The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-12-13

the HOatlng Dabtery, from M0ultrle. came
flashes in quick succession, with peals of thun-
der rolling far away White powder clouds
foated out upon the air. The rays of the
morning sun streamed up the eastern sky
throwing its light upon the stars and stripes
serenely floating from the flagstaff Six
o'clock: As yet there was no answering shot
from Sumter Major Anderson was eating his
breakfast of fried pork and bread. Seven
o'clock At last the cannon of Sumter have
opened their lips. 1t is the voice of the Union
of the people-long suffering, patiently wait
ing. The-thunder which rolls away is their
answer to the conspirators who have under
taken to destroy the Government established
by Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and the
patriots of the Revolution. All through the
day the batteries flame, raining solid shot aud
shell-a concentrated fire upon the beleaguered
garrison.
THE SHIPS.
Major Andersons heart is momentarily glad
dened by the appearance of the fleet sent to
his relief but the ships are too late; the bat
teries erected on Morris and Sullivan's Islands,
with the guns of Moultrie, command all the
channels; they cannot approach the fort
Through the night the bombardment goes
on-a shot or shell falling at regular intervals
of fifteen minutes into the fort, but at sunset
the cannons in the fort cease their thunder,
the soldiers lie down to sleep, unmindful of the
bombs exploding around them.
SATURDAY MORNING.
Once more the batteries flame. Every gun
is in action. Again the cannon of Sumter re-
ply, bat more slowly than on Friday, for Major
Anderson is obliged to tear up the blankets of
the soldiers to obtain flannel to make cartridges
for the guns. When the blankets are used up
the men take off their shirts and hand them
over to the gunners. Red-hot shot crash into
the wooden barracks, setting the building on
fire. In vain the efforts of the soldiers to ex-
tinguish the flames. The people of Charleston,
up in the steeples and on the roofs of the
houses, behold with glee the pillar of fame
and smoke rising heavenward from the fort
ress. Inside the fort the smoke rolls along the
passage ways, sitting the officers and men, who
can only breathe by throwing themselves upon
the ground. The flames scoreh them. The
fire ticks up the barracks and burns the gates.
Fearful of an explosion, the soldiers tumble
ninety-siX barrels of powder into the sea. There
are 200 barrels left but the magazine must be
closed. The blankets are used up; the men
have given their shirts; there is no more cloth
for cartridges. The flagstaff has been shot
away. Major Anderson has eaten his last meal;
there is not biscuit left-no -four, nothing
but pork remaining, but lie has no thought of
surrendering the fort; he will evacuate on
Monday noon, when the pangs of hunger ceni-
pei him.
THE SURRENDER.
Wigfall, of Texas, went out to the fort IL a
boat, waving white flag how he climbed into
an embrasure and informed Major Anderson
that he had come from General Beauregard,
and wanted the firing to stop; how through
his action the bombardment ceased how it was
agreed that the fort should be surrendered :;
that Major Anderson upon his departure should
have the privilege of s2iuiing the flag which
he had so bravely defended--but that is the
way the surrender was brought about.
Never before had Charleston been SO intoxi-
Gated with joy as on that Saturday night.
Crowds Of people surged through the streets,
tossing their hats into theair, screaming them
selves hoarse in drunken revel.
WHAT GOVERNOR PIcKEvs SAID.
"ThaDk God !" said Governor Pickens, stand
ing on the balcony of the Charleston Hotel,
addressing the crowd, Thank God. the day
has come; the war is open. and we will con-
quer or perish. We have defeated their twenty
millions and ne have humbled the proud flag
of the stars and stripes that never before was
lowered to any nation on earth; we have
lowered ii in humility before the Palmetto
and Confederate flags, and have compelled
them to raise the white flag and ask for honor
able surrender The stars and stripes have
triumphed for seventy years, but on this 18th
Of 4 pril it has been BUNDLED by the little State
! of South Carolina And pronounce here, be-
/ fore the civilized world that yonr independ-
ence is baptized in blood your independence
is won upon a glorious battlefield, and you arc
1 free now and forever, in defiance OF the world
i In arms"
They were proud words. Little did Governor
! Pickens think what changes four years would
/ bring to Charleston; that grass and weeds
would be growing in the streets; that not a
human footstep would be heard upon the pave
ment; that the air would be yoiceless; that all
/ the surrounding section would be as silent as
/ the grave-every house desolate, every home
deserted, every building rent by cannon balls
or bursting shells. Little knew he of the power
| Of the people of the North.
/ Governor Pickens had great plantation; he
was rich; slaves did his bidding Little did
! he think that ere four years wonld pass his
slaves would be free, his property diminished,
! Charleston in ruins, and dissolved all his
dreams of the future greatness and glory Of q
/ Southern Confederacy built on human slavery,
and the Stars and Stripes once more proudly
waving oyer the shapeless ruins Of sumter
/ BE ard his fellow-conspirators had sogn to the
wind, but would reap tie wilirlwind.