Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-11-22

New ORLEANS, Ia, November 2l.-Ger-
eral Beauregard has made public the fol-
lowing statement which seems 10 settle the
identity Of the man wso fired the shot that
BEGAN the late war:
Last April | noticed q short article,
dated April 10, 1872 in which IL was stated
lima, claimed having fired the first gun
against Fort Sumter, April II, 1861, as fol-
lows;
ION nc night OF the llth Of April Cap
tain George ). James, who commanded the
artillery company stationed at Fort john
son, was instructed 20 have shell exploded
az 30 On the next morning, which was 10
be the signal for general bombardment.
l was FiIst Lieutenant In command OF n
battery OF ten-inch mortars, and was In
trusted with this duty. Our m0rtars were
loaded and trained, one with full charge.
directly on the fort; the other, according 20
instructions, to explode high Ia the air aud
wide OF the mark, only as a signal. Cor
poral Welsh with one lanyard IN hand, and
/ with tn the other. awaited tho moment
and watched our timepieceS as the hands
marked the half hour.
The shell was thrown high In the air--a
beautiful sight, as the whole line could be
traced by the burning fuse. Immediately
our mine was sprung 10 destroy a house
which interiored with our view, and then
the gun, which was trained upon the Fort,
and was intended for business, was dis
charged, all within a bali minute, Lieuten-
ant Henry L. Farlay. with Captain James,
commanded second battery Of moriars,
and Lieutenant Hayne, detachment OK
reserves. These arc absolute sfacts and
the two shells from my battery were tho
first Of the siege Lieutenant Meade, who
was IN Fort Sumter, Informed me that tho
second shell fell 10 the fort"
"As Major Gibbs statement did not
agree with my recollection Of the event, |
inclosed the article % Col. A. x. Chisholm,
OF New York, who was one OF the aides /
sent TO Major Robert Anderson, command
inc the fort, 70 demand its surrender, ask
ing him (Chisholm) FOR his recollection OF
the occurrence. / received only lately his
answer, which submitted 40 once 10 Gen.
5. ID. Lee, who was alsoonc Of my aldos on
that occasion, and happens 20 be now IN
this city. He confirms the statement OF
Col. Chisholm, which agrees win
what he had written on the SUB.
ject, frst on
tllen on hpYi a,
brauce Of the verbal report Of those OF my
staff agrees fuzzy with their present state
ment, i publish the communication from
Col. Chisholm which is approved, as have
said, by Gen. Lee. and ought 20 settle tho
question OF who fred the first gun. signal
shell. on Fort Sumter on april IL, 1901.
The lapse of time (3l Years. since then, can
well explain the errors Of Major Glbos,
who was a gallant officer Of the Confcdor-
acy and Is incapable OF claiming knowingly
an honor which belongs TO brotner
officer.
ISignedl sc. T. BEAuREGARD."
Here is the letter referred %;
81 BROADWAY, NEW YogK, April u, lse3
General Il. n. Bcdurcgdrd;
My DEAR GENERAL:-My rocollectiOns
OF the firing OF the first signal gun on Fort
Sumter April 70 1851, are rs follows:
First. as my private boat and six negro
oarsmen with myself as your aide do camp
were the principal means OF communion
tion between you and the forts on tho Isl.
and around Charleston harbOr, H. fell TO
my lot. In company with Senator James
Chestnut and Captain stephen y, Lee, AZ
terward Lieut.. General, 10 take 10 MQior
Robert Anderson in command OF the Il. ;.
forces in Fort Sumter your iinal note fot
the demand OF the SURRENDER OF the work
and your specific authority for US 10 notify
Major Anderson that yOy- guns would not
open on him IL he WopidAgree not TO IRE on
our batteries, as on previous visit 70 Fort
Sumter. under flag OF truce, he had stated
70 us that he was about starved out. Gen
erai Roger A. Pryor, then on a visit 70
Charleston. accompanied us. After being
detained in the guard room OF the fort we
notified Major Anderson that we could not
wait any longer for bis reply. He then
came from tho consultation with his officers
% the guard room and stated % Us that no
would not agree not 10 fire ou our battery;
that his fag had been fired on twice and TX
this was done again he would open bis bat
teries This left US no alternative but 70
carry out our instructions, which wero
given 20 him IN the following words, which
believe are exact:
FoRT SUMTER, April II, 1851, 3:2O A. x.
To Major Robert AndcrsOH.
MAJOR We are directed bEF 7r 60
Beauregard 20 inform you that
les will open fire on Fort 81
hour from this time.
lSignedl JAMES e
SrErng
This note was written by
Lee az the dictation Of James
copied by me as dictated. "
then said 70 US, Gentlemen
your fire"
Re then, with Captain
panied Us 10 the outside Of
when we entered the boat
Fort Johnson, then IN con
George 5. James, who me
where we delivered 10 hi
structons the order 10 Z
Captain James, seeing
the DOat. said % bin:
always been a great aon
now Offer you tb2 honor
shot at Fort Sumter"
General Pryor felt iia
many thanks decli.ed Inc
him why be did not acceL
was that II would DOT 90
that shot. as his State bad
james then said, Il w1ll
privilege 20 any other man.
We rowed well out into tnt
ed there until the shot was
burned brightly in the dawn
one hour later than toe date ol
Major Anderson We teru
Charleston, where we found gr
ment iu tne streets.
Very sincerely yours,
Eose-sipce the above was W
have procured copy Of the orgDf
= F'oeT srurEr. April ia, isGl-s
S,y.-Bv authority OF Bsigad
Beauregard. commanding TIE
forces Of the Confederate St
the honor TO notify you tnat
the hrc Of his batteries On
. one hour from this tine
Apor 70 be very respectfully
SsaI ylsrscHr
is. G. As91 s11' "a