The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1882-10-26
Who First Fired at Sumter
The Chance offered to Roger a. Pryor, and
Accepted BY Capt. George s. James.
New Orleans Times.Democlat.

New Orleans Times-Democlat.
I wish to correct an error, which
has almost passed into an historical
fact. It is this : That Edmund
Rufsu of Virginia did not fire the first
gun at Fort Sumter, but that Capt.
George S. James of South Carolina,
afterward killed when Lieutenant
Colonel at Boonsboro, Nd, did fire it.
The writer was a Captain of the
South Carolina army at the time, and
an Aide-de-Camp on the staff of Gen.
Beauregard.. He uov has before him
diary written {; tie time, and there
can be no mistake as to the fact.
The summon for the surrender or
evacuation was carried BY Col. Ches-
nut of South Carolina and Capt. S. D
Lee. They arrived at Sumter at 2:20
P. NJ, April II.
Major Anderson declined to sur
render, out remarked, He would be
starved out in few days, if he was
not Knocked to pieces by Gen. Beau
regards batteries This remark was
repeated to Gen. Beauregard, who
Informed President Davis. The re-
suit was second message was sent to
Major Anderson by the same officers,
accompanied by Roger A. Pryor of
Virginia and Col. Chisholm of South
Carolina. The messengers arrived at
Sumter at 1926 s. NJ, April r.
Major Anderson was informed that if
he would say that be would surrender
on April Is, and in the mean time
would not fire Oh Gen. Beauregard's
batteries, unless he vas fred 90, he
would be allowed that time also that
he would not be allowed to receive
provisions from the United States
authorities. The Major declined to
accede to this arrangement, saying be
would not open fire unless hostile
act vas com micted against his fort or
, his flag, but that if he could be sup
piled with provisions before the 10th
of April he would receive them,
and in that event he would not sur
render. This reply being unsatis-
factory, Col. James Chestnut and
Capt, S. D. Lee gave the Major
written communication. dated Fort
Sumter, S. c., April II, 1861, 3:20
A. NJ Informing him, by authority
of Gen. Beauregard, that the batteries
of Gen. Beauregard would open on
the fort in one hour from that time,
The party, as designated, then pro-
ceeded in their boat to Fort johnson,
on James Island, aud delivered the
order to Capt. George S. James, CON-
mandiDg the mortar battery, to open
fire on Fort Sumter. st 1880 A. NJ.
the first gun was fred at Fort Sumter,
and at 4::4G the second gun wcs fred
from the same battery Capt. James
offered the honor Of firing the first
shot to Roger A. Pryor of Virginia.
be declined, saying he could not hre
the FIRST gun. Another officer then
offered to take Pryor's place. james
replied, NO! I will FIRE it myself
And he did fire it. At 4 34 A. NJ,
nearly all the batteries in the harbor
were firing on Sumter. Mr.. Edmund
Rufin Cwho was much beloved and
respeeted) was at the iron battery on
Morris Island. ! always understood
he fred the first gun from the iron
battery, but one thing is certain-be
never fred the first gun against Fort
Sumter. George S. James did. Nor
did he fire the second gun. He may
have fired the third gun, or first gun
from the iron battery on Morris Is
land. Yours, respectfully.
s. D. LEE