The National tribune., 1907-03-14

son, who still held the sword under hi
arm, he said, pointing to the handker
| chief. Wave that out there" Thomp
son then handed the sword to Wigfall
| saying. in substance, "Weve it your
self" Wigfall received back his swort
and took a few steps toward the EN-
| brasure, when the Major called hin
seen, you had better send 1t to the par.
apet." There was a good deal more
said on the subject of the white flag
both by Wigfall and the Major. which
the writer cannot recall, but the end oil
1t all was that white flag was ordered
to be displayed from the parapet al
the request of Col. Wigfall, and pending
negotiations with him, which was in
stantly done. hospital sheet being
used for the purpose. Then the firing
gradually ceased. and the Major and his
officers and Col. Wigfall retired into the
hospital bOmb-proof, the only habitable
room left. This was about o'clock
in the afternoon.
"Wigfalrs conference was not of
long duration. He left the fort in the
small boat which brot him from Morris
Island. and which was manned by ne
groes. Shortly after his departure an
other small boat from Sullivan's Island.
containing officers in full uniform (Wig-
sword), approached the fort. The Off
GERS In this boat were very much as
tonished and annoyed at being warned
off by the sentinel, and compelled to
show white flag before they were per-
mitted to approach. They were re-
ceived by the Officer of the Day. who
apologized for not meeting them af1oat,
saying that all our boats had been de-
stroyed by shot or burned rp. They
nj iono o,f 1T I1f-
demanded to know whether or not the
fort had surrendered. What was said
in reply was not distinctly heard by
the writer, but it was believed to be a
negative. The officer then asked what
the white flag meant, and Wigfalrs
name was mentioned in reply. About
this time Maj. Anderson made his ap-
pearance, and the visitors. still talking
In an indignant tone. addressed them
selves to him. What was said seemed
to be repetition of what had just
been said to the Officer of the Day.
The Majors replies were inaudibIe
where the writer of this stood, except
when he raised his hand in a sweeping
sort of gesture in the direction of Fort
Moultrie. and said, very well, gentle
men, you can return to your batteries
They did not return, however, imme-
diatsiy. but were conducted into the
hospital where Wigfall had been, and
remained there some time When theyl
left We learned that there would be no |
more firing until Gen. Beauregard had
time to hear from his Government at |
Capt. Lees Version.
Capt. Stephen D. Lee, later Lieuten-
ant-General. c. 8. A., gives this state
nent Of the Wigfall incident:
About 1890 the flagstaff of Fort
sumter was shot down, but IT was soon
'eplaced. AS soon as Gen. Beauregard |
heard that the flag was no longer fyinel
ne sent three Of his Aids, William
Porcher Miles, Roger A. Pryor and my-I
sen, 10 offer and also to see IL Mai l
anderson would receive or needed as-I
;istance in subduing the flames inside
ne Tort. Before we reached it We sawl
he United States flag again fioatine
oVer 1t, and began to return to the ctty
oelore gong far, however, We saw the
,Iars ,o ana Stripes replaced by a white
Tag. we turned about at once, and
owed rapidly to the fort. We were
ilrected. from an embrasure, not to eoI
% the Wharf, as 1T was mined, and the
Ire was near it. We were assisted thrr,
IN embrasure and conducted tn Mai
anderson. Our mission being made
fhoWm TO him. he replied Present INV
ms 10 zen. B6auregard. and
'ay 10 him l thank him for his kind
less, but need no assistance He fur
her remarked that he hoped the wors,
vas over, that the fire had settled ovar
ne magazine. and, as 1t had NOT aY.
'ioded. he thought the real danger was
ipout over. Continuing he said. Cen
lemen, do l understand you come d.
'ect from Gen. Beauregard? The re-.
'ly was in the affirmative. He them
aid' why, Col. Wigfall has lust been
iere as an Aid, too, and by authority
u zen: Beauregard, and proposed the
anne terms of evacuation offered on the
-lth instant. We informed the Mafor
We Were not authorized to offer terms:
nat we were direct from Gen. Reaure,
sard, and that Col. Wigfau. altho an
sld-de-Camp to the General, had been
detached, and had not seen the Cen
,ral for several days. Mai. Anderson
u once stated. There Is a misuuder
Standing on my part, and will at once
'un up my flag and open fire again.
After consultation we requested him NOT
o DO so until the matter was explained
o Gen Beauregard, and requested Mai
anderson to reduce to writing his nm
lerstandins with Col. WigfalI, which
le did. However, before we left thel
ort boat arrived from Charlestonl
earring Maj. d. r. Jones. Assistant Ad-
on Gen. BeaureRard'sl
tan. who offered substantially the same
erms to Maj. Anderson az those offered