The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-11
THE COMMANDMENT
OF FORT SUMTER
l'he First Clash Of Arms-Newspaper Account
Published at the Time-The First Shot-De-
tails of the First Engagement.
tFrom the Charleston News and Courier
OF April 10, 1S61.J


OF Thursday, General Bcauregard made
"a demand on Major Anderson for tho
Immediate surrender OF Fort Sumter,
through his aids. Colonel James Ches-
nut. Jr Colonel Chisolm and Captain
Lee. Major Anderson replied that such
Il course would be Inconsistent with the
dni;' he was required by his govern
'nent to; perform. The answer was
communicated by the general in chief
n 10 President Davis
This visit and the refusal of the
commandant OF Fort Sumter TO ac-
code 10 the demand made by General
BeaureEard. passed from tongue TO
tongue and soon the whole city was
IN possession OF the startling in,clli-
| senser itunior. as she is wont to do,
SNAPPED The facts TO suit her purposes.
enlarged their dimensions. and gave
them a complexion which they had not
worn when fresh from the pure and
aitless hands Of truth.
half an hour after the return OF
ne orderites II was confidently be.
llev@dr that the batteries would open
fire at S O'Clock. and IN expectation OF
eeeinS the beginning OF the conflict
hundreds congrcgated upon the bat
terf aid the wharves, looking out on
the boy There they stood strainInR
Their eyes over the dark expanse OF
water. waiting 10 sec the nash and hear
the boom Of the ~nrst gun The clock
told the hour Of u. and sill They gaz-
I'D and liatened. EI,aa, the cyciids grew
i MsssT' and "s.,i =, 40 e the nisht ths
frectators were plodding their way
homcward @
~ about o'clock General Beanre-
card received a reply from President
Davis. 10 the telegram in relation 10
ne surrender of sumter by which
he WAS instructed to inform Ma i6r
Anderson he :.
Tort he heid when his present supply
q provisions was exhausted there
4 you'd be no appeal TO arms This
proposition wal borne to Major Ander-
son By the aids who had delivered the
nrst message. and lie refused 10 ac-
Kept the condition. The Eeneral-in-
chief fprthwith rave the order that the
batteries be opened at :3O O'clock on
riday morning. Major Anderson's re-
NY YVES decisive OF the momento,is
question. and General Beaurcgard de-
termincd to apply the last argument
The stout soldier had resolved 10
make desperate defense ana the
nlopdH trial OF strength must he es
sayed The sword must cut asundor
INC last tie that bound us 10 a neop,c
20 whom, IN spite OF wrongs and in
justice wantonly inflicted through
!oDs series of years We had not yet
"tteriy hated and despised, The last
expiring spark OF affection must no
4Guenched in blood. Some of the most
Spiendid pages in our glorious history
must be blurred. ~ blow must be
struck that would make the ears ~
every Republican fanatic Jingle and
whose dreadful effects Will be fell, by
generations yet 10 come Wa must
transnlit heritage OF ranking and
Hndying hateNto our children.
we paused to contemplate the ter
Tihie prospect. Hurried on by the rani.l
way
ny increasing irritations, astounded b,-
me RiarinS treachery OF our enemies
lost In wonder Mt their egregious sin,
pldity, we had not fully comprehended
\ INC nature Of the work we were about
TO begin, Now. while tho ear ,va
waiting for the roar or cannon We s We
clearly the magnitude OF the crisis
While those solemn hours We're nass
ihs siiehtiy away. we CONTEMPLATED Tho
tremendous undertaking infall its as
pcS.s' hearing and consequences,
" paused but 1t was not the nance
or hesitation or doubt. We had Ion :.
since made ourselves familiar ,v,th
me dangers that darkeped over our
pathway, and had they been tenfold
greater we would have dared to do
what we have done. with the same
steady courage and immovable rcsolu-
1ioh. we had marked out n way for
our feet and we would pursue this
road let what may oppose our progress
y ms pathway was traced By the an !
Ger of horror and heavens own light
rests upon It. During those dark hours
Heavy with anguish of mothers. sisters
ana wives. and wet with their tears.
We paused to reflect and pray. we
Il refreshed our spirits with glorious
memories. We felt tho inspiration Of
q Just and holy cause and n sublime
nnrposc and disguised with childish
trifiing and studied perRdS, we looked
10 heaven for direction and blessing
md turned our backs forever upon oi,r
former brothers.
ne crisis had arrived. and we were
July prepared to meet II. The work
mat awaited the morrow was of a mo-
mentous character, but we had count =
ed the cost. ana had resolved to do IT
or die In the attempt.
At the gray of the morning Of Fri
nay the roar OF the cannon broke upon
Inc car. The expected gound was an
swered by thousands. The houses
were In few minutes emptied OF
their excited occupants. and the living
stream poured through all the straits
leading to the wharves and battery
On reaching our beautiful promena do
We found IL lined with ranks of eager
n spectators. and oil the wharves com
manding view of the battle were
crowded thickly with human forms.
On no gala occasion have we ever
$500 30 ia sc a number OF Ia
d1cs on our battery ms graced the
breezy walk on this beautiful morn
inE There they stood with palpltat-
ing hearts and pallid faces, watching
the white smoke as 1t rose in wrea his
8 Pnon the soft twilight air. and breath
81! ing out fervent prayers for their GAL
liant kinsfolk at the guns OF what a
+ conflict reged In those heaving bos-
oms between love for husbands and
q Ions, and love for our common moth.
lr. whose insulted honor and imperilled