The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-09-09
Fort johnson, and reached there at 4

Fort Johnson, and reached there at 4
O'Clock.
| From Fort johnson Captain Chestnut
started by boat to report to Beauregard
the harbor between Forts johnson and
Sumter, and there lay to until the sig
nal shot was seen to burst over the tar
get.
After delivering his report to Beaure-
gard the captain was again sent in his
open boat down the harbor, now alive
with shells from Sumter and all it's adj
versaries, including Fort Moultrie. The
boat reached Norris island in safety,
passing under the guns which were fir
ing vigorously. Captain Chesnut's in
struotfons were to learn the condition
of the southern batteries exposed to
Sumter's Shots and also that of Sum-
ter. His boat ran out in the harbor to-
ward Sumter, and he saw that the
buildings in the fort were on fire.
About that time the firing from Sumter
ceased. But the flag was still waving.
Captain Chestnut determined to make
one more demand for the evacuation
and was preparing to go out in the boat
when the United States flag suddenly
disappeared from the historic walls.
Word was brought from Anderson that
he would evacuate, and the captain has
tened to the city with the news.
The next mission of Captain Ches-
nut was one of mercy. The quarters in
Fort Sumter had been set on fire by hot
shot from Moultrie, and the condition
Of its magazine was not known to those
outside. 1t was supposed that there
must be some wounded needing care. A
fire engine and its company were loaded
Oh board a steamer, and with a surgeon
and his staff of assistants the relief
party hurried to the burning fort. On
nearing the wharf the steamer was
warned away byan officer in the fort,
who stated that it was in danger of
blowing up at any moment from the
mines placed beneath the wall at that
point as means Of defense.
Captain Chestnut entered the fort
through an embrasure and offered the
services Of his firemen and surgeons to
Major Anderson. Only one. man had
been wounded, and the fire had burned
itself out. The lower magazine was
under the burning ruins, but was deem
ed safe. The upper one had been emp
tied by casting the powder barrels into
the sea.
In most histories the first Confeder-
ate shot at Fort Sumter is wrongly at
tributed to Edmund Ruffin of Virginia,
a venerable man, who is called one Of
the fathers of secession. This tradition
spoils good story, and give the facts
from official history as a setting for an
incident worth preserving.
General Beauregard, commander Of
the provisional army Of South Carolina,
says in his official report, "The signal
shell was fired from Fort Johnson at
4:30 a. M" Fort Johnson was OH
James island. It was three gun bat
terry, with four gun mortar battery
near by. The post was known as Fort
johnson. The official journal Of Cap
tain J. G. Foster, the Federal engineer
in Sumter, says, cat 4:3O a. m. sig
nal shell was thrown from the mortar
battery on James island" ''->
One of Beauregard's aids, who deliv-
cred the ultimatum to Major Anderson
and carried his reply back to shore, Cap
tain Stephen D. Lee, tells the story as
follows in The Century war papers:
"The boat containing the two aids
and also Roger A. Pryor of Virginia
went Immediately from Sumter to Fort
johnson, on James island, and the or
der to fire the signal gun was given to
Captain George S. James, commanding
the battery at that point. Captain
James at once arranged to carry out the
order. He was a great admirer Of Roger
A. Pryor, and said to him, You are
the only man to whom would give the
honor of firing the first gun Of the war,
and offered to allow him to fire it.
pryor was very much agitated.
With a husky voice he said, 4 could not