Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-07
SATURDAY, April Is, 1861.
FALL OF SUMTER.
Flag Fired on and the Wal
Begun

CHARLESTON, April 12.-The excitement
prevailing here for several days past rose
to the very highest pitch this morning,
when il was ascertained that war had been
actually commenced and Fort Sumter at
tackled by the forces of South Carolina.
1t appears the fire was opened on Sumter
about o'clock this morning with consid-
cradle spirit from the batteries on Sulli-
vans Island (where Fort Moultre is sit
uate), Cummings Point Norris Island and
other points
Major Anderson returned the fire, and a
brisk cannonadng has been kept up
throughout the day up to the hours of
sending off this dispatch. We have no in
formation from seaward yet with regard
to the movements of the United States ves
sells outside
The militia are under arms, and the
whole of our population are on the streets.
Every available space facing the harbor
Is filled with anxious spectators.
"a dispatch preceding this, but received
with it, says: THE fight commenced today.
This is all L can say" This dispatch was
in cipher--RepD
SATURDAY, April 13, 1861.
LATEST FROM SEAT OF WAR.
CHARLESTON. April 13. 10 o'clock am
The bombardment is being continued at in
tervals the confederate states side. A
Slitil Is luIOHu lIlO the lOTl every twenty
minutes.
1t is supposed that Anderson is resting
his men. he is not responding.
Three vessels of war are reported out
side, but the weather is boisterous and they
cannot get in. The floating battery works
well,
Troops are hourly arriving. Every inlet
on the coast is fully guarded
CHARLESTON, April Is, am.-The can
nonading is going on fiercely from all points
from the vessels outside the harbor, and
all along the coast. Fort Sumter is on
fire.
LATER FROM CHARLESTON.
CHARLESTON, April 80, 1870 a.m.-At
intervals of twenty minutes the fire was
kept up all night on Fort Sumter. Anderson
ceased to fire in return at pm. All night
he was engaged in repairing damages and
protecting his barbette guns He COM
menced to return his fire this morning at T.
but seems to be greatly disabled.
The battery on Cummings Point does
Sumter great damage.
AT this morning dense smoke poured
out from Fort Sumter, and the federal flag
Is at half mast. signaling distress. The
shells from Fort Moultrie and Morris Is
land fall into Andersons stronghold thick
and fast. They can be seen in their course
through the air from the Charleston bat
terry.
fronting Cummings Point Two of its port
holes are preached into one, and the wall
from the top is crumbling.
Three vessels, one of them a large-sized
steamer, are over the bar and seem to be
preparing to participate in the conflict The
fire of Morris Island and Fort Moultrie Is
divided between Sumter and the ships of
war. The ships have not yet opened
fire.
LATER
An explosion occurred at Sumter A
dense volume of smoke was seen suddenly
to rise and Anderson ceased his fire for
hour HIS flag is still fc not+
the officers quarters in the fort are on
fire.
ANOTHER DISPATCH FROM PRI-
NATE SOURCE.
CHARLESTON. April 13.-The batteries
on Sullivan's and Morris Island are Smelling
Sumter with extraordinary effort Cum
mings Point battery is widening the breach
on that side. The fire inside the fort is
still going on. Anderson has suspended his
fire. There has been two explosions In Sum-
ter this morning.
STILL LATER
CHARLESTON. Noon.-The ships are in
the ofing, quietly at anchor. They have
not fired gun. The entire roofs Of Ander-
sons barracks are in bad sheet of flames
The shells from Cummings Point are
bursting in and over the doomed fortress
in quick succession, but the federal flag
still waves at the masthead. Major Ander-
son appears to be solely occupied in put
ting out the fire. The fire upon Sumter is
as regular as ever. and every shot seems
to tell.
We anxiously look for Anderson to haul
down his flag.
VERY LATEST.
CHARLESTON. April 13.-Two of Ander-
sons magazines have exploded. Occasion
al shots are fired on him from Fort Moul-
trie while the Point Cummings battery is
doing the heavy work. The exploded maya
zines are thought to be the lesser ones
The greatest excitement prevails here
Ihe battery: wharyes. the steeples and
every available place are packed with peo-
pie. The ships are in the offing and have
not aided Anderson: and 1t is too late as
II Is past high water. and 1t Is believed
they cannot come over the bar
MONDAY April 10 1851
PRO6.RLrSS A