The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-08
HOW WARS BEGIN.
The Circumstances Under Which
First shots Were Fired in Many
Modern Wars.

several persons are engaged at the
same time, or, if the honor or the
calamity belong to one man several
claimants are always found for the
place.
The Crimean War.
The war between Russia and the al
lies began by the invasion of Moldavia
and Wanachia by a Russian army,
many months before the diplomatic
rupture occurred between Russia,
France and England; and many shots
were fired before the Russians faced
their real antagonists. But the first
shot fired between English and Russia
was in June, 1854, when a Capt. Butler
of the Indian army, who was tempo
rarily attached to the Turkish army,
was accomplishing on the defenses of
Silistria, which was besieged by the
Russians. His voice was heard out
side the works" by a Russian sharp
shooter, who fired into an embrasure,
killing Butler.
On July Z, 1854. took place the battle
of Guirgevo, on the banks of the Dan
ube, and although the British army had
not arrived, here for the first time the
Russians faced Englishmen, for the
Turks were commanded by Gen. Can
mona general officer of the Sepoy
army Serving temporarily as a Pasha).
A Capt. Bent, leading 300 rifiemen,
charged the Russians, driving them
from their tents and across the Dan
ube. And so Capt. Bent would prob
ably have as much claim as any one
to have fired the first shot in the Cri-
mean war proper-that is, exclusive of
the earlier Moldavian fights.
The Indian Mutiny.
Early in May, 1857, the episode of
1.-The creased cartridges led UP to some
INSTRUMENTATION among the troopers of
the Third Regiment of Native Cavalry
station at Meerut, and commanded by
Col. Carmichael Smyth, who was a Sc
we're and unpopular officer. Smyth or
dered a parade for purposes of repri-
mand, and for troops to receive the
hated new ammunition. Eighty-tve
troopers failed to appear. A court
martial was held, and all the eighty
five, with the exception of eleven
youngsters Oet off on account of their
YOUTH We're sentenced to ten years
hard labor Imprisonment.
On May the sentence was executed
on the parade ground, the regimental
armorers and smiths Stacking leg
irons on the men, while their COM
rades had to stand by and see them
degraded.
May 10 was a Sunday. and a blazing
hot day. Rumors were about that mis-
chief was brewing, but the Europeans
took no precautions. The chaplain's
childrens ayah besought her mistress
to fly. but her warnings were disre-
garded At evening church time trou-
BILE was reported in the Sepoy lines,
and Col. Finnis, commanding the EleV-
enth Regiment, rode down to the Sc
poy camp. He was popular, warm
hearted man, and much liked by Sc
poys. Strong in his belief in them, he
rode fearlessly straight in among them'
He was actually demonstrating with
them when a young soldier OF the
Twentieth Regiment discharged his
musket at the Colonel, but only wound
ed his horse. Again he fired, the bull
let hitting the Colonel in the back, kill
ing him instantly. In moment the
dead body was riddled with bullets.
The young trooper of the twentieth
had commenced the great mutlnyL
Within a week from the time OF the
report of his musket Delhi was in the
hands of the rebels and India was on
fire almost from end to end.
The civil War In America.
I know not the man who fired the
first shot in the Civil War in
America, but who might nave
been that man and very nearly
was. Roger Pryor in recent years mas
been a dweller in New York, and Tor
time occupied a position on the judi
cial bench. In his hot youth. how
ever. he was one of the young bloods
of Virginia. whose fervor helped to fan
the flames that burst into the awful
corfiagration. BY q curious colncl-
dence he was one of the party that
demanded the surrender of Fort Sum-
ter. With GREATNESS interest lis
tened to him one night as he told the
story of the eventful day when ne and
his friends paid a visit to Fort Sumter
with the demand that the Northern
troops should give the place up. Even
when they are going to fight even
when they are going to hang-in what
ever position and tragedy of life they
may find NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. arc
thoroughly human; 1 suppose it is part
az their democra tic training under
republic.
And so it was that this interview,
fateful with such awful consequence
to end in the destruction of million
lives took place with pleasantness on
both sides. The garrison "e:e,v ed the
deputation in a nospitaDle spirit; 1rinks
even were exchanged. But both siiAs
took up their position with that in
fe1;bl and iron determination which is
another Americ ~ quality.
Fort Sumter.
And then the Coneederates went
away; and soon after the order was
givel: that the fortress was to be at
tackled, and that the first shot in the
fight was to be fired. Lightly, l dare
say. these wild young fellows thought
of what they were about to do; for if
the men of the South had not been reck-
less daredevils they would never have
provoked this struggle-the end of
which was as certain as anything could
have been in history. Somebody sug-
gested to Roger Pryor that his hand
should have the honor-as it was sup
posed-of firing the first shot. Though
he was so young and so hot-headed,
some good angel whispered into his
ear that this might turn out to be one
of those acts of heavy and calamitous
responsibility that would haunt
mans conscience, and perhaps blight
his life forever afterward, and he
waved away the proffered honor. An
other man too eagerly took it up.
cannot recall at this moment what was
this poor mans name. But it will be
easily remembered in America. II UNI
derstand that the awful fact did have
these very results which Roger Pryor
foresaw in one Of those moments of
prophetic foresight that sometimes
come to men. The man who fired the
first shot was bound to become known
to the whole American world, and was
thereby target of attention, attack,
pity. 1t weighed upon and overwhelm-
ed him; and 1 believe he felt for a long
time like a marked and doomed man:
m OIfcast and an accursed ono EJo,u