Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-12-13
HE STARTED THE WAR.
A Bold Irishman Who PrecipItated Mat
ters at Fort Sumter.

ters at Fort Sumter.
II 1t had not been for Handsome Char
Icy there might not have been any war
between the North and the South. How
so? A many and many year ago in
city by the sea Handsome Charley went
to what Hamlet called that undiscov-
cred country from whose bourne no
traveller returns, although traveller
had returned and talked to Hamleti in very
excellent blank verse only few nights
before.
Who, then, was Handsome Charley
He was for great many years, in the
good old times, and in some respects
perhaps the bad old times, generally
spoken of as ''befo' the wah," q resident
of Charleston, S. C. Charley used to
say to himself II am an Irishman by
birth, an American by adoption, talent
ed by chance and no coward" So far
from being a coward Charley was as
brave as bulldog, and was very great
fighter when it was his cue to fight; but
he always helped the weaker party, and
in Charleston, where the people are
noted for warmheartednoss, there was
not a warmer hearted nor q more charit-
able man than Handsome Charley. But
why was he called handsome? Was he
really handsome man? Oh, no; not at
all. Not by no means as the Artful
Dodger would have remarked.
In trial for murder in Charleston.
about forty years ago, Isaac b. Hayne
was Attorney-General and Richard
Yeadon, lawyer of high standing and
also editor of the Charleston Courier,
represented the prisoner. Colonel
Haynes, besides being great lawyer
and brave man, was remarkably hand
some, while Yeadon was not gifted in
form or feature. Charley was witness,
and Yeadon examined him thus:
Yeadon-What is your name?
Carbohydrates Farley, better known
as Handsome Charley.
Yeadon-Why are you called Hand
some Charley?
Charley-Pll answer that II you will
tell me why you are called LiEp.ns
Dick.
Yeadon-Certainly. My name is Rich.
ard and they call me Dick. and as am
a little lame they call me Limping Dick.
Charley-That's fair and square. Now
the rayson I'm called Handsome Charley
Is this; II any man was to ask me who
think is the handsomest, Dick Yeador
or meself, my answer would be that Mr.
Haynes is the handsomest.
South Carolina passed the ordinance
of secession on December 20, 1850. Al
this time there was no garrison in Fort
Sumter, which stands in the harbol
between Sullivan Island and Morri!
Island, and is surrounded by water; bu
Anderson and his command were in For
Mcaltrie, on Sullivan Island. 1t wa!
C Sssomary In those days to allow Wis
itozs to enter and inspect Fort Moultrie
and as war had not been declared, al
though South Carolina had seeded. An
derson was placed in an awkward posi-
ton, as there was always danger tina
che fort would be taken by surprise
Handsome Charley made an offer to th'
mayor of Charleston (Macbeth, l think)
and ALSO II / remember Alright, to Gov
srnor Pickens, to attempt its capture
but of course, the offer was refused, u
there was strong hope that, principal,
through the influence of New York City
Congress would allow peaceable seces
sion. Anderson, however, had no doub
heard OF Charley's offer, and, therefore
on Christmas night he moved his gar
eison over to Sumter. This movemen
South Carolinians unwisely determine
to attempt to capture Sumter.
The attempt succeeded; for on Apri
u 1861. Fort Sumter was attacked. and