davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-04-21

This tradition spoils good story. ana
I give the facts from official history as
a setting for an incident worth pre-
serving.
General Beauregard, commander. OF
the provisional army of South Carroll
ma. says in his official report, The
signal shell was fred from Fort John
son at 4:30 a. M" Fort Johnson was
on james island, It was three gun
battery. with a four gun mortar bat.
terry near by, The post was known
as Fort Johnson The official journal
of Captain ). G.. Foster, the Federal
engineer in. Sumter. says. "At 4:30 Il
M. signal shell was thrown from the
mortar battery on James island
One of Beauregard's aids. who de
livered the ultimatum to Major Ander
son and carried bis reply back to
shore Captain Stephen D. Lee. told
The story as follows In the Century
war papers; TIE boat containing the
two aids and also Roger A. Pryor of
: Virginia went Immediately from Sum
ter TO Fort Johnson, on James island
and the order to fire the signal gun
was given to Captain George s, James.
commanding the battery at that point
Captain James at once arranged to
carry out the order. He was a great
admirer of Roger A. Pryor and said to
him. You are the only man to whom
I would give the honor of firing the
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-04-21

as soon as 1t was lighr enough for the
gunners to see the fort He said ne
would not return the fire until broad
daylight because he did not wish TO
waste his ammunition. Doubleday
took the announcement very calmly
and did not even get up until the ia
nous "shot heard round the world"
had penetrated the masonry of the
wall and burst very near his head.
Presently the enemy's shots were
coming thick, and the effects Of
the bombardment were visible The
enemy's shots In the main were too
high. but the aim improved after day
light. BY the time the Sumter men
were ready TO go TO work the Confed-
crate aim had become what soldiers
called fairly good" After assem-
bly," which followed breakfast, the
garrison was divided into two reliefs,
the duty at the guns to be four hours
Captain Doubleday being senior cap
tain, his battery took the first tour.
Doubleday himself commanded the
first firing party. Lieutenant Jefferson
G. Davis the second party, and DR.. s.
Wiley Crawford. surgeon turned
tighter. commanded the third.
The First Shot at Old Glory.
In most histories the first shot is
wrongly attributed to Edmund Ruffin
of Virginia vanpra BILE man who Is
called one of the fathers of secession.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-04-21

nous Star OF the West The curiosity
of the men was changed to determi
nation to get ready for battle. The
roll call was beaten Sumter batteries
were manned almost before the men
of the hidden battery had fired sec
ond shot. The Star OF the West came
abreast of Fort Moultrie. The third
shot was fired at the steamer. At
that the Star OF the West put about
and started to sea. again receiving
still further fire from the hidden bat
terry as it passed That was the last
of the Star of the West in the much
talked OF re-enforcements to the gar
rison pent up in Sumter.
1t was while the excitement over
the danger to the magazines from red
hot shells fired by the Confederates
April l3 was at its height that Colo
mel Wigfall. exUnited States senator
from Texas, came into the fort. As
cannoneer approached the embrasure
to load his gun he discovered man
looking In from the outside There
was a short but lively alteration be-
tween the stranger and the cannone>r.
the former pleading that he be taken in
lest he should be killed by his own
shot and shell. He handed the can.
noneer his sword. to which was at
tached a white handkerchief Once
inside he asked to be taken before
Major Anderson. To him he said.
For Gods sake, major, let this thing
stop! There has been enough blood
shed already" Anderson replied Sc
riously. There must have been times
later when the lud.crous side of this
| episode caused him to smile Said he
'"There has been none on my side. and
besides, your batteries are still firing
on me-"
Wigfall answered. "l'll soon stop
that" Reaching for the handkerchief
on his sword. he said to the cannon
eer. Wave it out there!' The cannon
eer handed the sword to its owner,
saying In substance, 'Wave it your
| sell. he cOiOuci pTUpVSeu ~ wave
It out of the embrasure, but ADder-
son told him that would be useless. 1t
| would better be done on the parapet
1t ended in Anderson sending the flag
to the parapet to be waved at the re
quest of Colonel Wigfall This was
about the middle of the afternoon on
the 18th. and when the flag appeared
the firing on both sides gradually ceas-
ed. This was in reality the end of the
whole matter, but it was so informal
that the tension of the nerves of the
officers and men In Fort Sumter was
by no means relieved The flag had
not been struck There had been no
orders to cease firing.
Beauresard's Dispatch Bearer
! There were several missions sent out
by Beauregard to Major Anderson be,
fore and after the lowering of the fag
In all of them one man was conspic
uous That was Captain James Cbes-
nut. afterward Confederate general
Captain Chestnut was one of three
aids who went TO the fort under a
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-04-21
uAD Genera. Beauregard

IAD GeneraA Beauregard been
less of a soldier and less of
gentleman of honor and feel
ing the story of the lombard
ment and fall of Fort Sumter Just fifty
years ago would In all probability have
been less agreeable reading for Amer
leans than it is. At 5:15 p. N. April
IL. 1861, at the headquarters of the
Confederate states forces in Charleston
opened and read the reply of Major
Anderson, Z. s. A., to his Beaure
gard's) demand to surrender the citadel
under his command to the Confederate
states
The demand was that the evacuation
of Fort Sumter by the garrison must
take place Immediately and that the
garrison, together with all company
arms and property and all private prop
erty, might be removed to any other
post in the United States. AT the close
was appended this gallant concession;
''The flag which you have upheld so
long and with so much fortitude under
the most trying circumstances may be
saluted by you in taking it down"
At 12:45 a. IN. April II, 1861, Major
Robert Anderson. commanding Fort
Sumter, received Beauregard's second
demand to give up the fort or have it
battered down over his head. Two
aids from Beauregard stood in his
presence, authorized to present the III
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-04-21
Redhot Cannon Balls.

There is no doubt whatever about
the Confederates firing redhot shot
into Fort Sumter for the purpose Of
setting any infammable material there
on fire. The Confederates so state
themselves. and the officers in Fort
Sumter would not have made the state
ment had it been other than true. The
fire In the barracks gradually swept
around toward the magazine, barrels
filed with powder were rolled out un-
der fire. and the already hot door was
closed All the blankets of the soldiers
and everything else that could serve
the purpose had already been wet and
laid over the loaded shells, which were
placed near the guns. 1t was decided
to throw the uncovered powder over
board, This was done, but the tide
was low, so the powder barrels rested
on the riprapping in front of the en-
brasure where they were cast out The
Confederates promptly turned their
guns upon this pile of powder. causing
an explosion which blew the gun at
the embrasure out of position There
was still possibility that enough pow
der had sifted through the cartridge
bags which had been carried about the
day before to lead the fire into the
powder chamber. Realizing this dam
ger, Anderson called his men about
him on the parade and directed that
shot be fired from the fort at the enc
my every five minutes. adding incl
dentally that there was some danger
Of the magazine exploding, Some of
the men dug trench in front of the
door of the magazine and kept it filed
with water during the rest of the bat
tie. OF course this thrilling moment
of open powder barrels lying around
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-04-21
-~>~e~%S-
INCIDENTS
FORT SUMTER

white dag on April II TO demand sur
render. The demand was refused
AbOut ] o'cl0c.a 0n the morning nf the
18th Captain Chestnut again appea red
Al Sumter aud remained there until
past 3 o'ciock. awaiting Major Au
derson's reply He had orders In his
furiset TO the commander OF the baI
trri,s on James island Ia open dire In
riisr Anderson remained frnI IN his
purpose to hO!d the fort On leaving
he placed IN AndeFson's hand II written
nutiye that the hostile guns would open
in one hour Th?sr trilts Wrrr ,i.a r.
tn al uleI rrwhmt VIII Wis pulled
10 Fort Johnson ard reached there al
I O'Clock
| From Fort johnson Captain hes
nut started by holi to report to Beaure
gard. in Charleston He was rowed
out into the harbor between Forts
Johnson and Sumter and there lay to
until the signal shot was seen to burst
over the target
After delivering his report to Beaure-
| gard the captain was again sent In his
| open boat down the harbor. now alive
with shells from Sumter and all its ad-
versaries. including Fort Moultrie The
| boat reached Morris island In safety,
passing under the guns which were fir
structions were to learn the condition
Of the southern batteries exposed to
| Sumter's shots and also that of Sum-
| ter. His boat ran out In the harbor
toward Sumter. and he saw that the
buildings in the fort were on fire.
About that time the firing from Sumter
ceased. but the flag was still waving
! Captain Chestnut determined 10 make
one more demand for the evacuation
and was preparing to go out In the
boat when the United States flag sud-
J denly disappeared from the historic
walls Word was brought from All
derson that he would evacuate. and
the captain FASTENED to the city with
the news. :
The next mission Of Captain Ches-
nut was one of mercy. The quarters
in Fort Sumter had been set on fire
] pS hoA chOt kioih ulOuttt iCs anu tuC
condition of Its magazine was not
known to those outside 1t was sup
posed that there must be some wound
ed needing care. A fire engine and
its company were loaded on board a
steamer. and with a surgeon aud bis
staff of assistants the relief party hur-
ried to the burning fort On nearing
the wharf the steamer was warned
away by an officer In the fort. who
stated that II was In danger Of blow
ing up at any moment from the mines
placed beneath the wall at that point
as a means of defense.
Captain Chestnut entered the fort
through an embrasure and offered the
services of his firemen and surgeons
to Major Anderson. Only one man
had been wounded. and the fire had
burned itself out The lower maga,
zine was under the burning ruins. hut
was deemed safe. The upper one had
been emptied by casting the powder
barrels into the sea.
Fighting on Their Own Hook.
Major Anderson gave orders that
only the easement guns of Sumter
should be used in reply to the enemy.
These We're the guns fired through
embrasures in the wall answering to
the ports of a battleship. The bar
bette guns on the parapet were the
only shell guns In the fort So the
answering fire was of solid shot
against shell. Seeing the ,disadyan-
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-04-21
FLAGSTAFF Shot Down.

When the flames broke out the Coli
federate batteries increased their fire,
and a perfect storm of shot and shell
came upon the fort The flagstaff wa,
shot down, and for the first time the
old flag dropped to the ground This
incident was interpreted by the Con.
federates as signal of distress. and
here again General Beauregard showed
that q soldier is not necessarily by
any means steeled against the finer
feelings of man, AS soon as he
heard that Anderson's flag was no
longer flying he sent three of his
aids. W. Porcher Miles. Roger A.
Pryor and Captain Stephen ID Lee, to
see If AndersOn's people needed and
would receive assistance in subdulng
flames which had broken out in the
barracks of the fort, caused by redhot
shells which the enemy was firing on
purpose. 1t might be supposed, to start
a confagrati0n
The Fort Sumter gunners. of course.
had to slow up on their fire In order to
enable some of the men to turn from
fighting the Confederates to fighting
flames Seeing this. the gunners In
the Confederate batteries cheered
when lone gun was fired from Sum
ter. When the Confederate aids ap.
peared at the fort and announced to
Major Anderson the humane mission
upon which they had come Anderson
said. present my compliments to
General Beauregard and say that
thank him for his kindness, but need
no assistance"
Meanwhile Colonel L. T Wigfall OF
Beauregard's staff had entered Fort
Sumter and proposed iD Beauregard's
name the terms offered on the 18th. as
above. Wigfall himself displayed a
white flag on his entrance to the fort.
and the guns on both sides ceased tir
ing. Anderson asked the three aids
then in his presence about Wigfalrs
mission and was told that he did not
represent Beauregard's wishes at that
moment. Then Anderson said. II will
at once run up my flag and open fire
again" Waving his hand to the Con
federates. Anderson added, Gentle,
men, you can return to your batteries.'
But at this time Major ID. r. Jones,
Bea chief Of STAFF. arrived, OF.
fering substantially the terms talked
of on the 18th Anderson promptly
agreed to evacuate the fort the next
day (the 14th' after saluting the Gag
flying at half mast. ....
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-04-21
INTERESTING
AT OLD
BY Captain GEORGE [. KILr1ER

BY Captain GEORGE L KILr1ER
copyright by American Press Associa
ton. iqll.I
was a moment ~ interest tn the
little band in Fort sumter wheu
u al reveille on the 9th OF january
1861. the news reached them TINT
q large steamer dying the United
States fag WAS OF the bar Of the TAR
Dor. two OF three miles distant Ev
cry one was afraid the garrison WAS
tn be taken away The men tulkpd il
over at breakfast. hut even wm.. they
were talking the vessel was rapidly
steaming up the channel Then every
man climbed to the rampartS hnt
there was no excitement. suddenly a
blue puff of smoke from a hidden bat
terry a little more than mile from
Sumter showed plainly that the Con
federates in Charleston had their oplr-
ion of the strange steamer, the ia
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-04-21

GENERAL LOUIS T. wIGFALI,, O g. A., WHO
ENTERED FORT SUMTER WITH WHITE
HANDKERCHIEF STUCK ON HIS SWORD.
tage, one of the gunners. named Car
mody. stole away to the ramparts and
coolly fired every barbette gun in po-
sitiOn on the Moultrie side. Carmody
was unable to run the guns back sim
gle handed for loading and could not
alone fight the whole Confederacy
with suitable weapons.
In another part of the fort there
was ten inch columbiad In barbette.
which also came under Anderson's
prohibition. 1t was loaded and train
ed. and two sergeants, watching, their
chances, stole into the gorge and fred
It The shot barely missed smashing
he famous Confederate iron battery.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-04-21
Probate Court Sessions.

.H--TONS OF InE PROBATE COURT FOR
rHE DISTRICT OF ESSEN will be held as
'l ys during the year 1871:
s.. ..uueuBurg in the forenoon of the first
81 a3lys OF February, June, september and
u..-runer.
a. Concord in the afternoon Of each Of the
sa ne days.
5. BrIg hton, Grst Mondays Of May, August,
v geuber and March in the afternoon.
AZ Guildhall on the hrst saturday OF each
month.
special ses sons will be held at any place in
tle District by agreement.
Address commune atoms TO Guildhall Office.
gr z. " Wyinan, Register to Canaan 10 Ed
WIN o. CARLL, JUDGE.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-04-21
THE STORY OF FORT SUMTER'S
B0MBARDMENT FIFTY YEARS AGO..
WHICH OPENED THE CIVIL WAR
Question TO Who Fired First Shot Seted-Hsm
Union Defenders and Courtesy Of Confederate kstackers
BY Captain GEORGE L. KILMER
by Amertcs Press Assoc
NJ
Copyright by American Press Association. 1911

had
Charleston hsrbor When the
of 1850 claimed
Attempt
hold United attack April
hundred all told South
OF
hundred distributed In land batteries
mlss
Sumter practically surrounded by hostile
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-04-21
THRILLING SGENES
AT FORT SUMTER
Hero Who Saved the Powder
Magazines Hauling Down
the American Flag.
By Captain GEORGE L. KILrER.
copyright by American Press Associa-
ton, 1911.


w yHEN the first gun was fired
M at Fort Sumter on the morn
w ing of April II. 1861, many
of the men in the fort stood
on the parapets or about the parade
and watched the course of the mortar
shell. which arose slowly in the air
until its momentum was exhausted.
then dropped toward the target. 9th
er shells were fired, and these were
watched in turn. Though they were
known to be the signals of a fight that
was about 10 open. the end of which
no man could foresee, the usual roll
call of the soldiers took place on the
open parade ground just the same. .
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-04-21

Major Anderson was himself q
southerner. He had been sent to
Charleston harbor in the fail of 1860
before there was any prospect OF a
dramatic termination to his career
there
Ever since the demand by General
Beauregard Of the 18th for the evacu,
alton of Sumter the officers of the gar
rison had been convinced that they
were on the eve Of conflict lmme-
diately after receiving the final order
from Beauregard, Major Anderson
went to his executive officer. Captain
Abner Doubleday, who had lain down
on cot bedstead in one of the maya
zines of the fort. place supposed to
be shell proof in fire, and informed
him that the enemy's fire would open
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-04-21

satisfactory. Anderson delayed them
under one pretext and another until
3:15 a. m.. then handed them his writ
ten reply. the response to which was
this courteous yet cold blooded note:
Fort Sumter S. c., April l2, 1861, 800 a. M
Sir-By authority of Brigadier General
Beauregard. commanding the provisional
forces of the Confederate states, we have
the honor to notify you that he will open
the fire of his batteries on Fort Sumter in
one hour from this time,
We have the honor to be, very respect
fully, your obedient servants
JAMES Chestnut, JR.,
Aid de- q mn
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-28
Only the Drug Stores May Sell DnsI

law prohibits anyone but a <><|@<<
pharmacist selling drugs excer| b +
raj districts. where any n6rchs-| s.
SCH patent medicine II be Is 17= us
from a drug store and obtains
er license.
But department and dry sooi' t>1
have been building up big >r<|1'1
selling hydrogen peroxite. i''<H
carbolic acid preparations, A. <'<
face powders. tooth paste. uit;1 \
and dozens Of other houssh9'd t'i'<s
But these are drugs. They ~
as drugs and to be used IS Fet'>.'
hence they come under TIE ~.
ticn Of the Law and the state 1zz
which has charge Of enforcing ;1e
says that the sale OF these ia'71
and the patent medicines y go
than druggists, must CEASE
The state board Is serving Hs'
on all department. dry goods ~ 3
Gerry stores that sell ny paper I'D 4
powder that they must cee1e
profitable business. Boue q ~
partment stores are prepafi1s o
the order on the ground that - =
has 10 right 70 prohibit sei!'r<
fui but harmless prepsrsiior5
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-28
CHICKEN ROAST IN SCHOOL
iowa Rural Teacher Makes School.
house Center Of Social Life
of the District.

II Is as true as 1t is strange that
in Iowa many rural schols are so at
tractive that city boys are sent out
of the city to attend the rural school.
l know one country school in which
there are six children from city
schools. A chicken roast" is the lat
est school attraction that have
known A teacher is making the
schoolhouse the center of social life
for the district She does not like
the idea OF having dance in the
school. and she will not have kissing
fracases. so she plans various social
functions with stunts and games that
have abundance OF life. that are new.
that are harmless. She does quite
little along the Xix of refreshments.
and every one takes part In the
preparation as well as in disposing Of
the feast The greatest success she
has ever had was a chicken roast. It
was in the autumn, and was In the
school yard. 1t was a close approach
to a barbecue. Every man. woman
and child in the district was there
Nothing else has ever 7roused such
an interest in the Kile district.--Jour-
nal of Education.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-28

I INC0LN. NEB.-Since last fall no
II less than hundred country banks
In Nebraska. Oklahoma and Nebraska
have been robbed In each instance
from $1,000 to $1,000 was taken. and
practically the same procedure was fol-
lowed In each case.
In the three states named are ap-
proximately $500 banks, 1000 OF them
In little towns and villages with prac-
tcaily no police protection. This is
the usual program in the cases re-
ported:
Soon after midnight the residents
are aroused by two or three explo-
sions. Those daring enough to ven
ture on the streets see an automobile
standing in front OF the bank and two
men with guns giving orders to stand
back. Inside are their companions.
filing sacks with money from the safe.
Having gathered all the cash possible
the burglars enter the machine, fire
a few intimidating shots and go rae
ing opt Of town.
Then come the gathering Of posse.
the cranking up of cars and a desper-
ate attempt to follow and capture the
robbers. In no instance has there
been capture. and despite offers of
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-28
SERVED HIS TIME AT SEA
Youthful Experiences Of Sir Walter
Runcimsn, Author of . Recent
Book on Napoleon.

Sir Walter Runciman. author of the
book on Napoleon. The Tragedy OF
st. Helena" is Scotsman. The sea
early fascinated him. and at the age
Of twelve he ran away from home.
tramped to a northeast coast port, and
engaged himself as a cabin boy. His
duties made his position anything but
sinecure and the treatment he re-
ceiyed in 1t completed Eis disillusion-
ment with reference to this particular
vessel. The tyranny finally became un-
bearahle and he managed to decamp
at an Irish port His love for the sea-
however, remained. and before long
he was serving on an American vessel.
where he speedily became well liked.
Unfortunately. his former captain.
piqued at his successful escape. had
him captured and brought back.
Heavy punishment followed. with the
not unnatural consequence of second
flight. which resulted in his getting to
a boat upon which he served the fun
term Of his apprenticeship.
At the right moment he left the sea
for the business OF ship moving and
management. He has found time 10
write three books besides his newest.
and to take part in politics.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-28

ly there win be a fashion i''
thing much more decorative
way OF gloves than is FURNISHED
customary range OF favn Hn'
and white.
Several Of the peeressee nave ~
ed the queens lead and are q
heavier embroidered Or oe
painted gloves. finished win
silver bands or lace edsins 2.
bows.
Dealers IN London like ne
OF novelties in tie way Of 60.
they have tried in vain %
gloves in colors to match 81
and deliberately embroldere'
but so far the English vonen
fancied the idea OF having ns. '''
les smbellished with 4
spray Of forget-menols No' &
silks or painted IN oils. nof &.
liked to extend a pea green
genta hand TO anyone IN s's'