The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-04-28

morning consisted of pork and rice, the
last of the rice being served at that meal.
After this meager breakfast, the first
relief under Captain Abner Double.
day and Lieutenant G.. W. Snider,
opened the return fire. This was about
7 o'clock.
From Fort Moultrie Gen. Ripley was
throwing hot shot, and about eight 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 flames could be
seen tapping the tops of the barracks and
officers quarters. The first impression
was that Major Anderson was signalling
the feet, consisting of eight war vessels
and 1880 men, which had been sent to
the rescue, but had remained idly at an.
.chor and made no sign of help.
At 10 o'clock the fire reached a msga-
zine of shells and grenades and terri.
BILE explosion ensued that caused many a
heart to stand still, for the men in that
beleagured and burning fort had many
friends in Charleston who we're watching
it with the keenest interest. When the
explosion occurred a young girl, who was
present with party of her schoolmates,
was seen to throw up her arms wildly in
the air and e1claim, "Oh, God, my
brotherW She was the sister of Lieut..
Jeff. O. Davis, one of Major Anderson's
officers, who afterwards became Union
General.
During ell this trying period, when tho
fort was in flames, and the air like blast
from crater, Maj. 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 fash from the muzzles of his
guns the Ooniederates would send up
cheer on cheer for the gallant defender of
the fort.
Three times the flag was aowered as a
signal of distress to the Federal feet in
the oHing, but no response followed, and
it was left to Beauregard to tender the
merciful assistance, for which call had
been made. Captain Stephen D. Lee,
Col. W. Porcher Miles, and Roger A.
Pryor were dispatched upon this errand.
At o'clock shot from Sullivan's Is-
land severed the flagstaff and brought
down the stars and stripes. They were
replaced, however, ip about fifteen min
utes by Private Hart, under circumstan-
ces of great daring.
at the reappearance of the flag the
boat With the aides of Beauregard, who
had been sent to offer assistance, turned
back, but meantime ex-senator Wigfall,
of Texas, voluntary aide of Beauregard,
accompanied by Private Gourgin, of the
Palmetto Guard, pushed off from Morris
Island in a small boat, and, showing a
white handkerchief on the point of his
sword, proceeded to Fort Sumter. Being
conducted to Major Anderson he compli.
mented that officer on bis gallant defense,
and stated that to continue the conflict
under the circumstances would be to un-
necessarily risk the lives Of the men ur-
der his command without commensurate
results. Colonel Wigfall said that the
troops would cease firing as soon as the
flags were lowered, and he offered the
terms of surrender already submitted by
Beauregard. "Then," said Major
Anderson; II must surrender I have no
other resource right now; We are all in
flames, aud my men will shortly suffo-
cate"
Accordingly, at 05 o'clock on the 18th
Of April, thu stars and stripes were low
cred, firing ceased aud Fort Sumter vir-
tually passed into the possession of the
Southern Confederacy.
The appearance of the fort at the time
defes description. At every turn the eye
rested upon ruin. Fort Moultrie also
bore evidence of the careful attention
paid to it by the Confederate artillerisia.
1t was here that Captain John Mitchell,
Jr., son of the Irish patriot, first dig
tipguished himself as an officer. Strange
to say, Notwithstanding all this exchange
of iron compliment not single life was
lost.
The evacuation of Fort Sumter took
place about noon on Sunday, April IA,
and the garrison took its departure on the
steamship Isabel. Dressed in full uni.
form and wearing their side arms, they
marched out to the tune of Yankee Doc.
die. Major Anderson looked careworn
and despondent. BE was fine specimen
OF al American officer aud gentleman,
and no one more keenly than Beauregard,
his associate in arms, sympathized with
him in the bitter modification of the
hour. Major Anderson, in common with
all the officers Of tho fort, had been the
recipient of Charleston's choicest hospi-
tality.
The flag had been saluted by the dis
charge of fifty guns. A gentleman
standing near by asked Major Anderson
if thirty four, the usual number, was not
sufficient. NO." replied the old soldier,
bursting into tears, ut should be hun.
dred and even that many would not be
enough"
As 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 craft had its complement of guests.
The strictest Churchmen forgot their af.
ternoon services and watched and shout.