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

to the period desired by them, the 10th In
stant. II was agreed that the terms propos-
ed, which would tie the hands Of the garri-
son and neutrAlise its 6re, could not be ae-
ceded to- and a reply to the following effect
was made by Major Anderson "That II
provided with proper means he would eva
cuate the fort at noon on the 18th instant,
provided he should not receive controlling
instructions or additional supplies from his
government that he would not open the
fire Of his batteries unless compelled to do
so by some hostile act or demonstration BY
the, Confederate forces against his fort or
the flag it bore" No sooner had Colonel
Chestnut, the officer to whom it was handed
read the reply of Major Anderson than he
pronounced it unsatisfactory, and made
the following reply in writing:
FORT SUMTER, s. c. April IL, 1s6l-S.20
A. NJ. .,.
Sir: By authority of Brigadier General
Beauregard, commanding the Provisional
forces of the Confederate States, we have the
honor to notify you that he will open the
fire of his batteries upon Fort Sumter in one
hour from this time. We have the honor
to be, very respectfully, your obedent ser
wants.
JAMES CHESTNUT, Jr. Aid-de-camp,
STEPHEN ID. LEE, Captain @. s. and A.
d. c.
To Maj. R. Anderson, U. S. A., comd'g
Fort Sumter.
Positive instructions from the Csnfeder-
ate Government had been sent to their
agent in Charleston harbor that if this last
proposition to Major Anderson was refused
by him, he should reduce the fort as his
judgment decided to be most practicable.
But little conversation followed the delivery
to tho aides Of the reply of Major Anderson.
An inquiry as to the exact time In the morn
ing was made, which was found to be $50
A. NJ.
THE FIRST GUN OF THE WAR.
The Confederate officers left the fort with
out any formal leave-taking, and their boat
soon disappeared in the darkness. Upon
their arrival in Charleston, and the delivery
| Of Major Anderson's response, telegraph
was sent to Montgomery, informing the au-
thorities that Major Anderson "would not
consent" Inside the work the men were
informed of what had happened, and direc-
ted to await the summons to the guns. No
fire was to be returned until daylight. The
| night was calm and clear and the sea was
still. Fires were lightdd in all the Confed-
crate works, when, at 430 A. NJ, the 81.
lence was broken by the discharge of NOR.
tar from battery near Fort johnson, with
in easy range Of the work; a shell rose high
in the air and burst directly over Fort Sum-
ter; its echo died away and all was still
again; when suddenly fire was opened from
every battery of the enemy. At daylight
all the guns of Fort Sumter opened, and the
fire steadily continued all day. During tho
night of the 18th the accurate range of tho
mortars lodged a she'll in the parade or
about the work at intervals of fifteen min.
utes. 1t was estimated that over $500 shot
and shell struck the fort during the first
twenty four hours. By morning the feet
sent to our assistance appeared off the bar
but did not enter. At $50 on the 18th the
quarters took fire from the effect of hot shot
and could not be extinguished, and soon
the entire barracks were in blaze. Tho
barrels containing powder were thrown into
the sea. At l.20 on the 18th the flagstaff,
having been struck four times, was shot
away and the flag replaced upon the para
pet. The firing upon the work was severe
and continued; the return was slow and
feeble, sounding like signals of distress to
the nation, and finally ceased altogether
Seeing the condition of things, Colonel
Wigfall pushed out in an open boat from
Cummings Point, unauthorized it is true
and learning from Major Anderson that hs
would evacuate the fort upon the terms Or
iginally proposed to him, returned and com
municated with General Beauregard, who
Immediately sent commission authorized
} to arrange terms for the evacuation, which
were soon agreed upon. The garrison wa
transferred to the large transport lying of
} the bar, and was soon on its way to tn,
North. Many an eye turned toward tn
, disappearing fort, and as it sank at last up
on the horizon the smoke. clsud still hum
heavily overt he parapet.