The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-23

the night. the steamer landed the artil-
icrYmen on the beach Of Sulivaus
( Island. The company finally march ed
into Fort Moul;rie to report TO Major
r. s Ripley. who had been made com
mandant Of the fort This was the
company To which the writer hclonge ed.
and with which he had fallen in as they
We're rapidly marching through
Charleston, To report for duty on the
island. IL Was made Impossible for a
vessel 10 enter Charleston harbor and
reach sumter without passing within
range of guns Of large calihre. point
ing either from Fort Moultric or from
the Morris Island battery.
On the afternoon of the day follow
ing the evacuation OF Moutric. mes
sage was sent by Governor Pickcns to
Major Anderson, requesting him TO re-
turn TO the abandoned fort, This An
dcrson refused to do. ON the contrary.
the Federal officer sent an adjutant
next day TO the commander OF Fort
Moultrie. asking by what authority
was he with armed men in that fort of
the United Stats8?' He received the
reply, "By the authority Of the SOW
crciEn State OF South Carolina. and by
command OF her government
Meanwhile Messrs. Barnwcll. Adams
and Orr were sent as commissioners
from South Carolina 10 Washington, To
treat with the national authorities for.
the delivery OF all forts. magazines
ana tNHclTr real estate and
appurtcnances within the limits OF
South Carolina. and 10 offer 10 pay
an apportionmcnl OF the public debt
These commissioners urged in a letter,
I the removal of all United States troops
from Charleston harbor, their presence
tending TO bring TO a bloody issue
question which ought To be settled with
temperance and Judgment"
This lcttc" Was returned to the com
inissioncrs. endorsed with the words
This paper, the President declines to
receive The commissioners returned
10 south Carolina and awaited events
hut let us turn to the dsmantled
fort where we had left the Young ar
tillerists from Columbia just entering
its guarded portals We see them now
on duty assisting the machinists and.
mechanics Of the city and others, all
laborins to restore this fort to its
former efficiency-unspiking Of can
non. repairing of gun carriages. re-
mounting paraPets. removing debris,
until All is in order and a new flag
staff raised from which Palmetto
nag flaps in the brcczcs.
Early In the month OF January, 1861.
the writer who had fallen in" as a
private. received his first promotion.
being made 2 corporal with the Office
Of gunner, and was put in charge of a
! ten-inch Columhiad. which WAS ar
ranged so as Ia bear either upon Fort
Sumter or towards the sea. j, was
gun No. 3. but our six cannoncers.
like the gunner. laughed, at its being
an unlucky number. We all looked
upon and loved her as If she was q liv-
Ing thing and SO fondly called her
Edith" And Ediths mettle was soon
TO be tested.
on the morning OF Wednesday. the
9TH OF January 1851, at early dawn,
81 strange vessel flying the national
f,,
I Sumter. was sighted by our scouting
steamer the General Clinch," which
At once burned colored lights as Il
signal TO our sentinels. AS soon as
these signs were seen from the para
pet OF Fourt Moultrie every man was
at his post.
On came the intruder some distance
In the wake OF our little watchboat
and stcaming up Ship Channel which
runs parallel with Morris Island. When
within two miles of Fort Sumter and
within range of Fort Moultrie the
State cadets on Morris Island, under
command of Major stevens, opened
fire on her. the shot ricocheting across
her bow. Instantly a large American
ensign was hoisted in defiance. Quick
as thought Major Ripley, who had been
standing. glass in hand, just behind
the writer. gave tho command: Gun
ner No. 13. prepare to fire. Fire"
Not a moment for thought The or
der was instantly repeated. burst
of smoke, boom, like the road Of
thunder and the ten-inch Columbiad
had dropped its hige ball in front of
the vessels bow as a challenge to the
| unwclcome stranger.
| Our Edith had spoken in threaten
Ing tones that shook the masonry up
on which she crouched; and before
the Morris Island Battery a second
shot. falling harmleSsly astern of the
steamer and quickly followed by a
third. aimed directly at the vessel.
which crashing through her coal
bunker but without material damage.
| caused her to change her course and
steer out to sea.
Ii has since been authoritatiyely
stated by officers of the Sumter garri-
son. that when the Star of the West
holster her ensign to the fore and af-
ter Fort Moultrie had disputed her
passage. Major Anderson. having his
attention called to the fact that his
guns could reach Fort Moultrie but
not the Norris Island battery, gave
instructions to one Of his officers to
take command of a battery OF two