Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1911-04-12
iHE CIVIL WAR BEGAN
50 YEARS AGO TODAY
When the First Gun Was Fired
Upon Fort Sumpter.
Incidents Concerning the Opening of the
Most Momentous Conflict of
All Time,

Just fifty years ago today the bonn
bardment of Ft. Sumpter opened one
of the greatest struggles in the history
of mankind. The general history of
that struggle is familiar to most
American citizens but a surprisingly
small number are acquainted with
many of the important details.
The story of Fort Sumpter is one of
those epoch-making portions of history
that should'be made familiar to every
one by endless repetition if necessary.
FIT. Sumpter was erectet by the
United States as a defense Of the
main channel to Charleston harbor.
Ia 1861 it stood unfinished and claim
ed by South Carolina, which state had
withdrawn from the Union near the
close of the year 1860
A United States Garrison of per-
haps less than one hund1ud men at
tempted to hold possession of Fort
Sumter In the face of insistent de-
mands by General P. G. T. Beaure-
gard commander Of the Confederate
troops, that the fort be evacuated and
the arms ammunition etc be removed
to some other post.
The second demand was received by
Major Robert Anderson, commanding
Fit. Sumpter at 10 rs a. m. April 12,
1861 and carried the ultimatum that
in case of refusal the fort would be
battered down over their head.
At 3:15 a. m. Anderson sent the
Confederate commander his written
reply and received the following re-
spouse which offered no further altern-
alive:
Fort Sumter, s. c., April IL, 1861,
30 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
respectfully. your obedient servants,
JAMES Chestnut, JR.,
Aid-de- camp.
Major Anderson carried the news to
Captain Abner Doubleday his execu-
tive officer, Immediately, finding the
latter calmly reposing on a cot in
magazine of the fort. Doubleday did
not allow the announcement to dis
turb his rest but remained upon the
cot until real hostilities had COM
menced and a shell which had
penetrated the wall burst near his
head.
The confederate forces numbered
several hundreds and were distrl buted
in land batteries and in Fort Moultrie
which was perhaps two miles distant
The hostile guns of Confederates
practically surrounded the fort
The first shot according to reliable
historians was fred by Capt. George
S. James, commanding the three gun
battery on James island at 80 a. IN.
and it burst Immediately above the
fort.
AT 4 :48 after the signal gun had
been heard Edmund Rufin. veneer
able Virginian serving in the iron
battery on Morris island. fred what
has been enormously chronicled as
the opening gun of the war.
Captain Doubleday himself flied
Fort Sumpter's first shot III return for
the one which had disturbed his re-
pose.
Fire of the Federals was first con
centrated upon a Confederate battery
a mile distant, but with so little eff
feet that Capt. Doubleday soon took
as a target the famous old Revolution
airy post, Fort Moultrje, which was
we'll protected by sand bags.
The Confederates continued their
fire recurrently all night and on the
second day at daylight commenced a
more successful COMMANDMENT than that
of the day previous. Red hot shells
fired by the enemy first caused fire
in the officers quarters and, although
successful in extinguishing this blaze,
they were unable to restrain the fury
of later conhagration which broke
out simultaneously in several places.
The Confederate batteries increased
their fire after the effect was known,
and it was not long before q shot cut
down the flagstaff and old Glory"
dropped to the ground Interpreting
this as a signal of distress General
Beauregard sent three aids to ascer.
tain if any assistance in subduing the
flames would be welcomed.
Mayor Anderson answered Present
my compliments to General Beaure
gard and say that thank him for his
kindness but need no assistance.