Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-11-27
WHO FIRED THE FIRST CUNT
Roger A. Pryor Declined, and Cap'a'"
James Opened on Fort sumter

Roger A. Pryor Declined, and Chp'hi"
james Opened ou Fort sumter.
Since the publication of the claim mace
nv Major w. NJ. Gibbs. of South Carolina
that he was the man who fred the nrst
shot on Fort Sumter, there has been "a
great deal of discussion over the suuJect'
saws the New York World. Few people
know that distinguished citizen ana an
official OF New York could have hsu tna'
questionable privilege had ne desIIeu.
Roger A. Pryor, then distinguishes V Gli,i
Virginan, afterwards genera ~ the IN ~
fejerate army, and now nudge OF me
New York Court of Common Pleas ue-
clined 10 fire on the flag Of his country:
An Associated Press dispatch from New
Orleans gives a statement made ov Iene-
raj Ct. +. Beauregard, when wouiu see ,,
10 settle the dispute. General Beauregards
statement discioses also that announcer
prominent citizen OF New YORK was con-
cerned in the prelimlnarles 10 the o0In-
bardment Banker A. II. Chisholm Oh NO.
81 Broadway. c.LL,.
General Beauregard denies Major Gi0bs's
claim and points out that Captain George
s. James, who was IN charge OF Fort Jonn-
son. where General Beauregard was III com
mand of the Confederate forces. hreu tue
first shot. The General wrote to Colonel
Chisholm about the affair. calling atten,
ton to Major Gibbs's claim. ana Co'oueii
Chisholm sent back letter. which, ne sara
Yesterday, was his recollection OF Tue o.
currence. Colonel Chisholm wrote:
COLONEL cHIsHoLM's STATEMENT.
"Nv recollections of the firing of the
first or signal gun on Fort sumter April
10. 1861, are as follows: First, as my prl-
waite boat and six negro oarsmen., with my
self "a your aide-de-camp, were the prlncl-
nal means of communication between YOU
and the forts on the islands around
Charleston harbor, it fell to my lot, IN
company with Senator James Chesthut
and Captaln Stephen ID. Lee. afterwards
Iieutenaut-general to Maior Robert Ander-
son in command Of the United states
forces in Fort Sumter, your final note
for the demand of the surrender Oh thaV
work, and the specific authority Tor US 10
notify Major Anderson that your guns
wonld not open on him if he would agree
not To fire on our batteries as on previous
visit to Fort Sumter under flag OF truce.
He had stated to us that he was ABOUT
starved out. General Roger A. Pryor.
then on visit 10 Charleston, accom-
panied us. After being detained IN
the guard-room of the fort we notined
Major Anderson that we could not wait
any longer for his reply. lie then came
from the consultation with his othcers 10
the guard-room and stated 10 US .naC ne
would not agree not TO fire on our battery,
that his flag had been fired upon, twice
and if this was done again he would open
his batteries. This left US no alternative
Int TO carry out General Beauregard
instructions, which were that his bate
ries would open on Fort Sumter IN an
hour.
CAPTAIN JAMES THE MAN.
"Maior Anderson said to us: Gentle
men. | will await your fire. With Captain
Foster he accompanied US to the outside
of the sallyport. when we entered the
boat and proceeded to Fort Johnson. then
in command of Captain George 5. James,
who met us on the wharf. We delivered
to him. as per your instructions, the order
In fire the signal gun. Captain James,
seeing General Pryor IN the boat. said to
him: MIR. Pryo | have always been
great admlrer of yours, and now offer you
the honor of firing the first shot at Fort
General Pryor felt fattered, but with
many thanks declined the honor. asked
him why he did not accept It,. His reply
was that it would not do for him 10 nre
that shot, as his State had not yet Sc
ceded." ,,,,
Captain James then said: i will not
give that privilege to any other man.
When Judge Pryor was asked about the
matter Yesterday he said:
II haven't bothered about the thing;
It's too old and the wars been over 100
long. Since you mention the circum-
stance. though, | believe the facts are as
General Beauregard and Colonel Chisholm
state them. However. | am too much en-
crossed with the present and future TO
talk about ancient history of that kind