The National tribune., 1898-03-24

feasted on the richest viands, who were
ere long to regard rancid pork as
dainty, and tea and coffee as family re-
membered luxuries.
Beauregard shot up like Jonah's
gourd to the altitude of the worlds
greatest Captains; and Damnation to
the Yankees!" was drunk with rap
ture by enthusiastic crowds whose heads
were sure to ache tomorrow with what
they had drunk before. Already, in
the ardent Imagination of her chivalry,
the Confederacy had established its in
dependence beyond dispute, and were
about to conquer and lay waste the de-
generate, cowardly North.
NEGOTIATIONS FOR SURRENDER.
The credit of putting an end to this
most unequal contest is due to Louis
1. Wigfall, late Senator from the State
of Texas, now styling himself Confeder-
ate Brigadier. Wigfall-a Carolinian by
birth, Nullifer by training, and a
duelist by vocation-had the faults and
virtues of his caste; and one of the
latter is repugnance to witnessing a
conflict between parties too palpably i'll
matched.
Seeing that the fire of Sumter was
only maintained as matter of pride-for
the fainting garrison had quite enough
to do at fighting the flames that had
burned their quarters, and in rolling out
their powder to prevent its explosion
Wigfall seized skif on the afternoon
of Saturday (the second day of the
bombardment), and made direct toward
the almost siienced and thoroughly
harmless fortress.
He was soon at the side of the fort
and, showing his face at an embrasure
waving white handkerchief on the
point Of bis sword, he asked to be pre-
sented to Maj. Anderson. No objection
being made, he crawled through the EN-.
brasure into the casemate, and was there
met by. several officers. to whom hs
urged the futility of further resistance.
"Let US stop this firing" said he
"you are on fire, and your flag is down
Let us quit"
"No," replied Lieut.. Davis, " our flat
is not down. Step out here, and you
will see it waving over the ramparts."
Wigfall persisted that the Resistance
had no longer any justification, ant
urged one of the officers to wave hi
white flag toward Moultrie; and. thi
being declined, proceeded to wave i
himself Finally, Corporal was in
duced to relieve him in this, but to N
purpose.
About this time, Maj. Anderson ap
preached, to whom Wigfall announced
himself Incorrectly as messenge1
from Gen. Beauregard, sent to inquir,
on what terms he would evacuate thu
fortress. Maj. Anderson calmly replied
Gen. Beauregard is already &C
quainted with my only terms"
After few more civil interchange
of words, to no purpose, Wigfall retired
and was soon succeeded by ex-senator
Chestnut, and ex-Representatives Roger
A. Pryor and w. Porcher Miles, who
assured Maj. A. that Wigfall had actec
entirely without authority.
Maj. Anderson thereupon ordered
his flag, which had been lowered, to be
raised again but his visitors requested
that this be delayed for further confer
ence; and, having reported to Beaure
gard, returned, two Or three hours after
ward, with substantial assent to Maj
Anderson's conditions.
| The latter was to evacuate the fort
his garrison to retain their arms, with
personal and company property, and
march out with the honors of war, be.
ing conveyed to whatever port in the
loyal States they might indicate.
Considering his hopeless condition
these terms were highly honorable to
Maj. Anderson and hardly less SO tc
Gen. Beauregard; though it was the
manifest interest Of the Confederates
not only to stop their prodigal expendi-
ture of ammunition at the earliest mo-
ment, but to obtain possession of the
coveted fortress in as effective state as
possible-each days additional bonn
bardment subtracting seriously from its
strength and efficiency, as defense OF
Charleston after it should have fallen
| into their hands.
aThe New York merchants who sold the
| costly abrics are still waiting for their pay.
IA Charleston spatch, dated Apr | IL.
says " Had the surrender not taken place,
Fort Sumter would have been stormcd to-
night. The men are crazy for a fight. The
bells have been Ginning all day, guns
firing, ladies waving handkerchiefS, peop e
che nr, and citizens making themselves
generally demonStrative. 1t Is regarded as
the greatest day in the history OF South
Carolina.
ITO be cOntinued)
EDITORIAL NOTE.-Horace Greeley thrill
ing narrative of the uprising of the Nor h TO
conquer the Secessionists should be read in
the next issue. In the American Conflict -
there is no chapter that is not fraught with
intense power.