hot shot from a large number of their guns, especially from those in Fort Moultrie; and at nine o'clock volumes of smoke issued from the roof of the officers' quarters, where a shot had just penetrated. From the exposed position, it was utterly impossible to extinguish the flames, and permission was given to remove as much powder from the magazine as was possible, before the flames, which were only one set of quarters distant, should encircle the magazine and make it necessary to close it. All the men and officers not engaged at the guns worked rapidly and zealously at this; but so rapid was the spread of the flames that only fifty barrels of powder could be taken out and distributed around in the casemates before the fire and beat made it necessary to close the magazine doors and pack earth against them. The men then withdrew to the casemates on the faces of the fort. As soon as the flames and smoke burst from the roof of the quarters, the surrounding batteries redoubled the rapidity of their fire, firing red-hot shot from most of their guns. The whole range of officers' quarters was soon in flames. The wind, being from the southward, communicated fire to the roof of the barracks, and this, being aided by the hot shot constantly lodging there, spread to the entire roofs of both barracks, so that by twelve o'clock all the wood work of quarters and of upper story of barracks was in flames. Although the floors of the barracks were fire-proof, the utmost exertions of the officers and men were often required to prevent the fire communicating down the stairways, and from the exterior to the doors, window-frames, and oth wood work of the east barrack, in which the officers and men had taken their quarters.

The clouds of smoke and cinders which were sent into the casemates by the wind, set on fire many boxes, beds, and other articles belonging to the men, and made it dangerous to retain the powder which had been saved from the magazine. Orders were accordingly given that all but five barrels should be thrown out of the embrasures into the water, which was done.

The small stock of cartridges now only allowed a gun to be fired at intervals of ten minutes.

As the fire reached the magazines of grenades that were arranged in the stair towers and implement rooms on the gorge, they exploded, completely destroying the stair towers at the west gorge angle.

About this time information was brought to the commanding officer that Mr. Wigfall, bearing a white flag, was on the outside and wished to see him. He accordingly went out to meet Mr. Wigfall, passing through the blazing gateway, accompanied by Lieutenant Snyder. In the mean time, however, Mr. Wigfall had passed to an embrasure on the left flank, where, upon showing the white flag upon his sword, he was permitted to enter; and Lieutenant Snyder, entering immediately after, accompanied him down the batteries to where some other officers

were posted, to whom Mr. Wigfall commenced to address himself to the effect that he came from General Beauregard to desire that, inasmuch as the flag of the fort was shot down, a fire raging in the quarters, and the garrison in a great strait, hostilities be suspended, and the white flag raised for this object. He was replied to that the flag was again hoisted on the parapet; that the white flag would not be hoisted, except by order of the commanding officer; and that his own batteries should set the example of suspending fire. He then referred to the fact of the batteries on Cummings' Point, from which he came, having stopped firing, and asked that his own white flag might be waved to indicate to the batteries on Sullivan's Island to cease also. This was refused; but he was permitted to wave the white flag himself, getting into an embrasure for this purpose. Having done this for a few moments, Lieutenant Davis, First Artillery, permitted a corporal to relieve him. Very soon, however, a shot striking very near to the embrasure, the corporal jumped inside and declared to Mr. Wigfall that he would not hold his flag, for it was not respected."

At this moment, the commanding officer, having reentered through an embrasure, came up. To him Mr. Wigfall addressed nearly the same remarks that he had used on entering, adding some complimentary things about the manner in which the defence had been made, and ending by renewing the request to suspend hostilities in order to arrange terms of evacuation. The commanding officer desiring to know what terms he came to offer, Mr. Wigfall replied: "Any terms that you may desire; your own terms-the precise nature of which General Beauregard will arrange with you."

The commanding officer then accepted the conditions, saying that the terms he accepted were those proposed by General Beauregard on the 11th; namely, to evacuate the fort with his command, taking arms and all private and company property, saluting the United States flag as it was lowered, and being conveyed, if he desired it, to any Northern port.

With this understanding Mr. Wigfall left, and the white flag was raised and the United States flag lowered by order of the commanding officer.

Very soon after, a boat arrived from the city, containing three aides of General Beauregard, with a message to the effect that, observing the white flag hoisted, General Beauregard sent to inquire what aid he could lend in extinguishing the flames, &c. Being made acquainted with the condition of affairs and Mr. Wigfall's visit, they stated that the latter, although an aide of General Beauregard, had not seen him for two days.

The commanding officer then stated that the United States flag would be raised again; but yielded to the request of the aides for time to report to their chief and obtain his instructions.

They soon returned with the approval of all the conditions desired, except the saluting the flag as it was lowered; and this exception was subsequently removed after correspondence. The evacuation was completed after saluting the flag; in doing which, one man was instantly killed, one mortally and four severely wounded, by the premature discharge of a gun and explosion of a pile of cartridges.

After the cessation of fire, about 600 shot marks on the face of the scarp wall were counted, but they were so scattered that no breached effect could have been expected from such fire, and probably none was attempted except at the right gorge angle. The only effect of the direct fire during the two days was to disable three barbette guns, knock off large portions of the chimneys and brick walls projecting above the parapet, and to set the quarters on fire with hot shot. The vertical fire produced more effect, as it prevented the working of the upper tier of guns, which were the only really effective guns in the fort, being columbiads, 8-inch sea-coast howitzers, and 42-pounders principally, and also prevented the use of the columbiads arranged in the parade to be used as mortars against Cummings' Point.

The weakness of the defence principally lay in the lack of cartridge bags, and of the materials to make them, by which the fire of the fort was all the time rendered slow, and toward the last was nearly suspended.

The contest continued thirty-two hours, and the weapons used were of the most destructive character, and in skilful hands, but no life appears to have been lost on either side.

The garrison was taken by the steamer Isabel to the Baltic, which lay off the harbor, and thence transported to New York. The naval force and supplies which had been sent to the relief of the fort by the Government, arrived

Nearly thirty launches, whose services are useful in effecting a landing of troops over shoal water, and for attacking a discharging battery when covered with sand and gunny bags, were taken out by the Powhatan, and by the steam transports Atlantic, Baltic, and Illinois. The official notification of the surrender of the fort, sent by Major Anderson to the War Department, was as follows:

STEAMSHIP BALTIC, off Sandy Hook, April 18, 1861-10:30 A. M., via New York. S Having defended Fort Sumter for thirty-four hours, until the quarters were entirely burnt, the main gates destroyed by fire, the gorge walls seriously injured, the magazine surrounded by flames, and its door closed from the effects of heat; four barrels and three cartridges of powder only being available, and no provisions remaining but pork, I accepted terms of evacuation offered by General Beauregard-being the same offered by him on the 11th instant, prior to

e commencement of hostilities-and marched out of the fort on 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 Commanding. Hon. SIMON CAMERON, Sec'y of War, Washington.

WHAT was the posture of affairs at the time of President Lincoln's inauguration, especially as compared with their situation on the day of election in November? Seven Southern States had voted themselves out of the Union, the officers of the Federal Government had resigned, and there were no persons to represent its powers or execute its duties within their limits, excepting in the Post-Office Department. Within these States, also, all the forts, arsenals, dockyards, custom-houses, revenue cutters, etc., embracing all the movable and stationary articles connected therewith, had been taken possession of by the authority of

these States individually, and were held by persons and officers denying any allegiance to the Federal Government, and avowing it to be due by them only to a Government created by the united action of these seven States. Only Forts Pickens, Taylor, and Jefferson, near the Florida coast, and Sumter, in Charleston harbor, continued under the flag of the Union.

The other forts thus seized were put in an improved condition, new ones built, and armed forces had been organized, and were organizing, avowedly to protect this property from recapture, and to capture those not yet seized. Around Fort Sumter batteries had been erected,

with guns equal or heavier in calibre than hers, and in far greater number. Officers of the army and navy of the Union from these States, had chiefly resigned, and had been reappointed in the service of the latter. A complete Government for a nation was in operation in these States, and the property thus seized was held, as the new Government avowed, to be accounted for in a peaceful settlement with the Federal Union, or to be used for the defence of those States, if assaulted by the same Union. They asked for peace, and to be "let alone," but were determined to hazard a war sooner than return to their former allegiance.

Among the other States, Kentucky made an application to Congress to call a National Convention to amend the Constitution of the United States, and requested the Legislatures of all the other States to make similar applications, and appointed commissioners to a conference of the Border States to consider and, if practicable, agree upon some suitable adjustment of the present unhappy controversies. Some of the States of the North appointed commissioners to this conference, which agreed upon terms for an adjustment, but no State action followed. Not a single slaveholding State complied with the request of Kentucky to apply to Congress to call a National Convention, whilst three nonslaveholding States so complied, and several others prepared to follow.

A Peace Conference was called by Virginia, in which twenty States were represented. Such measures would have been recommended as were desired by the seceding States if they had been present by their votes to secure their adoption. Three territorial bills were passed by Congress, in no one of which was inserted the probibition of slavery as insisted upon hitherto by the Republicans. The North condemned the personal liberty bills of the States, declared in favor of a faithful execution of the fugitive slave law, and concurred in proposing, by the requisite constitutional majority, an amendment of the Constitution guaranteeing positively and forever the exemption of slavery in the States from the interference of Congress. This was one of the guarantees embraced in the scheme of Mr. Crittenden, and also in the scheme of the Peace Conference.

Rhode Island repealed its personal liberty law outright, whilst Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin had under consideration the repeal or essential modification of their respective laws of this description. Not less than a quarter of a million of the people of the North, besides societies and representative bodies without number, petitioned Congress for the adoption of any adjust ment satisfactory to the States of the Southern border.

The attack on Fort Sumter began on the 12th. The fort surrendered on the afternoon of the 13th, and was evacuated on Sunday, the 14th. As the news flashed over the country by the telegraph it was instantly followed by

the summons of the President, "to arms; to arms." His proclamation, ordering seventy-five thousand men into the field, was issued on the night of the 14th, as follows:

By the President of the United States.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas the laws of the United States have been for some time past and now are opposed, and the execution thereof obstructed, in the States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the powers vested in the marshals by law:

Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, in virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution and the laws, have thought fit to call forth, and hereby do call forth, the militia of the several States of the Union, to the aggregate number of seventy-five thousand, in order to suppress said combinations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed.

municated to the State authorities through the War The details for this object will be immediately comDepartment.

I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate, and aid this effort to maintain the honor, the integrity, and the existence of our National Union, and the perpetuity of popular Government, and to redress wrongs already long enough endured.

I deem it proper to say that the first service assigned to the forces called forth will probably be to repossess the forts, places, and property which have been seized from the Union; and in every event the utmost care will be observed, consistently with the objects aforesaid, to avoid any devastation, any destruction of or interference with property, or any disturbance of peaceful citizens in any part of the

country.

And I hereby command the persons composing the combinations aforesaid to disperse and retire peacea bly to their respective abodes within twenty days from this date.

Deeming that the present condition of public affairs presents an extraordinary occasion, I do hereby, in virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution, convene both Houses of Congress.

Senators and Representatives are therefore summoned to assemble at their respective Chambers, at 12 o'clock, noon, on Thursday, the fourth day of July next, then and there to consider and determine and interest may seem to demand. such measures as, in their wisdom, the public safety

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington, this fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand [L. S.] eight hundred and sixty-one, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-fifth. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. By the President:

WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

A call for troops was issued by the Secretary of War, Mr. Cameron, in accordance with this proclamation, and sent to the Governors of the respective States, giving the quotas allotted to each, as follows:

DEPARTMENT OR WAR, WASHINGTON, April 15, 1861. To His Excellency the Governor of ·

SIR: Under the act of Congress for calling for the "Militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress

insurrections, repel invasions," etc., approved Febcellency to cause to be immediately detached from ruary 28, 1795, I have the honor to request your Exthe militia of your State the quota designated in the

table below, to serve as infantry or riflemen, for the period of three months, unless sooner discharged. Your Excellency will please communicate to me the time at or about which your quota will be expected at its rendezvous, as it will be met as soon as practicable by an officer or officers to muster it into the service and pay of the United States.

These documents were spread through the country on Monday, and on Wednesday the 6th regiment of Massachusetts, completely equipped, passed through New York for Washington, so prepared was that State as to be the first in the field.

A most uncontrollable excitement now existed in the country. Both North and South rushed to arms-the former to maintain the Government and to preserve the Union, the latter to secure the independence of the Confederate States and the dissolution of the

Union.

The national city of Washington became the most conspicuous object before the country. Northern troops hastened thither to secure its possession in the hands of the Government, and Southern troops gathered on its outskirts to seize it as their first prize.

The manner in which the requisition of the Secretary of War for troops was received by the authorities of the respective States, indicates the controlling sentiment of the people in those States at this time. The Governor of

Kentucky replied on the same day: "Kentucky will furnish no troops for the wicked purpose of subduing her sister Southern States." The Governor of North Carolina answered: "You can get no troops from North Carolina." The Governor of Virginia wrote on the next day to the Secretary of War, saying: "The militia of Virginia will not be furnished to the powers at Washington for any such use or purpose as they have in view." The Governor of Tennessee replied: "Tennessee will not furnish a single man for coercion, but fifty thousand, if necessary, for defence of our rights, or those of our Southern brothers." The Governor of Missouri answered that "the requisition is illegal, unconstitutional, revolutionary, inhuman, diabolical, and cannot be complied with."

The Governor of Rhode Island replied by tendering the services of a thousand infantry and a battalion of artillery.

The Governor of Massachusetts immediately ordered out troops, and in fifty hours three regiments had been gathered, equipped, and had left for Washington.

The Governor of Connecticut also issued his proclamation at once, calling for troops.

The Legislature of New York adjourned on the 16th; but previously to adjournment appropriated three millions of dollars to defend the Federal Government.

Orders for four regiments were issued by the Governor of New Jersey on the 17th.

A detachment of five hundred men left Philadelphia on the night of the 17th for Washing

ton.

The first regiment from Indiana left for

Washington on the 18th. The Legislature also resolved, "That the faith, credit, and resources of the State in both men and money are hereby pledged in any amount and to every extent which the Federal Government may demand to subdue rebellion; " etc. At the same time, the State Bank tendered to the Governor a loan for the State of all the money necessary to fit out the required quota.

In New York, the great city of the Union, all shades of opinion seemed to vanish before the one great fact, that the country was in danger and must be saved. Citizens of all classes breathed but one spirit of patriotism, and the Mayor of the city issued the following:

MAYOR'S OFFICE, NEW YORK, April 15, 1861. To the People of the City of New York. ple, I feel compelled at this crisis to call upon them As Chief Magistrate, representing the whole peo

to avoid excitement and turbulence. Whatever may be or may have been individual positions or opinions on questions of public policy, let us remember that our country now trembles upon the brink of a precipice, and that it requires a patriotic and honest effort to prevent its final destruction. Let us ignore the past, rising superior to partisan considerations, and rally to the restoration of the Constitution and the Union, as they existed in the days and in the spirit of our tricidal warfare, or by concession, conciliation, and fathers. Whether this is to be accomplished by frasacrifice, men may differ; but all will admit that here at least harmony and peace should prevail. Thus may we, under the guidance of Divine Providence, set an example of peace and good will throughout view, I call upon the people of New York, irrespecour extended country. In this spirit and with this tive of all other considerations or prejudices, to unite in obedience to the laws, in support of the public peace, in the preservation of order, and in the protection of property. FERNANDO WOOD, Mayor.

All citizens were now decorated with the national emblem in every variety of form, while from store, dwelling, church, and public buildings, signs, and lamp-posts, fluttered the Stars and Stripes in every variety of form and in the greatest profusion.

Instantly the military were in motion; every drill-room and armory was alive with active officers calling for and enrolling men. On the 16th several regiments were already partly equipped. The 1st National Guard, Col. Allen, the 7th Regiment, 79th Highlanders, the 71st, the Fire Zouaves of Ellsworth, the 70th, the 55th, the 12th, and others, were rapidly organizing to march. On the 17th the 6th Massachusetts, Colonel E. J. Jones, arrived in New York on its way to Washington, and met the most enthusiastic reception. It made a triumphal march through the city on the 17th of April.

The intelligence that the favorite New York regiment, the 7th, would leave for Washington on the 19th, created an immense excitement. Although it was announced that the departure would not be before 3 P. M., the streets were thronged at an early hour of that day. Lafayette Place, where the regiment was to form previous to marching, was very attractively dressed—a huge flag being displayed from the

Astor Library, with many others from private buildings. The aspect of Broadway was very gay. The Stars and Stripes were floating everywhere, from the costliest silk, 20, 30, 40 feet in length, down to the homelier bunting, and the few inches of painted calico. But the gayest and, in this respect, the most remarkable thoroughfare, was Cortlandt Street, which showed a gathering of flags, a perfect army of them. They were not, in that comparatively brief space, from Broadway to the Jersey City Ferry, to be numbered by dozens or by scores; every building seemed like "Captains of Fifties," flag over flag waving. From every window, from the first floor to the roof, from every doorway, they waved responsive to the fluttering banners that were held in every hand.

Through this gay and expectant throng marched the 8th Massachusetts, Col. Timothy Monroe, accompanied by Gen. B. F. Butler, who had been the Breckinridge candidate for Governor at the election in November, and was now leading the Massachusetts troops. The regiment was presented with colors on the way. This, which would have been an absorbing ceremony at another time, merely filled a portion of the time till the 7th came.

They formed in Lafayette Place about 4 P. M., in the presence of an immense crowd, each window of each building being filled with applauders. Before moving, the excitement of the crowd was made wild by the news of the attack upon the 6th Massachusetts in Baltimore, and there were served out to the 7th forty-eight rounds of ball cartridge. Once in line, they proceeded through Fourth street to Broadway, down that great throroughfare to Cortlandt Street, and across the ferry, in boats provided for the purpose, to Jersey City. The line of march was a perfect ovation. Thousands upon thousands stood on the sidewalks. The regiment was escorted by a band of Zouaves, who volunteered for the occasion. Their gay uniform and peculiar step revived the excitement that had begun somewhat to droop among the crowd that had waited for hours, as the regiment did not reach the Park till half-past five. After the Zouaves came a strong body of police, and after the police the regiment. The officers were Col. M. Lefferts, Lieut.-Col. W. A. Pond, Major A. Shaler.

The public bodies at once began to adopt measures to supply and move the troops. An immense mass meeting, without distinction of party, was called for, April 20, in Union Square. It proved one of the largest and most enthusiastic ever held. It was addressed by J. A. Dix, Secretary of the Treasury under Mr. Buchanan, D. S. Dickinson, Senator Baker of Oregon, Robert J. Walker, formerly Secretary of the Treasury, Mayor Wood, Ex-Gov. Hunt, James T. Brady, John Cochrane, Hiram Ketchum, D. S. Coddington, Esq., and a number of Irish and German citizens, all breathing the one unanimous sentiment of ignoring the political opinions of the past, and standing by the Govern

ment with their whole heart, regardless of who might administer it for the time. The fortunes and lives of the citizens were pledged to that end.

A meeting of the merchants of New York City was held at the Chamber of Commerce, April 19th. The proceedings were characterized by the utmost harmony and unanimity. Resolutions upholding the Federal Government, and urging a strict blockade of all ports in the secession States, were unanimously adopted. It being announced that several of the regiments needed assistance to enable them to leave-on motion, a committee was appointed to receive donations, and in ten minutes the subscription had reached over $21,000. What was still more important was the appointment of a large committee of the most influential capitalists, to use their exertions to secure an immediate taking of the $9,000,000 remaining of the Government loan.

On Monday, April 22, the Mayor of the city of New York recommended, and the Board of Aldermen voted, $1,000,000 to aid in the defence of the Government.

At a meeting of the whole New York Bar on the same afternoon, the announcement was received with enthusiastic cheers, and the Bar raised $25,000 on the spot.

The city appropriated the Park to the erection of extensive barracks for the entertainment of the troops, which from North and East made New York their halting-place en route for the capital. The Worcester Rifles, the 1st Regiment of Rhode Island, per steamer Osceola, passed through on Sunday the 21st, and on the same day departed the 6th, 12th, and 71st New York State Militia.

The people were early astir on that day, and by ten o'clock every available spot where a human being could stand, was occupied, through the entire length of Broadway; and from near Canal street to Grace Church, not only the sidewalks, but the whole of the street, was densely thronged. Every window, door, stoop, balcony, and housetop was alive with human beings, of every age, sex, and condition, in expectation of this most novel and exciting scene. From almost every housetop and store, from the windows of almost every private dwelling, from the masthead of every ship, from the flagstaff of every manufactory, from all the public buildings, from the Roman Catholic cathedral, from the lofty spire of Trinity Church, from St. Paul's Church, the national ensign was flying The other streets were thronged as on a gala day. On all coats were pinned the red, white, and blue cockade, and in every lady's bonnet ribbons of the same colors were tastefully tied. In the Park, cannons were booming at different times during the day. At the arsenal, regiments, just raised, were formally organized and equipped.

At the armories of the 6th, 12th, and 71st, from early dawn all was bustle and animation, >reparing for the afternoon departure. At the