The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-04-16

months before the lowering of the flag /
and stripes were fired upon in Charles
ton harbor over an attempt to carry
relief to the isolated garrison.
Major Anderson abandoned his posi-
tion in Fort Moultrie on the Goth Of De
ccmber, 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 hostile
act. The day after Anderson. retired to
Sumter the governor Of South Carolina
sent him 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 -thefe--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 Moultrie 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
,knited States arsenal at Charleston.
Some one in authority had the nerve
to stand by Anderson. and on Jan.
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 md carry
troops to Fort Sumter Within a few
hours after receiving the order Woods
embarked with 200men, two officers and
q surgeon. The soldiers were. recruits
in waiting at Fort Columbus for trans
fer to the Ninth regiment, then stan
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
cts and burning red lights for signals
of alarm.
The Star of IKE West kept on her
course until within thrce-fourtls Of
mile of Sumter ard Alou!tric. when sha
was suddenly fred upon Ey a battery
masked Oh the Forth end Of Morris
island. The steamer sailed close to the
island ia order to avc:d the fire of Fort
Mou.tr:e. as lie. cc.:,.:s.a ..(.e;. had been
warned tat st:!te troops were in DOS
session CT A!ou...ie Evidently the
state government Lad alao Eeen warn
ed by teics..a.!. f.ct.i New York OF the
sailing OF the relief cGpeG:ticn to Sum
ter for tie South Carolinians had
made full preparations to give the par
ty u warn, reception. The battery on
Morris island lad been planted espe
cially to guard the channel. 1t was
manned by cadets CT the South Caro-
lima Military academy. under command
of Major T.. +. Stevens, and Cadet
George o. 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
ly passing over. The range was O
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 Sumter's guns did not attempt
to help the steamer, and those In
Moultrie were silent. Lieutenant
Woods saw some steamers passing
i down the channel for the purpose Ct
cutting the Star of the West off from
retreat and, getting no sign from All
derson in Sumter, turned about and
barely got across the bar on the fast
ebbing tide.
a Young Haynesworth. whom the
South Carolinians always credited
with the first shot of the war, after
ward fought fer the defense Of For
Sumter when attacked in 1868.