SURRENDER OF FORT SUMTER DEMANDED. ton, after sending a defiant missive to the secretary of state: "It is proper, however, to advise you," they said in their dispatch to Mr. Seward, "that it were well to dismiss the hopes you seem to entertain, that, by any of the modes indicated, the people of the Confederate States will ever be brought to submit to the authority of the Government of the United States. You are dealing with delusions, too, when you seek to separate our people from our Government, and to characterize the deliberate, sovereign act of the people as a 'perversion of a temporary and partisan excitement.' If you cherish these dreams, you will be awakened from them, and find them as unreal and unsubstantial as others in which you have recently indulged. The undersigned would omit the performance of an obvious duty were they to fail to make known to the Government of the United States, that the people of the Confederate States have declared their independence with a full knowledge of all the responsibilties of that act, and with as firm a determination to maintain it by all the means with which nature has endowed them, as that which sustained their fathers when they threw off the authority of the British crown." As soon as it was suspected at Charleston that there was an intention on the part of the Federal authorities to make an effort to sustain Major Anderson and his garrison, all communication between the people and the fort was at once stopped. Upon the arrival of the Federal messenger, Beauregard 135 announced the fact by telegraph to the secretary of war of the Confederate States, Larry P. Walker. "An authorized messenger from President Lincoln just informed GoverApril nor Pickens and myself," wrote 8. Beauregard, "that provisions will be sent to Fort Sumter peaceably, or otherwise by force." To this the secretary answered: "If you have no doubt of the authorized character of the agent who April communicated to you the intention 10. of the Washington Government, to supply Fort Sumter by force, you will at once demand its evacuation, and if this is refused, proceed in such a manner as you may determine to reduce it. Answer." Beauregard briefly responded: April "The demand will be made at 10. twelve o'clock." The secretary, in his impatience, again replied: "Unless there are especial reasons connected with your own condition, it is considered proper that you should make the demand at an early hour." "The reasons are special for twelve o'clock," was the positive response April 10. of the General. Accordingly Beauregard made his demand on the 11th of April, which led to the following correspondence: "HEADQUARTERS, PROVISIONAL ARMY, C.S. A. CHARLESTON, S. C., April 11, 1861-2 P.M. S "SIR: The Government of the Confederate States has hitherto forborne from any hostile demonstration against Fort Sumter, in the hope that the Gov ernment of the United States, with a view to the amicable adjustment of all questions between the two governments, and to avert the calamities of war, would voluntarily evacuate it. There was reason at one time to believe that such would be the course pursued by the Government of the United States; and under that impression, my Government has refrained from making any demand for the surrender of the fort. "But the Confederate States can no longer delay assuming actual possession of a fortification commanding the entrance of one of their harbors, and necessary to its defence and security. "I am ordered by the Government of the Confederate States to demand the evacuation of Fort Sumter. My aids, Colonel Chesnut and Captain Lee, are authoized to make such demand of you. All proper facilities will be afforded for the removal of yourself and command, together with company arms and property, and all private property, to any post in the United States which you may elect. The flag which you have upheld so long and with so much fortitude, under the most trying circumstances, may be saluted by you on taking it down. "Colonel Chesnut and Captain Lee will, for a reasonable time, await your 66 GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication demanding the evacuation of this fort; and to say in reply thereto, that it is a demand with which I regret that my sense of honor and of my obligations to my Government prevent my compliance. "Thanking you for the fair, manly, and courteous terms proposed, and for the high compliment paid me, "I am, General, very respectfully, "ROBERT ANDERSON, "Major U. S. Army, Commanding. "To Brigadier-General G. T. Beauregard, commanding Provisional Army, C. S. A." "MONTGOMERY, April 11. "Gen. BEAUREGARD, Charleston: "We do not desire needlessly to bombard Fort Sumter, if Major Anderson will state the time at which, as indicated by him, he will evacuate, and agree that, in the mean time, he will not use his guns against us, unless ours should be employed against Fort Sumter. You are thus to avoid the effusion of blood. If this or its equivalent be refused, reduce the fort as your judgment decides to be most practicable. "L. P. WALKER, Sec. of War." "HEADQUARTERS, PROVISIONAL ARMY, C.S. A. CHARLESTON, April 11, 1861-11 P.M. "MAJOR: In consequence of the verbal observations made by you to my aids, Messrs. Chesnut and Lee, in relation to the conditon of your supplies, and that you would in a few days be starved out CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN BEAUREGARD AND ANDERSON. 137 from my Government, or additional if our guns did not batter you to pieces -or words to that effect and desiring supplies; and that I will not, in the no useless effusion of blood, I communicated both the verbal observation and your written answer to my communication to my Government. "If you will state the time at which you will evacuate Fort Sumter, and agree that in the mean time you will not use your guns against us, unless ours shall be employed against Fort Sumter, we will abstain from opening fire upon you. Colonel Chesnut and Captain Lee are authorized by me to enter into such an agreement with you. You are therefore requested to communicate to them an open answer. "I remain, Major, very respectfully, "Your obedient servant, "G. T. BEAUREGARD, Brigadier-General Commanding. "Major ROBERT ANDERSON, commanding at Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor, S. C." mean time, open my fire upon your forces, unless compelled to do so by some hostile act against this fort or the flag of my Government, by the forces under your command, or by some portion of them, or by the perpetration of some act showing a hostile intention on your part against this fort, or the flag it bears. "I have the honor to be, General, "ROBERT ANDERSON, "Major U. S. A. Commanding. "To Brigadier-General G. T. Beauregard, commanding Provisional Army, C. S. A." "FORT SUMTER, S. C., April 12, 1861, 3.20 A.M. "SIR: By authority of BrigadierGeneral Beauregard, commanding the Provisional forces of the Confederate "HEADQUARTERS, FORT SUMTER, S. C., States, we have the honor to notify you 2.30 A.M., April 12, 1861. } "GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your second communication of the 11th inst., by Colonel Chesnut, and to state, in reply, that cordially uniting with you in the desire to avoid the useless effusion of blood, I will, if provided with the proper and necessary means of transportation, evacuate Fort Sumter by noon on the 15th instant, should I not receive, prior to that time, controlling instructions 18 that he will open the fire of his batteries on Fort Sumter in one hour from this time. "We have the honor to be, very respectfully, 66 "Your obedient servants, Captain S. C. Army and Aid-de-Camp. "Major ROBERT ANDERSON, United States Army, commanding Fort Sumter." CHAPTER XII. Excitement in the North in regard to Fort Sumter.-Precarious position of Major Anderson and his Garrison.- Opinion of General Scott.-No effort to sustain Fort Sumter reported.-Effect of the Intelligence.-Government at last resolved to make an Attempt.-Change of Feeling at the North.-Preparations of the Federal Government.-A Fleet got Ready. Its Composition and Force.-The proposed destination uncertain.-Arrival at the Rendezvous at Charleston.-Non-arrival of the Tug-boats.-Defeat of purpose.-Schemes concocted.-Failure.-Fort Sumter.-The Artificial Island. -Construction and Cost.-The Fortress.-Its Character.-Strength and number of Guns.-Its incompleteness.-Its Position and Distances.-Its meagre Garrison.-Activity of the Enemy.-Skilful Engineering of Beauregard.-Description of Fort Moultrie.-Its Strength and Armament.-The Iron Battery at Point Cummings.-The Floating Battery.-Its Construction and Efficiency.-The Batteries at Fort Johnson.-Their Strength and Construction.-The Force of the Enemy.-Defences of Charleston.-Skill of Beauregard.-Life of Beauregard.Birth.-A Cadet at West Point.-Curious change of Name.-His Father.-Ducal descent of his Mother.-Graduation of Beauregard. His Services in the War with Mexico.-Differs in opinion with his superior.-Beauregard's Judgment Triumphant.-Rewards of Gallantry.—Another illustration of superior Judgment and another Triumph.— Return to Louisiana.--Honor to the young Hero.-Government appointments.-Personal appearance and character. -Becomes a Secessionist.-Correspondence between Beauregard and Anderson.-Opening of the Fire upon Fort Sumter.-Extent of Fire surprising. — Tardy Response of Major Anderson.—Division of his Garrison.—Who fired the first Gun? -Enthusiasm of the Men. Effect of the Fire.-The Enemy's Vigor.---The Parapet of Fort Sumter dreadfully damaged. - Danger to Life.-Havoc among the Guns en barbette.-The effect of the Enemy's Rifled Cannon. On guard.-"Shot or Shell."-The laborers at the Guns.-A Hit in the Centre. --The Barracks on Fire.Danger of the Magazine.--Continued Conflagration.--The descent of the Flag.-Only a Salute. -A genuine Shot.The Flag still flying." Knocked down temporarily."--Cessation of the Fire of Fort Sumter during the Night.— The Enemy still firing. -Attempt to rig new Halyards for the Flag.-Expecting Aid or an Assault.--Saturday Morning. The Conflagration of the Barracks continuing.-Its Effect.--Terrific Scene.-Danger of an Explosion.--Powder thrown overboard.--Scarcity of Cartridges.-An Explosion --The Crash.--Breaking of the Flagstaff.--Flag nailed to its Place.-Arrival of a Stranger through an Embrasure.--The agitated Wigfall.-His purpose.--Displays his white Handkerchief,-An uncomfortable Post.-An Interview with the Major.-"I am General Wigfall."--Departure of Wigfall.--An unauthorized Messenger.-Commissioners from Beauregard.-Interview with Major Anderson. --Hoisting of the White Flag.--Terms of Surrender agreed upon.-Departure of Major Anderson and his Garrison.— Firing of Salute to the United States Flag.--Accident.-Major Anderson sails for New York. 1861. THE public mind at the North had been greatly excited in regard to Fort Sumter. The position of Major Anderson with his meagre garrison was known to be very precarious, besieged as he was by the powerful works in Charleston harbor, with an infuriated mob of seven thousand men to defend them, and cut off from all communication by land or sea. The highest military authority of the Union, Lieutenant-General Scott, was reported to have given it as his opinion that it was impracticable, without such a military and naval force as the Government at that time could not command, to reinforce Fort Sumter. Anderson's masterly movement, in quitting Fort Moultrie, and his resolute and protracted support of the flag of the United States, while surrounded by those who with intense hostility were resolutely bent upon dishonoring it, had won for him the sympathy of the whole country. When, therefore, it was authoritatively declared again and again that no effort could or would be made to sustain him, an anguish of despair wrung every UNITED STATES EXPEDITION TO FORT SUMTER. men. 139 patriotic heart. A sudden change, how- of five guns and a crew of ninety-six ever, came with the rumor that the Government had at last determined at all hazards to make the attempt, and the desponding nation was once more cheered with hope. The Federal authorities were evidently preparing for some momentous movement. Orders had been issued to have the vessels of war at the various navy yards immediately detailed for service. A number of large merchant steamers and sailing vessels had been chartered. The garrisons of the various forts in the Northern harbors had been got ready to embark. The recruiting in the large cities for sailors and soldiers had been stimulated to an unusual degree. Finally, a fleet was got ready and sailed, and although the Government strove to keep its destination a secret, all suspected, as they hoped,, that it was Charleston. The vessels sailed from the various ports where they happened to be, to meet at a certain rendezvous determined upon. The steam sloop of war Pawnee, Captain S. C. Rowan, of ten guns, and with two hundred men, sailed from Washington with sealed orders on the morning of Saturday, April April 6th. On the afternoon of 6th. the same day, the steam sloop of war Powhatan, of eleven guns, and with two hundred and seventy-five men, left the Brooklyn navy yard. On the following Monday, the revenue April cutter Harriet Lane, after having 8. exchanged her revenue flag for that of the United States, sailed from the harbor of New York with an armament Three of the largest and swiftest of the merchant steamers hitherto engaged in peaceful commerce had been chartered, and now laden with armed men and munitions of war joined the expedition. The Atlantic, with three hundred and fifty-eight troops, com- April posed of Companies A and M of 7. the Second Artillery, Companies C and H of the Second Infantry, and Company A of Sappers and Miners, from West Point, steamed out of the harbor of New York on the morning of Sunday, April 7th. Two days after, the Baltic followed, with a hundred and sixty April troops, Companies C and D, which 9. had been lately recruited and stationed at Governor's Island, in New York bay. On the same day the Illinois put to sea with three hundred troops, made April up of Companies B, E, F, G, and H, 9. of a detachment of Company D, and two companies of the Second Infantry gathered from the recruits at Governor's Island, Bedloe's Island, and Fort Hamilton. Two steam-tugs-the Yankee, which sailed on Monday, the 8th of April, April and the Uncle Ben, which followed 8. on the day after-completed this hurriedly gathered but not unimposing naval force. Thirty launches were also distributed among the larger steamers, to be used for the purpose of landing the troops through the surf under the cover of the fire of the armed vessels, or, being protected with sand-bags, and armed with |