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WIDOWS' AKD ORPHANS' EDITION. 
 
 MAJ R. ADNERSON, 
 U. S< A. 
 
% 
 
 fflTHIN FORT SUMTER; 
 
 A VIEWOF MAJOR ANDERSON'S GAR. 
 
 RISON FAMILY FOR ONE HUNDRED 
 
 AND TEN DAYS. 
 
 BY ONE OF THE COMPANY. 
 
 3869 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 N. TIBBALS & COMPANY, 
 
 120 NASSAU STREET, (Up Stairs). 
 
 18 61. 
 
t^ 
 
 f 
 
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861, by 
 
 N. TIBBALS & C O., 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of tlie United States, for the 
 
 Southern District of New York- 
 
 ■i!^ 
 
 #1 
 
 BlBCTEOTTfED BY 
 
 Smi*h' &McDouqai,, 
 82 & 84 Beeekmsn-Bt 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 Within! Did you ever reflect how much, 
 of which you know nothing, that word con- 
 tains ? Of all that is presented to your eye 
 you only see the exterior : of the tvithin you 
 are ignorant. Conjecture says a great deal, 
 but who Jcnows what is within the ocean's 
 bosom — what is within the earth's crust — what 
 is within the human heart? You meet your 
 fellow man, you see the motion of his limbs, 
 the play of his features, the glance of his eyes ; 
 but you can not tell what is occupying his 
 Blind. 
 
 This train of thinking was induced by the 
 many reports that were circulated while Major 
 Anderson and his little band lay imprisoned 
 in the Island Fortress of Charleston Bay. Even 
 in what was passing outside and around, of 
 which the public eye had range, Rumor contra- 
 
b WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 dieted herself; but, of what transph'ed within 
 that wave-washed stronghold, prying conjecture 
 was completely at fault. 
 
 All is over now — the peril, the anxiety, the 
 conflict — the result is known ; and the details 
 which led to that result — the inner works, upon 
 which speculation so persistently blundered, 
 may as well be known also. 
 
 In December 1860, when the State of South 
 Carolina desired to secede from the Federal 
 Union, Major Anderson, of the 1st Regiment 
 of U. S. Artillery, was in command of the 
 forts of Charleston harbor; and, with his com- 
 pany, was stationed at Fort Moultrie, on Sulli- 
 van's Island. He saw the spreading commotion; 
 and — as a Sea-Captain, in stormy weather, glass 
 in hand, sweeping the horizon with his eye, 
 uninterested in natural wonders or scientific 
 questions, is wholly engrossed with the care 
 and management of his ship — he thought not 
 of political affairs, but studied only his duty 
 as a servant of the Hepublic — ran officer of the 
 American Army. 
 
 Situated as he then was, he found himself 
 utterly weak in case of an attack — his fort 
 
WIJHIN FORT SUMTER. 7 
 
 was insecure, his garrison was small — he, there- 
 fore, petitioned Government for more troops ; 
 but received for reply that, as the movement 
 would increase disaffection, the Administration 
 preferred not granting his request unless ne- 
 cessitated. He now looked round him, with a 
 view to strengthening his position, as best he 
 could. On a point of James Island, facing 
 Fort Moultrie, west by south, stood Fort John- 
 son, and between these, nearly in mid channel, 
 an artificial Island had been raised, on which 
 a fortification was built, now in course of com- 
 pletion ; and here, with the waters to wall him 
 in, and the shores all round the bay under 
 range of his guns, Major Anderson decided to 
 concentrate his little force. , 
 
 The island fort was now occupied by Cap- 
 tain Foster, of the Engineer department, who 
 was engaged in finishing its internal arrange- 
 ments, mounting its heavy ordnance, &c., and 
 Major Anderson urged him to hasten with the 
 important work. 
 
 On the 20th of December, a State Con- 
 vention, then assembled in Charleston, unani- 
 mously resolved on secession, and^ on the 24th 
 
8 WITHIN FORT SUMTER 
 
 of that month the Declaration of South Caro- 
 lina, withdrawing herself from the Federal 
 Union, was publicly announced and acted upon/ 
 The excitement among the Revolutionists was 
 intense. Fort Moultrie was in danger of attack, 
 and, Captain Foster reporting to Major Ander- 
 son the fitness of Fort Sumter for occupation, 
 measures were immediately taken to effect a 
 silent and speedy removal. 
 
 On Wednesday evening, the 26th of Decem- 
 ber, just after sun-set, three little schooners, 
 with four or five barges, were anchored under 
 the walls of Fort Moultrie ; and the little 
 company were busily engaged in the work of 
 transferring their effects on board. The Sur- 
 I geon, with all the essentials of his office, and 
 the Hospital furniture, were moved first; then 
 the women, with their children and household 
 treasures ; next went the light arms and am- 
 munition—the soldiers and their equipments; 
 and last the officers, who, all through that 
 night, had stood around their Commander, as 
 true and brave men always do in hours of 
 emergency. 
 
 The flight yas effected without discovery; 
 
WITHIN FOFvT SUMTER. 9 
 
 though a watch had been posted at either side 
 of the bay to observe their movements, as well 
 as to look out for, and prevent the entrance of, 
 re-enforcements. A friendly haze had filled 
 the atmosphere, under whose cover the little 
 fleet had sped j and " the watchman watched 
 in vain." 
 
 Major Anderson, before leaving Fort Moul- 
 trie, had spiked the cannon, destroyed the car- 
 riages, and cut down the flag stafl*; and the 
 only regret expressed or felt was that the fort 
 could not be blown up. 
 
 Next morning the mist cleared away, the sun 
 arose, and showed to Charleston and its sur- 
 •roundings the United States Flag floating 
 proudly over Fort Sumter, and Fort Moultrie 
 sitting in deserted gloom. Captain Foster, 
 with a few of his men, had been left in the 
 latter fort ; but on its being taken possession 
 of, as it immediately was, by the Revolutionists, 
 he took boat and withdrew to Fort Sumter. A 
 few hours and the Palmetto flag waved over 
 Fort Moultrie, Castle Pinkney, and, in Charles- 
 ton, over the Custom House, Post Office and 
 U. S. Arsenal. 
 
10 WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 Ill ,tlie afternoon the Governor of the State 
 addressed a letter to Major Anderson request- 
 ing to be informed whether the step he had 
 just taken was by the order of his Government 
 or upon his own responsibility ; and received 
 for reply that the Major's recent act was his 
 own, without any instructions from Govern- 
 ment : he being in command of all the forts in 
 that harbor occupied them at his discretion. 
 
 The day following Major Anderson received 
 the following dispatch, through telegraph; from 
 the Secretary of War : 
 
 " It is rumored here that you have spiked 
 your guns, burned your carriages and moved to 
 Fort Sumter. If so, you have violated your' 
 orders. Answer immediately." 
 
 To which the Major replied, 
 
 " The rumor is correct that I spiked my 
 guns, burned my carriages, and moved my com- 
 mand to Fort Sumter. I did so in the dis- 
 charge of my duty." 
 
 But Secretary Floyd's censure was not co- 
 incided with by the Administration; Major 
 Anderson's course was not only justified, but 
 approved. 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 11 
 
 Meanwhile the Commander of Fort Sumter 
 is busily preparing for expected action. All is 
 activity within the stronghold; the men en- 
 gaged in strengthening defenses and mounting 
 guns, the women in arranging the quarters. 
 The l^ter soon discovered that the sudden and 
 hasty removal had not been without inconven- 
 ience, in a pecuniary sense, — furniture and 
 clothes had been damaged, and small valuables 
 lost; biit there was no murmuring. To one 
 couple the loss amounted to two hundred dol- 
 lars' worth; but the wife smiled as she re- 
 marked : 
 
 "We have one another yet, though, thank 
 God." 
 
 All honor to such soldiers' wives ! May the 
 country never supply to her fighting sons any 
 less worthy ! 
 
 The single men had less to lose, but they 
 fared no better, for their barrack contained only 
 empty walls. Bunks were put up, into which 
 shavings were thrown, to serve as beds ; and 
 rude, and hastily constructed tables and benches 
 completed the furniture ; but, brave fellows, no 
 thought of personal discomfort mingled with 
 
12 WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 their deep sympathy in their commander's stern 
 and trying position, and the all pervading feel- 
 ing of every heart was the manly determination 
 to do their whole duty to the last. 
 
 And so they worked heartily, day after day, 
 more securely fortifying their stronghold ; and 
 feeling confident in its capacity for either resist- 
 ance or attack, whichever might be demanded 
 of it. Upreared from the water it was only 
 assailable by a fleet ; and the outer jvall, of 
 solid, concrete masonry, twelve feet in thick- 
 ness and sixty feet in hight, bid bold defiance 
 to invading force. It was pierced for one hun- 
 dred and forty guns, but was not furnished 
 with much more than half that number. These, 
 however, were mounted and placed in the most 
 salient points, looking formidably forth on the 
 surrounding scene, able and willing for effective 
 work. 
 
 Nor was the busy garrison unobservant of 
 what was going on outside. They could see 
 the Secessionists, also at work, restoring Fort 
 Moultrie and building batteries. And ! how 
 they longed to open the mouths of their cannon 
 upon them, and put an end to preparations 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 13 
 
 which, they knew, were intended for their own 
 injury ! But no warlike demonstration would 
 Major Anderson make, so long as the other 
 party were willing to remain at peace ; besides 
 that he had hopes of a favorable termination of 
 the difficulty being effected in Washington. 
 
 For some time the Major was kept ignorant 
 ,of the views and purposes of the War Depart- 
 ment — despatches not being committed to the 
 mail lest they should be opened in Charleston. 
 There itiight be re-enforcements sent to him, he 
 knew not, he could only wait, and while wait- 
 ing do the best his situation afforded. The 
 approach of re-enforcements the Revolutionists 
 also anticipated, and placed a force at Morris 
 Island to prevent their entrance. 
 
 In this anxious and clouded state of affairs 
 the New Year opened upon the little garri- 
 son at Fort Sumter. A few days, however, 
 brought a cheering visit from the wife and the 
 brother of the commander. ! those family 
 ties — those sweet, home affections ! what would 
 life be without them? — all drudgery — no re- 
 spite ; all storm — no calm; all rough, thorny 
 walking — no smooth, soft stopping place ; all 
 
14 WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 cold, and hard, and bitter, without one soothing, 
 mollifying charm — ! thank God for love ! 
 
 At last, on Wednesday morning, January 9, 
 the long-looked-for succor appeared : a steamer 
 bearing the American flag, was approaching. 
 The garrison were in ecstacy : but their joy 
 was soon turned to indignation, for scarcely had 
 the vessel entered the waters of the harbor, 
 when the revolutionary batteries opened fire 
 upon her. The time for action seemed to have 
 come now ; and every man rushed to hi% post, 
 ready for the word of command. But the word 
 came not. The Major stood on the rampart, 
 the glass to his eye, scanning the scene, until 
 the steamer, shocked and insulted at her rude 
 reception, turned and put back to sea. Then 
 the Major descended, retired to his apartment, 
 and wrote a letter, which he deputed Lieu- 
 tenant Hall to bear to the Governor. 
 
 The boat with its white flag departed, while 
 excitement reigned through the garrison. The 
 men — even the* women were wild with impa- 
 tience to avenge the affront put upon their 
 country's flag. A United States vessel fired 
 into and the daring act unpunished ! It re- 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 15 
 
 quired all the authority of the officers to keep 
 the guns from speaking : it took all their affec- 
 tion for, and all their faith in the judgment of 
 their commander to keep the men still, while 
 the women urgently offered their own assist- 
 ance. One fair enthusiast bared her white 
 arm, and, with a friction tube in her fingers, 
 sprung to a gun, declaring she would fire it 
 herself. She was a tall, young, bright-looking 
 woman ; a fine specimen of proud Virginia's 
 daughters. 
 
 "You have a great deal of courage," said 
 Captain Doubleday, as he gently drew her back 
 from the gun. 
 
 ""Courage!" she exclaimed — and her form 
 became erect, and her eye lighted up, — " I 
 should think. Sir, a soldier's wife ought to have 
 courage !" 
 
 This lady's husband, John H. Davis", was a 
 Marylander ; and here we may mention that of 
 all the loyal hearts in that loyal little, band, 
 none beat more truly than those of natives of 
 Southern States. 
 
 Arrived at the Governor's head-quarters, 
 Lieutenant Hall requested an interview, which, 
 
16 WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 beiifg immediately granted, he presented the 
 letter of his chief, and awaited a reply. 
 The letter was as follows : 
 
 ''To his Excellency the Governor of South Carolina. 
 
 ^fgiR; — Two of your batteries fired this 
 morning on an unarmed vessel bearing the flag 
 of my Government. As I have not been noti- 
 fied that war has been declared by South Caro- 
 lina against the United States, I can not but 
 think this a hostile act committed without your 
 sanction or authority. Under that hope I 
 refrain from opening a fire on your l)atteries. 
 I have the honor, therefore, respectfully to ask 
 whether the above mentioned act — one which, I 
 believe, is without parallel in the history of our 
 country, or any other civilized government — 
 was committed in obedience to your instruc- 
 tions, and notify you, if it is not disclaimed, 
 that I regard it as an act of war. And I shall 
 not, after reasonable time for the return of my 
 messefiger, permit any. vessel to pass within 
 the range of the guns of my fort. 
 
 "In order to save, as far as it is in my 
 power, the shedding of blood, I beg you will 
 
WITHIN FOKT SUMTER. 17 
 
 take due notification of my decision for *the 
 good of all concerned. Hoping, however, your 
 answer may justify a further continuance of 
 forbearance on my part, 
 " I remain, respectfully, 
 
 " Robert Anderson. 
 
 " Fort Sumter, January 9, 1861." 
 
 Governer Pickens, in reply,' stated the posi- 
 tion of South Carolina to the United States, 
 and said that any attempt to send United 
 States troops to re-enforce Major Anderson, or 
 to re-take the forts of South Carolina, was re- 
 garded by the authorities of the State, as an 
 act of coercion on the part of the United States 
 Government. Due notice of this was sent to 
 all approaching vessels ; and the Star of the 
 West, despite of warning, having entered the 
 harbor -with troops, was, consequently, fired 
 into. 
 
 With this answer Lieutenant Hall retired. 
 An escort conducted him to his boat, and he 
 sped back to Fort Sumter, where Major Ander- 
 son paced to and fro, under a grave conscious- 
 ness of weighty responsibility. 
 
 Upon receiving the Governor's reply Major 
 
18 WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 Anderson decided upon a course wliich for the 
 last hour had been revolving in his mind. He 
 determined to have instructions from Washing- 
 ton. He therefore desired his first Lieutenant 
 to prepare for a journey thither, at the same 
 time directing the Captain to order the men to 
 retire from the guns, as no action would be 
 taken at present. 
 
 The same afternoon the boat and white flag 
 again left Fort Sumter for Charleston, bearing 
 Lieutenant Talbott, with the following letter. 
 
 ''To his Excellency the Governor of South Carolina. 
 
 " Sir : — I have the honor to acknowledge the 
 receipt of your communication, and say that 
 under the circumstances I have deemed it 
 proper to refer the whole matter to my Gov- 
 ernment ; and intend deferring the course in- 
 dicated in my note this morning until the 
 arrival from Washington of such instructions 
 as I may receive. 
 
 " I have the honor also to express the hope 
 that no obstructions will be placed in the way, 
 and that you will do me the favor of giving 
 every facility for the departure and return of 
 
WITHIN FOET SUMTER. 19 
 
 the bearer, Lieutenant T. Talbott, who is di- 
 rected to make the journey. 
 " I remain, respectfully, 
 
 "Robert Anderson. 
 
 "Fort Sumter, January 9, 1861." 
 
 Governor Pickens expressed his polite ac- 
 quiescence in the request of Major Anderson', 
 and immediately directed that every facility 
 be afforded Lieutenant Talbott to prosecute 
 his journey, and every courtesy be extended 
 to him, as the bearer of dispatches. 
 
 These dispatches contained a statement of 
 affairs at Fort Sumter, an account of the re- 
 ception of the Star of the West, and an en- 
 treaty for instructions. 
 
 About this time ' rumors got afloat of dis- 
 affection and mutiny among the soldiers of the 
 fort; and the indignant blood rushed to the 
 honest cheek of every man and woman of the 
 little band as they read, in the newspapers, 
 these cruel and injurious calumnies. They 
 thirsted, more than ever, for an opportunity 
 to display their staunch devotion to the cause 
 of Government. Before their bravery was to 
 be tested, now their honor was to be vindi- 
 
20 WITHIN FORT SUMTEK. 
 
 cated ; and each heart panted for the hour 
 when, either with their arms or their lives, 
 they should wipe out t^e- treacherous false- 
 hood. 
 
 This feeling pervaded the whole company; 
 and when, on the 11th of January, commis- 
 sioners from Charleston, under a flag of truce, 
 came to Major Anderson to demand the sur- 
 render of the fort, the reply was, 
 
 " We will fire the Magazine, and be buried 
 in one common ruin, before we will surrender !" 
 
 The sentiment was echoed by loud and pro- 
 longed cheers from every voice in the garrison. 
 
 What use to propose base terms to such 
 men? - - 
 
 Still under the hope, however, of a peace- 
 able adjustment of the national difference, Ma- 
 jor Anderson consented to unite with South 
 Carolina in sending a deputation to Washing- 
 ton to ask the evacuation of Fort Sumter; 
 and, accordingly, on the 12th of January, Lieu- 
 tenant Hall, on the part of Major Anderson, 
 and Colonel Hayne on that of South Carolina, 
 departed on that mission. 
 
 January 18 brought the return of Lieutenant 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 21 
 
 Talbott, with the reply of the Administration 
 to the despatches of which he had been the 
 bearer ; 'by which the Commander of Fort Sum- 
 ter was advised that his line of action was 
 highly approved by his Government; that it 
 was decided not to make another attempt at re- 
 enforcing him at present ; and also instructing 
 him to suffer no indignities to the American 
 flag, — ^if any -such were again oif ere d, to open 
 his batteries upon the perpetrators. 
 
 The want of fuel began to be felt now in 
 the garrison. The weather had been mostly 
 pleasant, so that they had been permitted to 
 use their store with economy; but it would 
 hold out no longer — it must be replenished. 
 With this view a boat containing nine men was 
 sent to shore ; but the men were seized and 
 made prisoners. The Governor, however, when 
 made aware of the fact, ordered their discharge. 
 
 And now another difficulty — -the mails were 
 untrustworthy. Major Anderson remonstrated, 
 when it was proposed to him to send them to 
 Fort Johnson— about half distance southwardly 
 from Charleston to Fort Sumter. But this ar- 
 rangement did not suit the Major, so he des- 
 
22 WITHIN FORT SUMTEH. 
 
 patched a telegram to Washington on the sub- 
 ject. An immediate reply came, threatening 
 to withdraw the Government support from the 
 Charleston Post Office ; but the State was not 
 ready to take that expense into her own 
 hands, and the Fort Sumter mails, therefore, 
 were treated with more respect. 
 
 On the 19th January the marketing, with 
 which the garrison had been hitherto supplied, 
 was stopped. Captain Doubleday proceeded to 
 Charleston to enquire the cause of the stop- 
 page, and learned that orders to that effeat 
 had been received from the Grovernor. 
 
 Nor yet did this dishearten the little garri- 
 son : they had plenty of biscuit, salt-pork, and 
 coffee, and declared they could live well on 
 this fare until the time should come for them 
 to strike a blow for " Uncle Sam." 
 
 This cheerful submission of his gallant com- 
 pany to the ills and annoyances of their lot 
 considerably aided Major Anderson in main- 
 taining his difficult post. Yet were not his 
 public trials enough — his tender feelings must 
 also suffer — the 21st of the month brought him 
 a telegram informing him of the illness of his 
 
WITHITT FORT SUMTER. 23 
 
 wife. And now, between professional care and 
 private anxiety, the hero of Charleston Harbor 
 enjoys but little repose. His heart palpitating 
 with suspense, while his head still works, in the 
 cause of duty ; his thoughts straining home- 
 ward at the same time that he is inspecting 
 and superintending, with his own eyes, the 
 most minute military detail ! ! honor your 
 faithful servants, America! deal kindly with 
 them ever ! and, while you sleep on an easy 
 bed, and eat your meat with cheerful appetite, 
 forget not those who stand on your bulwarks — 
 their breasts your shields, their lives your 
 safeguard ! 
 
 January 23d. The Southern Confederacy 
 became organized. It was no longer the State 
 of South Carolina, with which the Federal 
 Government had to contend, but several States 
 combined. An amicable settlement seemed 
 farther off than ever. 
 
 That an attack would soon be made upon 
 Fort Sumter was evident : preparations with 
 that intent were fast progressing; and this con- 
 sideration, joined to the desire to reduce the 
 consumption of his store of provisions, decided 
 
24 WIXHIN FORI SUMTER. 
 
 Major Anderson to send from the fort all but 
 the efficient fighting men. 
 
 To the soldiers' wives this was a distress- 
 ing contingency ; but no word, no -sign showed 
 an unwillingness to comply with whatever was 
 best under the circumstances. With smothered 
 sighs and suppressed tears the women pre- 
 pared to depart — very different was the cheer- 
 ful alacrity with which the same preparation 
 was entered upon a month before : poor things ! 
 they left Moultrie tvith their husbands, they 
 left Sumter ivithoid them. 
 
 January 25th the removal took place : the 
 women and children, and such of the workmen 
 as were not willing to serve in a military ca- 
 pacity, left the fort^ — the strong and brave were 
 alone. Perhaps it should have been written 
 the stronger and hraver^ for many a woman and 
 child departed that day who, to the utmost of 
 their ability, would have done and dared as 
 much as their husbands and fathers. This had 
 been seen in all their bearing; and, even in 
 the last hour, when the sobbing farewells were 
 spoken, words of hopeful encouragement were 
 all that flowed from their gentle lips — in not 
 
WITHIN F-ORT StTlVITER. 25 
 
 one case did affection breathe the dastardly 
 counsel to self-preservation. 
 • "We have been seven years married," said 
 one, "and I never had reason to find fault 
 with you ; now, whatever may happen, I hnow 
 I shall never have cause to blush for you." 
 
 " And I don't want you to think of W5, Ben," 
 said another, though her swollen eyes belied 
 her words ; "the children and myself will get 
 along, and you '11 have enough to think of 
 lierer 
 
 And another, holding a large, coarse hand 
 between her own, and leaning her head against 
 the brawny shoulder, whispered with quivering 
 lips: 
 
 " May God bless, and take care o' you, 
 Thomas, — I '11 never cease to pray for you ; 
 but do your juty, do your juty, darlint; — 
 God forbid that my love should intherfero 
 with that." 
 
 This last, from her tongue, was a child of 
 
 green Erin ; and her husband, Thomas Carroll, 
 
 did his "juty'l^well, when the hour for duty 
 
 came — and carried a wounded face away from 
 
 Fort Sumter. 
 
 2 
 
20 WITHIN FORT SUMTEE. 
 
 There was bright and beautiful weather in 
 Charleston Harbor ; but the light was all gone 
 from the stronghold over which the American 
 banner waved. What were sparkling waters 
 and gay sunshine to those who had just lost - 
 the sweet smile of woman — the merry laugh of 
 childhood ? Nothing was around them, or be- 
 fore them, now, but hard, stern service. 
 
 And still were propagated those base reports 
 of treason in the garrison of Fort Sumter. One 
 story that was gravely published in a New 
 York City newspaper, from the pen of its 
 "own correspondent," was too cruelly malig- 
 nant for any intelligent writer to be guilty of. 
 It was stated that one of Major Anderson's 
 men had a relative in Charleston, with whom 
 he leagued to betray the fort ; but the con- 
 spiracy was discovered, and the traitor con- 
 demned to die. A boat was sent to the city 
 to request the attendance of a priest to shrive 
 a sick woman, whose real business, however, 
 was to prepare the culprit for execution, and 
 at sunrise, next morning, he was ignominiously 
 hung. 
 
 It is pleasant to know that this heartless 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 27 
 
 slander gained but little credence ; and we 
 would just say to the ingenious fabricator — 
 we do not know him, but he knows himself, 
 and he will see this — 
 
 Open your Bible — if you have not one 
 borrow it — look for the 20th chapter of the 
 book of Exodus, and carefully read the 16th 
 verse. 
 
 Since the garrison had entered the fort a 
 great deal had been done in strengthening its 
 defences, and improving its capacities. One 
 side of the fortress was weaker than the others. 
 Not having been built with reference to any 
 but foreign foes, of course that side of the wall 
 which looked homeward, had been raised with 
 less attention to resistance and security than 
 the outer ones. This, under present circum- 
 stances, was a serious defect, and the very first 
 to be remedied, as far as remedy was in the 
 power of the occupants. Every man labored 
 with energetic good-will. Their materials were 
 turned to the most beneficial account, and some 
 inventions of the officers attested a decided 
 genius for overcoming difficulties. . 
 
 Of the effectiveness of their weapons they 
 
28 WITHIN FORT SUMTEE. 
 
 had no doubt, and only longed for an oppor- 
 tunity to let their neighbors know it also. One 
 da}^, about the 1st of February, the weather 
 being extremely fine, the Revolutionists turned 
 out for a grand parade and drill. The little 
 garrison saw from their w^alls the gay display 
 in the city; and the Major, washing to gratify 
 his men, ordered one of his columbiads, shotted 
 with explosive ball, to be run out and fired. 
 The report startled the bold recruits ashore ; 
 and when the ball struck the water close by 
 the wharf, sending spray to the house-tops, and 
 raising foam for hundreds of yards around, the 
 consternation was amusing to witness.^ 
 
 Through the interference of the President of 
 the Southern Confederacy, Fort Sumter wms 
 again supplied with marketing, and comparative 
 comfort was experienced within iis walls. 
 
 The commission upon wliich .Colonel Hay no 
 and Lieutenant Hall had gonef in company, to 
 Washington, had not su^eed^d. The Adminis- 
 tration peremptorily refu^ to surrender Fort 
 Sumter, or to yield 'one -inch to the seceding 
 cause. 
 
 On the 10th of February Lieutenant Hall 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 2D 
 
 returned to the fort, bearing mncli information 
 to his commander of the purposes of Govern- 
 ment and the sentiment of the Union party 
 throughout the country. But with political 
 affairs that isolated band had nothing to do: 
 they had but one duty, to hold the trust com- 
 mitted to them, or to resign it with their lives. 
 
 Great concern was spread through the garri- 
 son when, a few dajs after, Major Anderson 
 was prostrated by sickness. His strength, of 
 both mind and body, had been taxed to the 
 utmost during the last few months — it had 
 given way at last. The alarm of the company 
 magnified the misfortune, and exaggerated their 
 beloved leader's danger. What if the enemy 
 should seize this opportunity of attacking 
 them ? Their officers were all brave and com- 
 petent men ; but who could fill the Major's 
 place? and grave looks and muttered fears 
 echoed "Who?" 
 
 The anxiety communicated itself to the 
 company's surgeon. Dr. Crawfordj and caused 
 him to desire a consultation. There was no 
 apprehension of his skill being insufficient for 
 the case ; yet his wish was granted, a physi- 
 
30 WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 cian was summoned from Charleston, -which 
 circumstance furnished food to the hungry pen 
 of every "own correspondent" in the city. 
 Ere their labored communications appeared in 
 print, however, the gallant Major was on his 
 feet again, and his fellow soldiers rejoicing in 
 his restoration to health. 
 
 February 22nd. This honored anniversary 
 was celebrated with all due respect at Fort 
 Sumter ; and the thirty-four guns composing 
 our national salute, loudly reverberated over 
 the waters and made the houses of Charleston 
 tremble. 
 
 In a few days a floating battery, which 
 the Revolutionists had been constructing, was 
 launched with much ostentation; but those 
 w^hom it was intended to intimidate only smiled 
 at its awkward appearance. It careened help- 
 lessly, and flomidered about with a stupid in- 
 difference to breeze or rudder, while its war- 
 ring capacity, or incapacity, was of an equally 
 imbecile character; With a smile each of the 
 garrison turned from a survey of this big toy, 
 one 3^oung fellow archly observing : 
 
 " When they get folks frightened with such 
 
WITHIN FOBT SUMTER. 31 
 
 a silly threat as that, it won't be the men of 
 the gallant First." 
 
 So many reports had been circulated of 
 treason among the soldiers of Fort Sumter 
 that the subject had now become stale. An 
 altered edition must, therefore, be got out, and, 
 one day, the Charleston Mercury published the 
 following. 
 
 "Not Improbable. — It was currently ru- 
 mored upon the streets yesterday that Major 
 Anderson, and Lieutenants Davis and Talbott, 
 of the garrison of Fort Sumter, would, on the 
 4th instant, resign their commissions in the 
 United States army, and retire from the fort." 
 
 Well done, Madam Rumor! you capped the 
 climax that time. If there is anything about 
 your ladyship to be admired it is your au- 
 dacity. And the temerity with which you 
 state your most monstrous lies is only equaled 
 by your unconsciousness of the utter contempt 
 you excite in every honest mind ! 
 
 Yet was it not malice alone that instigated 
 the framing of this last slander : there was a 
 subtle motive in the act. Major Anderson and 
 Mr. Talbott were both Kentuckians, and Mr. 
 
32 WITHIN FOBT StJMTER. 
 
 Davis from the neighboring State of Indiana ; — 
 it was expedient to make it appear that the 
 Southern Confederacy would be largely aug- 
 mented on the 4th of March, and what more 
 valuable auxiliaries could they receive than 
 brave and distinguished officers of the Amer- 
 ican Army? who more likely to sympathize 
 with them than Southern and Western men? 
 scatter amongst the people, then, the news — 
 to the encouragement of the Secessionists, to 
 the dismay of the Union party — that such 
 names as Anderson, Talbott and Davis w^ere 
 to glitter on the rebel list. 
 
 Of the American officers who did resign 
 their commissions on the 4th of March, Ave 
 shall mention Peter G. T. Beauregard, for with 
 him we have to do. He immediately went 
 over to the revolutionary army, was appointed 
 Brigadier General of the forces in and around 
 Charleston, and from henceforth was the act- 
 ing power, against whose sagacity and expe- 
 rience Major Anderson had to contend. 
 
 This man, when in the United States Army, 
 had been connected with the Engineer Depart- 
 ment, and had actually been engaged in the 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 33 
 
 building of Fort Sumter, He knew, therefore, 
 its strength and its capacity, was acquainted 
 with its interior arrangements, and understood 
 the nature of the facilities which its com- 
 mander could bring to bear upon him. Of 
 this knowledge he made good use in the 
 planting of his batteries and the division of 
 his troops ; and it was easy to see, as we 
 looked out from our isolated post, on the prep- 
 arations going on around, that it was no 
 stranger foe who was arrayed against us, but 
 a deserter from our country's standard. 
 
 But the Major was on the alert, calm, watch- 
 ful, resolute, no movement of the enemy escap- 
 ing his observation, no counteracting resource 
 forgotten or overlooked. He was prepared for 
 any emergency; and the strong, firm expres- 
 sion of brow, eye and lips told that the soul 
 of a warrior dwelt within that small, slender 
 frame. 
 
 On the 11th of March a shot was fired from 
 Cumming's Point, which struck the docking 
 outside Fort Sumter. Major Anderson imme- 
 diately made ready to reply to this demon- 
 stration, but scarcely were three of his em- 
 
Si WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 brasures open when a boat was seen approach- 
 ing with a white flag, the mission of which 
 was to apologize to the Commander of Fort 
 Sumter for the accidental shot, which had been 
 fired, the officer alleged, through mistake. 
 Whether it was really a mistake, or was done 
 with the design of testing the promptness of 
 the Island fortress it is hard to say; but, in 
 either case, of the latter fact convincing proof 
 was given. 
 
 All through the month of March the little 
 garrison lived quietly and worked steadily. In 
 spare hours they read the papers, and talked 
 enthusiastically of what they, each, could 
 achieve, in honor of their flag, when permitted 
 to put forth their strength. They troubled 
 their heads little about politics in general; it 
 was enough -for them to know that the Union 
 was assailed, and the Nation threatened with 
 disruption. 
 
 " I '11 tell you what it is, boys,'* said one 
 of the privates, as he lounged on a bench in 
 the yard, in the midst of a group of comrades, 
 at the close of the day, " Government may be 
 very wise in havin patience with these fellows : 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 35 
 
 lettin' them seize national property through the 
 country, an' makin' us sit still while they 're 
 buildin' batteries all round us, to be used in 
 attackin' ourselves ; but I don t see the good- 
 nature in all this patience, the fools will have 
 to be brought back to their senses, and the 
 sooner it 's done the better." 
 
 " You 're right in one sense," was replied by 
 a sober looking man with a pipe in his mouth, 
 '' but may be Government 's waiting for them 
 to do something treasonable, an' it '11 be easy 
 to ' bring them to their senses' when the coun- 
 try goes about it." 
 
 '•^ Treasonable !" exclaimed the first speaker, 
 not heeding the closing remark, " I 'd like to 
 know if they hav' n't done enough that 's trea- 
 sonable already; — why, what is their Confed- 
 eracy but one big treason?" 
 
 "It would be in your country," was the 
 calm rejoinder, "where a man can be tried for 
 his life for saying a word against king or gov- 
 ernment ; but there 's more freedom here, and 
 nothing less than taking up arms against the 
 country constitutes treason." 
 
 " More 's the pity then !" said the Irishman, 
 
36 WITHIN F^T SUMTER. 
 
 earnestly, " I belie\ e in liberty of speech, but 
 if a disaiTected faction can get up and band 
 troops, seize Government property, supply them- 
 selves with guns and ammunition, and build 
 batteries, and yet not be guilty o' treason — 
 why — they 've more freedom than 's good for 
 them ; that 's what I say !'* 
 
 " Tat 's so !" exclaimed a solid built German, 
 with an oath, as he rose to his feet, " an' if 
 ever ter was treason, it 's in tis harbor now ; 
 but if te Major would only say te word we 'd 
 soon blow te treason out o' te tam rascals if to 
 were twice as many !" 
 
 " I agree with you that, few as we are, we 
 would be able to teach them a lesson," said he 
 who had replied to the first speaker, " but the 
 iVIajor 's as ready to be at them as any of us — 
 he 's only waiting for them to strike the first 
 blow." 
 
 This man was right : the Major knew what 
 he was doing. He saw that the crisis was ap- 
 proaching, and went on with stout heart to 
 meet it. It came at last. 
 
 Toward the 1st of April the storage provi- 
 sions had become so reduced in Fort Sumter 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 37 
 
 that Major Anderson, in order to economize in 
 that particular, arranged to send away the la- 
 borers employed in the fort ; the State Author- 
 ities, however, refused to suffer them to depart. 
 Of this interference with his movements and 
 the circumstance preceding — namely, the re- 
 duction of his stock of provisions — the Major 
 deemed it wise to apprise his Government ; he, 
 therefore, sent Lieutenants Talbott and Snyder 
 with a flag of truce to Charleston, the former, 
 by courtesy of the Governor, to proceed to 
 Washington with dispatches. After the ofiScers 
 went ashore, and pending the return of Lieu- 
 tenant Snyder to the boat, the men who rowed 
 it took the opportunity of procuring tobacco and 
 some other luxuries, but the police followed 
 them and seized their purchases. This was on 
 the 4th of April, and in two days after an or- 
 der was issued by the State prohibiting the gar- 
 rison of Fort Sumter any further supplies from 
 Charleston Market. 
 
 Lieutenant Talbott made the journey to 
 Washington and back in as short a time as pos- 
 sible ; but on his return to Charleston he was 
 refused permission to go to Fort Sumter. He, 
 
38 WITHIN FOBT 
 
 SUMTER. 
 
 accordingly, returned immediately to Wash- 
 ington. The instructions to Major Anderson, 
 of which he was the bearer, were, however, 
 forwarded to the fort, and duly received there. 
 They informed the Major that Government 
 would immediately send him a supply of pro- 
 visions, but as to the course he should pursue, 
 they referred him entirely to his own judgment, 
 expressing the utmost confidence in his bravery 
 and military tact. 
 
 Upon this visit to Washington Mr. Talbott 
 received promotion to a Captaincy, and, by the 
 very next train for Charleston, returned thither 
 as escort to Mr. Chew, a special messenger from 
 the President to the Governor of South Ca- 
 rolina. 
 
 Mr. Chew's message was to inform Governor 
 Pickens that it was the intention of the Gov- 
 ernment to send provisions to Fort Sumter, 
 which would be landed there peaceably if per- 
 mitted, but, if not, would be landed by force. 
 This message was delivered on the 8th of April, 
 and, after its delivery. Captain Talbott and Mr. 
 Chew returi^ed to Washington without delay. 
 
 Captain Talbott sincerely regretted his ab- 
 
 - ■ 
 
 SI 
 
WITHIN FORT StJMTER. 39 
 
 seiice from Fort Sumter in this her hour of 
 need. He knew the crisis had come, and that 
 a sharp, severe struggle was before the gallant 
 garrison, and, ! how he chafed under the ne- 
 cessity which compelled him away from the 
 glory of sharing it with them. 
 
 The garrison was now on the look-out for the 
 expected supplies, which must reach in a few 
 days or not enter. The cause was this. Sev- 
 eral weeks before the Carolinians had blocked 
 the ship channel, by sinking the 'hulls of large 
 vessels therein, leaving only a narrow passage, 
 through which skillful piloting was necessary to 
 lead large ships into harbor. The Charleston 
 ; pilots had been forbidden by their State Gov- 
 tcrnment to steei* into port any vessel bearing 
 I the United States Flag; it would, therefore, be 
 |impossible for the fleet to enter except during 
 |a very high tide, which would occur on the 
 -10th and 11th of the month. Before that time, 
 however, a storm arose which drove the vessels 
 back; and when they at last arrived, it was 
 too late — they could not enter. 
 
 Meanwhile they were expected ; and the 
 South Carolina authorities concluded to hurry 
 
40 . WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 up matters before their arrival. Accordingly, 
 at two o'clock on Thursday, April 11th, a for- 
 mal demand was sent by General Beauregard 
 to Major Anderson for the evacuation of Fort 
 Sumter. The Major's reply was as follows: 
 
 " Sir : — I have tho 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 my obligations to 
 my Government prevent my compliance. 
 
 " EoBERT Anderson." 
 
 The reception of this answer w^as imme- 
 diately followed by a deputation from General 
 Beauregard urging Major Anderson to evacuate, 
 and proposing the most honorable terms, upon 
 which he should be allowed to do so ; but the 
 Major, feeling his own strength, besides expec- 
 ting the fleet from Washington, determined to 
 hold out, and the deputation, after a long inter- 
 view, in which they earnestly sought to per- 
 suade the Major to accept the offered terms, 
 returned to Charleston to report their failure. 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 41 
 
 It was late on Thursday night when this in- 
 terview closed ; and at half past three o'clock, 
 on Friday morning, the boat with its white flag, 
 shrouded in darkness and mist, again drew up 
 to the walls of Fort Sumter. It conveyed three 
 of General Beauregard's Aid-de-camps, bearing 
 the following notice : 
 
 " Major Anderson : 
 
 " By virtue of Brigadier General Beauregard's 
 command, we have the honor to notify you that 
 he will open the line of his batteries on Fort 
 Sumter in one hour from this time." 
 
 Punctual to the minute, at half past four 
 o'clock, the first gun was fired on Fort Sumter. 
 
 It was a dark, cloudy morning, not a star was 
 visible, while a heavy mist covered earth and 
 sea ; but as through the sombre gloom came the 
 brilliant flash of exploding shells from the bat- 
 teries all around the bay, while the deep hoarse 
 tones of talking cannon echoed over the waters, 
 the scene was sublimely grand, and sensations 
 wildly inspiriting swelled in every heart. 
 
 Major Anderson alone was calm, though the 
 swollen veins of his temples, the dilating nos- 
 
42 WITHIN FORT SUMTEB. 
 
 trils, the nervous lip, told that his great heart 
 beat as ardently as any there. 
 
 He would allow of no hurry : he wished that 
 his command should husband their strength as 
 it would all be needed. With this view he de- 
 su-ed that they should breakfast before proceed- 
 ing to action. 
 
 Their simple meal was soon prepared. For 
 a week they had been on short rations of salt 
 pork, biscuit and coffee, with a little rice. This 
 rice, the last they had received, had reached 
 them through a rough sea, and, the boat being 
 leaky, had become saturated with salt water. 
 It had then been spread out in an empty room 
 of the barracks to dry, with the expectation of 
 its being very acceptable when the biscuit 
 should give out. That extremity was reached 
 now. The last few biscuits were divided, and 
 the cook was ordered to boil some rice ; but, 
 lo! the very first fire had shattered the win- 
 dows of the room where the precious article 
 was spread, and particles of glass were thickly 
 strewn amongst the grain — the food was useless. 
 
 But they still had a little pork and plenty of 
 coffee ; and, thankful for this same, the brave 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 43 
 
 fellows eat and drank, then filed iq order to 
 their places in the casemates. 
 
 And all this time the enemy's shot rattletl; 
 thick and fast, around our stronghold, which did 
 but little execution beyond affording the Major 
 an opportunity of observing the efficiency of 
 each battery employed against him, and of 
 tracing the plan which he had to oppose. 
 
 At five o'clock day began to break ; but the 
 heavy masses of clouds which obscured the sky, 
 •the sullen swell of the dark waters, the grey 
 mist which hung, like a sombre veil, over na- 
 ture's face, only became more apparent as the 
 gathering light increased. 
 
 Shortly after the huge clouds burst, and a 
 deluge of rain rushed down upon the scene, 
 as if commissioned to q[uench the matricidal 
 fire leveled against Columbia's breast. But 
 all in vain. The moaning wind — the splashing 
 shower were scarcely heeded, or made but 
 feeble sounds, while the hoarse bellowing of 
 deep-mouthed cannon still rolled fiercely on. 
 An hour, and the elements ceased to strive, 
 the wailing storm was hushed, and a still but 
 troubled sky looked down upon the scene. 
 
44 WITHIN FORT 6UMTEE. 
 
 Meanwhile the Fort Sumter garrison coolly 
 prepared for action. Major Anderson divided 
 his command into three reliefs of four hours 
 each, for service at the guns'; the first under 
 charge of Captain Doubleday^ assisted by Dr. 
 Crawford and Lieutenant Snyder ; the second 
 under charge of Captain Seymour, assisted by 
 Lieutenant' Hall; and the third under charge 
 of Lieutenant Davis and Lieutenant Meade. 
 The laborers, over forty of whom were in the 
 fort, were appointed to carry ammunition, help* 
 make cartridges and assist the gunners where 
 their aid could be available. 
 
 All w^as now ready, every man was in his 
 place, and still, before giving the word to fire, 
 our kind commander walked around to adminis- 
 ter his last charge. 
 
 "Be careful," he said, ^"of your lives; make 
 no imprudent exposure of your persons to the 
 enemy's fire ; do your duty coolly, determinedly 
 and cautioudy. Indiscretion is not valor; reck- 
 less disregard of life is not bravery. Manifest 
 your loyalty and zeal by preserving yourselves 
 from injury for the continued service of our 
 cause ; and shoiv your love to me hy guarding all 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 45 
 
 your potvers to aid me through this important 
 dutyr 
 
 This admonition, delivered in sentences, with 
 anxious brow and broken voice, will long be 
 remembered by those who heard it : — no doubt 
 it was the fulcrum sustaining and steadying the 
 power whicli cast such deadly force from Sum- 
 ter's walls. . 
 
 It was just within ten minutes of seven 
 o'clock when the order was given to fire. The 
 first shot was from a forty-two pounder directed 
 against the battery at-Cumming's Point. Three 
 of our guns bore upon this point and seven on 
 Fort Moultrie. The famous floating battery — 
 which, by the way, did not float at all, but 
 stuck fast on a point of Sullivan's Island — also 
 received some attention, besides a new battery 
 in the same neighborhood, which had only been 
 unmasked the day previous. 
 
 Before our firing commenced — when the storm 
 had cleared off sufficiently to enable us to see 
 around us — we discovered a fleet, which we 
 supposed to be our long-expected succor, out- 
 side the bar. The Major signaled them, but 
 the shoals being heavy and the tide low, they 
 
46 WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 could not possibly cross. Shortly after this a 
 fragment of a shell struck and cut through one 
 the flag halliards ; but the flag; instead of 
 falling, rose on the wind, and, with a whirl, 
 flung the remaining halliard round the top- 
 mast, by which it was held securely all day : — 
 Long live our gallant ensign ! 
 
 To return. Major Anderson having opened 
 fire continued to pour it forth with good effect. 
 Almost every ball went home. One of the 
 Fort Moultrie guns was soon disabled ; the 
 roofs and sides of the building were penetrated 
 by shot ; the flag-staff was struck and the flag 
 cut. The floating battery was struck seven- 
 teen times ; its roof was penetrated, and several 
 shots were sent square through it. The iron 
 battery at Cumming's Point was struck several 
 times, but not much impression was made. Two 
 of its guns, however, were dismounted. The 
 forty-two pound Paixhans of our lower tier 
 worked well : not one of them opened her 
 mouth without giving the enemy cause to 
 shrink, while the ten-inch Columbiads of our 
 second tier meant every word they said. The 
 barbette guns were not manned. Early in the 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 47 
 
 engagement three of them had been fired ; but 
 the number of •shells descending upon the terre- 
 plain of th6 parapet, and the flanks and faces 
 of the work being taken in reverse by the ene- 
 my's batteries rendered the danger of serving 
 in the ramparts so imminent that Mnjor Ander- 
 son quickly withdrew his men from them, and 
 kept them in the casemates. 
 
 When the cartridges became scarce, the men 
 not engaged at the guns were employed to 
 make them ; the sheets and bedding from the 
 hospital being brought out and used for that 
 purpose. 
 
 Noon came, yet Fort Sumter was not hurt : 
 the proud stronghold had resisted every effort 
 to do it serious injury. A new species of at- 
 tack, however, was now resorted to. The solid 
 pile which was impervious to cold ball might 
 feel the influence of hot shot, especially as the 
 barracks were constructed mainly of timber; 
 and so a red, hissing shower rushed from Fort 
 Moultrie on this treacherous errand. 
 
 The officers' quarters soon caught fire; — the 
 roof of this elegant building, being taller than 
 those adjoining, received the assault first, but 
 
48 WITHIN FORT SUMTEE. 
 
 the bursting of the cistern, on top, which oc- 
 curred about the sanie time, prevented the con- 
 flagration from spreading. Still down came the 
 fierce hot shot upon the doomed dwellings, jand 
 were it not for the leaking cisterns, each of 
 which had been perforated by ball, the whole 
 would have been quickly consumed. 
 
 The ball from the enemy's batteries con- 
 tinued to rattle against the fort, and the lat- 
 ter paid back the compliment with interest. 
 A strong, determined will actuated our men, 
 astonishing to find in so small a number, sur- 
 rounded and hemmed in by an armament of 
 thousands. ' 
 
 "Aye ! there 's a great crowd o' them against 
 us !" exclaimed one, as he leaned for a minute 
 behind the column of -^an embrasure, '^ but it 's 
 the Republic they 're fightin' — not us — and, 
 in the nume of the Republic, we 're able for 
 them." 
 
 "To bo sure wo are!" was the hearty re- 
 sponse, "seventy true men to seventy thou- 
 sand traitors, and the true side is the strong- 
 est!" 
 
 And at it they kept, loading and firing, firing 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 49 
 
 and re-loading, without stopping for food or 
 repose, except an occasional draught of coffee, 
 to wash the powder from their throats, or a 
 shorfrest for their weary shoulders against an 
 arch gr column. 
 
 Nor, all through the exciting day, did the 
 officers ever flag in their duty. Cool, firm, and 
 intrepid, with ^ eyes like eagles, ears quick to 
 hear, and limbs of agile motion, they saw every 
 movement of the enemy, heard their leader's 
 lightest command, and directed each action of 
 their charge with a promptness and energy 
 worthy the important occasion. 
 
 The day seemed short, too, full as it was 
 with labor and ' excitement ; ^ and the hearts 
 which beat with hope and enthusiasm heeded 
 not the flight of time. They would fain fight 
 on after day had closed; but the. sun went 
 down in lowering gloom, night gathered over 
 us murky and chill, and Major Anderson or- 
 dered the firing to cease, and the men to eat 
 some supper and to go to bed. 
 
 The only supper they had was a little pork 
 and coffee ; but this, with a good sleep, would 
 afford them some refreshment, preparatory to 
 
50 WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 the next day's toil ; so they took it cheerfully 
 and laid down. 
 
 Still the enemy's fire continued. Even when, 
 at seven o'clock, a mighty storm arose, and rain 
 descended with the -force of a cataract, an oc- 
 casional bomb from one of the batteries mingled 
 with the fury of the elements, as if bidding 
 defiance to nature as well as law. 
 
 The condition of the fort was now examined, 
 and the injuries sustained were found to be as 
 follows : The crest of the parapet had been 
 broken in many places ; the gorge had been 
 struck by shell and shot, and some of these 
 had penetrated the wall to the depth of tw^elve 
 inches. Several of the barbette guns had been 
 injured ; one had been struck by a ball and 
 cracked ; one was dismounted and two had 
 been thrown over by a recoil. The lower case- 
 mates were uninjured, save one or two em- 
 brasures a little broken on the edges. 
 
 But the internal structure had received the 
 most damage — the ivoodcn building Avhich had 
 been treated to hot shot. Nothing saved it 
 from being consumed but the riddling of the 
 cisterns which sent the .water flowing? after the 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 51 
 
 fire as fast as the red balls kindled it ; and now 
 the copious rain came down to quench every 
 spark that might have remained in wall or 
 roof. 
 
 Yet the pretty edifice was in a sad condition : 
 between fire and water our pleasant quarters 
 were spoiled* 
 
 And here we would say, in parenthesis, to 
 military engineers : Never use timber to build 
 the barracks of a fort, nor raise the roof of 
 your officei-s' quarters higher than the outer 
 wall, unless you calculate upon deserting 3'our 
 colors, turning traitor to your cause, and head- 
 ing a host in attacking that very fort. In such 
 case you will find that having used that ma- 
 terial will serve your purpose — as did Beau- 
 regard. 
 
 That we should bo again saluted with hot 
 shot was pretty certain, and, the cisterns empty 
 and the rain storm ovfer, nothing could save 
 the wood works from destruction. As much 
 of the officers' effects as could be removed, 
 were, therefore, carried to the casemates — the 
 privates, many of whom were now sleeping 
 soundly in their barracks, had not much to lose. 
 
52 WITHIN FOET SUMTER. 
 
 The next morning rose fair and mild. The 
 rain clouds had discharged their burden, and 
 now a clear, calm sky looked down upon the 
 scene. As day broke the firing from the ene- 
 my's batteries was resumed, and our garrison 
 arose and prepared to reply to them. The 
 meagre breakfast of pork and coffee was again 
 partaken, and at seven o'clock Fort Sumter 
 opened fire, which was kept up vigorously dur- 
 ing the remainder of the contest. 
 
 The first few shots directed at Fort Moultrie 
 sent the chimneys off the officers' quarters, and 
 considerably tore up the roof; nearly a dozen 
 shots penetrated the floating battery below the 
 water line, and several of the guns on Morris 
 Island were disabled. The clear state of the 
 atmosphere to-day enables us to see some of 
 the effects of our fire upon the enemy — all the 
 effects w^e do not expect ever to learn. 
 
 As anticipated, hot shot was fired again from 
 Moultrie upon the doomed buildings inside Fort 
 Sumter ; and at a little after eight o'clock the 
 officers' quarters were ablaze. All the men, 
 not on duty at the guns, exerted themselves to 
 extinguish the fire, but it spread rapidly, ignit- 
 
WITHIN FOET SUMTER. 53 
 
 ing here and there, as the red balls continued 
 to. drop, until every portion was in flames. 
 
 Attention was now directed to the magazines, 
 which were situated at each of the southern 
 corners of the fort, between the officers' quar- 
 ters and the barracks. An intimacy with the 
 internal arrangements of the fort had, doubt- 
 less, suggested to the gentleman in the opposite 
 command the possibility of blowing up the gar- 
 rison — hence the clever stratagem of firing the 
 officers' quarters with hot shot; but against 
 this danger Major Anderson provided by or- 
 dering all the powder to be taken from the 
 upper magazines, and the lower magazines to 
 be shut tight and thick mounds of earth to 
 be heaped round the doors, through which no 
 amount of heat could penetrate. 
 
 Afterwards, when the fire had spread through 
 the barracks and reached the casemates, the 
 Major ordered the powder, which had been 
 removed thither from the magazines, to be 
 thrown into the sea, and ninety barrels were 
 thus disposed of 
 
 As the fire increased the situation of the gar- 
 rison was distressing beyond description. The 
 
54 WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 "water from the cisterns, followecl by floods of 
 rain, had saturated the riddled and broken 
 buildings so that they burned with a hissing, 
 smoldering flame, sending forth dense clouds 
 of vapor and smoke, which soon filled the whole 
 fort, rendering it difficult to breathe. The men 
 were often obliged to lie down in the casemates, 
 with wet cloths over their faces, to gain tempo- 
 rary relief. 
 
 Still the valiant fellows continued to serve 
 their guns, and bomb after bomb, resounding 
 from Sumter's walls, told that the spirit of 
 American loyalty v/as not to bo subdued, even 
 by fire. 
 
 About half past twelve o'clock our flag-stalT, 
 which had been grazed several times, was shot 
 through and the flag fell. Down, amid burning 
 brands, surrounded by smoke and ruin, our 
 war-worn ensign lay. 
 
 It was but a moment, and the next our 
 young Lieutenant, Mr. Hall, rushed through 
 the fire and, dashing all impediments out of 
 his way, seized the prostrate colors. A buzz 
 of admiration, mingled with words of fear for 
 the officer's safety, and every man started for- 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 55 
 
 ward, straining his eyes through the smoke 
 until the object of quest emerged to view, be- 
 grimed with sootj choking and faint, his face 
 and hair singed, his clothes scorched, and 
 holding aloft, with almost spent strength, the 
 rescued flag. A weak, but heartfelt cheer, 
 from parched throats, greeted him as the pre- 
 cious burden was taken from his blistered hands, 
 and he sunk down exhausted. 
 
 When the fire was all spent, the gay dwelling 
 in ashes, and" the noble fort was silent — stand- 
 ing, proud as ever, in stern, strong nakedness — 
 Mr. Hall's epaulets were found on the spot 
 from which he had raised the flag. In rush- 
 ing through the fire they had become heated, 
 and, oppressing his shoulders, he tore them off. 
 They were now burnt — all but one little bunch 
 of gold wire, which was embedded in ashes'^ 
 That little relic is in the writer's possession; 
 treasured as one of the precious trifles belong- 
 ing to History's store-house. 
 
 In fifteen, minutes from the fall of the flag it 
 was up again ; a jury-mast was hastily raised, 
 to which it was nailed, and it floated out as 
 before. The honor of nailing it up belongs to 
 
56 WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 Mr. Peter Hart, a New York gentlemaiij who 
 had come to Fort Sumter some time before, to 
 visit Major Anderson, Avith whom he had served 
 in the Mexican war, and had remained at the 
 fort as his guest. Though he took no part in 
 the actual battle, yet, he made himself useful to 
 the garrison in many ways, of which this, re- 
 corded, is not the least. 
 
 And still the fire raged within and the can- 
 non roared without. The flames increased in 
 strength and volume, the air became heated all 
 through the fort ; but the more the little gar- 
 rison suffered the harder they fought, and each 
 ball that flew from their embrasures performed 
 its errand well. 
 
 At about half past one P. M. a boat was 
 seen approaching from Cumming's Point-. Ar- 
 rived at Fort Sumter a gentleman sprang from 
 it, and, with a white handkerchief tied to the 
 point of his sword to represent a flag of truce, 
 he ran up to a port-hole, which he entered, say- 
 ing to a soldier, whom he met, 
 
 " I wish to see the commandant — my name 
 is Wigfall, and I com.e from General Beau- 
 regard." 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 57 
 
 The soldier went to inform Major Anderson, 
 and Mr. Wigfall passed into the casemate where 
 he met Captain Foster and Lieutenant Davis. 
 To them he also introduced himself, stating that 
 he came from General Beauregard. Then he 
 added excitedly : 
 
 "Let us stop this firing. You are on fire, 
 and your flag is down — ^let us quit!" 
 
 Mr. Davis replied, 
 
 "No, Sir, our flag is not down. Step out 
 here and you will see it waving over the ram- 
 parts." 
 
 He ran out and looked up, but the smoke 
 filled his eyes and he exclaimed, impatiently 
 extending his sword : 
 
 " Here 's a white flag, — will any body wave 
 it out of the embrasure ?" 
 
 Captain Foster said one of the men might do 
 so, and Corporal Bingham, who was present, 
 took it in his hand and jumped into the em- 
 brasure. And so the first white flag that 
 waved from Fort Sumter was Senator Wigfali's 
 handkerchief, tied to the point of that gentle* 
 man's sword 1 
 
58 WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 But the firing stOl continued, when Mr. Wig- 
 fall said : 
 
 " If you will show a white flag from your 
 ramparts, they will cease firing." 
 
 Captain Foster replied : 
 
 " If you request that a white flag shall ap- 
 pear there while you hold a conference with 
 Major Anderson, and for that purpose alone, 
 Major Anderson may permit it." 
 
 Major Anderson, at that moment came up, 
 and the white flag was ordered to be raised. 
 
 " Major Anderson," said Mr. Wigfall, " you 
 have defended your flag nobly, Sir. You have 
 done all that is possible for man to do, and 
 General Beajiregard wishes to stop the fight. 
 On what terms. Major Anderson, will you 
 evacuate this fort ?" 
 
 " Terms ?" said Major Anderson, raising him- 
 *self to his full hight, and speaking with em- 
 phasis, '^I shall evacuate on the most honorable 
 terms, or — die here r 
 
 Mr. Wigfall inclined his head ; — respect for 
 the glorious soul in that slight, frail form could 
 not be withheld by even an enemy. 
 
 "Will you, Major Anderson," he then asked, 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 59 
 
 " evacuate this fort upon the terms proposed to 
 you the other day ?" 
 
 " On the terms last proposed I will/' was the 
 reply. 
 
 " Then, Sir, I understand that the fort is to 
 be ours ?" 
 
 " On those conditions 07il?/, I repeat." 
 
 "Well, Sir, I will return to General Beau- 
 regard," said Mr. Wigfall; and, bowing low, he 
 retired. 
 
 The white flag* was then hauled down, and 
 the American flag run up. 
 
 The Major now ordered that the firing should 
 not be renewed, but that the men should take 
 such refreshment as they had and rest awhile. 
 Poor fellows ! they were nearly exhausted. 
 Those who had not been engaged at the guns 
 had been toiling to subdue the fire ; and faint 
 for lack of food, and suffocating with smoke, it 
 was only their giant hearts sustained them 
 through. 
 
 When the flames were at the highest the 
 enemy blazed away the faster, in order to cut 
 down the men who were working to extinguish 
 the fire ; but a Divine shield was over them, 
 
60 WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 and not one life of the gallant First was taken 
 hy traitor hands. 
 
 Some "own correspondent" stated that the 
 Major sent men outside the fort on a raft to 
 procure water wherewith to quench the fire : — 
 nonsense ! there was plenty of water inside for 
 the purpose, if there had only been hands 
 enough to use it ; but the guns must be kept 
 manned, so only those who could be spared 
 from that duty gave attention to the burning 
 buildings. 
 
 Their exertions, however, were sufficient to 
 prevent explosions and disaster to life. The 
 fire was kept under, and prevented from com- 
 municating with the magazines, until every 
 ' ounce of powder Was removed out of our reach 
 also, for, when hostilities ceased, we had but 
 four barrels and three cartridges on hand. 
 
 But the fire had done its work, and was now 
 gradually burning out. The barracks and offi- 
 cers' quarters were destroyed ; and as the 
 smoke thinned away, so that the eye could 
 penetrate the scene, nothing but charred and 
 smoldering ruins were visible. 
 
 About three o'clock P. M. a formal deputa. 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 61 
 
 tion came to Major Anderson from General 
 Beauregard and Governor Pickens, proposing 
 the same terms as had been previously offered, 
 except that they were not willing the Major 
 should salute his flag. 
 
 To this Major Anderson would not consent. 
 
 About six o'clock came anotlier deputation, 
 consistmg of Colonel Prior, Colonel Miles, Ma- 
 jor Jones, and Captain Hartstein, and presented 
 to Major Anderson General Beauregard's final 
 terms. They were as follows. The garrison 
 to march out with their side and other arms, 
 with all the honors, in their own way and at 
 their own time ; to salute their flag and take it 
 with them, and to take all their individual and 
 company property ; the enemy also agreeing to 
 furnish transports, as Major Anderson might 
 select, to any part of the country, either by 
 land or water. 
 
 With all this Major Anderson was satisfied 
 except the last clause. He would not consent 
 to accept traveling accommodations from the 
 enemy beyond the use of a steam-tug to con- 
 vey him to the Government vessels outside 
 the bar. 
 
62 WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 Outside the bar 1 — Oh ! if they had been 
 inside, what a different tale could the writer 
 have told to-day ! . 
 
 This fleet comprised three steam transports, 
 two sloops-of-war, one cutter and two steam- 
 tugs. Had they been able to enter, and pour 
 their men and provisions into Fort Sumter, the 
 Stars and Stripes would be waving from its 
 ramparts now. With enough men to work wa- 
 ter upon the falling hot shot while enough re- 
 mained at the guns, and with sufficient food to 
 sustain them in their labors, under such a com- 
 mander as Major Anderson, that fortress would 
 have held out against a million foes. 
 
 As before mentioned, on their way down they 
 were met by a storm Avhich drove them back 
 and separated them. One of the transports, the 
 Baltic, and the cutter, Harriet Lane, reached 
 Charleston Harbor on Friday morning, but late 
 for the high tide. In attempting to enter, the 
 Baltic ran aground on a shoal, and was with 
 difficulty got off. She then lay to, waiting for 
 the steam-tugs ; but they had been blown out 
 to sea, and did not arrive until after the evacua- 
 tion, and the other transports were not seen. 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 63 
 
 On Saturday the sloops arrived, and, failing 
 the appearance of the tugs, they determined to 
 force an entrance that night. All this time a 
 strong gale was blowing, against which tbey, 
 with difficulty, bore up; but, though seven 
 miles distant, they heard the firing, and longed 
 to get to the succor of the garrison. 
 
 AVith the intention of appropriating a tug, 
 the Harriet Lane chased a guard steamer into 
 the harbor, but did not succeed in overhauling 
 her. At last they seized a pilot, whom they 
 induced, under promise of a large reward, to 
 aid them ; but just then the firing ceased, and 
 they felt that all they could do for Major An- 
 derson and his little garrison now was to carry 
 them awij^. 
 
 All this we did not know while we were 
 ivithin Fort Sumter — we learned it afterwards ; 
 but we did know the condition of the harbor — • 
 the entrance encumbered with shoals, and even 
 the narrow channel rendered still narrower by 
 sunken hulls. We also knew that a storm was 
 raging along- the coast, and the entrance of 
 large vessels, unless very skillfully piloted, was 
 not only dangerous, but impossible. 
 
64 WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 It was this knowledge which necessitated the 
 evacuation. As long as there was any hope of 
 being enabled to maintain his post Major An- 
 derson would not quit it upon any terms ; and 
 even when that hope was dead, he did not re- 
 linquish the fort without exacting the n^ost 
 honorable conditions. 
 
 And now all was arranged according to the 
 Major's dictation/ nothing remained but for the 
 garrison to pack their effects and prepare to 
 depart. This occupied great part of the night, 
 and the next morning a Charleston steamer was 
 in attendance to convey them to the ^eet. The 
 baggage was placed on board, then the men 
 were drawn up under arms, on the parade, and 
 a portion told off, as gunners, to saiiute their 
 flag. 
 
 And now came the last solemn ceremony, to 
 end even more solemnly than we expected. , 
 The guns began to fire. One after another 
 their loud voices rolled out upon the Sabbath 
 air until fifty were counted, and then — an ex- 
 plosion, a cry, a rush, and every gun was silent. 
 A pile of cartridges, containing eighty pounds 
 of powder, had been laid inside the bomb-proof, 
 
WITHIN FOET SUMTER. 65 
 
 on the parapet, convenient to one of the guns. 
 Among these cartridges a spark had fallen, and 
 while the guns- were firing, and the soldiers 
 cheering, the powder exploded, tearing the 
 strong sheets of iron, of which the bomb-proof 
 was composed, into fragments, and scattering 
 them abroad like feathers, at the same time 
 sending a shock — a thrill of horror to every 
 heart, for a group of men had been standing 
 round, and Oh ! where were they now ? 
 
 A few moments and anxious faces were 
 gathered to the scene of the disaster : — sad 
 scene ! — one of our brave fellows was dead — 
 quite dead — rent almost in two; another was 
 dying — fractured in every limb ; another yet 
 so mutilated that the Doctor only shook his 
 head, and six others more or less injured. 
 
 The departure of the garrison was, of course, 
 delayed by this accident — the dead and the 
 wounded must be car^d for; yet the process of 
 evacuation must be concluded, and so, while 
 with tender hands and moist eyes the soldiers 
 removed their bleeding comrades, the flag, in 
 vindicating whose honor this warm blood was 
 
6G WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 spilt, drooped its proud pinions and slowly 
 descended from the ramparts. 
 
 All that men in their circumstances could do 
 was then done by the garrison for the dead and 
 wounded : the former was prepared for de- 
 cent burial, the latter tended with the kindest 
 care. 
 
 The enemy, impatient to take possession of 
 the fort, now arrived. Governor Pickens and 
 General Beauregard wdth their aids landed and 
 entered, but, seeing w^hat had occurred, imme- 
 diately tendered every assistance. A minister 
 was accordingly sent for to Charleston, to per- 
 form the serAdce for the dead, and physicians 
 to take charge of those whom we should be 
 obliged to leave behind living. Meanwhile a 
 strong coffin was put together, a grave dug in 
 the parade, and, shortly after the clergyman 
 arrived, the funeral proceeded. 
 
 With military honors the scarcely cold re- 
 mains were buried : the Major heading the pro- 
 cession with crape upon his sw^ord. With the 
 rites of the Church the coffin was lowered into 
 the grave, and, awaiting the resurrection, when 
 the justice of every cause shall be righteously 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 67 
 
 proved, Daniel Howe was left sleeping in Fort 
 Sumter. 
 
 The wounded men, all but two who were 
 quite unfit to bear the voyage, were then re- 
 moved to the steamer. These, under promise 
 of the kindest treatment, were trusted to the 
 hospitality of the South Carolinians; one of 
 them, George Fielding was, therefore, conveyed 
 to the Charleston Hospital, the other, Edward 
 Galway, whose hours were numbered, was made 
 as comfortable as possible in the fort. 
 
 These sad details arranged, Mnjor Anderson 
 issued his final orders for embarkation; and, 
 carrying their flag and even its shattered mast, 
 with band playing Yankee Doodle^ the garrison 
 marched out of the fort and went on board the 
 steamer. As the Major emerged from the gate 
 the music changed into Hail to the Chief : — 
 simple tribute but no less heart-felt ! 
 
 It was now late in the afternoon, a#d the gar- 
 rison had eaten nothing since their scanty break- 
 fast of pork and coffee ; it would, therefore, 
 have been most desirable to have got out on 
 board the transport without delay; but the state 
 of the tide was such that the little steamer 
 
68 WITHIN FOET SUMTER. 
 
 could not move, and all night she lay under the 
 walls of Fort Sumter. Had they had only their 
 own discomforts to think of, they would have felt 
 more the inconveniences of that long delay with- 
 out food or resting places ; but thoughts of their 
 dying comrade in the fort, whose groans almost 
 reached their ears, filled their minds, even to 
 the exclusion of self. Before they left, however, 
 the sufferer was released. An officer came on 
 "board the steamer to inform Major Anderson 
 of the death of Edward Galwa}^, and to assure 
 him that the deceased should be buried beside 
 Howe, with the honors due to a brave soldier. 
 
 Those two men, Daniel Howe and Edward 
 Galway, were natives of Ireland — the first from 
 the County Tipperary, the last from the County 
 Cork. They fought in the defence of our flag, 
 they died in doing it honor: — their blood was 
 the first that flowed — their lives were the first 
 that weretBacrificed in the cause of our glorious 
 Union. 
 
 Early on Monday morning, April 15th, with 
 the rising of the tide, the Isabel, on board which 
 our garrison lay, steamed out of the Charleston 
 waters to where the United States vessels lay, 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 69 
 
 waiting to receive the gallant freight. The 
 little band were welcomed with cheers by the 
 fleet, and the BaltiC; on board which they were 
 taken, felt honored by their presence. Every 
 preparation had been made for their comfort, 
 and nothing that could be done to atone for 
 their past privation was neglected. 
 
 The Sumter flag, which had floated over the 
 Isabel, was immediately hoisted on the Baltic, 
 and a salute fired; and then Major Anderson 
 was observed to bow his head and weep. 
 
 What, tears ? Yes, Reader, tears ! We 
 don't conceal the fact. Great men can feel. 
 It was told of Xerxes — why not tell it of our 
 own loved hero ? He looked up at his flag, tat- 
 tered and begrimed, yet free as ever ; he looked 
 round at his comrades, wan and weary, but with 
 hearts of stoutest metal, and emotion mastered 
 him — ^he bowed his head and wept. 
 
 The Baltic was soon under weigh ;" and, after 
 a pleasant run of three days reached Sandy 
 Hook, where sh*^ was boarded by the Medical 
 Staff from Staten Island, and quite a crowd of 
 gentlemen who had come in boats, from New 
 York, to meet her. 
 
70 WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 Here Major Anderson wrote the following 
 dispatch to the War Department. 
 
 " Steamship Baltic, oCf Saxdy Hooe, 
 
 "Thursday, April 18, 1861. 
 
 "iTbw. S. Cameron, Secretary of War, Washing- 
 ton, D. C: ^ 
 "Sir: — Having defended Fort Sumter for 
 thirty-four hours, until the quarters were en- 
 tirely burned, the main gates destroyed by fire, 
 the gorge wall seriously injured, the magazine 
 surrounded by flames, and its door closed from 
 the cfTect of the heat, four barrels and three 
 cartridges of powder only being available, and 
 no provisions but pork remaining, I accepted 
 terms of evacuation, offered by General Beau- 
 regard, being the same offered by him on the 
 11th instant, prior to the commencement of 
 hostilities, and marched out of the fort, Sunday 
 afternoon, -the 14th instant, with colors flying 
 and drums beating, bringing away company and 
 private property, and saluting my flag with 
 fifty guns. 
 
 " Robert Anderson, 
 " Major First Artillery." 
 
WITHIN FORT SUMTER, 71 
 
 It was a bright, sunny day ^s the Baltic 
 steamed up New York Harbor, saluted by the 
 firing of cannon from the forts, and hy the 
 ringing of bells and waving of flags from the 
 city as she approached. The late garrison of 
 Fort Sumter was drawn up on her quarter-deck, 
 considerably restored in appearance by good 
 food and rest; and the Major, surrounded by 
 his officers, stood on the wheel-house, still look- 
 ing pale and care-worn, his expressive features 
 quivering with emotion as he acknowledged the 
 salutations of the people. 
 
 All is nov7 told — as far as a hasty sketch can 
 tell it — of what transpired within Fort Sumter : 
 of the energy, courage and determined will 
 which sustained that little garrison to the .last. 
 And now you talk of promoting Major An- 
 derson : — -promote Major Anderson I — Could you 
 promote the lion among beasts — the eagle among 
 birds ? could you exalt Sorata among mountains, 
 or dignify the Amazon among streams ? could 
 you give distinction to the North Star, or 
 brighten the sun-beam ? as well might you at- 
 tempt to elevate one who has arisen on the 
 pinions of his own grand spirit to the hill- 
 
72 WITHIN FORT SUMTER. 
 
 top of glory ,^ No, fellow-cofentrymen, you can 
 not 'promote Major Anderson ! You can give 
 no higher rank to the premier of his contem- 
 poraries — you can confer no prouder title on 
 the Hero of Charlestox IIajibor. 
 
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