FORT SUMTER AT BEST AND IN ACTION, 75 Sumter in Action. Floating battery, dropped in their resonant | ming's Point iron battery, notes; then a pause, but only for a moment. the Floating iron-clad batA roar of fifty guns burst in concert, a cho- tery anchored off the end rus to the solemn prelude which must have of Sullivan's island, and the Enfilading batstartled the spirits of the patriotic dead* in tery on Sullivan's island-all of which were their slumbers. then pouring in a scathing storm of solid Sumter lay off in the shot. To the mortar batteries on James' Fort Sumter at Rest. waters, the centre of that island and Mount Pleasant, and to Fort appalling circle of fire. Johnson, but little attention was paid-only The early morning shadows had lifted from an occasional columbiad answering their its ramparts to discover the Stars and Stripes terrific messengers to prove its defiance. The floating from the garrison staff; but, it was parapet guns were not served after a few as silent amid that storm as if no living soul rounds, as their exposed condition rendered panted and fretted within its walls. It was it impossible to work them without a sacrithe silence of duty-of men resolved on fice of men—a sacrifice Anderson would not death, if their country called for the sacri- needlessly allow. Throughout all that fearfice. For months the little garrison had ful fray, the commander seemed never to lose been pent up in the fortress, overworked and sight of the men; and, that not a man was underfed; but, not a murmur escaped the men, lost during the bombardment, reflects quite and the hour of assault found all prepared as much honor upon him, as the defense did for their leader's orders—to defend the fort honor to his devotion to duty. to the last. The zeal of the men was The sentinels were removed from the para- so great that the second The Bombardment. pet, the posterns closed, and the order given and third reliefs refused to for the men to keep close within the case-await their turns; hence, the number of dismates, until the call of the drum. Breakfast charges, during the first eight hours, led the was quietly served at six o'clock-the shot enemy to think that the fort must have been and shell of the enemy thundering against reinforced. The state of feeling among the the walls and pouring within the enclosure men may be inferred from an incident rewith remarkable precision. After breakfast, lated of a company of Irish laborers within disposition was calmly made for the day's the fort, not enlisted in the service. At tirst work. The casemates were supplied from they refused to assist in handling the heavy the magazines; the guns, without tangents or guns; but soon their ardor was enkindled, scales, and even destitute of bearing screws,t and, ere long, every man was begrimed were to be ranged by the eyes and tired " by with the stains of battle. From that moguess;" the little force was told off in relays, ment until the cessation of firing, none composed of three reliefs, equally dividing labored more zealously or enthusiastically the officers and men. Captain Arthur than the Irish “ irregulars”—as they were Doubleday took the first detachment, and fired jocosely named by the troops. Their devothe first gun at seven o'clock. The Captain tion, indeed, became reckless. An officer directed his guns at Moultrie, at the Cum- stated that, having ordered the barbette guns to be silenced, owing to the murderous June 4th, 1776, Moultrie was bombarded by the fire made upon them by the rified ordnance British fleet from eleven A. M. until seven P. M., when of the Enfilading battery, he was surprised to the fleet drew off in a crippled condition. The fort hear was defended by Colonel Moultrie and 400 a report from one of the exposed forty with a loss of fourteen killed and twenty-two wounded. two-pounders. Proceeding to the parapet, The dead reposed in graves almost overshadowed he found a party of the workmen serving the by the smoke of the conflict of April 12th. gun. “I saw one of them," he statel, + See letter of Dr. W. H. Russell to London stooping over, with his hands on his knces, Times, dated Charleston, April 21st. The Dr. visit- convulsed with joy, while the tears rolled eu Sumter shortly after the evacuation, and saw the down his powder-begrimed cheeks. “What guna. are you doing there with that gun?' I men, The Bombardment. The Bombardment a conse asked, * Hit it right in bombardment, it served an the man meaning that his practically demonstrating chot had taken effect in the centre of the the availability of such structures for harbor Floating battery." defense and assault. Another officer present thus recorded the At noon, Friday, the supply of cartridges nature and effect of that literal rain of iron in the fort was exhausted, when the blankets which, all the day long (Friday), poured in of the barracks and the shirts of the men upon the still defiant walls : were sewed into the required bags and served "Shells burst with the greatest rapidity in out. No instrument was in the fort for every portion of the work, hurling the loose weighing the powder, thus forbidding all brick and stone in all directions, breaking precision in the charge, and, as the windows, and setting fire to whatever quence, much variation in planting the shot. woodwork they burst against. The solid When we add that the guns wanted both shot firing of the enemy's batteries, and par- tangents, breech or telescopic sights--that ticularly of Fort Moultrie, was directed at wedges served instead of bearing screws, we the barbette guns of Fort Sumter, disabling can only express astonishment at the accuone ten-inch columbiad (they had but two), racy attained. Not a structure of the enemy onc eight-inch columbiad, one forty-two-escaped the solid balls of the columbiads and pounder, and two eight-inch sea-coast how- paixhans. The village of Moultrieville--a itzers, and also tearing a large portion of the gathering of summer-houses belonging to citiparapet away. The firing from the batteries zens of Charleston—was completely riddled. on Cumming's Point was scattered over the The fleet appeared off the harbor at noon, whole of the gorge, or rear, of the fort. It Friday. Signals passed between Anderson looked like a sieve. The explosion of shells, and the vessels, but no effort was made to run and the quantity of deaclly missiles that were the gauntlet. Along Morris and Sullivan's hurled in every direction, and at every in- islands were anchored small batteries, comstant of time, made it almost certain death manding the harbor entrance, expressly de to go out of the lower tier of casemates, and signed to prevent the passage of vessels over also made the working of the barbette, or the bar and up the channel. To have passed upper uncovered guns, which contained all these only would have brought the vessel in our heaviest metals, and by which alone we range of the irresistible guns of Cumming's could throw shells, quite impossible. Dur- Point and of Moultrie. No wooden frame ing the first day there was hardly an instant could have withstood their fearful hail. The of time that there was a cessation of the only feasible plan was, under cover of the whizzing of balls, which were sometimes night, to run in with small boats; or, to coming half a dozen at once. There was not force a landing on Morris island, and a portion of the work which was not seen in carry the batteries by assault. Either plan reverse (that is, exposed by the rear,) from would have proven successful, if conducted mortars." with spirit, though it would have entailed The fire from the Cumming's Point bat- much loss of life. Why it was not undertery (called the Stevens' iron battery) was taken, is only explainable on the inference particularly close and effective. Mounting that Mr. Lincoln did not want to retain Sumter. several heavy Dalılgrens, and possessing a The possession of the fort was a matter of no fine English (rifled) sixty-four-pounder, it military importance; a blockade would renproceeded deliberately to cut away the walls der all the defenses of the harbor useless. by sections, on the south-west side, and did | The assault on the fort would serve to initiate more damage than all the combined guns of the War for the Union, and thus instate the the other batteries. Anderson's heavy co- President's policy for the suppression of the lumbiads scarcely affected its mailed front. rebellion. The refusal to withdraw the garSo, also, with the Floating battery--Sumter's rison from Charleston harbor unquestionably metal did not disable it; and, through all the was the subtle key to unlock the national THE BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER. The Bombardment. The Bombardment. came. sympathies and to place | prove that the revolution- entire power of the loyal to dislodge the obstinate States. He counted well upon the madness Anderson. Soon the barracks and quarters of the Confederates, and simply opened the were in flames, past all control. The men way for them to assail the Government by as- were then withdrawn from the guns, to avert saulting its garrison. This was the part for the now impending danger to the magazine. Fort Sumter to play; and, having played it The powder must be emptied into the sea. successfully, it was not necessary to retain the Ninety barrels were rolled over the area, exposposition. The evacuation of the fortress, and ed to the flames, and pitched into the water. the return to the North of its garrison, to By this time the heat from the burning buildexcite public sympathy, would be worth ings became intense, fairly stifling the men more to the cause of the Union than the re- with its dense fumes. The doors of the vault inforcement and retention of the stronghold.* were, therefore, sealed, while the men crept During Friday's bombardment the officers' | into the casemates to avoid suffocation by barracks within the fort were several times cowering close to the floor, covering their set on fire by the exploding shells, but were faces with wet cloths. An occasional gun quickly extinguished, chiefly through the only could be fired, as a signal to the enemy exertions of a New York police officer, a Mr. and the fleet outside, that the fort had not Hart, who, having visited the fortress, tarried surrendered. The colors still floated from with Major Anderson to serve when the crisis the staff. When the winds bore the smoke His daring and coolness in suppress and flames de, its folds revealed to the ing the flames, obtained all praise. enemy the glorious stars and stripes, waving Friday night the firing from the mortar there amid the ruin and treble terror, unbatteries continued at intervals to keep the scathed. Its halyards had been shot away, garrison from repairing damages or taking but, becoming entangled, the flag was fixed. rest. Saturday morning, at the earliest light, Only the destruction of the staff could drag the cannonading was resumed with re- it down. doubled fury. By eight o'clock the red-hot This appalling conflagration seemed to inballs from the furnace in Moultrie came to flame the zeal of the assailants. The entire circle of attack blazoned with fire, and * The President, upon this occasion as upon the air was cut up into hissing arches of others at a later date, displayed extraordinary smoke and balls. The rebel general-in-comsagacity. The London Times of April 10th wrote: mand had stated that two hours, probably, “ Thus the critical days and weeks fly by, and we would suffice to reduce the fortress, but know no more of the plans of the American Government, and, for aught we can see, the American Gov. twenty-eight hours had not accomplished ernment knows no more of its plans, than on the first day the work; and now, as the besiegers beheld when it acceded to office with a manifesto, the in another and more invincible power coming terpretation of which has exercised all the contro. to their aid, they acknowledged the service versial talent of the country, and hitherto without rendered, by frenzied shouts and redoubled leading to any conclusion. While the Coun service at their guns. It must have been a cils of the North are thus vacillating and undecided, the moment to inspire the enthusiasm of seven men of the South are working out the problem they thousand song of the South, when flames have undertaken with every appearance of calmness and suffocation came to assist in reducing and deliberation.” The “ Thunderer’s” prescience eighty half-starved and exhausted men. was not then capable of penetrating deeper into the About noon of Saturday, the upper service mysteries of diplomatic strategy than its correspondent, Mr. Russell, was, afterward, capable of magazine exploded, tearing away the tower apprehending the spirit and capacity of the Northern and upper portions of the fort, and doing people. That apparent hesitancy demonstrated that more havoc than a week's bombardment Mr. Lincoln had a policy, as wise as it was far-reach could have effected. One who was present ing in its aims--that the “Councils of the North” wrote: “ The crash of the beams, the roar were neither " vacillating nor undecided." of the flames, the rapid explosion of the * The Bombardment. a conse asked. " Hit it right in bombardment, it served an the man meaning that his practically demonstrating shot bad taken effect in the centre of the the availability of such structures for harbor Floating battery.” defense and assault. Another officer present thus recorded the At noon, Friday, the supply of cartridges nature and effect of that literal rain of iron in the fort was exhausted, when the blankets which, all the day long (Friday), poured in of the barracks and the shirts of the men upon the still defiant walls: were sewed into the required bags and served “Shells burst with the greatest rapidity in out. No instrument was in the fort for every portion of the work, hurling the loose weighing the powder, thus forbidding all brick and stone in all directions, breaking precision in the charge, and, as the windows, and setting fire to whatever quence, much variation in planting the shot. woodwork they burst against. The solid When we add that the guns wanted both shot firing of the enemy's batteries, and par- tangents, breech or telescopic sights-that ticularly of Fort Moultrie, was directed at wedges served instead of bearing screws, we the barbette guns of Fort Sumter, disabling can only express astonishment at the accuone ten-inch columbiad (they had but two), racy attained. Not a structure of the enemy one eight-inch columbiad, one forty-two-escaped the solid balls of the columbiads and pounder, and two eight-inch sea-coast how- paix hans. The village of Moultrieville--a itzers, and also tearing a large portion of the gathering of summer-houses belonging to citiparapet away. The firing from the batteries zens of Charleston—was completely riddled. on Cumming's Point was scattered over the The fleet appeared off the harbor at noon, whole of the gorge, or rear, of the fort. It Friday. Signals passed between Anderson looked like a sieve. The explosion of shells, and the vessels, but no effort was made to run and the quantity of deadly missiles that were the gauntlet. Along Morris and Sullivan's hurled in every direction, and at every in- islands were anchored small batteries, comstant of time, made it almost certain death manding the harbor entrance, expressly de to go out of the lower tier of casemates, and signed to prevent the passage of vessels over aiso maile the working of the barbette, or the bar and up the channel. To have passed upper uncovered guns, which contained all these only would have brought the vessel in our heaviest metals, and by which alone we range of the irresistible guns of Cumming's could throw shells, quite impossible. Dur- Point and of Moultrie. No wooden frame ing the first day there was hardly an instant could have withstood their fearful hail. The of time that there was a cessation of the only feasible plan was, under cover of the whizzing of balls, which were sometimes night, to run in with small boats; or, to coming half a dozen at once. There was not force a landing on Morris island, and a portion of the work which was not seen in carry the batteries by assault. Either plan reverse (that is, exposed by the rear,) from would have proven successful, if conducted mortars." with spirit, though it would have entailed The fire from the Cumming's Point bat. much loss of life. Why it was not undertery (called the Stevens' iron battery) was taken, is only explainable on the inference particularly close and effective. Mounting that Mr. Lincoln did not want to retain Sumter. several heavy Dalilgrens, and possessing a The possession of the fort was a matter of no fine English (rifled) sixty-four-pounder, it military importance; a blockade would renproceedled deliberately to cut away the walls der all the defenses of the harbor useless. by sections, on the south-west side, and did | The assault on the fort would serve to initiate more damage than all the combined guns of the War for the Union, and thus instate the the other batteries. Anderson's heavy co-President's policy for the suppression of the lumbiads scarcely affected its mailed front. | rebellion. The refusal to withdraw the garSo, also, with the Floating battery--Sumter's rison from Charleston harbor unquestionably metal did not disable it; and, through all the was the subtle key to unlock the national The Bombardment. The Bombardment. came. sympathies and to place prove that the revolution- entire power of the loyal to dislodge the obstinate States. He counted well upon the madness Anderson. Soon the barracks and quarters of the Confederates, and simply opened the were in flames, past all control. The men way for them to assail the Government by as- were then withdrawn from the guns, to avert saulting its garrison. This was the part for the now impending danger to the magazine. Fort Sumter to play; and, having played it The powder must be emptied into the sea. successfully, it was not necessary to retain the Ninety barrels were rolled over the area, exposposition. The evacuation of the fortress, and ed to the flames, and pitched into the water. the return to the North of its garrison, to By this time the heat from the burning buildexcite public sympathy, would be worth ings became intense, fairly stifling the men more to the cause of the Union than the re- with its dense fumes. The doors of the vault inforcement and retention of the stronghold.* were, therefore, sealed, while the men crept During Friday's bombardment the officers' | into the casemates to avoid suffocation by barracks within the fort were several times cowering close to the floor, covering their set on fire by the exploding shells, but were faces with wet cloths. An occasional gun quickly extinguished, chiefly through the only could be fired, as a signal to the enemy exertions of a New York police officer, a Mr. and the fleet outside, that the fort had not Hart, who, having visited the fortress, tarried surrendered. The colors still floated from with Major Anderson to serve when the crisis the staff. When the winds bore the smoke His daring and coolness in suppress- and fames aside, its folds revealed to the ing the flames, obtained all praise. enemy the glorious stars and stripes, waving Friday night the firing from the mortar there amid the ruin and treble terror, unbatteries continued at intervals to keep the scathed. Its halyards had been shot away, garrison from repairing damages or taking but, becoming entangled, the flag was fixed. rest. Saturday morning, at the earliest light, Only the destruction of the staff could drag the cannonading was resumed with re- it down. doubled fury. By eight o'clock the red-hot This appalling conflagration seemed to inballs from the furnace in Moultrie came to flame the zeal of the assailants. The entire circle of attack blazoned with fire, and * The President, upon this occasion as upon the air was cut up into hissing arches of others at a later date, displayed extraordinary smoke and balls. The rebel general-in-comsagacity. The London Times of April 10th wrote: mand had stated that two hours, probably, “ Thus the critical days and weeks fly by, and we would suffice to reduce the fortress, but know no more of the plans of the American Government, and, for aught we can see, the American Gov twenty-eight hours had not accomplished ernment knows no more of its plans, than on the first day the work; and now, as the besiegers beheld when it acceded to office with a manifesto, the in- another and more invincible power coming terpretation of which has exercised all the contro. to their aid, they acknowledged the service versial talent of the country, and hitherto without rendered, by frenzied shouts and redoubled leading to any conclusion. While the Coun- service at their guns. It must have been a cils of the North are thus vacillating and undecided, the moment to inspire the enthusiasm of seven men of the South are working out the problem they thousand song of the South, when flames have undertaken with every appearance of calmness and suffocation came to assist in reducing and deliberation.” The “Thunderer’s” prescience eighty half-starved and exhausted men. was not then capable of penetrating deeper into the About noon of Saturday, the upper service mysteries of diplomatic strategy than its correspondent, Mr. Russell, was, afterward, capable of magazine exploded, tearing away the tower apprehending the spirit and capacity of the Northern and upper portions of the fort, and doing people. That apparent hesitancy demonstrated that more havoc than a week's bombardment Mr. Lincoln had a policy, as wise as it was far-reach- could have effected. One who was present ing in its aims—that the “Councils of the North” wrote: “ The crash of the beams, the roar were neither“ vacillating nor undecided." of the flames, the rapid explosion of the * |
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