Yorkville enquirer. [volume], April 18, 1861, Image 2

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The Battleof Fort Sumter.
[FROM THE CHARLESTON COURIER..
At about 2 o'clock, on the afternoon of
Thursday, 11th inst., Geneneral Beauregard
made a demand on Major Anderson for the
immediate surrender of Fort Sumter,
through his Aids, Col. James Chesnut, Jr.,
Col. ChLolm and Capt. Lee. Major Anderson
replied that suoh a course would be
inconsistent with the duty he was required
by his Government to perform. The answer
was communicated by the General-in-Chief
? to President Davis.
At about 9 o'clock, General Beauregard
received a reply from President Davis, by
whioh he was instructed to inform Major
Anderson that if he would evacuate the fort
he held when his present supply of provisions
was exhausted, there would be no appeal
to arms. This proposition was borne to
Major Anderson by the aids who delivered
the first message, and he refused to accept
the condition. The General-in-Chief forthwith
gave the order that the batteries be
opened at half-past four o'clock on Friday
morning. Major Anderson's reply wasdenisicp
nf f.tip mnmpnfnufi ooestion. and Gen.
Beauregard determined to apply the last
argument.
The stoat soldier bad resolved to make a
desperate defence, and the bloody trial of
strength must be essayed. The sword must
cat asander the last tie that bound us to a
people, whom, in spite of wrongs and injustice
wantonly inflicted through a long series
of years, we had not yet utterly hated
and despised The last expiring spark of
affection must be quenched in blood. Some
of the most splendid pages in our glorious
history must be blurred. A blow must be
struck that would make the ears of every
Republican fanatic tingle, and whose dread
ful effects will be felt by generations yet to
come We must transmit a heritage of
rankling and undying hate to our children.
The crisis had arrived, and we were fully
prepared to meet it. The work that awaited
the morrow was of a momentous
character, but we had counted the cost,
and had resolved to do it or die in the attempt.
a . .1 c 41 : e TP.: j
Ai/ me gray ui tuc Luu&uiug ui J; nuay iuc
roar of cannon broke upon the ear. The
expected sound was answered by thousands.
The houses were in a few minutes emptied
ot their excited occupants, and the living
stream poured through all the streets leading
to the wharves and battery.
At thirty minutes past four o'clock the
conflict was opened by the discharge of a
shell from the howitzer battery on James'
Island, under the command of Capt. Geo.
S. James, who followed the riddled Palmetto
banner on the bloody battle fields of
Mexico.
3% The sending of this harmful messenger
to Major Anderson was followed by a deafening
explosion, which was caused by the
blowing up of a building that stood in front'
' of a battery.
While the white smoke was melting away j
into the air, another shell, which Lieut. W. I
Hampton Gibbes has the honor of having
fired, pursued its noiseless way toward the
hostile fortification.
The honored missive described its beautiful
carve through the balmy air, and falling
within the hostile fortress, scattered
its deadly contents in all directions. Fort
Moultrie then took up the tale of death,
and in a moment the guns from the redoubtable
Gun Battery on Cumming's Point,
from Captain McCready's battery, from
Capt. James Hamilton's floating battery,
the infilade battery, and other fortifications,
spit forth their wrath at the grim fortress
rising so defiantly out of the sea.
Major Anderson received the shot and
shell in silence. But the deepening twilight
revealed the Stars and Stripes float
ing proudly in the breefce. The batteries;
continued at regular intervals to belch iron
vengeance, and still no answer was returned
by the foe. About an hour after the
booming began, two balls rushed hissing j
through the air, and glanced harmless from
the stuccoed bricks of Fort Moultrie. The
embrasures of the hostile fortress gave forth
no sound again till between six and seven j
o'clock, when, as if wrathful from enforced
delay, from casement and parapet the Uuited
States officer poured a storm of iroD
hail upon Fort Moultrie, Stevens' Iron Bat !
tery and the Floating Battery. The broad |
side was returned with spirit by the gallant;
gunn?rs at these important posts. The!
firing now began in good earnest.
A boat bearing dispatches to General!
Beauregard from Morris' Island, reached
the city about nine o'clock, reported that
all the batteries were working admirably;
that no one was injured, and that the men
were wild with enthusiasm.
A cV? tima off or tKnt V?ov\*\t? name trno
ax ouuiv btiuc uuti biiuu uu^/pjf no nuo
received, the schooner Petrel from Hog
Island Channel, reported that the shot from
SteveDs' Iron Battery had told upon the
walls of Fort Sumter. And also that Fort
Moultrie bad sustained do damage.
About half past Dine o'clock, Capt. R. S.
Parker reported from Sullivan's Island to
Mount Pleasant that everything was in fine
condition at Fort Moultrie, and that the
soldiers had escaped unhurt.
The same dispatch stated that the embrasures
of the Floating Battery were undamaged
by the shock ot the shot, and
though that formidable structure had been!
struck eleven times, the balls had not started
a single bolt. Anderson had concentrated
bis fire upon the Floating Battery, and
the Dalgren Battery, under command of
Lieutenant Hamilton. A number of shells
had dropped in o Fort Sumter, and one
2un eDbarbette had been dismounted.
; ?
The following cheering tidings were
brought to the city by Col. Edmund Yates,
Acting Lieutenant to Dozier, of the Confederate
States Navy, from Fort Johnson
Stevens' Battery and the Floating Battery
o?a Jrtinr* imnAflonf corninn Sfouonc'
ttlG U V l u p tUI^Vi^WUV UVi f *VV< ICVV*VMW ?^w?
tery has made considerable progress iD
breaching the South and Southwest walls
of Fort Sumter. The Northwest wall is
suffering from the well aimed fire of the
Floating Battery, whose shot have dismounted
several of the guns on the parapet, and
made it impossible to use remaining ones.
The Howitzer Battery connected with the
impregnable Gun Battery at Cumming's
Point, is managed with consummate skill
and terrible effect.
Not a single casualty has happened. The
troops are in the best spirits. Two of the
guns at Fort Sumter appear to be disabled
Considerable damage has been done to the
roofs of the officer's quarters.
At one o'clock the following was received
from Morris' Island. Two guns in Stevens'
battery temporarily disabled, Anderson's
fire having injured the doors of the
embrasures. The damage will be repaired
speedily. It is thought that Fort Sumter
f
will be breaohed ia two hours. Three steam
vessels of war were seen off the bar, one of
them supposed to be the Harriet Lane.
Capt. R. S. Parker reached the city from
Fort Moultrie at half-past two o'clock, and
makes the following report: Capt. Parker
visited Fort Moultrie and the infilading
battery near by, and found all well and in
high spirits. He left the mortar battery,
Lieut. Hollinquist, at ten minutes past two.
The soldiers stationed there are giving a
good account of themselves. The floating
battery had been struck eighteen times,
and received no material injury.
The venerable Edmund Ruffin, who, as
soon as it was known a battle was inevitable,
hastened over to Morris' Island and was
elected a member of the Palmetto Guard,
fired the first ann frnm Stevens' Iron Bat
tery. All hoDor to the chivalric Virginian !
May he live many years to wear the fadeless
wreath that honor placed upon his brow
on our glorious Friday.
Another noble son of the Old Dominion,
who rebukingly reminds her of her past
glory, was appointed on General Beauregard's
Staff, on Thursday, bore despatches
to the General in command, from BrigadierGeneral
James Simons, in command of
Morris' Island, during the thickest of the
fight, and in the face of a murderous fire
from Fort Sumter. Col. Roger A. Pryor,
the eloquent young Virginian, in the execution
of that dangerous commission, passed
within speaking distance of the angry and
hostile fortress.
Despite the fierce and concentrated fire
from Fort Sumter, the rival fortification on
Sullivan's Island received but slight damage.
Its Merlons stood unmoved, and are
this morning in as good a condition as they
were before their strength was tested by the
rude shocks of the shot.
The Floating Battery came out of the
I ' *.L .1 . 1 _ * _ i? ! I
iron storm wicnoui losing a piate 01 us iron ,
cover or a splinter of its pine.
A brisk fire was kept up by all the batteries
until about 7 o'clock in the evening,
after which hour the guns boomed at regular
intervals of twenty minutes.
All the batteries on Morris' Island, bearing
on the channel, kept up a steady fire
for some time at the dawn of day. It is
reported they threw their shot into the Harriet
Lane, and that that steamer, having
advanced as far as the renowned Star of the
West Battery, was crippled by a well aimed
shot, after which she deemed it prudent to
give up the daDgerous attempt, and turned '
her sharp bow to the sea. i
Stevens' Iron Battery played a conspic- I
uous and important part in the brilliant, and,
so far as our men are concerned, bloodless
conflict, which has placed the 12th of April, '
1861, among the memorable days. The |
i-M i. i
cauore 01 us guns, us nearness tu run j
Sumter, its perfect impenetrability, the cool- 1
Dess and skill of its gallant gunners, made I
this fortification one of the most formidable I
of Major Anderson's terrible opponents.? ]
The effect of its Dahlgrens and 64-pouoders I
was distinctly visible at an early stage of i
the conflict. Clouds of mortar and brick 1
dust arose from the Southwest wall of the i
fort, as the shot hissed on their errand of '
death. Shot after shot told with terrible
effect on the strong wall, and at about three :
o'clock, Major Anderson ceased to return |
this murderous fire. Iu the course of the I
afternoon the joyful tidings, that a breach <
had been effected in that portion of the for- i
tress, were borne to the city. 1
We dare not close this brief and hurried 1
narrative of the first engagement between I
the U States and the Confederate States, !
without returning thanks to Almighty God i
for the great success that has thus far crowned
our arms, and for the extraordinary pre- I
servation of our soldiers from casualty and i
death. In the fifteen hours of almost in-1
cessant firing, our enemy one of the most
experienced and skiilful of artillerists, no
injury has been sustained by a single one of j
our gallant soldiers. \
The result of the conflict strengthens and j
confirms our faith in the justness of the
cause for whose achievements we have suffered
obloquy, and dared perils of vast magnitude.
At the outset of the struggle we |
invoked the sanction and aid of that God J
whom we serve, and His hand has guided!
and defended us all through the moment-j
ous conflict. His favor was most signally,
we had almost said miraculously, manifested
on this eventful day. We call the roll
of those engaged in the battle, and each
soldier is here to answer to his name. No
tombstone will throw its shadow upon that
bright triumphant day. If so it seemetL
good in the eyes of Him in whose hands
are the issues of life, we fervently pray that
our brave sons may pass unharmed through !
the perils of the day now dawning j
From the Charleston Mercury, Kxtra, 14th instant.
We closed the report of the grand military
diorama in progress in our bay amid the (
clouds and gloom and threatening perils of f
Friday night. The firing abated in the j
early evening, as though for the concentration
of its special energies, commeoccd a
gain at ten o'clock, and amid gusts of rain
and clouds that swept the heavens, the red (
hot shot and lighted shells again streamed ,
from the girt of batteries around and con- |
centrated in fearful import over Fort Sum- \
ter. Of the effects little was visible, of ]
course, and anxious citizens, who from bat- (
tery spire, and housetop had bided the peitings
of the storm, mute spectators of the ,
splendid scene, could only wait the opeuing |
of the coming day for confirmation of the ]
hopes and fears with which the changes in ,
the scene successively inspired them. ,
As dawn approached the firing again abated,
and when the rising sun threw its
flood of light over the sparkling waters from
a cloudless sky, it was but the random shots
from outlying batteries, with scarce an answer
from Fort Sumter, that spectators even
assumed the contest still continued, and that
human feelings was not in harmony with
the grace and glory of the scene. It was
but a little while, however, before the en
ergv of action was restored, and the wort
of destruction still went on, and as our
dreaded efforts were indicated, it was found
that stiil another day of expectation and
uncertainty was before us. But at 8 o'clock
the cry arose from the battery, and rolled
more continuously over the city, "Fort
Sumter is on Fire !" The watchers of
the night before, who had retired for a few
moments, were aroused, occupations were
instantly suspended, and old and young,
either mounted to their points of observation,
or rolled in crowds upon the Battery,
to look upon the last and most imposing
act in this great drama.
The barracks to the South had been three
times set on fire during the bombardment
of the day before, but each time the flames
were immediately extinguished. Subsequently,
however, a red hot shot from Fort
Moultrie, or a shell from elsewhere, fount
a lodgement, where the fact was not appa
rent, and the fire, smouldering for a time
at length broke forth, and fiames and smok<
rose in volumes from the crater of For
Sumter. The wind was blowing from th<
west, driving the smoke across the fort anc
into the embrasures, where the gunneri
were at work, and pouring its volumei
through the port holes ; the firing at For
Sumter appeared to be renewed with vigor
The fire of the fort, long, fierce and rapid
however, was in fact much abated, and al
though at distant invervals a gun was fired
the necessity of preserving their magazine;
and of avoiding the flames, left the tenant
little leisure for resistance. But the firing
from without was continued with redoublec
vigor. Fvery battery poured in its cease
less round of shot and shell. Thcenthu
siasm of success inspired their courage
and gave precision to their action; anc
thus, as in the opening, so in the closing
aopnp nndpp t.Via hpnmincr annliorhf. in viev
? ~ t> ? J ?
of thousands crowded upon the wharves anc
house tops, and amid the booming of ord
nance, and in view of the five immense ship:
sent by the enemy with reinforcements
lyiog idly just out of gun shot on the bar
this first fortress of despotic power fell pros
trate to the cause of Southern Indepen
dence.
At about 9 o'clock the flames appeared t<
be abating, and it was apprehended that n<
irreparable injury had been sustained ; bu
near 10 o'clock a column of white smok<
rose high above the battlements, with ar
explosion which was felt upon the wharves
and with the assurance that if the maga
zines were not exploded, their temporary
provisions were exposed to the element still
raging. Soon after the barracks to the easl
and west were in flames, the smoke rose ir
redoubled volume from the whole circle ol
the fort, and rolling from the embrasures,
it seemed scarcely possible that life could
be sustained. Soon after another column
of smoke arose as fearful as the first. The
guos had long been completely sileDced,
and the option left to the tenants of the
fortress seemed to be whether they would
perish or surrender.
At a quarter to one o'clock, the staff from
which the flag still waved was shot away,
and it was long in doubt whether, if there
were the purpose, there was the ability tc
re-erect it. But at the expiration of about
twenty minutes it again appeared upon the
eastern rampart, and announced that resistance
was not ended. In the meantime,
however, a small boat started from the city
wharf, bearing Colonels Lee, Manning,
Pryor and Miles, Aids to Gen. Beauregard,
with offers of assistance, if perchance the
garrison should be unable to escape the
Barnes. As they approached the fort the
Bag appeared, and, as the firiDg from our
batteries was unabated, they started to return.
and had Droeressed DerhaDS the lareer
' i~ o r " r ?-?
portion of the way when a shout arose from
the whole circle of spectators on the islands
rud the main land, announcing that the
white flag of truce was waving from the
ramparts An instant after a small boat
was seen to shoot out from Cumming's
Point, io the direction of the fort, in which
stood an officer with a white flag upon the
point of his sword. The officer proved to
be Col. Wigfall, aid to the Commanding
Greneral, who entering through a port hole,
demanded the surrender. Major Anderson
replied, that "they were still firing on him."
"Then take your flag down," said Col. Wigfall
; "they will continue to fire upon you
so long as that is up." And further intercourse,
resulted in a surrcuder of the fort.
In the meantime the boats with other Aids
from Charleston had returned, and, receiving
Col Wigfall they came over to the city )
ind thus was consummated the closing act
in the military drama.
In the afternoon Cols. Chesnut and Manning,
with other officers and the Chief of
the Fire Department and the Palmetto Fire
Company, went down to Fort Sumter. We
have not now the time to make a detailed
description of the fort. Tt is enough to
state at present that the walls are un-injurjd.
Upon one of the faces, (to the west,)
exposed to the water battery, it hod received
eighty shots; the other, equally exposed
:o this battery and to Fort Moultrie, had
received more. Many of the doors to the
embrasures had been driven in, but the
permanent injury was slight; the balls pene.
:rated but about 8 to 10 inches, removing
ibout half a bushel of material. The coraice
of the parapet in many places were
knocked off, but all the parapet guns dismounted
had been restored to their positions,
?id their carriages seemed then but little
injured by the flames. The wall was most
disfigured by the balling from Cumming's
Point, but then there was little progress to
i breach. Some of the casemate guns were
dismounted, and the devastation in the fort
svas great; the gunners were covered with
fragments of shells. The barracks were
swept entirely away, and there was nothing
eft but a loose mass of brick and mortar.
The Bombardment of Port Sumter.
April 13,1861.?Throughout the whole
yf Friday night the various mortar batteries
continued their iron rain upon Fort Sumter.
At an early hour on Saturday morning
the gun batteries, which had been silent
during the darkness of the night, recpened
their fire. About seven o'clock
Fort Sumter vigorously returned theii
compliments. The Curaming's Point Bat
teries were uninjured by any shots which
had been fired against them, had not effected
anything like a breach, although battering
considerably and to the depth of a
foot the pancoupee on the southeast corner.
Major Anderson devoted his attention to
the Sullivan's Island batteries, Fort Moultrie
and the Floating Battery. Forty
rounds of hot shot were poured into b?m
by a rapid and heavy cannonade from the
sea-girt fortress, riddling the quarters. In
the emphatic language of an officer, "the
quarters were knocked to h?1, but nobodj
hurt." During the morning thirty or forty
successive shots, from Sumter, were fired
at the Dahlgreen Battery, occasioning sc
much danger to the men at the guo thai
Capt. Hamilton temporarily removed them.
The Floating Battery, commanded by Lieu
tenants Yates and Ilarleston, in its turn
received devoted attention. Twelve indentions
are visible; one ball going through
the edge of the roofs, lodged in the sapd
bags, producing a slight contusion on the
head of a private. The four-gun battery,
commanded by Lieut Valentine, and Capt.
Hallonquist's very effective mortar battery,
were earnestly attended to. We learn
that Capt Hallonquist was covered with
dirt spattered upoD him by Anderson's
fire; no damage, however, was done to a
single man, officer or private, anywhere,
and all performed their duties with the
same spirit and alacrity. The Mortar Bat
1 teriea ai; Fort Johnson, ander commandof
Captain James and Lieateaant Gibbts,
, worked steadily and efficiently, attractiig
2 an occasional shot from their frowning ait
tagonist.
2 At ten minutes after 8 a. m. a thick
1 smoke was seen issuing from the southern
3 portion of Fort Sumter's barracks; tie
3 flames broke out visible to the eye. At
t times the fire appeared to be aimost extii.
guished, and then again would rise. Whilit
, it was in progress, three explosions occurred
- from the fall of shells among the serviee
, magazines or combustibles of the fort. Tie
3 concentrated fire of all the batteries wis
3 steadily kept up, the progress of the flamss
r continued, and all the quarters were invd1
ved in conflagration ; a dense cloud ofbla?k
- smoke issued.
The fire from Fort Sumter became irreg,
ularand weak; towards midday it almost
i ?j c?;n fl?? a -.A
1 cubiicjjr ucaocu. otiu nic "a5 ucv*, aiu
? shot and shell fell regularly and steadily
j upon the beleagured fortress.
1 At midday, on Friday, during the heat
of the engagement, Maj. Anderson made a
3 signal of distress to the men-of-war lying
, off at our bar, and on Saturday again, while
, under fire from all the batteries, and tronb
led with the heat and smoke of the burning
- barracks, again lowered the flag of the U.
States, as a signal for assistance to his na)
val allies; the ships were only from three
) to five miles off, the day was bright and
t clear, the water smooth. But discretion
3 was the better part of valor. The Northi
em officers in command, having been so
, carefully selected, for their fidelity to their
- section and superior trustworthiness in a
r hostile crusade against the South, were unI
willing to incur the risk of running their
t ships into the harbor, and engaging our
i batteries. They thought it prudent not to
f attempt reinforcements in launches The
, soldiers of Abolitionism were left to their
1 fate, without an attempt to relieve their
i perilous condition. Their idle allies had
* the pleasure of seeing them strike their
, colors to the Confederate States. They are
s commendable for their gallantry, and we
1 trust that these brave mariners will receive
a suitable commendation from their no less
i gallant .^ckson the 2d and his magnanimous
Cabinet.
At a quarter to 1 o'clock the flag of the
i United States on Fort Sumter went down
; with its staff. For some twenty minutes
s ne flag appeared above the fort. Cob L
T. Wigfall, accompanied by private H.
Gourditi Young, of the Palmetto Guard,
got into a small boat pulled by negroes.?
They approached it from Morris' Island,
Col. Wigfall holding up bis sword with a
i white handkerchief tied upon it. Before
i they reached the fort, however, the United
! States flag, accompanied by a white flag,
was held up on the rampart, which Col.
Wigfall did not see. The Sullivan's Is
land batteries not perceiving the boat, continued
their fire upon the United States
i flag. The boat approached the wharf.?
Col. Wigfall, having entered the fort, call
ed for Major Anderson, and stated that he
was Aid-de-Camp to General Beauregard
i ?that seeing bis distress and the impossibility
of holding the post, and that, as no
flag was flying, he had come to olaim a suri
render, in the name of his chief. He replied
to the inquiry what terms would be
granted, by stating that Maj. Anderson
could not make his own terms, but that
General Beauregard, a soldier and a gentleman,
knew how to treat a gallant enemy.
Major Anderson must leave the details of
the surrender to General Beauregard.?
Major Anderson then agreed to surrender
to General Beauregard, in the name of the
Confederate States, and at one o'clock and
five minutes, struck the United States flag,
; which had been standing in company with
the white flag. The Sullivan's Island batteries
ceased firing, and Col. Wigfall star'
ted to report to Gen. Beauregard.
Soon after the United States flag disap
! peared, three Aids-de-Carap had been dispatched
from Headquarters; but Col. Wig-!
i fall had anticipated Capt. Lee, and Cols.
Miles and Pryor.
When the report was made of what had
occurred, Major Jones, the Chief of Gen.
Beauregard's staff, accompanied by Colonel
Charles Alston, was sent with authority to
arrange the terms given. These were to
i the following effect:
All proper facilities will be afforded for
the reraoval of Major Anderson and command,
together with company arms and
property, and all private property.
The flag which he has upheld so long,
and with so much fortitude, under the most
trying circumstances, may be saluted on
taking lit down.
Major Anderson is allowed to defceniine
the preoise time of yielding up the post,
and is permitted to go by sea or land, according
to his election.
At seven Major Jones returned to Fort
Sumter, and the final arrangements and
terms were definitely fixed.
We learn that Fort Sumter is uninjured
in its capacity for defence, no breach being
made in the walls, but that the quarters
are completely destroyed, notwithstanding
the Palmetto Fire Company was dispatched
to put out the fire. I he quarters on Friday
caught three times, and were extinguished
by the soldiers; on Saturday it was
impossible. At one time the smoke within
the fort was so distressing that the men in the
casemates were constrained to plaoe their
mouths to the floor for breathing. Maj. Anderson
has expressed admiration and surprise
at the perfection of practioe by our batteries.
He was almost entirely prevented, by this
cause, from usintr his barbette euns. But
i for the paucity of his force, and their consequent;
ability to retire within the casemates,
destruction of life must have been
frightful. Thus protected, they esoaped
: with only five wounded?none killed. We
i understand four casemate and five barbette
! guns have been dismounted by our guns.?
We also learn that Major Anderson and
Lieut. Davis have expressed their opinion
1 that, had they been allowed to use their
> sixty-four pounders in barbette, bearing op;
on the Iron Battery, they might have des
troyed it. The Accurate firieg of the rifle
cannoc was very aunoying, and materially
i assisted in the defence of Morris' Island.
The battle of Fort Sumter is a marveli
lous affair in the bloodlessness of ao engageI
raent of thirty-six hours and a half. It is
! surely the merciful finger of God. But to no
human agencies engaged in the business is
greater praise due than to those who conceived
and planned our defences, and who
have erected them in so faithful and substantial
a manner. To these causes?the
admirable efficiency of our defensive preparations,
and the handsome manner in
which the guns have been used to annoy
and cripple the enemy?is the wonderful,
unprecedented result due.
We have not, and do not pretend to d<
justice to the officers and men engaged ii
the combat. We feel our incompetence ti
do it?a task of necessary discrimination
delicacy and difficulty. Many, we know
are worthy of notice, and will receive it a
the proper hands, whom we, through ou
ignorance, have not named in our very im
perfect notes. They, as well as the pub
lie, must excuse such unintentional short
comings.
At 2* o'clock, p. m., Anderson was per
: mitted to pay his parting salute to the Uni
ted States flag before hauling it down, wi
trust forever, from the ramparts of the nov
famous Fort Sumter. The Confederate flaj
now floats in its place.
Major Anderson will go to New York ii
the steamer Isabel. His command join;
the fleet.
Incidents in Charleston.
Speaking of the firing from Fort Moul
trie, the Mercury says :
"Many of the shells were dropped inti
tnat tort, and Lieutenant .Jonn i>litcbel
the worthy son of that patriot sire, who hai
so nobly vindicated the cause of the South
has the honor of dismounting two of it
parapet guns by a single shot from one o
the Columbiads, which at the time he ha(
the office of directing.
Two members of the Palmetto Guan
paid fifty dollars in cash for a boat to carr
them to Morris Island to join their compa
ny.
The Battery, the wharves and shipping
in the harbor, and every steeple and cupoli
in the city, were crowded with anxioui
spectators of the great drama. Never be
fore had suoh crowds of ladies without a:
tendants visited our thoroughfares.
Business was entirely suspended. Th<
stores on King street, Meeting street anc
East Bay were all closed.
Dr. Salters, the ''Jasper" corresponded
of tbe New York Times, was arrested am
locked up in the guard house, where he ye
remains.
One of our special reporters to For
Moultrie brought a trophy of the waii
the shape of a thirty-two pound ball, whicl
Anderson had fired at Fort Moultrie, anc
which lodged in the sand-bags. It may b<
seen at our office.
Another of our reporters has calculatec
the number of pounds of balls fired by botl
sides up to 7 o'clock, the hour at whicl
Fort Sumter ceased firing. He gives as i
total 75,000 pounds, or over thirty-six torn
of iron.
An explosion on saluting the fiag by thi
- I . il ./ .1 . . . J
garrisou causea toe ueatn 01 tnree men ant
wounded four others. It is a remarkable
providence, that the last salute of the flaj
of our oppressors should have been so ter
ribly visited by loss of life, on their side
after a bloodless battle !
Major Anderson and his command march
ed out of Fort Sumter to the tnne of "Yan
kee Doodle." They were dressed in ful
uniform and carried their arms. Majoi
Anderson looked care worn and deeply des
pondent, produced no doubt, among othei
circumstances, by the sad accident whicl
happened whilst saluting his dag.
We have been furnished with the namei
of the men wounded by the premature dis
charge of the cannon in firing the salute
Daniel Howe, killed almost instantly, anc
buried yesterday, the service being perform
ed by the Rev. Mr. Yates; Edward Galway
mortally wounded, and carried to the hos
pital; James Hays, George Fielding, Johr
Irwin, George Pritchard, severely wounded
The above are all of Company E, Firsi
Regiment United States Artillery.
Fort Sumterfell aftera gallant resistance
of 36 hours, and the American flag was
yielded to the glorious Palmetto of For
Moultrie and her aids, as did the British it
the days of '76.
One hundred and fifty-five shots fryt
Fort Sumter were fired at the Floating Bat
tery on the 13th, of which 11 only strucl
?on the 14th, 52 were fired, and only 5
struck; one passed through the roof and fel
on the fioor, the others that struck lodger
in the palmetto logs and are visible out
side. The success of the battery is ven
satisfactory. The battery of Stevens is e
qually so, and balls striking it shivered ant
were thrown off.
A gun, fired by W. C. Preston, of Colum
bia, son of Hon. J. S. Preston, prostrater
the fiag-staff and laid low the stars anc
stripes.
The Courier stated that after tbS^signa
shell was fired by Capt. James, the firs
shot made upon Sumter was a shell fired bi
Lieutenant Wade Hampt.m Gibbes, whicl
reached its destination and exploded in th<
fort?so the first shot, and that which pros
trated the flag, were by two Columbia boys
It is somewhat remarkable, that the first
army officer from South Carolina who re
signed should have fired the first shot intc
the fortress.
The flag of the Confederate States sine
the Palmetto were raised on Eort Sumtei
simultaneously, the former by Col. Jones
chief of Gen. Beauregard's Staff, and Col
Ferguson. The flag of the Confederate
States was manufactured in this city. Ii
was the intention to have made use of the
flag that was first hoisted on the oapitol ai
Montgomery, but unfortunately it had beet
mislaid. The flagstaff's were about fifteer
feet high, and were lashed to two of th<
big guns by Commodore Ilartstene.
The funeral of the private named Howe
who was killed by the explosion, was at
tended by a portion of the Palmetto Guard
Capt. Cuthbert, and portions of Company
B, Capt. Hallonquist, and Capt. Hamilton's
company. Mr. Howe wa9 burried with th(
honors of war.
Four hundred and seven shots were fired
from the Floating Battery, and one hundred
from the Dahlgren Battery. Both are un
der the command of Capt. J. R. Hamilton
Fort Sumter is now garrisoned by ths
detachment of Company B, under Captaic
Hallonquist, and a portion of the Palmettc
Guard, Capt. Cuthbert. The command has
been given to Col. Ripley, who won brighl
laurels at Fort Moultrie, in the recent en
gagement.
We asked a soldier on the wharf which
battery bad done the most serious damage tc
the walls, and he pointed to deep holes in
the walls, which seemed to be in process ol
being drilled through, and said, "the gun
that fired them square shot (the rifled cannon)
had been the most effective towards
making a breech"?''the fellow that fired
that goon is a rigilur boy?he is a rale dim
uaycrat." Upon inqu^r, we learned that
Capt. Thomas, of the Citadel, had charge
of that gun. Its power, precision and frequency
of fire caused Major Anderson and
his officers to suppose there must have been
several, and they complimented it highly.
JOT* North Carolina has taken her forts.
II?MM?BMW
3 Proclamation by Abe Lincoln.
j Washington, April 14.?By the Presi3
dent of the United States?a Proclama,
tion.?Whereas, the laws of the United
, States have been for some time past, and
t now are, opposed, and the execution thereof
r obstructed, in the States of South Carolina,
. Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana,
- and Texas, by combinations too powerful to
- be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial
proceedings, or by the powers vested in
. the marshals by law : Now, therefore, I,
. Abraham Lincoln, President of the United
2 States, in virtue of the power in me vested
7 by the Constitution and the laws, have
r thought fit to call forth, and hereby do call
forth, the militia of the several States of
3 the Union, to the aggregate number of
s seventy five thousand men, in order to suppress
said combinations, and to cause the
laws to be duly executed.
The details for this object will be imme
diately communicated to the State authorities
by the War Department. I appeal to
3 all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate and aid
, this effort to maintain the honor, the integris
ty and existence of our national Union,
j and the perpetuity of popular government,
b and to redress wrongs already long enough
f endured. I deem it proper to say that the
i first service assigned to the forces hereby
called forth will probably be to repossess
1 the forts, places and property which have
f been seized from the Union; and in that
- event, the utmost care will be observed, consistently
with the objects aforesaid, to avoid
; any devastation and destruction of, or ini
terference with property, or any disturbance
8 of peaceful citizens in any part of the coun
it y. And I hereby command the persons
(composing the combinations aforesaid to
aibpereeand retire peaceably to their respec3
tive abodes within twenty days from this
1 date!
Deeming that the preseDt condition of
t public affairs presents an extraordinary oo1
casion, I do hereby, in virtue of the power
t in me vested by the Constitution, convene
both Houses of Congress. Senators and
t Representatives are therefore summoned to
i assemble at their respective Chambers, at
J twelve o'clock, noon, on Thursday, the
1 fourth day of July next, then and there to
3 consider and determine such measures as in
their wisdom the public safety and interest
1 may seem todemaod.
i In witness whereof I have hereunto set my
i hand, and caused the seal of the United
i States to be affixed to. Done at thfe City
9 of Washington, this 15th day cf April,
in the year of our Lord one thousand
3 eight hundred and sixty-one, and of the
J Independence of the United States of
3 America the eishty-fifth.
5 ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
* By the President:
, W. H. Seward, Secretary of State.
: ifo fJurfmE? iihuptim
r YORKVILLE, S. C.
THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL 18, 1861.
r 1
(ft^-Mr. John R. Allen, Post Master at Chester, Is our
authorized agent; and fully empowered to receive money
for this office, and give receipts for the same.
* 0Q- In cases where subscribers do not take the Enquirer
* from the post-office, Post-Masters are requested to noilfyoa
; Immediately.
1 OUREDITOB.
Mr. East, the Editor-in-Chief, being a
' Volunteer in the "Jasper Light Infantry,"
left with his ComDanv on Saturdav mom
? *- * c
ing last. It is bis purpose to correspond
with the paper as frequently as circumstances
will permit, and to keep our readers
fully posted as to the movements of our
own Companies. We have the promise also,
of letters from members of the other
Companies.
^ OUR VOLUNTEERS.
Co!. Jenkins, of the 5th Regiment of
Volunteers, composing the districts of York,
Union and Spartanburg, received orders on
Thursday evening last, for his regiment to
rendevous in Columbia forthwith.
The "Jasper Light Infantry," (^atain
Seabrookj the "Catawba Light Infantry,"
Capt. R. H. Glenn; and a portion of the
"King's Mountain Guards," Captain Andrew
Jackson, left Yorkville on the Saturday
morning train. The remainder of the
King's Mountain Guards, numbering fifty
two men, leftfor Columbia, on Sunday morning
by a special train. The lato hour at
which they reoeived the orders prevented
them from joining their Company sooner.
The "Wbyte Guards," Capt, A. E.
Hutchinson, from Rock Hill, joined the
/- /**? . n , y
i other Companies at cnester on oaturaay
; morning. We have been promised a cor
rect roll of each Company, which we will
. publish at an early day.
t We learn that the adjourning Counties
of North Carolina, were well represented in
) some of our companies.
{ EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
r Camp Calhoun, Colombia, S. C., 1
, Saturday Night, April 13, 1861. J
Dear Enquirer : If the first days expe;
rience be any criterion, we can pronounce
t the volunteer service, in spi e of its hard^
j ships, anything but disagreeable. Our
t whole trip to-day from Yorkville to Columi
bia, was a continued ovation. At every
i stopping-place, crowds of men, women and
; children, were assembled to bid the fifth
Regiment "God speed" in the cause of the
, South; and almost every house had its be
. vy of ladies aDd citizens to greet us with
, waving handkerchiefs. Especially did hearj
ty-souled Chester, gallant Wii.nsboro,' and
j queenly Columbia, nobly welcome our band
> to a place in the picture.
Nothing could show more completely than
1 these indications, the ardor and unity of the
| people at this time, unless it be the enthu.
siasm with which all our "Mountain boys"
, returned these greetings. The grief at parj
ting soon subsided; and in its place, as the
i facts and rumors of the brilliant siege of
> Fort Sumter, one by one, came to ear, evj
ery countenance lit up with patriotic pride
t and joy; multitudes of voices shouted in
. triumph, and only one regret was felt?
that the fifth Regiment was not there to
i share in the dangers and glory of the acbiev,
ment. ^
i On arriving at the Charlotte Depot of this !
f oity, the companies fell in and took up the '
i line of march to the depot of the Greenville i
. and Columbia ft. ft. to meet tneir comrades i
i from Spartanburg and Union; after whioh
[ they were quartered on the Fair Grounds of !
the Agricultural Society, whioh you per- I
: ceive our gallant Colonel has appropriately I
i named "Camp Calhoun," in honor of the |
statesman of statesmen, and the father of .
| the second Revolution for American liberty. J
i The companies assembled and were as- <
signed their respective parade-grounds, at <
"retreat beat," which is always at sunset, t
We had some pleasing thoughts, as we t
gazed upon those thousand men, in the a
mellow light of the calm sky, and at the 1
hallowed hour of prayer, peace and love.? t
For we felt within us, that there was no 1
discord between the sacred ideas of the i
hour and the no less sacred purpose of our f
war?all that is good in prayer, and peace, a
and love, having called us here. The new I
moon smiled upon us?the new moon of
the sunny shjwered April?and it seemed c
a happy coincidence. We iavoluntarily ?
raised our eyes to its serene crescent, and
wafted a prayer to "the God of Battles"
for our cause and all our men.
It is a pleasing and grateful privilege to
say that Mr. John A. Witherepoon, of our s
town, now in the Theological Seminary
here, has Dresented 100 Testaments to the I
/ r
"Jasper Light Infantry."
The volunteers are all in fine spirits this
evening, though most of us are a little
weary. "With my knapsack on my back
and my rifle on my shoulder" sounds romantic
enough in print; but we confess our
back does'nt feel very romantic.
Our Corporal.
Monday Morning, April 15.?We leave
this morning at 5 o'clock, for Charleston.
Yesterday morning at 11 o'clock, Rev. Wm.
Martin, President of the Columbia Female
College, preached to the regiment; and
Rev. Mr. Gamewell, the Presiding Elder of
the Richland Conference, at three in the
afternoon.
A part of Col. Williams' Regiment, belonging
to our Brigade, came down from
Laurens and Newberry on yesterday evening,
and took quarters here; but are expected
in Charleston as soon as the other companies
can reach this place.
FeeliDg runs high, and every body is eager
to reach the "hospitable city," to get
in roodinaoo onii nioa T.innnln'g mimAnn f.hft !
,"v"g ?b *?
right kind of a reception, if they come to '
"retake the Fort." Oua Corporal. !
Camp Calhoun, 1
Charleston, Tuesday, April 16. j J
The fifth Regiment arrived here yesterday
evening, and found the city wild with <
excitement from a flying report that the '
enemy had landed 3000 men, and that a 1
brisk engagement was taking place in the '
harbor. Cannon firing was heard which 1
was confirmatory of the report. Our regi- f
ment was hurried from the South Carolina ]
Railroad to the United States Arsenal to '
procure arms, in the confident expectation 1
of marching at once to the scene of action, <
to grapple first with the foe in deadly con- <
flict during the dark and stormy hours of the
night. The rumor was soon contradio- ?
ted however; and, after arms were distribu- 1
ted to several companies, the regiment, <
drenched with rain to the skin, returned to 1
the grounds of the race course and took 1
quarters about 10 o'clook at night.
The gallant behaviour of our men under '
the apparent certainty of their going into 1
battle at once, and for the first time, in the <
night and rain, is an honor to the 5th Reg- '
iment and to the up-country. Not a man '
flinched, though all were weary with loss of 1
sleep, 'hurrying to and fro,' and handling 1
an excessive amount of heavy baggage. In 1
fact, a great many were even anxious to go 1
.to one of the Islands, and icpel the insolent
invader. All were more than willing.
The cannon-firing is oxplainod in-three '
ways. First, it is said to be a salute to !
Commodore Stringham, on arriving to take 1
charge of the United States fleet. Second- '
ly, it is accounted for thus: A British ves- '
sel approached the harbor, but was denied '
entrance; a boat w8s sent to the city after 1
the British consul, who went out and pro- '
! tested against the quasi-blocbade; the ves- '
sel was admitted, and a salute was given to '
the British flag and consul. This, if so, J
Amounts to the very important fact that *
England will pay no attention whatever to ^
an inefficient blockade, if to any at all.? '
Thirdly, tho British vessel approached the 1
fleet to know if the port was in a state of 1
blockade; the reply was that it icas not; '
and the firing was a salute at the transfer 1
of troops from the Isabel to the Baltic.?
To show how rapidiy rumors succeed each
other, and how hard it is to get at the truth, '
all three of these accounts have come to 1
"Camp Calhoun" since we sat down a few 1
minutes ago to this writing.
The regiment now numbers over twelve- (
hundred men. Good health, better order
and the best spirits continue to prevail.? 1
We are glad to say just here, that from this *
evening Mr. John A. Witherspoon will ^
conduct morning and evening prayer for
the Jasper Light Infantry.
Capt. Seabrook, having been informed ^
by Mr. Cooper Kuykendal, that a number ^
of boxes were placed in his charge for the ^
Jasper Light Infantry, thongh it was im- s
possible for him to bring them; instructs {
us to say to the ladies of Yorkville that 1
their kindness is gratefully received, and
keeping the flame of ardor alive in the J
breasts of the Jaspers, will prepare them ?
to "do or die" in the hour of battle. '
Sitting on a valise, with our knapsack for
a writing-desk, we are with good cheer to 1
you Our Corporal. 1
MERE-MENTION. ' ' t
A dispatch to the Charleston Courier, an- i
nounoes the death in Columbia, on the 7tb <
instant, of Thomas Frean. Mr. Frean has
been loog known as an officer of the Trea- J
sury Department in Columbia. The (
Charleston Courier says there is a good a
prospect for the establishment of an axe t
manufactory in that City. The work for t
an India rubtferlfactory is already iu pro
gress. We observe an advertisement in (
the Mercury, for a "fast and strong steam- f
er, suitable to be converted into a privateer."
Five hundred thousand dollars
of stock having been subscribed to the
Southern Express Company, the stockhold ii
era held their first meeting in Richmond on p
the 4th instant, and fully organized by the U
election of Michael G-. Harmon, of Staun- A
ton, Va., as President. A capital definition
of good farming was given by a Mr. g
Kane, at an agricultural discussion in Eng- o
land. He said he fed bis land before it tl
was hungry; rested it before it was weary,
and weeded it before it was foul. It is ti
alleged that ex-President Buchanan saved si
880,000 from his salary as President. ei
The Union men of Nashville are talking of s)
running John Bell for Congress. It is B
stated that the Wide Awake Battalion at 01
Wilkesbarre, Pa., are so indignant that
Lincoln does not "enforce the laws," that p]
they met one night last week and made a c<
bonfire of their caps and uniforms in the ?
public square. The Liverpool (Eng.) Qi
Mercuru savs: It is unfortunate for the R
North that the advocacy of sound economi- B
jal principles should be almost exclusively tt
jonfined to slave owners and their sympa- tt
;hizers, and that Jefferson Davis should
alk like a statesman and a man of sense on lii
i subject oq which Mr. Lincoln discourses i
ike aq Essex squire of the Coro law aod J
op boot epoch. The population of New i
fork State, by the official census, is 3,837,- ?1
>42; of the wards of New York city, 805,- ?
157. There is a population in the piisons fj
tod alms houses of about 8,000 more, ma- 1
;ing the population of the oity 813,668. J
Mr. Lincoln has appointed thirty en
loners of the infamous Helper Booh to im- 1
?ortant offices. How conciliatory his policy ! ' &
For the Yorkvllle Enquirer. u
BETHEL PBESBYTEBY, I
' Having met on the 5th instant, closed its
essions at Cedar Shoal Church, on the 8tb.
Rev. A. A. James, by request of the ' V
Moderator, Rev. J. H. Saye, who has |I
iharge of this church, preached the open- \
ng sermon from Matthew xx: 6. The # &
>ody was organized by the choice of Rev. |
r \f tX A rlnmn flfl/l 17OW T i I
f. iu. XX* xiuaiiioj iiAuuwiuwi j uuu aw.t * u
3. Harris, Temporary Clerk. . / ,
Fourteen Ministers and seventeen Elders (
vere in attendance. The proceedings were
nterspersed with preaching. ' On 8abbath
he Lord's Supper was administered.
Rev. J. M. H. Adams preached a ser- 1 t
non upon the subject previously assigned /
lira, vis: "The duty of Christian parents r ^
n dedicating their sons to the Gospel Min- *
stry." With interested and fixed attention,
the congregation heard the preacher
tbly exhibit the duty, spirit and results of
;bis dedication, an example cf which was
found in 1 Sam. 1:28. Such a presentation
of an all important subject, cannot fail
to yield most cheering Tesults. The doctrinal
sermon was delivered by Rev. A. A.
James, upon a definite atonement. The j
lucid exposition, earnest manner and thrilling
appeals in favor of this dootrine, will ~
long be remembered by the large crowd in
attendance Rev. S. L. Watson is to preach
in the Fall, upon election, and Rev. J. H. ,
Saye, next Spring, upon secularizing the
Ministry
The Domestio Missionary Committee sub* '
mitted an extended report of operations.
Besides assuming to supplement the salaries
)f two of our ministers, amounting,to a
hundred and seventy-five dollars; it was
reported that seven hundred and fifty dollars
more will be required to carry out the
plans projected for the ensuing year. Besides
the vacant churches, three missionary
points are to be occupied by missionaries
If they can be procured, bnt until then, by (
;he Pastors and supplies of our ohnrches,
;ach of whom is liable to give four days in
;be year, at the discretion of Presbytery.
All funds for this cause are to be sent to .,
Too. L. Harris, Chester, S. C., and none
ire to be forwarded to the Board at Phila- |
lelphia, Pa., until onr home wants are all I
net. The work of co!portage has been ar- |
rested by the refusal of the P. B. P. at 1
Philadelphia, Pa., to commission or supply
with Books, the agent selected by the Comnittee.
This refusal was in consequence
cf the alleged pecuniary embarrassment of
the Board. The reports from the churches
indicated that in some respects the progress
cf religion has been apparent, but in others
there is but little visible advancement. The
earnestness with which the five vacant
churches are calliog for preaching, the ,
hopeful prospect that four of them have of
being supplied at an early day, the addition
r>f two hnndrod m?jnbiJaU?Lthfi fihnrchftfi?
ill of whom reported accessions varying f
from two to thirty-five?all show that the '
cause of piety is active and onward. The
contributions to causes of Benevolence are
commendably large, considering the mone;ary
stringency and troubled state of the
country. During the year, our churches
cave given to different objects as follows:
;o Domestic Missions, 8700; to Foreign
Missions, 87*?0; to Education, 8500; to
Church Extension, 8400; to Publication, i
$45 ; Preshyterial assessment, 8225 ; to
Ministerial support, 88,000; to Miscellanejus
objects 812,500; making a total of
aaore than 823,000. We have under our 1
care seven candidates for the Gospel Minis- < I
irv, viz: J. M. P. Otte. J. G. Porter, R. 1
L. Douglass, Jno. F. Watson, John A. .
Witherspoon, and G. R. Braokett?the
last two of whom were reoeived by examination
at this meeting, and all of whom are
now in the Theologioal Seminary at Columbia
j with Charles M. Richards, who is in
the University of Virginia.
The following appointments were made,
;. (/., Rev. A. A. James, Rev. J. E. White,
md &1. P. Crawford, Esq., Trustees in
Davidson College, for four years.
Rev. S L. Watson, Rev. J. M. H.
kdams, and J. H. Adams, Esq., and S.
Etufus Moore, Esq., Trustees in Yorkville
Female College, for three years. Ministers.
Banks, Craig, Hall, Harris, Saye and Wation,
with Elders, Dr. L. Z. Williamson, '
tnd Maj. J. G. Lowry, to attend examination
at Yorkville Female College.
Rev. W. W. Banks, Rev. J. M. H.
\dams, and Rev. J. E. White, with Dr. ^
J. B. Gaston, to attend examination in
theological Seminary at Columbia.
Presbytery, besides again commending
he Institution at Yorkville to all lovers of
Female Education and sound religious in- <
itruotion, authorized the Board of Trustees
:o adopt all such additional measures as: ?
say be prudent and practicable, and may
johance its efficiency.
Rev. Jno. S. Harris and Robt. S. Hope,
Esq., were appointed Commissioners to the ^
Jcneral Assembly, and Rev D. Harrison,
ind Wm. P. Thomasson, Esq., their altertates.
Rev. C. R. Smith was dismissed
o a Presbytery in Arkansas. <
Presbytery adjourned to meet at Conccrd
Jhurch, in J?'airH;lG instnct, on u riday beore
the 1st Sabbath in October next. *
UNUS EORUM.
Lincoln's Programme.?The Wasfrogton
correspondent of the New Yc*k Exrcss,
who speaks with confidence, thus
lys down the views and intentions of the ^Kj
idministration : ^9
"The programme, as I now proceed to
ive it here, you may strictly rely upon?aft
ther rumors, reports, statements, etc., to
le contrary notwithstanding.
"As heretofore stated, the Administrate
have, after much deliberation and coniltation,
resolved to evacuate all the Southrn
forta?but only after blood has been
ied?enough, that is to say, to cause the
lorder States to secede and make common ^
lose with the Montgomery Confederacy.
"When these results shall be accomlished,
the further programme is, to reagnize,
by treaty, the independence of the ,
'outh. That recognition cannot take place
ow, without sacrificing the power of the;
epublican party, it is argued by Chase:, '
lair and the President himself; and hence 1
le Union is to be given up in order to save
te party. t H
"The ultimate result of this desperate
ae of policy thus initiated, the calculation
'