The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-08-12

appOrtionment OF the pubic debit These
commissioners urged in a letter the removal
Of all United States troops from the
Charleston HarbOr. their presence tending
to bring 10 a bloody issue questions which
Judgment" This letter of the commission
ers was called 'in.ulting.' President Blu
chanan was firm. The commissioner re
piled by your course you have probably
rendered civil war inevitable. BE il 50. IL
you force this issue upon US, South Caro-
lima will accept it and. relying upon Al
great duty which lies before her bravely
and thoroughly. This letter was returned
to the commissioners indors4d with the
words: This paper the President declines
to receive The commissioners returned
TO South Carolina and awaited events.
Let US turn next to the dismantled fort.
where We had left the young artilleristS
from Columbia just entering its guarded
portals. They are on detail duty assisting
the machinists and mechanics of the city
and others, all laboring 70 restore this fort
non. repairing of gun carriages. remOunting
parapets, removing debris-until all is in
order and a new Flagstaff raised from
which a palmetto flag flaps in the breezes.
Early in the month Of January, 1861, the
writer. a private. received his first promo
! ton, being made corporal, with the of
/ flee of gunner. and was put in charge
of a ten inch Coluinbiad. which was ar
ranged so as to bear either upon Fort
Sumter or toward the sea. 1t was Gun
No. Il. We all loved her az il she were a
living thing. so W. fondly called her
Edith And Edith's mettle was soon
tested.
At early dawn on Wednesday morning,
January .. 1861. IA strange vessel flying the
national colOrS and heading directly for
Fort Sumter was sighted by our scouting
steamer. the General Ciinch, which at once
burned coiored lights as Il signal to our
Sentinels. AS soon as these signs were seen
from the parapet CT Fort Mouitrie every
man WAS at his post.
, On came the intruder. some distance in
the wake OF our littl" watch boat. Steaming
up Ship Channel. which runs parallel with
Norris Island. When within two miles
Of Fort Sumter and within range of Fort
MOultrie, the State cadets on Norris Is
land, under command Of Major Stevens,
opened fire on her. the shot rlcocheting
across her bow. Instantly a large Ameri-
can ensign was hoiSted in defiance. Quick
as thought Major Ripley, who had been
standing. glass in hand. just behind the
! writer, gave the command: Gunner No.
IL. prepare to fire. Fire
) Not IA moment for thought. The order
t was Instantly repeated. A burst of smoke,
a boom like the roar of thunder. and the
. ten inch had dropped it's huge
ball in front rf the vessels bow as a chal-
e iense to the unwelcome stranger;
t Our Edith had spoken in threatening
t tones that shook the masonry upon which
! she crouched, and before the reverbera
tiors had died along the shore there came
from the Morris Island battery a second
shot. falling harmlessly astern of. the
steamer. and quickly followed by a third
Q aimed directly at the vessel, which, crash
II us 'uACNeh hCl wal Duithcl, Udt WltuOu
: material damage, caused her to change he
f course and scurry out to sea.
# 1t has since been authoritatively state.
). by officers of the Sumter garrison tina
d when the Star Of the West hoisted her en-
sign to the fore, and after Fort Moultri
,e had disputed her passage. Major Anderson
having his attention called to the fact tina
his guns could reach Fort Moultric but no
the Norris Island battery. gave instruction
to one OF his officers to take command of
d battery OF two AZ Founders, bearing Of
Fort Moultrie, and to be in readiness 70
action. At this critical moment Lieut.
Richard kidder Meade, a young Virginia,
who after the fall OF Fort Sumter resign
\ ed his commission as a,Tnited States office
10 and Immediately east his lot with the Co
= federacy,: earnestly entreated that th
,e order to fire on Fort Moultrie. which woul
commence civil war. should not be giveI
pr Just then the Star Of the West turne
to about b ia and Anderson said; Hold on: y
10 timely but uneX perted Interference was III
mediate bloodshed avoided. and because {
TT I Gun No. u on the parapet OF Monltri
r was not answered. and the corporal /
s. charge. after many vicissitudes of mil
It tary service. was surrendered in May. 1>G
lie under General Forrest.
IN And so failed the pest scheme Of Gener;
ne Scott and the ing!Orious expedition of tt
ry splendidly equipped Star Of the West. wit
|e- Its full complement OF men, arms. and an
in munition. and with its three mouths stoi
IS OF provisions. In the words of Govern,
a Ilckens in his message to the South Car
on lima Legislature on November e. 1861, IL
he enterprise was taken under special orde
ny from the lieutenant general of the Unite
,ia States. marked by special circumstances
pit. treachery and duplicity." adding that I'll
lr- cannon which opened upon the Star Of 81
West called half a million freemen
he arms"
EN- The question. w no fred the first sh
he CT the war" an inquiry of no historical II
ul- portance. has been discussed controversi;
no ly but. strange as it may seem. even
TT. this late day through ignorance the que
Nv eton is almost invariably answered inco
ere rfctlY. The uuestioner is very apt to 60
re found the bombardrcnt Of Fort STUNT
lde with the defeat If Eanaral Scott \ eno
ton Z" re-enforce that stronghold.
The names of thoae who fred the fiji
Der shots have been verified by the writer aft
ON a careful investigation eff several yea
cased upon the. national and South Car
the una State records and tie t. <timOny Of G,
rnt witnesses yet living.
son As these shots challenging the Star Of {
ned West were fired on January Y. 1861. TN
ON months and three days prior to the be
an bardmcnt IF Fort Sumter. the question
cI the firing IF tie first shot on the latter
caSich sinks in1o insiG niticance.
~ Eour shots ,Vnrp "A rod AZ rho I pjtpl NJ.