The Washington herald., 1915-04-04

| patriotic celebration over sumter re-
possessed. and it was planned that Maj
! the identical flag that he had here de-
Tended.
The fort had been held by the Confed-
crates throughout the war, in spite of
the unceasing efforts to reduce it Of the
Federal fleets and an army operating
from Morris Island, at the harbor's en-
trance. When the Federal guns had
pounded it to a mere heap Of ruins, and
it was no longer of value as an artillery
defense. it was maintained as an infan-
try outpost.
Such it had remained until the eyacu-
alton of Charleston became a military
necessity because of Gen. Sherman's
march northward from Savannah through
South Carolina Shortly before the Con-
federates left the city their little gar
rison withdrew from Fort Sumter. A
naval crew found the place abandoned
on the morning of February IS. and an
officer climbing the ruins raised the Stars
and Stripes on an oar to rededfcate~the
fort to the possession of the Union.
This had been entirely informal. and it
remained for the Washington authori-
ties to say when the original flag should
float again from a staff above the his
toric' fort. Secretary of War Edwin NJ.
Stanton. an intensely earnest man, saw
at Sumter an opportunity to assert in
dramatic manner the re-establishment of
Federal authority at Charleston, and the
plans for a celebration there on April II
were largely the result Of his initiative.
Prayer by Chaplain Harris.
On March % President Lincoln issued
an executive order authorizing the flag
raising at Sumter by Gen. Anderson. and
directing that the naval forces at
Charleston be invited TO participate 'in
the ceremonies.
Although Lincoln was never inclined
to gloat over a fallen foe, he does not
appear to have interposed any serious
objections to an arrangement to send to
Charleston the two most conspicuous
antislavery orators of the North TO at
tend the Sumter celebration These were
Henry Ward Beecher and William Lloyd
Garrison. The former was chosen as the
orator of the day.
The governments guests were sent
South on a large sea-going transport.
the steamer Arago, arriving off Charles
ton Harbor on April Is. There had been
gathering of Northern notables for
some days in Charleston. and the city
assumed an air of gayety in contrast to
its forlorn appearance at the time Of its
evacuation by the Confederates.
The morning of the celebration broke
fine, though with overcast sky From
an early hour the air thrilled with the
music of bands. Down the harbor fifty
eight naval vessels, under Admiral John
\. Dahlgren. who for two years had
the fleet off Charleston, were
decorated in gay bunting.
Steamers took more than 5000 persons
to the fort, where a large number of
army and navy officers assembled. Its
parade had been leveled.
and seats and a central platform built,
about a Flagstaff. The platform was dec
Grated with evergreens and piled shells.
now harmless souvenirs of the terrors
of war. Soldiers. marines and sailors
posted about the fort gave martial as
pect to the scene.
The ceremonies began at noon. with
reading of the Te Deum Laudamus and
a prayer by Rev. Matthias Harris, a
chaplain, the same who had offered
prayer when Maj. Anderson entered Sum-
ter in December, 1850. with the little
that prudence had prompted
him to withdraw from Fort Moultrie.
across the channel
Mai. Anderson's original dispatch an
the evacuation Of Fort Sumter
dated April IS. 1ssD. was read by Gen.
E. d. Townsend, Assistant Adjutant Cen
eral of the United States.
Gen. Anderson's Prayer.
Then followed the reading of a selec-
ton of psalms, Rev. Richard S. Storrs
and the peopfe reading alternate verses.
One verse was:
The Lord hath done great things for
us: whereof we are glad
The reading closed with these words. |
by the minister and the peo-
pie in unison:
''Some trust in chariots and some in
horses; but We will remember the name |
Of the Lord our God.
I'VE will rejuoice in thy salvation. and |
N the name of our God We will set up |
our banners
Then followed the ceremony of raising |
the old flag. This historic piece of bunt- |
ing had been brought to the fort in a |
stout mail bag, from which it was now |
taken on the platform. A wreath of |
roses was attached to it. and the hal |
Yards being made fast, Gen. Anderson |
began a brief address. He was a spare !
figure, a man who had suffered in health. |
and his remarks showed that he had
suffered also in spirit. His speech was |
Ike a prayer.