, 1888-04-19
rwENrY-sEvEN YEARS.

Major Robert Anderson and his hand
full of half-starved comrades, embarked
from Fort Sumpter. The story is old,
and we will Aot burden our readers
with it, more than to say that the men
who defended that fort were devoted
patriots, possessed Of manly courage,
and absolutely dedicated to duty.
On the 18th day of April, 1861,
Major Anderson received the follow
ing note, 3: 20 n. m: "By authority
Of Brigadicr General Beauregard, COM
mapding the provisional forces of the
Confederate states, we have the honor
70 notify you that he will open the
fire of his batteries on Fort Sumpter
n an hour from this time" Major An
erton was not surprised. He raised
the flag, ordered the men into the
bomb proofs made whatever prepra-
tion hi -,tur ION would admit of, and
awaited ,hs attack.
In Vne hour, TO second, the flash
OF the powder was seen and the roar of
q great gun WAS heard, end from the
darkness OF James Island a shell Was
hurled II. The doomed fortress, as we'll
as at the sovereignty Of the United
States. The bombardment was now
opened from all sides, and perfect
storm of shot and shell was thrown
against and upon the fort until day
light, about thirty guns and mortars
participating in the fire.
After daylight on the morning OF
the 18th. Anderson organized his Off
GERS and men, about eighty all told,
into three reliefs, and preparations
were made to return the fire. At
o'clock, Captain Doubleday fired the
first shot from Sump,er. I'm
mediately all Of the guns that could be
brought to bear opened fire and for four
bours the fort responded Sriskly to
the attack. The guns of Sumpter did
considerable execution, and sovigor-
ous and active was the defense, that
the confederates believed that rein
forcements had come to the relief OF
the garrison. By noon, however, the
fire from the batteries had commenced
to be very effective. The barracks
were on fire, and the walls commence
ed TO crumble. BY night all of the guns
were abandoned but six, and
the cartridges running low. Amid
the heat and smoke. and
roar OF guns, and just as darkness be-
gan to settle over the harbor, Ander-
son ordered the portfolios closed, and
the men into place of safety, for the
night. Thus ended the first days
battle of the war.
Saturday morning dawned bright
and clear, and the bombarment was
renewed with tremendous energy.
The men in the tort responded, but
only for short time. Cartridges were
gone, the smoke was almost. suffocat-
ing and the heat from the fire was in
tense. At this juncture, Wigfall
came to Major Anderson with pro-
position to evac uate the fort. The
conditions were agreed upon, the tat
tered flag Was taken down, and while
the fife and drum played Yankee
Doodle, and the gums fired II
salute to the Union, the heroic little
band, now famous in history marched
out of the fort. Four years later, Ma
- Il. hn old H,.n
above the ruins of the fortress.
All this occurred twenty-seven years
ago to-day. This country has made
q wonderful history since then. No
twenty y-seven years of recorded time
contains SO much that is marvellous
that is almost beyond the credulity OF
The'man surrender Of Fort Sumpter
was of no great moment from a military
point Of view. The conduct of the at
tack could not be complained Of, and
the terms we're not objectionable, from
the position at that time assumed by
both parties. In connection with that
day and these men, Floyd
and his immediate as
sociates are the only ones who will bt
passed along down the ages as having
been utterly unworthy of the respect
of honest men, north or south, then o.
now. The lying and treachery OF this
class of men is in marked contrast
with the manly conduct of men like
ROBERT +. LEE, ROBERT TOoMBs
HENRY A. WISE, and JOSEPH +. JOHN
sToN, who openly, and with unfeignet
regret, severed their allegiance Z
the United States and in obedi
ence to their political education, fol-
lowed the fortunes of their states. Thi
hought is simply incidental to Floyds
treckless treason in the matter OF send