The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-04-12
c. A. R. CAMPFIRE.
Continued from Page one.D

OII GlCheuS, dJ GenSdCOld, II OTJ
Taylor, at Key West, and Fort JEFF
ferson, at Tortugas. They had also
enrolled military forces, for the pur-
pose OF maintaining by arms their
separation from the Union.
South Carolina Makes Demands.
South Carolina, upon adopting it's
Ordinance of Secession, had sent
three Commissioners to Washington
to negotiate for the adjustment of
its new relations, as a Sovereign
State" with the Federal Govern
ment, which had, it contended, aris-
en- through it's withdrawal from the
Union; and later, the government of
the Confederate States" had sent
Commissioners for a like purpose.
But the Federal Government had re-
fused to recognize the demands of
either the State or the Confederate
Government, or to hold official COM
munication with their commissioners
in relation to those demands.
The United States forts at Charles
ton were Forts Moultrie, Sumter,
Johnson, and Castle Pinckney. Fort
Moultrie stood on Suilivan's Island,
on the northern side of the harbor
entrance. 1t was of little strength,
and was untenable against an at
tack from the landward side. Fort
Sumter was built on a shoal in the
harbor, about half a mile from
its mouth, and about 800 yards
west of Fort Moultrie. 1t had been
for several years in course of con-
struction, and was not yet complet-
ed. Both forts were about four
miles from Charleston. Fort John
son was on James Island, about g.
800 yards west of Fort Sumter.
1t was unoccupied, and in a ruinous
condition. Castle Pinckney stood in
the harbor, about a mile southeast
of Charleston. It's only garrison
was one officer, with his family, and
it was of no Importance in the pend
ing operations. The federal force in
Forts Moultrie and Sumter consisted
of Companies E and H of the 1st ar
tillery, commanded by Major Robert
Anderson.
Fort Sumter Occupied.
On the night of December 26,
1860, Major Anderson transferred
the garrison of Fort Moultrie to Fort
Sumter, with all the munitions and
supplies which he had the means of
transporting. For the next three
months and upward he did all that
was practicable to put the fort in
good condition for defense Mean
time the secession forces took possess
sion of Castle Pinckney and Forts
Moultrie and Johnson, materially
strengthened the two forts, and
armed them with heavy guns and
mortars. At Cummings Point, on
Morris Island, on the southern side
of the harbor entrance, opposite Fort
Moultrie, and about 1900 yards
from Fort Sumter, they placed two
powerful batteries, one of which,
with a roof sloping toward Fort
Sumter, and covered with railroad
iron, was known as the Iron Bat
terry" A floating battery, with a
similar roof, was placed at the west
ern end of Sullivan's Island, and at
other points on the island, facing
Fort Sumter, were five more batter
les. The entire armament of the Sc
cession works consisted of 80 heavy
guns and II S-inch and 1O-inch
mortars, supported by about 5000
men. In Fort Sumter only twenty
one guns could be brought into ac-
tion, four of which were forty-two
Founders, and the residue thirty
two Founders. The garrison consist
ed of nine commissioned officers,
siXty-eight non-commissioned Off
GERS and privates, eight of the regi-
mental band, and forty-three labor
ers, most of whom aided in carrying
ammunition during the lombard
ment.
The First Secession Shot.
After some inconclusive negotia-
tionS for the surrender of the fort,
Gen. Beauregard, commander of the
secession forces, gave Major Ander-
son written notice, at 1920 a. m. on
April 18th, that his batteries would
open on the fort in one hour. In
his official report, Gen. Beauregard
says: THE signal shell was fired
from Fort Johnson at 4:30 a. m. At
about five o'clock the fire from our
batteries became general. Captain
George S. James, commanding at
Fort Johnson, had the honor of fir
ing the first shell at Fort Sumter"
Edmund Ruffin, Virginian of some
distinction, is sometimes referred to
as having fired the first shot; but
this is mistake. Mr.. Ruffin, who
was an ardent secessionist, visited
COiuhDid WnSu IHe OOuIn CdTOllnd
Convention met, December IT, 1860,
and at a public meeting made a
speech urging immediate secession.
Though near his sixty-eighth year he
Joined the Palmetto Guards" of
Charleston. This company was sta
toned at the Iron Battery" from
which fire was opened on Fort Sum-
ter at 4:4S a. m. on April 18th.
Capt. G. B. Cuthbert, commanding
the company, in his report said:
"At dawn of day the Iron Battery
commenced it's work of demolition.
The first shell from Columbiad No.
l, fired by the venerable Edmund
Ruffin, of Virginia, burst directly up
on the parapet of the southwest an
gle of the fort" Lieut.-Col. w. G.
Saussure, artillery commendant at
Cummings Point, and Gen. Beaure-
gard, in their reports, speak of Mr..
Ruftin as serving at the iron battery.
The result of the war, however, was
such bitter disappointment to him
that on June Is, 1865, he shot him
self rather than live under the feder-
al government.
The Defense of The Fort