Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-04-11

events or April,
1861, but three
months before the lowering of the flag
on the memorable fortress the stars
and stripes were fred upon in Charles
ton harbor over an attempt to carry
relief to the isolated garrison.
Major Anderson abandoned his posi-
ton in Fort Moultrie ON the 26th of De
cember, 1860, without orders from
Washington and for the reason, as he
reported to the war department, that
he believed that the state government
of South Carolina meditated a hostile
act The day after Anderson retired to
Sumter the governor Of South Carolina
sent him a courteous but peremptory
request to return to Moultrie. Ander-
son replied that he could not and
would not" return. The governor then
called In person to say that there was
an understanding with President Buch-
anan that no re-enforcements should
be sent to any of the forts IN Charles
ton harbor and that in moving the gar
rison Of Moultrte to Sumter Anderson
had REINFORCED the latter. That same
day an armed steamer sent party to
seize Castle Pinckney, and demand
was made for the surrender Of the
United States arsenal at Charleston.
Some one in authority had the nerve
to stand by Anderson, and on jan D
orders were sent to Lieutenant Charles
r. Woods Of the Ninth infantry, then
on duty at Fort Columbus, New York
harbor, to proceed to Charleston on
the steamer Star Of the West and carry
troops to Fort Sumter Within few
hours after receiving the order Woods
embarked with 200 Omen, two officers and
a surgeon. The soldiers were recruits
In waiting at Fort Columbus for trans
fer to the Ninth regiment, then sta
toned on the Pacific coast. The pas
sage to Charleston was made in three
days, and at midnight on the Sth the
steamer, with her lights out, stole
into the hArbor. A strange steamer,
lying In the main ship channel, was
encountered Just before daylight and
she retired up the channel, firing rock
ets and burning red lights for signals
OF alarm.
The Star Of the West kept ON her
course until within three-fourths of a
mile Of Sumter and Moultrie, when she
was suddenly fred upon By battery
masked on the north end of Morris
island. The steamer sailed close to the
island In order to avoid the fire of Fort
Moultrie, as the commander had been
warned that state troops were In pos
session of Monltrie. Evidently the
state government had also been warn
ed by telegraph from New York OF the
sailing OF the relief expedition to Sum
ter, for the South Carolinians had
made full preparations to give the par
ty q warm reception. The battery on
Morris island had been planted espe-
ctally to guard the channel. 1t was
manned by cadets Of the South Caro-
lima Military academy, under command
Of Major 2. +. Stevens, and Cadet
George e. Haynesworth fired the first
shot
The Star Of the West carried the
usual American ensign when fired
upon and Immediately ran up full
sized United States garrison flag at
the fore, but this was not respected.
and the shots flew thick and fast, chief
Iy passing over. The range was
trifle over half a mile. One shot bare
ly missed the machinery of the steam
er, and another richochet shot struck
the fore chains above the water line.
Fort Sumters guns did not attempt
to help the steamer, and those in
Moultrie were silent, Lieutenant
Woods saw some steamers passing
down the channel for the purpose of
cutting the Star Of the West off from
retreat and, getting NO sign from An
derson In Sumter, turned about and
barely got across the bar on the fast
ebbing tide.
Young Haynesworth, whom the
South Carounians always credited
with the first shot Of the war, after
ward fought for the defense OF Fort
Sumter when attacked in 1863.
BY singular fortune the Ninth regi'
mept had no further connection with
the civil war than that narrated Of
the Star Of the West expedition. The
recruits were forwarded to the post on
the Pacific, and Lieutenant Woods was
promoted and assigned to volunteer
commands. Beginning at the battle Of
Shiloh, where he was colonel OF the
Saventy- sixth Ohio, he fought under
Grant and Sherman to the end Of the
war, winning the breyets Of major
general in both the volunteer and regu-
lar service. At Bentonville he COM
manded a division. and possibly
Haynesworth's last shot was aimed at
his line.
: But II the Ninth missed glorification
III the civil war that is the only con
1ict OF the republic In which Its flag
was absent. Orgaliz.aa 10 Gght the
French in 1903, 1t had no chance 10
prove its mettle, but in the battles on
the Canadian border In 1914 its flag
was often bathed In blood. The Ninth
fought gallantly in defense of Fort
aIle, s4d at Lundy's Lane, la the