The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1945-07-05

from Inc Old Lamplighter'S"
diary and files. Here are few items
that might interest you.
Eighty-fve years ago this spring
the opening gun of the Civil War
was fired at Fort Sumpter, South
Carolina, in Charleston Harbor. At
designated hour, 4:3O a. m, on the
morning of Friday, April II, 1861,
the Confederate batteries opened
fire on the fort, which replied to
them with spirit. The bombardment
lasted over 80 hours, during which
the fort was greatly damaged and
many of the guns were dismounted.
A Union fleet arrived off the har-
Dor during the bombardment but
took no part in the engagement.
Not single life was lost in this
memorable battle. The fort at this
time was under the command of
Major General Robert Anderson. He
was born in 1910 and was graduated
with honor from West Point. His
first important service was in the
Black Hawk war. In 1888 he was
appointed assistant instructor and
inspector at West Point. He pub
lished a book entitled, obstruction
for Field Artillery, Horse and Foot;
arranged for the service of the
United States" He assisted in the
siege of Vera Cruz, Mexico, accom-
panying General Scott in his tri-
] umphal march to the city of Mexi-
co. He was a brave man, but a
historian tells us, "the officer who
commanded the Confederate forces
in Charleston was not unworthy in
some respects, to be the rival of so
admirable soldier as Major An
derson." He also graduated with
honors from West Point in 1888.
/ A single bombshell burst first
over the fort. Many of the residents
of Charleston assembled at vantage
points and witnessed the display of
fireworks. Seven thousand men at
tackled the fort, garrisoned by 70
men. On Sunday morning at $50
the garrison withdrew, firing salute
of 100 guns. They then embarked
on transport furnished by the Con-
federates to the patriotic strains of
yankee Doodle" They subse-
| quently sailed for New York.
The attack on Fort Sumpter put
an end to the last hope of peace
and aroused the most intense ex-
citement in both sections of the
country. On the 18th of April Presi-
dent Lincoln called upon the States
to furnish $4,000 troops The North
ern and Western states responded
with enthusiasm The enthusiasm of
the South was fully equal to the
North
Coming near home was an Incl
dent connected with the three
months campaign of the Federal
forces in Virginia, under command
of General Robert Patterson. 1t
was on July that his troops-20,-
900 of them-crossed the Potomac
river at Williamsport. The fording
(and that is the way they crossed)
began at dawn of the day and con-
tinued until nightfull. Before the
fording commenced a skirmish took
place between the Federal pickets
and the Berkeley Border Guard.
General Ambercrombie's brigade
was in advance of the Federal
Forces, and having crossed the Poto-
mac, they continued their march on
the turnpike toward Martinsburg.
The pickets of the enemy were first
seen at Falling Waters. They retired
and about mile beyond the en-
counter took place which has been
designated as the battle of Falling
Waters
Another incident, however, never
recorded in history, was the draw
ing up in line of battle of troops at
Cavetown; however there was no
fighting. The formation was review
ed by number of residents in that
immediate neighborhood who were
curious to see troops drawn up for
battle array. Today, on the heights
at Williamsport near the cemetery,
are big guns pointing in the direc-
ton of the river, in a position to
guard any approach of the enemy
Listed among the weddings in
this issue were-Miss Nettie A.
Baumgardner of near Leitersburg
to William T. Gordon of York, Pa.
Mr.. Lester Snyder, son of Mr..
Christian ~ Snyder, North Null
berry street, and Miss Bertha c.
Thornberger, of Chambersburg.
They were to reside in Hagerstown.
R. D. Mckee next to the Market