Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-10
Written for The EVENING STAR
SIDE SCENES AT SUMTER.
Interesting "reminiscences Of the Evae.
uattOn OF Charleston HarbOr.

written Tor The EVENING STAR
SIDE SCENES AT SUMTER.
Interesting "Reminiscences OF the Evac.
uaftOn OF Charleston AarbOr.
ICopyright, 1851
There 10, perhaps, no chapter in the history of
our civil war more interesting than that which
recites the beginning of hostilities. As nation
We were strong and wariike, but not military.
Few OF the people knew anything about war,
and even high officials confessed to utter ignor-
ance on the subject The governor OF Iowa said
In my hearing that, in 1861, he had no idea of
what regiment was, and he could find no
body in Iowa that did. Was he the only gov
ernor that knew nothing about military affairs?
1t would take bold man to answer "Yes" to
that question. Among our professional SOL
diers, even, only a few veterans of the Mexican
war had ever seen brigade of soldiers and
many officers well up in rank had never seen
regiment. The regular army, mere handful
OF men, was scattered over the frontier aud
sea-coast in one and two-company posts, utter
strangers TO each other; and this disintegrated
mass was called "the army" and supposed to
be mighty by many intelligent men. When
the war broke out, and these isolated garrisons
were besieged or surprised, and compelled TO
surrender, they found out otherwise
Among the many beleaguered garrisons in
those days, that of sumter was conspicuous. Its
eventful history had been watched with intense
mander when he transferred himself without
orders from indefensible Moultrie TO impreg-
nabie Sumter. They became excited during
the negotiations between the government and
ayowed rebels in relation to its fate They
were Indignant at the investment, and became
perfectly wild when they heard OF the bonn
bardment and evacuation of the fort And
when the garrison arrived in New York har-
Dor, with its tatiered flag unstained by the
touch OF rebel hands, IL found the people in
soldiers
Sumter, their reception in New York harbor
would have done ii. But they had the sense to
see that they had only done their duty, and
correctly attributed the e1trayagances of the
people TO the excitement of the hour. There
are many little incidents illustrative OF this
which occur to my mind, but must be deferred
until they are reached in regular order.
sNUBBING CONFEDERATE.
That the soldiers of Stunt ter We're loyal and
true is universally conceded; that they were
proud Of the uniform they wore, and intensely
Jealous of the honor of the service is not so well
known. remember several incidents illustra-
tive OF this The day after the bombardment
ceased, several Confederate officers visited the
entered the gates. They generally landed at the
wharf, and there their business was transacted
with the proper officer of the garrison; that is,
not always have been the case. Ofcourse 1t was
necessary TO keep all unofficial boats at a dis
pose. The sentinel on the wharf, where the
Confederate officers landed, was one Sellman,
u
He was q Prussian by birth, and according to
his own story, had served In the Prussian
army. He certainly had all the angularity and
when on duty which / have never seen eX-
celled. 1 doubt If dignity is the right word in
this case. Seuman on post was pompous rather
than dignihed, and Extensively pompous at
that He seemed to look down with utter
disdain upon all mankind when he was
sentinel. When OF duty he could unbend
like any other mortal. But he was strict in the
performances OF his duties when on post, and
passed him with an energy that threatened the
integrity of his musket, and never failed TO
startle the party saluted. At the time to which
i refer Sellman was on post, and If possible
more pOmpOus than ever before A group OF
four Confederate officers had arrived under a
nag of truce, all of whom, I think, were ex-
United States officers who had gone with their
State But they were all strangers to Sellmau
except one. One OF the four he knew. He had
before he resigned, been an officer OF Sellman's
regiment and stationed at the same post.
Moreover, he had on one occasion put Sellman
which, in Selman's opinion, deserved no such
1ndignity. Ofcourse the officer referred to was
well known TO all the officers and men of the
Sumter garrison, but for some reason or another
he kept IN the background, perhaps because he
was the junior OF the four Confederates, per
hapS because OF his native mOdesty: who
can tell? At any rate, he said nothing to the
Sumter officers, and the Sumter officers said
nothing to him; in fact, they seemed to ignore
his presence entirely, and studiously turned
their backs upon him. There was no mistakine
the meaning of their actions, and the victim no
dozens OF men, whom he knew very WELL were
watching and enjoying his embarrassment AT
past with his musket severely at a SUPPORT for
fear the rebels IGight imagine that he was
saluting them. His head was erect, his lips
compressed, and his eyes directed with great
earnestness upon the horizon. The cut Con
Iederate could stand Coventry no longer. He
his soldierly qualities, so he took q stem or
two towards him, and extending his hand
as if TO shake hands with him, said, ..Why.
N. I'm eylo
see that you have escaped uninjured."
Fatal mistake. Sellman matted, bringing the
lett heel against the right with vigor that
must have been painful, and carrying ms right
hand behind his back lest it should inadyert-
entity come In contact with the hand of a rebel
he put On look of supreme contempt, and
said, In sneering tone, "You shake mine
hand. No, by damn / shake NIT der hand no
deserter. Now you put me in dis guard-house"
And he strutted away with his eye on the hori-
zon as before. Manifestly he had not forgotten
the unjust Imprisonment ne had undergone at
the instance of the officer. This Incident was
unobserved by the officers of the garrison but
the men saw 1t, and were soon scamperine to-
which discipline forbade in the presence OF Off
GERS. The modest Confederate took more kindly
rity as soon as his companions indicated a
readiness to go.
GETTING READY TO LEAVE.
Another incident which illustrates the feel
ings with which the loyal officers and soldiers at
that time regarded renegades and deserters
occurred soon after. 1t was the day we left
Fort Sumter. The bombardment was over
The shell OF the old fort sadly battered and torn
was a smoking rum. The flag had been sa,
luted and lowered into the arms of its Defend
ers. The dead had been buried and the
wounded attended 70, and the steamer that
was To take US away was screaming through
her exhaust pipes, the announcement that she
was at the wharf. Allinside the fort was hustle
and confusion. The men were collecting the
remnants Of their kits and gathering souvenirs
OF the bombardment when the drums heat
assembly" for the last time in Sumter The
rattle or the sheepskin brought order out of
chaos In an instant. The companies were
formed, and the rolls were called and the result
reported. Then six stalwart seryeants were
Told on 10 carry the flag of Fort Sumter appro-
priately rolled around the topmast, which had |
been shot down, and everything seemed ready
Tor the departure. But member of the ouard |
rushed In and reported something to the officer
Ia charge OF the preparations, which seemed to
interest him very much, as he FASTENED away
with al. the eagernesS OF a schOOlboy when tba
holidays have arrived. In q short time the
substance OF the report was generally known
and everybody was interested. 1t was a
CeSerter.
As already stated, there were no rebels i'm the
Tort, and no rebel soldiers in its immediate
vicinity, but the bay was covered with craff Of
every description, all loaded with humanity 10
the water-line. The beach of Sulliyan's Island
was crowded The sand hills OF Morris Island
were black with men, and the naked eve could
discern crowds OF people on the housetops in
Charleston The whole city has turned out 10
See the evacuation. Small boats and canoes
crowded round the fort, and ventured nearer
than the larger vessels. They carried MANY
% say goOd-by To the discounted Yankees whom
they knew. SellmaQ WAS on posr or, tho orr