Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-24

the nVlng- henCe IL is
Wxs1f ~ SSaSf that at this time, when
SsX.fE-sPy( SO many thousands of
K1HX those who struggled TO
maintain the old flag
gathered together. that
every man vino Partici-
pa,ed with them carries about him an atmos-
pbore Of interest. strengthened by the knowl-
edge that with many this will be the last re-
union and that before another year rolls
around thew will have answered the last roll
call Especially interesting to the veterans
are those connected with those events which
form part OF the earliest periods of the war
go TO the survivors of that fearless and devoted
little band who IN the close confines OF Fort
sumter vaIisntly answered the opening guns
OF the war attaches at this time unusual inter
est Less than seventy-fye was the number
OF that little garrison and today not more than
thirteen are known to be living They are:
Assistant surgeon Samuel W. Crawford. now
retired major general, residing IN Washington.
Il. G.
Abner Doubleday. captain first United States
artillery. now retired as colonel, residing In
Nendham. y. J.
James Chester. sergeant +. first United
States artillery. now captain third United States
artillery. on duty at Washington city arsenal.
Henry EIerbrook. corpora. Z. first United
States artillery. now clerk IN War Department,
Washington d. &.
Wul il. Hammer. now a captain in twentieth
United States infantry and on dCty at Fort As
svnobOurne. North DAKOTA.
i'h1lp Alderman. artIticer, residing in Wash
ington. ID. 4.
Christopher Costello. corporal H. first United
Siate- artillery. residing IN Fairfax county, Va
Eugene ScheIbner. private first United states
ARTILLERY. residing in Washington. ID. G.
Francis J. Oaks. private first United States
aIIIiiery. residing il Washington. ID. &.
II. Johnston. sergeant III, first United States
ARTILLERY. residing IN Washington. ID. &.
Nm. o LYMAN. a carpenter employed IN the
fort. residing IN Washington. ID. &.
Charles Bringhursi, brleklayer employed
in the fort. residing IN Philadelphia. Pa.
John Swearer. artlicer. residing in Balti-
more, Nd
CAPT. cHEsTEss STORY.
Perhaps the best description Of Major
Robert Anderson. the commandaut of Fort
sumter" remarked Capt James Chester, to a
reporter of The STAR the other day, that
can give Is the one tine men gave when ne re-
heyed Lieut.. Col. John l. Gardner at Fort
MoGitrie: lie looks like thoroughbred
Major Anderson arrived at Fort MoEltrie
Just when We were actively preparing TO defend
II, and the preparations were continued with
much energy before. In short time
South Carolina had seeded and the palmetto
flag foated everywhere except on Fort Jloul-
TIE. We were then virtually beleaguered
garrison without the Formally OF a declaration
of war. Thus matters continued until Christ
mas eve, 1860. when, having previously trans
ferred our women and chIidren-and there
was a great. fine lot of them-tO Fort johnson.
the garrison transferred to Fort Sumter.
The men when we left Fort Moultrie knew not
where We were going. They thought We III
tended capturing the rebel guard boat but
not until we had stolen past her, headed for
Sumter. did they realize our objective point.
The guardboat safely passed, another danger
threatened US at Fort sumter, where the only
occupants, rebel laborers. must be surprised
They were found enjoying themselves IN holl-
day fashion. and their surprise was complete.
Fort Moultrie was left In charge of four men.
and they, when We fred a signal of three guns,
LIT their torches, and a moment later all
Charleston knew that MoultrIe was on fire and
Sumter occupied by Its garrison The same
signal also brought our women and children
back to Us from Fort johnson.
The four men left in Fort Moultrie did their
duty well and remained there until the after
noon OF Christmas. large crowd collected IN
front of the entrance to the fort and threatened
the lone sentry who paced his beat as il moth
ing unusual was occurring. They crowded close
TO the gate, but the sentry, drawing a line with
his bayonet point across the road, said, I'll
shoot the first man that puts MS foot across that
line They laughed at and cursed him. saying
the fort was theirs. but no one passed that line.
At / D. m the sentry was withdrawn, and the
four men escaped to Fort sumter.
Fort Sumter hardly defensibe when We
got there and for weeks We were kept busily
engaged in making 1t So Provisions were
rather too scarce for a siege. Enough for two
months. provided the women and children were
out of the way. For q while the governor of
south Carolina permitted Us to purchase IN
open market in the city fresh meat and vege-
tables When that permission withdrawn
we begged for permission TO send away the
women and children When we at last OBJ
tanned the permission the siege began in ear
nest Soon after their departure We were pu!
on short allowance. which gradually grew
shorter until IL reached one cracker a day and
finally disappeared altogether. But one
grumbled. for every one OF US appre-
GATED the true situation Of affairs. Those OF
TIE vorkmen who were willing 10 cast their lot
with Us we gladly accepted. the rest sen; to
Charleston Those who remained with US
served Loyalty and well. Vet the country has
never httingly recognized their devotion to the
old flag.
OPENING THE COMMANDMENT.
$50 the month passed until April came.
Many interesting and amusing incidents &C.
Cured meantime. but work and sleep were the
sole occupations in the fort, and the work was
hard and the workmen few. Affairs had gradu-
ally been approaching a crisis, and the 18th
Of April, 1851. Gen. Beauregard negotiated
with Maj Anderson for the evacuation
of the fort Andersons reply was tina.
he would evscuate only when compelled To do Sc
By hunger. About $50 the next morning a
steamer approached the fort and fred signal
notification from Gen Beauregard that he
would open his batteries on Fort sumter in two
hours Maj Anderson was in bed at the time.
but be did not get up Immediately. He ordered
the fag to be hoisted and the men to remain
sbed until reveille. Few did so. however
AT the hour appointed by Beauresard I and
Lieut. Jefferson &. Davis stole up on the ram
parts TO see the first gun fired. Promptly a,
the time given the first shot fred 1t was
mortar shell and well aimed / traced Its
course by the burning fuse until ii burst inside
the fort. The rebel batteries then opened on
us on every sde- And grand sight the bonn
bardrnent was. the flashes of the guns in the
pit.hy darkness looking like lightning This
grandeur disappeared with daylight, when the
danger from the enemy's guns became NOR,
apparent For two hours remained silen
and the garrison spent the time in studying III,
effect Of the firing.
'keveille that morning sounded at the usua
hour and a. II nothing unusual was going on
The usual time va. devoted 10 routine dutie
and then the orders Of the day were announced
The tour Of duty at the guns was to be fou
hours There were two reliefs. consisting eacl
Of one company Of artillery, a few of the ban,
and some workmen- Battery was the first OF
duty and was divided into three parties, hav
ing charge Of the third and manning the gun
which bore on Fort Moultrie. the sullivan
-. II