The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-04-20

IL wW be- learned with Interest and
surprise that the man who ured the
nrst shot loo the great Ciyil war. and
who opened the historic lombard
meut OF Fort sumter. has been "a
resident Tor twenty tive years Of this
city and the mining camp Of Golden.
This b. Colonel Henry saxon Farley.
whose military bearing and flowing
white hair and beard make him q
notable figure on tho streets during
his frequent visits TO Albuquerque.
Lieutenant James W. Dixon, Fourth
United States artillery. retired. IN an
article In the New York Herald of
sunday, April i2th. tells an interest
ing story Of Colonel Farley and the
first shot IN the great conflict The
article ~ illustrated with an excel
lent photograph Of Colonel Farley,
and h. In part M follows:
By JAMES W. DIXON.
Late First Lieutenant Fourth United
states Artillery.
Conflicting statements have been
made regarding the first shot fired in
the Civil war. q shot that echoed
round the world. and was the begin
ninR 81 q war that lasted foul years.
costing the lives 81 hundreds OF
thousands ~ men. north and south.
and billions Of dollars in money and
property
The shot was fired at hnlf-pnEt
four o'clock In the morning Of April
~, 1861. from q t3-inch mortar on
James Island. near the site Of old
Fort johnson. In South Carolina, BY
Henry - HuWlsR ffrlgngI Ganrna ~
James. then a captain. being IN com
mand Of the island. The mortar at
terics were located on this island.
one commanded by Captain James.
the other by Lieutenant Wade Hnmp-
ton Gibbs. q West Point graduate.
Because Of the discussion hat has
arisen from time TO time about the
identity Of the man responsible for
the first shot. this correspondence is
Interesting:
Columbia. S. c.
My Dear Farley
Wont you please give the facts MS
yau know them Of the bombardment
81 Fort sumter. or rather. of the
opening OF the bu~mbardmcnt2 what
battery fired the signal and tho next
SHELF Whether your or mine. etc.
A point a been made, and ! want
It settled. hope the world II treat
Ing you well. Yours with best wish
as. w. H.. GIBBS.
Which Battery Fired FIRST?
Quarantine office,
Charleston Harbor.
Fort johnson, S. G.
Colonel II. s Farley,
Mount Pleasant Military Academy
Dear Sir hope that you viii
excuse my trcspnssing on your time
for some Information which viii De
a matter Of history. connected with
the first firing on Fort Sumter n
] am not mistaken. YOU were at Fort
johnson on the eyentfUl morning Of
the 18Th OF April, 1851. az "a particl-
pant IN one of the batteries. II you
VIII %recollect. there were two NOR
tar batteries located az the above
point one on the beach. directly
west Of sumter ana the other on the
hilL due northwest OF the beach hat
terry, under command OF Captain Geo.
$ James, who also commanded The
post The battery on the beach was
under the immediate command OF
James. and you were. n l recolloct
Alright. IN the battery on the beach.
with Captain James. The battery on
h hin was under the immediate
command Of Lieutenant Wade Hamp-
ton Gibbs.
Can YOU rccolloct who pulled the
lanyard Of the first mortar fired? /
nave always been under the impress
sion that the first shot fired came
from tho beach battery and thai 9th
rr Captain James or myself pulled
tEo lanyard
7 WAS a. Fort Johnson a. The time.
as "a volunteer surgeon for the occa-
sion and was "a resident Of James is
land.
Hoping that you may recollc,t tho
circumstances as they traHsplrcd at
this long date from their occurrence,
! beg 90 remain,
Yours respectfully,
r. LEBBY. NJ u.
To these letters Colonel Farley ro-
piled. stating that. under tho COM
maud ~ Captain James. no himself
pulled the lanyard Of the frat gun
fired at sumter thus showing that
claims made hy tho friends a Ed
win, Ruffin. Lieutenant Gibbs and
others from different points In the
harhor were without foundation In
fact.
Colopey Farley who was. ] think.
Il member Of the class ~ 1861. West
Point. had left the military academy
nnd had Joined Captain James hat
terry as "a lieutenant Because hc
WAS iust from "the Point" well nap
In military tactics and a fine mathe-
matioian, Captain James. being cx-
ceedingly nxiou that the first shot
should be- accurately fired ordered
Farley to fire the mortar
Together With many - his class
mates and brother cadets from the
other classes. he entered the Confed-
II. y. TANNUs. ". ID.
AMamanNN.H l.