The Florida star., 1901-04-19
THE FILL Of FORT SUMTER.


lions nave come TO be very ordinary
feature or life In the national capital.
and IL Is doubtful II this country ever
again sees the parallel OF this time 10
years ago. the third week OF April,
1851. Major Anderson turned over
Fort Sumter, In Charleston harb0r, to
the southern forces on Sunday. April
IA, after a resistance OF three days.
This much had been communicated by
general dispatches manipulated by the
southerners. and President Lincoln
had no independent or private means
OF learning the truth. In the face OF
the trying situation he had prepared a
proclamation calling for $4,000 militia
for three months TO execute the laws,
etc. The day the proclamation was is
sued. Monday. April 10. volunteer
troops began reporting for orders and
detachments OF regulars from nearby
garrisOns hurried To the capital, max
ing a force OF $1,000 disciplined troops
I'm the city for the enforcement OF mar
tial law. which went into operation
Immediately.
The widest rumors prevailed. II
was said that Major Anderson had
yielded TO his southern sympathies and
betrayed the cause OF his country.
General Scott was reported TO have re-
signed rather than lead the fight
against his native state, Virginia. Ow-
ing 10 lack OF direct communications
with Anderson the government could
answer no Inquiries. All information
was confined TO what the enemy"
chose TO send forth. Ii happened that
the south was anxious that the north
learn the whole truth at once. and
there was no concealment. The stars
and stripes had been hauled down
from the fort and the southern. flag
hOisted In It's stead.
1t had leaked out In semiofficial cir
cles that feet OF steam tugs loaded
with supplies and under convoy OF the
United States navy had sailed for
Charleston with the purpose OF floating
over the bar at the entrance OF the har-
bOr while the tide was high at points
beyond the reach OF the southern bat
terieS. The warships were not To enter
the harbOr. but simply lie outside and
keep the southern vessels from seizing
the transports. RumOr said that these
ships had been cOwardly and had left
Anderson. with his garrison. TO starve
on raw pork and water
The administration party was I'm for
war to the knife. Anderson was cheer
ed and the rumOr OF cowardice on the
part OF the relief ships Indignantly de
MED. Lincoln questioned each senator
about the war feeling OF the people at
home. saying. "Will your state support
me In military pOwer?'
On Monday. April 10. press dispatch
es came I'm. but were not printed until
the 10Th. These stated that AnderSon's
officers and men looked well and
hearty and evidently had not suffered
for provisions; also that there had been
no casualties In battle from the south,
ern fire. These statements led to the
Inference that Anderson had beat a
hasty and disgraceful retreat. Later il
was known that the wooden quarters
OF the fort had been set on fire Ivy
southern incendiary shells. that the
flames could not be subdued and en-
dangered the magazine so that a large
quantity OF the powder needed for de-
Tense had been thrown into the sea for
safety
Another strange statement In the
press report puzzled the people at the
time and added TO Indignation against
Major Anderson and the government
which kept him In control at Sumter
This was To the effect that the guns on
the ramparts of Sumter were silent un
der the bOnlbardment and that burst
Ing Confederate shells scattered like
hail over the doomed fort. driving the
soldiers under cover. Anderson order
eel the guns OF the upper tier 10 be- si
lent because i'm firing them hts soldiers
would be- exposed TO deadly shots. The
men did not 20 TO their gun stations on
the rampartS. Anderson knew that il
was only a question OF two or three
days when his men would he starved
out. and he kept them at the sheltered
casemate batteries. where they made n
gallant fight until hunger and fire com
PEELED him to yield or sacrifice his men
There are no officers Of Major Ander
sons garrison now surviving Two OF
the COnfederates who were connected
with the early negotiations for the
evacuation OF the fort have survived.
These ara aN-IndCa ROGER 4 Pryor Of