Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-02

| The dear old hag!'' she exclaimed and gave
way to tears. They were but momentary how
ever, for reproaching herself for her weakness
her emotion was soon controlled. Secession
patrol boats were passed and passwords given
Az they approached Sumter they were chnl.
lenged, "Who comes there?''
| Mrs Maj. Anderson" was the prompt re-
Spouse.
advance, Mrs. Maj Anderson" was the
formal order.
| THE MEETING.
As Mrs. Anderson advanced up the stone
pier her husband came out of the sally port
| He clasped her In his arms with the exclama-
| ton; intended for her ears only, my glorious
wife,! md carried her into the fort to his
| quarters. Refreshments were served but
neither Maj. nor Mrs. Anderson partook of
them. During her visit Mrs Anderson affected
q lightheortedness she for from feeling
The furniture OF the majors quarters consisted
OF an old iron cot, o camp chair and an old
leather camp valise. and she jokingly referred
to his sumptuous surroundings. In one corner
OF the room were some barrel hoops and slaves.
and referring to these she said he seemed at all
events to have u supply of frewood Mrs
Anderson had sewed up in the bodice of her
dress quite sum Of money. which she had
procured for the purpose OF placing in the
hands of her husband for use il he should at
any time need it in his extremity. but he re-
FUSED to accept it. The heroic woman had said
to those who had come with her: "Tell me when
'.Ao oSh 'oo. hAiiA 10 DaCk WIN the Don't.
For she would not increase the cares of her hus-
band by remaining with him in the fort. The
tide served in the course OF two hours.
When Mrs. Anderson was placed in the boat by
her husband she experienced an almost irresist-
IDLE desire to draw him after her. As the oars
touched the water and the boat moved away
through the water she gave way to tears and
mad q faintlng spell. Cnheeding the entreaties
OF friends and relatives who tried to persuade
her to remain in Charleston. Mrs Anderson
started for the national capital that evening.
Charleston no place for her while her hus-
band was under the old flag She returned to
Washington and insensible when she ar
rived at Wizards Hotel, into which she was
conveyed by Gen. Aspinwall, a dear friend. who
was stopping there at the time and who had
responded to call to help a lady who had
tainted In her carriage and whose face was the
first she recognized on the return to conscious
ness. After suffering for forty-eight hours
from utter exhaustion she proceeded to New
\ ork and FOR long time threatened with
brain fever. Mrs. Anderson had done what the
government claimed it could not do, she had
taken reinforcement to Fort Sumter.
FIRING ON THE FLAG.
On memorable Friday morning, the 10Th
OF April. 1861, the stars and stripes floating from
the parapet of Fort Sumter we're fired upon bv
what is generally referred 10 as the first gun
OF the confederacy. and what was really the
beginning of hostilitieS between the United
,'"lSo anu INC so-cuilcu COuleUcrdte SatcS or
America. Under the folds of that flag. the
symbol of revolutionary glory and national
unity, the gallant Maj or Anderson and his little
garrison won immortal fame
Hot shot and shell rained down upon the fort
and the flag from the rebel siege works, ar
ranged in the form of a triangle, of which sum
ter was the center. Seven times during the
first day of he bombardmcnt the flag staff was
struck. Early in the day several vessels of the
federal fleet we're observed off the bar and or
ders were given to dip the flag TO them. This
was done and the salute was returned bat while
the flag was being hoistcd after the third dip
shell burst near the flagstaff and cut the hal
Hard. The part of the ballard thus cut was SO
connected that the flag must have Gene down
with run had not the end of the rope caught
IN the staff, so that the star srangied banner
was kept aloft and on the morning of the 18Th
the second day of the bombardment, 1.-The flag
was still there" This is the incident to which
Maj. Anderson referred when he afterward said:
God Almighty nailed that flag to the mast and
1 could not have lowered it if had trled.' At
O'Clock OF the second day the flagstaff having been
hit twice before that morning. was again struck
and fell. The flag was Immediately secured by
Lieut.. Hall and SO soon it could be attached
to a temporary staff again hoisted on the
parapet by Lieut.. Snyder, corps of engineers
assisted by Peter Hart.
The confederate general. Beauregard, said
referring to Maj Anderson and his garrison,
with such material for army. if properly
disciplined. would consider myself invincible
against any forces not too superior" But an
army OF thousands against few score men.
Let Maj. Anderson tell his owD story: '.HayinC
defended Fort Sumter for thirty-four hours
until the quarters were entirely burned, the
main gates destroyed by fire, the gorge walls
seriously injured and the magazines surrounded
by flames and its doors closed from the effects
OF heat, four barrels and three cartridges of
powder only being available and no provisions
remaining but pork, Fort Sumter was evacuated
and the little garrison marched out of the fort
Sunday afternoon. the 14th instant. with colors
flying. drums beating. bringing away company
and private property and saluting my flag with
fifty guns.
Gen. Abner Doubleday claims the honor of
having fired the first shot from Sumter in de-
Tense of the old flag. Edmund Ruffin of Vir-
ginia claimed that he fired the first confederate
gun at Sumter. He committed suicide shortly
after the close of the war. Others have dis
puted with him this claim to notoriety.
The flag that floated over Fort Moultrie bore
evidence of the spirit with which the little gar
rison had replied to its assaiants having been
thrice cut by the federal shot. Beauregard, in
forwarding the flag to the confederate states
war department, said Being the first cOnfet-
crate flag thus baptized by fire have though:
it worth while sending to the war departing mt
for preservatiOn.' Its successor. the confeder-
ate garrison flag of Fort Moultrie. was captured
by the Union forces February Is. 1865.
SHORTY AFTER his arrival III New York, after
the evacuation Of Sumter, Maj Anderson adj
dressed communica ton to the War Depart
ment asking instructions to the disposition
of the flags which he had brought away with
him. The War Department replied, substan-
TALLY. that the flags could not be in better
hands than i'll those of one who had defended
them so nobly. Maj Anderson thercupon had
Peter Hart make a box for them and placed
them in it with his own hands. The box was
then placed in the vaults of the Metropolitan
Bank of New York for preservation.
HoIsTED AGAIN OVER THE FORT.
On that otheI memorable Friday, the 14th Of
April 1865. the fourth anniversary Of the evac-
uation of the fort tbut not the surrender of
the fiag) and the day on which the martyred
Lincoln fell by the assassin's hand, the same
flag that fOated over Sumter in 1861 was again
raised over its ruins under the order of the
great War Secretary, Stanton. by Brevet for
gallant and meritorious service in the harbor of
Charleston, s. Co. Major General Anderson,
I. s. A.. after brief address and amid cheer
ing and the singing of patriotic songs. The
flag was handed to him by the brave and faith
full Peter Hart Chaplain Matthias Harris, who
was present and delivered prayer at the rails
ing of the flag over Sumter when the garrison
was removed there from Moultrie. December
n. 1850. his voice trembling with emotion,
again asked blessing on the flag Of the
| fathers. Rev. Henry Ward Beechcr delivered
an Grafton. Gen. Z. D. Townsend was present
4 and x.kA Mai g.