The National tribune., 1898-03-24
HE f" AMERICAN
CONFLICT. -
tConinued from first page,,

tConinued from frst pageD
of it by a 3O-hours' bombardment-
But why officers quarters and barracks
of wood should ever have been con-
structed in the center of such fort
or rather, why they should have been
permitted to stand there after the hostile
intentions of the Confederates had been
clearly proclaimed-is not obvious.
That shells and red-hot balls would
be rained into this area-that the frail
structures which nearly filled it would
inevitably take fire, and not only inn
peril magazines, cartridges, and every
thing else combustible, bat prevent the
working of the guns, was palpable from
the outset. To have committed to the
surrounding waves every remaining
particle of wood that was not essential
to the defense, would seem the manifest
work of the night which preceded the
opening of the bombardment, after the
| formal demand that the fort be surren-
dered.
To do this while yet unassailed and
unimperiled, instead of rolling barrel
after barrel of precious powder into the
sea under the fire of a dozen batteries,
with the whole center of the fortress a
glowing furnace, and even the classmates
so hot that their tenants could only
escape roasting by lying fiat on the floor
and drawing their breath through wet
blankets would seem the dictate of the
simplest forecast.
So, when we read that "the guns,
without tangents or scales, and even des-
titute of bearing-screws, were to be
ranged by the eye, and fred by guess, ,"
we have an ample explanation of the
inefficiency of their fire, but none of the
causes of this strange and fatal lack of
preparation for a contest that had SO
long been imminent 1t might seem as
if Sumter had been held only that it
should be assailed with impunity and
easily taken.
sUMTER's FIRST GUN.
1t was at 7 o'clock three
hours after the first shot came crashing
against her walis-that Sumters garri-
son, having deliberately eaten their
break whereof salt pork constituted
the staple-fred their first gun. They
had been divided into three squads or
reliefs, each in succession to man the
guns for four hours, and then be relieved
by another.
Capt. Abner Doubleday commanded
the first on duty, and fired the first gun.
Only the easemate guns were COM
monty fired-those on the parapet be-
ing too much exposed to the shot and
she'll pouring in from every quarter to
render their use other than reckless,
bootless waste Of life.
The fire of the fort was SO weak,
when compared to that of its assailants,
as to excite derison rather than appre-
hensIon on their part. 1t was directed
at Fort Moultrie, the Cummings Point
battery, and Sullivan's Island, from
which a masked battery of heavy
columbiads, hitherto unsupported by the
garrison, had opened on their walls with
fearful effect. The floating battery, faced
with railroad bars, though planted very
near to Sumter, and seemingly impervi-
Gus to her balls. was far less effective.
A new English gun, employed by the
Confederates, was remarked by the garri-
son as wonderfully accurate and efficient;
several of its shots entering their en-
brasures, and one of them slightly
wounding four men. But the classmates
were sheli-proof; the officers constantly
warned their men against needless expos
ure; 30 that, though the peril from fire and
from their own ammunition was even
greater than that from the enemy's guns,
not one was seriously hurt. And, though
Fort Moultrie was considerably dam
aged, and the little village of Moultre-
vilIe-composed of Summer residences
of certain wealthy citizens of Charles.
ton-was badly riddled, it was claimed,
and seems undisputed, that no one
was mortally wounded on the side of the
assailants. So bloodless was the intia-
ton of the bloodliest struggle that
America ever witnessed.
But, though almost without casualty
the contest was not, on the side of the
Union, mere mockery Of war it even
served to develop traits of heroism.
Says one Of those who participated in
the perils of the defense:
The worlmcn Irish latorers, hired in New
York for other than military ser, ice were at
first rather reluctant TO assist the soldiers in
handling the guns; but they gradually took
hold and rendered valuable assistance Few
shots were fired before every one OF them was
desperately engaged in the conflict We had
| to abandon one gun on account Of the heavy
tire made upon it. Hearing the fire renewed,
! went TO the spot. | there found party of
workmen engaged in serving it. saw one
OF them STOPPING over, with his hands on his
knees, convulsed with joy, while the tears
rolled down his pOwder-b egrimed cheeks
what are you doing here with that gum"
asked. Hit 1t right in the center, was the
reply, the man meaning that his shot had
taken effect in the center of the floating bat
terry.
Says another eyewitness:
Shells burst with the greatest rapidty in
every portion Of the work, hurting the loose
brick and stone in all directions. breaking the
windows, and setting fire to whatever wood
work they burst against The solid shot
firing OF the cnemy's batteries and nsrticu-