The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-21
~DN@~O
An SUMTER WAS TAKEN
y,written Chapter of Con-
federate History.

ps "a General stephen u. Lee He
Hr''s', ,As six surviving lieutenant gen
= !, the Confederate States army
sIos third among the survivors .,' n Gen
~ native Of South Carolina,
~ charleston as the place of his ma
a'ps long stlry, and a most fascin-
:" - that OF General Lees war rec
l.. for this particular article 1t VIII
~ - note that General Lee was APP
W. - west Point by James L. Orr in
~ ~ was graduated from West Point
..,i and was assigned TO the Fourth ar
w. A, the breaking out OIL the war
sll..n,ssred in the South Carolina SER
va was assigned 10 the regular
y President Davis then placed him In
~ ~ the quartermaster, commlssary,
~ and ordnance officers In Charles
l' IVA gave him control of over mill
saIl.ps with which to equip the ar
~ mis- country. Later on General
~ through the instrumentalities of
al HAMPTON, relieved OF those duties,
N.eame captain Of a battery which
s.,acbed to the famous Hampton le-
snd from then he rose through his
=, until. on the Sd of August, 1854. he
80 one OF the lieutenant generals of
confederate Safes army. 1t was
N. stationed In Charleston and at
MA Ia General Beauregard's staff that
-sr,, lee. then a captain, became iden-
"a Win the history which led up to the
t,ry an Fort Sumter. General Lee, as a
an, man. kent a diary OF the events
!, orecedlng the firing Oh Fort Sumter,
"A mis- little pocket memorandum he
{ausht with him to Charleston. 1t CON
ne an unwrirten chapter in the history
great war, and as it was written at
,,n,e nv one Of cool and calm judg-
k,utlti Is a most valuable addition to the
tstory OF those days.
|Gsnsral Lee started out his diary on
|ussday, April II, 1861, when he says:
4 Colonel Chestnut aud Captain S. u. Lee.
G. army, left Charleston with
pmspd for evacuation OF Sumter at 2;20
NJ, arrived at Sumter 3:45. Left with
alor Andersons reply at 4;40 %. m; ar
yed al City $40 p. m. Major Anderson
ecliued to surrender, but stated verbally
not hacked to pieces by our batteries
would be starved out in a few days.
! Went to Sumter again with an addition
] demand giving Major Anderson an OPP
knrtunity to state when he would 'evacu-
Ne, and giving him an opportunity to
gree 10 evacuation on certain day, pro-
{ded we did not open fire on him, and he
y. open fire on us unless wa fired on
Iimter He declined to bind himself,
Rying he would not fire unless n hostile
4 was committed against his fort and
Us flag, and not considering himself bound
i eyacuate If supplied before the 18th.
lnlyed at Sumter at 12;45 a, M, received
fuor Anderson's reply at 3:15. and. being
|nsatisfactory, We Immediately rejected his
Engagements and notified him in writing
pat our batteries would open in an hours
tme viz, 4;20. Immediately went to Fort
Johnson; arrived there at 4 a. M. Gave
5iptan George S. James orders to open
re at 1870; first shell of James at 4.S0 A
a. second at $40 and at 4:45 all batteries
rened. Came Immediately to Charleston
Pa reported to General B. at office nj dav-
sht R. A. Prior (spelled that way) of
Virginia and Colonel Chisolm in marty
April 12,-After daylight heavy firing All
M at all batteries Colonel Wigfall de-
kached from General b. s. staff and sent 10
Penaral simons on Morris Island; tolerable
kool hrlng on our side; rather wild from
fumter No one killed on our side in
fally part OF the day or during day.
April B.-The quarters of Fort Sumter
Z names at about 8 a, m. by hot shot and
Ecu from Moutrle. The fire of Sumter
IIaspenaed to fight the fire. Flag staff on
EiOgi'lle snot away about II a. m.: soon
IIspaVea' NOW terrible cannonading from
N .ue batteries; during the fire shells fell
|ask ana last in and around the doomed
lNuess. out still their flag bids defiance
n iIe devouring fire and guns and shells
\ Inc enemy. When flag was reported
tg General B. Immediately sent Messrs.
Fiues frlor and myself with a flag of
|luSe 10 ask Major Anderson If he wished
Fssslance, as his flag was down and his
guaf'eFs In flames. Before reaching the
|ol we saw sumter's flag still waving, and
laf,eo TO return. After returning but a
puuit distance we saw white flag up and
'sain started for Sumter, where we arrived
PuOu p m; stated to the major lander
tf c, our mission, to which he replied.
~. u"e my compliments to General b.. and
''s ! Wish no assistance. as my fires are
Nv ana General Wlgfall has lust been
h NY tort from General B. and requested
n. " RAISE a white flag, and should have
II same conditions as were offered me
s,'ele lhe Dombardmeni." We told him
u Y, were direct from General B.. but did
n, 49, ieei authorized to treat. but requested
s ss,vl a. 10 give us in writing what his in
n. were about giving up. He said ne
I'M 's!y sorry TO hear that General WIG.
n. s sas NOT authorized to speak and said
,bo, as should be run up Immediately.
blr ~ synsuitation we united in requesting
lorr n.y. 70 run up his flag until we could
Is5. uaAisate with General B., which he
l ,ss. TO do. After leaving Major
M arrived to offer terms of evacuation,
s..,, returned together and reported the
IN NJ 1ur visit to General B. Major 4.
aas ~ mas no serious casualties, ana
IA c o'as u near we had none. Said he
hi !, u ,h MS officers not to fire except
prors aae batteries, and particularly not
Ia viii very little damage was done
ileteIy 'i aSt, o. sumter hut quarters COM
n, Sgla l4.-started in boat with general
~ n slatt, the governor and STAN and nthor
!, ~ sMshed gentlemen to visit Fort sum
4 ~ ~! ralse Confederate Sta,es flag. Went
ma Soultrie first, as Major 4, was nDt
n " the Isabel, which was to take him
aIsr AS flag hauled down at about
l,ios we went to Sumter on Nina. Joined
sbns e. 81 sun in fort owing 10 accident
,iuas mlhg saulte to his flag. One man
Isfbsrrrnu hve badly wounded by accidental
or ~ oi guns. One Killed, buried IN
niIitarr Impressive scene; buried with
onnar,. nohors, Captain Hallonquist's
ONarass presenting arms when body was
,r' ~, Impressive prayer from the sail
la,o, apialn from the city. As soon rs
,alma,.a nuerson left the fort our flag and
4 4, ~ run up together. and were salut-
,urtas tne batteries in the harhor Fort
nlv,s IN very bad condition dreadfully
m oy our fire; estimated loss for re-
~ s ABOUT $3.50 by Captain Francis D
nol. sog'h Carolina engineers: are stiii
'srting, two engines playjng on are;
ssurpes n,siio,nquist left IN command We
ltrersli y % the city about dark. sent by