The National tribune., 1892-10-13

SON was the right man to stand first and FORE
most for the Union against secession In Charles
ton. its hot-bed As to this the man was to be
tested, and tested he was as hardly another one
was and no one ever came out of a test better
Fort Moultie, when Anderson was ordered to
take command there, had long been popular
with Army officers, chiefly on account OF the So
city of Charleston, into which, as rule they
entered as welcome addition. when the
Secession difficulties began no class IN the
first social circles of Charleston stood higher
than the officers of the Moultrie garrison. MAJ.
Anderson, though not strictly society man,
WIS polished gentleman, and he and his Vile
were more than welcome wherever lnteiilGence'
culture, and refinement were appreciated he
was a quiet gentlemannered man. while Mrs.
Anderson possessed the qualities usually 1ound
in well bred high-spirited Southern ladies' AS
rule ali the other gentlemen of the garrison
were popular where discrimination was the
rule. Mainly they were from the North, but
that fact had not much entered as yet
Lincolns election came suddenly; 1t broke
upon Charleston as somehow an invasion OF
Southern rights; declaration of war; an
event that made it necessary for the citizens,
not only in Charleston, but the South, to act.
Almost in an hour the city, apparently as one
man, was on its mettle. The hre-esters seized
upon it as their opportunity and used all means
to fire the Southern heart The citizens assem-
bled en- masse. and there was hardly more than
one man to stand out to fearlessy protest ana
bravely acknowledge the Union. That man was
the venerable John ]. Petegru, lawyer OF great
distinction, a citizen OF high character, whom
no one dared to say aught of. While not un-
necessarily demonstrative he deprecated the Sc
cession spirit. When the rector OF 81. M1chaefs
Church refused TO read the service containing
a prayer for the President of the United States
he rose from his seat, and in a manner that was
stern and stately marched out of the church,
tr-l Ia in rnrdc 81 q
dust off his feet. As showing the feeling that
prevailed it may be related that Judge Ma
grath of the United States District Court, at
tended a mass meeting for secession, and In
the presence of the multitude cast aside the
robes of bis Office and tTampled them under his
feet. Apparently in all that city Mr. Petegru
alone was true to the Union, and fiinched not,
no time, nowhere.
The question was How was Maj. Anderson
To say the least, his relations and those OF the
Moultrie garrison were strained. About TINS
time ] reached Charleston in the capacity OF
correspondent of the New York Tribune,
though of course i was far from making such
an avowal of my object. To Andersen L at
once made it known, and he did not hesitate to
caution me TO prudence. To no one else was
the object of my visit made though / was
introduced 10 the officers of the garrison, and
from time to time dined at their mess. In re-
turn, had them singly and twos as my guests
at the Mills House, then the center of the high
toned Secession feeling in the city.
1t was toward the holidays when Anderson
became fully convinced that there was going TO
be serious trouble. i saw him frequently and
communicated not little that had come under
my observation and within my hearing tending
to this conclusion. Although he made no sign
that could be seen it is certain that the purpose
of moving from Moultrie TO Fort Sumter some
time was formed before the time he carried it
into effect. which was Christmas Eve, 1860.
Anderson did not propose TO stay in Moultrie
only TO be driven out, as be surely would be,
and thus become the means of giving the Sc
cessiopists control ia Charleston barbcr. His
forethought and conduct showed that so far
from permitting the Secessionists 10 gain the
least advantage, he early determined they
should have none-that whatever they got
they would have to fight for.
The move from Moultrie into Sumter was
total surprise TO the Observation-Disclosures had
hardly been known then. They were mad at
Anderson. Social conservatism nor anything else
would suffer longer TO insure him any standing,
with the fre-eaters especially After the removal
Of the garrison into Fort Sumter saw nj more
of Anderson or any other officer, to speak with
him. The Major had done me the favor some days
before TO send me a message by Lieut.. Davis,
which he knew ] would know meant that
had better be on my guard, as he had heard the
vigilant committee expected to drop down on
Of which message the Lieutenant did not him
self understand. 1t sent me home for the
holidays, but ] returned to Charleston On the
morning Of Jan. to witness the failure OF the
poorly managed expedition of the Star of the
West for the relief of Sumter. Although the
Star Of the West did not know it, at the mo-
ment when she turned tail and steamed away
her way TO Sumter was clear. 1t has been
asked, Why did not Anderson open his guns
from Sumter on the light house battery, which
the rebels had planted TO play Oh the relief
ehipy The truth is, Sumter at the time had but
8 single gun mounted and few fuses 10 do it
with, and their use would simply disclose her
weakness. To keep silent, therefore, was what
he resolved TO do. And for moro than three
months afterwsrd he continued to keep his
silence while be studied how TO speak and to
act. whenever it should become necessary, in
such way that there would be no misunder-
standing him. How that was We will proceed
to show.
Passing over the intervening period until
April il, we find one of the greatest, If not the
greatest event IN the history of the war, as
well &c the very FIRST great one, 10 wit, the
evacuation Of Sumter by Maj. Anderson after
an almost continuous bombardment of SO hours.
! had returned TO New York, and il fell TO me,
with corps of reporters, TO meet the Sumter
garrison at sea off New Jersey coast and OBJ
tain the first true narrative of the attack on
j told the Major had come TO put on record
truthful narrative Of the history he had made
in the last few days. I'VE know nothing"
said, that las rot come from Secession sources:
that you had been attacked in Sumter and had
surrendered" which is as far as Anderson
would allow me TO 60.
Don't say surrender" he said with spirit
1--WE evacuated the fort on our own terms al
our own time, and in our own way bringing
away the individual and company property of
the garrison, the officers wearing their side and
other arms with all the bonors, and we salutcd
the flag and brought it away with u.s. When
the baggage was all on board of our own trans
ports, the soldiers remained inside under arms
a portion were told of as gunners to salute the
American flag. When the last gun had been
fred the flag was lowered, the men all cheer
ing. The men then formed, were marched
cut the band playing Yankee Doodle and
Hail to the Chief That was the way we
went out of Sumter.'' Here the Major ceased
and we cbeered. No one ever said " surren-
DER after that.
Maj. Anderson subsequently said 10 the press
people, what took down from his lips at the
moment more than 81 years ago, these words:
Oentlemen, / earnestly entreat that you will
clearly set before our C. pntrymen Of the
North the fact that Fort Sumter was not evac-
Dated while there was a cartridge to fire, or
powder enough left 10 make one with Never
did famished men work more bravely than
those who defended the fortress, knowing as
they did, that If successfully defended and
heid by them there was not even biscuit to
divide among them. They would never have