Year: 1867

story of Norwood" Virginian, who
visits Charleston just previous to the
bombardment Of Fort Sumter, writes in
his journal that he has been making a
tour of the batteries with Gen. Beaure-
gard. They had been watching the flag
floating from the great fort;


"There is" says the record, speaking &
of the General, "a singular combination
in his expression. His face is dull, his
eye fiery, so that the whole countenance
is like ashes, with fire raked up beneath
it."


With some emphasis he said; ut
shall not fly there long


/ asked him whether it did not pain
him to do violence to the flag under
which he had been reared He paused,
as one does who analyses his feelings
before speaking;


SIN our fathers day that was the flag
of the Union. But it has been made sec
tional by Northern fanaticism. 1t no
longer suggests protection and friend
ship, but injustice and aggression. We
look upon it as it is, not as it was. Aud
yet, sir, if Major Anderson would evacu-
ate the fort, and relieve this harbor Of
the threat implied in his presence here,
| should be saved painful necessity"


Then you do not sympathize with
those who wish to humble the North 2"


81 sympathize with those who believe
that new empire is arisingl | care
nothing for the North. Let them have
their way We mean to fulfill our des
tiny. All nature has conspired to make
this Southern realm grand empire.
The climate is perfect. 1t is garden
on the pattern of continent We have
an industry which will enrich the world
but ourselves first and most. Ours is
not rude and clumsy slavery like that
of antiquity. 1t combines in it.the pat
riarchal simplicity of the Hebrew and
the fine organization of the Roman.
The negro not held in slavery spreads
out like a torpid swamp and poisons the
land with laziness. We have forced him
into channels-converted him, as it were,
into a river-with a regular current,
turning thousand mills. Our people,
relieved from drudgery, have leisure for
refinement and public administration.
Here is to be a new era-an epoch in
civilization. In a hundred years the
great schools of science and OF painting,
the colleges and universities of America,
will be here When | see that flag stand
ing in the way of all this glorious pro-
gress, and forbidding it, | would fire
upon it if it we're thrice as glorious as it
has been, but has ceased to be ~


! think he was insincere. He is an
enthusiast He has the air of man who
has great selfconfdence and is not un-
willing to express it. On that account
he is fit to represent the South Caroli-
MANS. They are certainly eager, opinion
alive, and prodigiously confident. | in
quired:


Will it be difficult task to breach
the fort, and likely to be attended with
much loss of life ?"


He replied: "We and they are well
protected from artillery fire. Anderson
is good officer, and will not expose his
men. If blood is split it will be in
storming after the fort is preached"


"Will raw troops be serviceable in so
desperate an enterprise as assailing
breach2"


"Sir, the Southerner is a natural sol
dier His courage is such, by nature,
that it is hardly a credit to him to be
brave, any more than for horse to be
strong or hound swift The Northern
man is dull, slow, peaceful. If ever, it
will be years before he learns to fight.
The Southern soldier is quick, fiery, in
tense, overwhelming We shall sweep
everything before us y


Is there no way of avoiding actual
conflict? Might not the fort be starved
out2 am told that the garrison are not
permitted to draw provisions any longer
from Charleston.


$50 far as / am concerned, l would
defer operations, provided Anderson
would state the day when want of provi-
sions would compel him to surrender; at
any rate, if it we're a near day


q am sure he would. He is an honor
able and Christian gentleman. l would
cheerfully undertake the mission. | am
a Southern man, but | am opposed utterly
to forcing this issue by arms
''This is beyond my province. You
must get authority from Montgomery, or
from Gov Pickens