The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-04-30


the newspapers Of those days some in
teresting facts connected with the
fights at Fort Sumter, in Charleston.
The following is the story Of the first
bombardment of the fort with the
preceding correspondence leading up
to it:
The telegraphic correspondence be-
tween the war department and Gen.
Beauregard, in command Of Charles
ton harbor, grew out Of the formal
notification of the Washington govern
ment, disclosed in Gen. Beauregard'
first dispatch to the secretary of war,
as follows:
Charleston, April 8, 1861.
Hon. L. p. Walker, Montgomery:
An authorized messenger from Lin
coin has just informed Gov. Pickens
and myself that provisions will be
sent to Fort Sumter peaceably, and if
not then by force.
G. T. Beaurcgard.
Montgomery, April 10, 1861.
Gen. Beauregard, Charleston:
If you have no doubt Of the author
lied character Of the agent who com
municated to you the intention Of the
Washington government to supply
Fort Sumter, you will at once demand
it's evacuation, and if this is refused
proceed in such manner as you may
determine to reduce it.
l.. p. Walker.
i''auregard replied the same day he
mako the demand at II clock
anu the following day sent the follow
ing message:
'Demand cent at 2 p. m. aud allow
ed until six TO answer"
Later the following reply of Major
Anderson was sent to the secretary of
war by Beauregard:
'Maj. Anderson replies: Il have
the honor to acknowledge the receipt
Of your communication demanding the
evacuation Of this fort, and 1 say in
reply thereto that it is demand
which regret that my sense Of honor
and Of my obligation to my govern
ment prevent my compliance. Maj.
Anderson adds verbally: Twill await
che FIRST shot. and IL you do batter up
to pieces we will be starved out in
few days. Answer.
G.. T. Beauregard."
Montgomery, April IL, 1861.
Gen. Beauregard, Charleston
Do not desire needlessly to lombard
Fort Sumter. If Maj. Anderson will
state the time at which, as indicated
BY him, he will eyacuate the fort and
agree in the meantime that he vii! not
use his guns against US unless ours
should be employed against Fort Sum
ter, you IRE authorized thus to avoid
the effusion of blood. If this or its
equivalent be refused reduce the
fort as your judgment decides to be
most practicable. L. P. Walker.
On the 18th Beauregard sent the
following message: "He would not
consent" Later he followed it with
this one: "We opened FIRE ct 4
O'Clock, thirty minutes"
Intercepted dispatches disclose the
fact that Mr.. Fox, who had been al
lowed to visit Major Anderson on the
pledge that his purposes was pacific
employed his opportunity to devise
plan for supplying the fort by force
and this plan had been adopted by
the Washington government and WAS
in progress of execution.
STORY OF THE BoMBARDMENT.
"About 2 o'clock on the afternoon
of Thursday General Beauregard made
"a demand on Major Anderson for the
immediate surrender of Fort Sumter
through his aides, Col. James Chest
nut, Jr., and Col. Chisolm and Cap
tain Lee. Major Anderson replied
that such course would be inconsist-
ent with the duty he was required by
his government to perform. The an
swer was communicated then by the
gcneral-in-c chief to President Davis.
A half an hour after the return of
the orderies it was confidently ex.
,c1ected that the batteTiaa would omen
FIRE at eight o'clock, and in expccta-
tion of seeing the beginning Of the
conflict hundreds congregated upon
che battery and the wharves looking
out upon the bay.
At about 8 o'clock Gen. Besu.egard
received reply from President Davis
to telegram in relation to the surren-
der Of Sumter by which he was in
structed to inform Maj. Anderson
fhat if he vgotlld avaouete the fort he