The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-10-07

TO the Editor of The Times Democrat:
In your issue OF October (Sunday),
is an article, EFFORT and Eleet-The
First Gun Of the War;" signed "NI.
Quad.'' / wish to correct an error,
which has almost passed into an histo-
rical fact. 1t is this: THAT Edmund
Ruffin, of Virginia, did not fire the
first gun at fort Sumter, but that Capt.
Georges S. James of South Carolina,
afterward killed when a lieutenant
colonel at Boonboro, Nd, did fire it.
The writer was captain of the South
Carolina army at the time and aide
de-camp on the staff Of Gen. Beaure-
gard. He now has before him diary
written at the time, and there can be
no mistake as to the fact.
The summons for the surrender or
evacuation was carried by Col Chestnut,
of South Carolina, and Capt. S. ID. Lee.
They arrived at Sumter ut 2:2O p. M,
April II.
Major Anderson declined to sur
render, but remarked: "IIc would be
starved out in a few days, if he was
not knocked to pieces by Gen. Beau
regard battcrics:" This remark was
repeated to Gen. Ecaurcgarl, who in
formed President Davis. The result
was that u second message was send to
Major Anderson by the same officers,
accompagniod by Roger A. Pryor, Of
Virginia and Col. Chisholm, of South
Carolina. The messengers arrived at
Sumter at 1925 q. M, April II. Maj or
Anderson was informed that il he
would surrender on April - and in the
meantime would not fire on Gen.
Beaurcga1d's batteries, unless he was
fired on, he would be allowed that
time; also, that he would not be al
lowed to receive provisions from the
United States authorities. The Major
declined to acccde to this arrangement,
saying he would not open fire unless Il
hostile act was committed against his
fort or his flag, but that if he could be
supplied with provisions before the 18th
April, he would receive them, and in
that event would not surrender. This
reply being unsatisfactory, Col. james
Chestnut and Capt. S. ID. Lee gave the
Major a written communication, dated
effort Sumter, S. c., April II, 1861,
800 Il. mo- informing him, by au-
thority Of Gen. Bcauregard that the
batteries of Gen. 1Caurcgard, would
opcn fire on the fort in one hour from
that time.
The party, as designated, then pro-
ccctled in their boat to Fort johnson,
on James Island, and delivered the
order to Capt. George S. james, COM
handing the mortar battery. to open
fire on Fort Sumter. At i:30 q. m.
the first gun was fired at Fort Sumter,
and at $40 the second gun was fred
from the same battery. Capt. James
offered the honor of firing the first shot
to Roger y. Pryor, Of Virginia. He
declined, saying he could not fire the
first gun. Another officer thCn offered
to take Pryor's place. James replied,
"No! I will fire it myself" And he
did fire it. At 10 Il. IN. nearly all the
batteries in the harhOr were firing on
sumter. Mr.. Edmund Rutin (who
was much beloved and respected) was
at the iron battery on Norris Island.
| always understood he fired the first
gun from the iron battery, but one
thing is ccrtain-hc never fired the
first gun against Fort Sumter. George
:. James did. Nor did he fire the
second gun. lie may have fired the
third gun, or first gun from the iron
battery on Morris Island.
Yours, respectfully, S. ID. LEE.