ day fully vouches Tor two incidents OF a
kind to be doubted. Anderson abandoned
the upper tier Of guns from the first. which
carried the heaviest metal and from their
situation would DO the best execution. But
q wild Irish soldier, named job Carmody,
slipped up on tie parapet and, without or
Gers. fred the pieces there one after an
other. on his own account. One Of the ten
/ inch balls 50 aimed made quite an impress
sion on the Cummings Point battery, aud II
/ the FIRE could have been kept up it would
have knocked the irOn-work to pieces. At
noon on the second day, the flagstaff was
shot down. The exultation OF the enemy
was short-ivei, however, for Peter Hart
| found a spar in the fort, nailed the flag to
it. and raised it triumphantly, by mailing
and tying the spar to pile OF gun car
riages on the parapet This was done gal-
lantly, under Seymour's supervision, al
though the enemy concentrated their fire
on the spot.