The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-02-01

THE EVACUATION DEMANDED.
On the morning of the 11th Of April, the
dawn of day disclosed an activity at once
unusual and significant over the entire har-
Dor. The waters were covered with vessels
hastily putting to sea. An iron-clad floating
battery eof four guns, the construction of
which in Charleston had been watched by
the garrison for months. was towed down
the bay to point at the western end of Sui
livan's Island, where its guns bore directly
upon Fort Sumter A wooden dwelling on
the beach, near the end of the island, was
pulled down and unmarked land work,
mounting four guns, hitherto unknown to
the garrison. Its fire would enfilade the
most important battery of Fort Sumter,
which was upon the parapet of the right
flank of the work, and whose guns were
mainly relied upon to control the fire from
the heavy guns on Cummings Point, that
would take the fort in reverse. Bodies of
troops were landed and the batteries on
shore fully manned, and every preparation
completed, when, at four o'clock p. NJ, a
boat under white flag approached the fort
Tive officials, aides.de- e-camp of general com.
manding the Confederate forces in the har.
Dor, Colonel Chestnut and Captain s. d.
Lee, we're admitted to the guard room Just
inside the main entrance to the work. They
bore communication from the military
commandsnt at Charleston, and to the fol.
| lowing effect. 1t stated that the Govern.
ment of the Confederate States had hitherto
| forborne from any hostile demonstration
against Fort Sumter, in the hope that the
General Government would voluntarily eva.
was reason to believe that such would have
been the course pursued, but that the Con-
federate Government would no longer de-
| lay assuming actual possession" of forti.
| fcation so important to it, The evacuation
of Fort Sumter was demanded in the name
ofthe Government of the Confederate States
All proper facilities were rendered to Major
Anderson for the removal of himself and
his command. He was to take with him
his company and private property and to
salute his flag upon taking it down.
THE DEMAND REFUSED.
| Calling the officers of the garrison into
his private room, he laid the communication
before them, and then for the first time
made known to them the confidential dis.
patch from the government, received few
days previously, in which their determina-
ton to relieve the fort was expressed, and
instructions in regard to it conveyed. In
this communication authority was given
him to capitulate when the necessity of the
case required it. The conference Of the of.
fcers was long and earnest. There was nc
thought for moment Of acceding to the de.
mand for the evacuation of the fort and
the following reply was returned by Major
Anderson "That the demand for the eva
cuton of the fort was one with which he re-
gretted that his sense of honor and his obi
cations to his government prevented hi,
compliance" On receiving this communi.
cation the Confederate officers left the fort
The entire interview was characterized by
every courtesy, though more distant ant
|
were followed to the main gate eff the work
by Major Anderson and the writer of thi
article. AS they were about to embark, Ma
jor Anderson remarked in their hearing tina
he would be starved out any way in few
days, if their guns did not batter him I,
pieces and this was repeated more specifcal
ly to the Confederate officers in reply t
their inquiries on the subject. As the boa
returned, the batteries around were covere,
with spectators all anxiously watching tn
result of the mission.
| ' A MILITARY CONFERENCE.
Renewed activity prevailed. Inside tn
fort powder was taken from the magazines
which were now closed, ammunitions wer
served to the batteries and the details of til
men made to serve them. Careful instru(
tions were given to use the utmost econom
in regard to what food was left, and the o
ficers were directed not to unnecessarily e,
pose the men. Outside the steamers, larg
and small, were plying in every direction
The buoy which marked the turn into IL
harbor from the main channel, and, whic
alone had been suffered to remain, was Il
ken up at about 5 o'clock in the afternoo
It's place was supplied by three hulks loa,
ed with combustible material, the evidel
object of which was to light the cham
should the fleet,whose arrival was now hou
ly anticipated, attempt to enter by nigh
They were anchored directly under the gu
of Fort Moultrie. In this state of prepar
tion the night of the 1lth of April clos,
9 upon the harbor. Toward midnight the c
ficers of the garrison were aroused by tl
e report of the officer of the day that bo
under white flag had arrived and .wo me
sengers from the Confederate authorities hi
again come to the work. 1t was now L.
in the morning, when the aids of the milil
ry commandant of the Confederate fore,
d accompanied by Colonel Chisholm and n
d Roger A. Pryor, of Virginia, entered t
y work. They bore a letter from Brigad
!, General Beaureguard, commanding Prov
o ional Army Confederate States of Ameri,
" to Major Anderson, to the effect that in CO
IL sequence of the verbal observation made
l. his aids in relation to the condition of
Is supplies and that he would be soon star,
't out, he had communicated the same to
D government The proposition was th
y made to him that if he would state the ii
es at which he would evacuate the fort, q
er that meanwhile he would agree not 10
of his guns against the Confederate forces I,
ry less theirs should be employed against +
Ks Sumter, General Besuregsrd would abst
OF from opening fire upon him, and that
in aides were authorized 10 enter into such
Id arrangement.
y, MAJOR ANDRRsoNiS RFpIy