The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-10

last OF the rice being served at that meal.
After this meagre breakfast the first relief.
under Capt. Abne, Doubleday and Lieut..
e. w. Snyder, opened the return fire. This
was about seven o'clock,
From Fort Moultrie Gen. Ripley was
throwing hot shot, and about eight a tall,
steadily ascending column of smoke was
observable on the southern portion OF
Sumter. First, it was thin and pale, but
every moment it grew darker until. shoot
ing out from the base of the black pillar,
great yellow tongues of flame could be seen
tapping the tops of the barracks and Off
CO s. quarters. The first impression was
that Major Anderson was signaling the
fleet. consisting of eight war vessels and
1880 men, which had been sent to the
rescue. but had remained idly at anchor
and made no sign of help.
At 10 o'clock the fire reached a magazine
of shells and grenades and a terrific explo-
sion ensued that caused many a heart to
stand still, for the men in that beleaguerei
and burning foNt had many friends in
Charleston who were watching it with the
keenest interest. When the explosion oc-
CURED a young girl who was present with a
patty of schoolmates was seen to throw her
arms wildly in the air and exclaim, "Oh,
God, my brother!" She was the sister Of
Lieut.. jeff. c. Davis, one of Mnj, Anderson's
officers who afterWard became a union gen
eral.
During all this trying period, while the
fort was in flames and the air like II blast
from a furnace, Major Anderson continued
to send occasional shots to the different
batteries around him as if determined to
show to the world that he ''died gAme.'
At every flash from the muzzles of his guns
the confederates would send up cheer on
cheer for the gallant defender of the fort.
Three times the flag was lowered as a sig
nal of distress to the federal fleet in the
ohing, but no response followed, and it was
left to Beauregard to tender the merciful
assistance for which q call had been made,
Capt. Stephen D.. Lee, Col. w. Porcer
Miles and Roger A. Pryor were dispatched
On this errand.
AT one o'clock a shot from Sulliyan's Ia.
land severed the flagstaff and brought down
the stars and stripes. They were replaced
however, in about fifteen minutes BY Pri-
vate Hart, of New York, under circum-
stances of great daring.
At the reappearance of the flag the boat
with the aides OF Beauregard who had been
sent to offer assistance turned hack, but
meanwhile ex-senator Wigfall, of Texas,
Z voluntary aide of Bsauregard, accom-
panied by Private Gourdin, of the Palmetto
guard. pushed Off from Morris island in a
ANAL boat. and, showing q white handker-
chleI on the point OF his swerd, proceeded
to Fort Sumter. Being conducted to
Major Anderson. he co~nplimented that Of
hcer On his gallant defense, and stated that
to continue the conflict under the
circumstances would be to unnecessarily
risk the lives Of the men under
his command without commen-
su-ate results. Colonel Wigtall said
that the troops would cease firing az soon
az the flag was lowered, and he offered the
terms Of surrender already submitted by
Beauregard. ''Ihen," sale Major Ander,
son. II must surrender; | have no other re-
source; we ale all in flames, and my MOI
will shortly suffocate."
Accordingly, at five minutes past one
O'Clock on the 18th of April the stars and
strlpeB were lowered, firing ceased and Fort
Sumter virtually passed into the posses
SION OF the southern confederacv.
lhe appearances of the fort at the time de-
rested upon ruin. Fort Moultrie also bore
evidence of the careful! attention paid to it
by the federal artillerists. 1t was here the
capt. Joh1i Mitchell, Jr., son of the Irisb
patriot, first distinguished himself aa an
o1llcer. strange to say, Notwithstanding ali
tnas exchange OF IRON compliments. not q
single life was lost.
The evacuation of Fort Sumter toni
place about noon on Sunday, April ID. and
the garrison took its departure ~ ~
steamship Isabel. Dressed in fun mi eorm
and wearing their side arms, they marched
out TO the tune OF Yankee Doodle" Major
Anderson looked careworn and despondent
lie was a tine specimen of an American
officer and gentleman, and no one moro
keenly than General Beauregard, his assos
ciate in arms, synpathized with the gallant
soldier in the bitter modification of the
hour. Major Anderson, in common with
all the other officers of the fort, had been
the recipient of Charleston's choicest hos.
pltality.
Tit flag had Leon saluted by the dis
charge of fifty guns. A gentleman stand
ing near Major Anderson asked if thirty
four. the usual number, was not sufficient,
No." replied the old soldier, bursting into
tears, Tit should be q hundred, and tina ia
not enough"
s the steamer moved off cheer after
cheer rent the air. Every available site
along the coast and in the city was occu-
pied, and every conceivable species of water
cart had is full complement of guests.