Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-11


his command to Sumter. When he
reached Sumter there were no halliards
to the flaf-staff, and as there was more
pressing work on hand for several
days, some time elapsed before it be-
came possible to display the national
flag. AT length, however, halliards
were rugged. and everything was ready
for the flag.
The usual method of proceeding in such
case would have been to order the SER
geant of the guard to send up the flag
but ii was otherwise arranged on this oc-
casion A dress parade was ordered, ana
the little garrison formed around the flag
stan. the officers in the center. Presently
Major Anderson, with Chaplain Harris OF
Fort Moultrie, who perhaps had been
summoned for the purpose, approached
the fagstaff, and the command was
brought to Attention" The flag, al
ready bent to the halliards. was held by
one officer. and another held the hosting
end OF the halliards.
The chaplain then, in few words, IN
vfted those present TO join with MIN IN
prayer, and Major Anderson, receiving
the halliards from the officer who till that
time had held them, knelt beside the
chaplain, most of the onlcers and some
of the men in the ranks following MS eH-
ample Prayers being ended. all rose, and
the flag of Fort Sumter was raised by
Major Anderson, and the halliards secur-
ed. He then turned toward the officers
and directed that the companies be dis
missed If any of those who doubted the
loyalty to the Union of Major Anderson
could have had but one glimpse of that
impressive scene, they would have doubt
ed no longer.
THE COMMANDMENT BEGINS.
The opening of the bombardment was q
somewhat dramatic event. . relieving
feet was approaching, all unknown to
the Sumter garrison, and General Beau
regard, perhaps with the hope of tying
Major Andersons hands in the expected
| fight with that feet had opened negoua-
/ lions with him on the 18th Of April, look
\ ing toward the evacuation of the fort.
But Major Anderson declined to evacuate
his post till compelled by hunger. The
last ounce of breadstuffs had been con-
sumed, and matters were manifestiy APP
preaching crisis.
That night we retired as usual. To-
ward half past thre on the morning
of the 18th we were startled by gun
/ fired in the Immediate vicinity of the
| fort and many rose TO see what was
/ the matter 1t was soon learned that
steamer from the enemy desired to
communicate with Major ANDERSON, and
small boat under a flag OF truce was
received and delivered the message. Al
though no formal announcement of the
fact was made, it became generally
known among the men that in one hour
General Beauregard would open his bat
.teries on Sumter.
.Tne morning was dark and raw. Some
of the watchers surmised that Beaure-
/ gard was "bluffing" ana that there
would be no bombardment. But prompt
| ly at 4:3O q. m. a flash as of distant
lightning in the direction or Mount
Pleasant followed by the dull roar ')f
mortar, told US that the lombard
ment had begun The eyes of the watch
ers easily detected and followed the
burning fuse which marked the course
of the. she'll as it mounted among the
stars. and then descended with ever-in-
creasing velocity, until it landed inside
the fort and burst. 1t was a capital
shot. Then the batteries opened on all
sides, and shot and shell went scream
| ing over Sumter as If an army of devils
were swooping around it,
Habits of discipline are strong among
soldiers This was observed by the
enemy, and old soldiers. If it had not
been for orders to the contrary, the men
would have formed for roll-call on the
open parade, as ii was their custom TO
do although mortar shells were burst
ing there at the lively rate of about one
minute But they we're formed under
the bomb-proofs, and the roll was called
as If nothing unusual was going on.
They were then directed TO get break
fast, and to be ready TO fall in when
assembly" was beaten. The breakfast
part of the order was considered grim
/ joke, as the fare was reduced to the
solitary item Of fat pork, very rusty
| indeed.
THE FIRST GUNS SPEAK FOR THE
UNION.
BY this time it was daylight. The
garrison was divided into two reliefs.
and the tour of duty at the guns was
to be four hours. Captain Doubleday
being the senior captain, his battery
took the first tour.
There were three points to be fired
upon-the Morris Island batteries, the
James Island batteries and the Sulli-
vans Island batteries. With these last
was included the famous iron-clad float
ing battery, which had taken up a po-
sition off the western end of Sullivan $
island to command the left flank of
Sumter. Captain Doubleday divided his
men into three parties; the first under
his own immediate command, was
marched to the easement guns bearing
on Morris island; the second, under
Lieut.. Jefferson {. DAVIS, manned the
easement guns bearing on James Is
Hand batteries, and the third was march
ed by a sergeant to the guns bearing on
Sullivans island.
The guns in the lower tier, which
we're the only ones used during the bonn
bardmsnt-axcept surreptitiously with
ont orders-Were 80 and 42-pounders