The National tribune., 1899-06-22

mile short. but the shots from the Morris
Island battery were more effective. and the
ship received one shot in her port bow
along the water line and Immediately
turned about,-at the very moment when
she had cleared all obStructions-and
steamed back to New York for repairs. ]
felt very sad when she passed out over the
bar. Had the Star of the West continued
her course she would have undoubtedly
succeeded in her mission, and Sumter
would not have been so easy a prey.
This affair was regarded as a great
victory for raw recruits. Time soon began
to drag heavily with me. as there seemed TO
be little chance TO get away from Sullivan'S
Island. and when the order came to fall in
with our knapsacks and take the boat for
Morris Island hope again revived. We
were to take charge of the battery made
famous by stopping the big ship that had
attempted 10 reinforce Sumter, and before
night We had full possession of the Star of
the West battery" which soon after had
added to it two 32-pound smoothbores
and two Columbiads. the latter p 2-pounders.
These We're very formidable guns, and the
largest at that day.
This battery was located as I have
already stated, as a channel protection
and was distant from Cummings Point
about one mile, Fort Sumter being five
sighths of a mile from Cummings Point
On this point the Johnnies had erected a
battery of railroad iron, backed heavily
with oak timber, having heavy iron doors
to cover the portfolios. Three largs guns
were planted here. and great hopes were
entertained that this battery would de-
stroy the walls Of Sumter and also afford a
safe retreat from the enemy's shots.
COMPARTMENT OF SUMTER.
Batteries had been erected at every COM
manding position, and many were anxious
fer the fray 10 commence. Their suspense
was ended by the arrival of the day when
the attack was 10 be made. Our battery
being charnel-guard. we We're only
spectators. which position pleased me very
well. The first shot hurled against Sum-
ter's sides was fired from Fort johnson,
located west of Maj. Anderson's position
the honor of pulling the lanyard which
fired the first shot Of the war being awarded
10 a bright little girl, the daughter of Gov.
Pickens.
In less than an hour after the firing of the
first shot all the guns in the harbor We're
bowling like untamed beasts Of prey, and
the demon OF secession WAS upon us. Fort
Sumter alone was silent as death The
JohnnieS were jubilant at this silence, as
many had predicted that Maj. Anderson
would not fire gun, and only awaited a
sufficient excuse 10 surrender for they
fondiy hoped that he was a Southerner at
heart, knowing, as they did, that his wife
was rfatiyeGeorgian, whose large property
consisted almost entirely of slaves. But
they had reckoned without their host
Nearly three hours had passed before
Sumter three tier of guns were aroused
At 800 O'Clock a puff of white smoke
Shot out against the clear sky, and the
painful stiffness was broken at Fort Sum
ter. A solid shot had spun its way 10 Fort
Moultrie. My heart leaped for joy to see
the old flag waving defiance as the black
dogs OF war were admo3lsiIing their as
sailants Of the loyalty Of the garrison of
Fort Sumter. The silence of the Johnnies
Tor lew minutes after the opening of
SumterS guns was oppressive, so great
was their surprise. However, they soon
settled down to work their guns with curses
loud and deep for the devoted commander
of the beleaguered fort. now that they
plainly saw that he meant TO fight and hon
orably discharge his duty to his Govern
ment in protecting its property and honor
ing its flag.
After paying his compliments to Mai.
Robert Ripley, who commanded at Fort
Moultrie, and who, by the way, was a
classmate Of Mai. Anderson at West Point
Military Academy, until after the noon
hour, he turned his attention TO the iron
battery at Cummings Point. On this side
OF the fort he had no heavier ordnance
than 24-pounder smoothbore guns, vet
they were used with good effect upon the
iron sides of the fort until about 2:3O O'Clock,
when solid shot struck a port-hole door
while 1t was partially open, springing a
lever so as TO disable the door and render
ing the gun useless. Word was imme-
dlately sent TO Gen. Gregg's Headquarters,
about 200 yards above our position, in
forming him of the disabling of the gun.
Gregg in turn sent orders 10 Capt Greene
TO select couple of blacksmiths from his
company, and send them TO the disabled
battery. A man named McKoy and my
self were the only ironworkers in our com
pany, and we were therefore detailed and
sent down TO repair the break.
ANOTHER UNION MAN IN REBEL ARMY.
We had not proceeded far along the
beach, where the walking was good, al
though much more exposed 10 danger from
Sumter's fire than the other route, when we
leaped in behind small sandhill 10 avoid