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the morning preparing cartridges for the purpose of firing a salute of one hundred guns.
This done, the embarkation took place, the band meanwhile playing
Yankee Doodle.
No braver men ever lived than the defenders of
Fort Sumter, and when all showed such lofty courage and patriotism it would be invidious to make distinctions; but the ardor and endurance of
musician Hall of Company E was remarked by every man in
Sumter, and the company intend to present him with a testimonial.
He was at the firing of the first guns, and fought on all day, and would not accept either of the three reliefs.
He was up at the first shot the next day, and worked without cessation till night.
His example and words of cheer had great effect.
This is the more worthy of remark as he belonged to the musicians, and he was not obliged to enter into the engagement at all.
Minutes of an officer in Fort Sumter.
We passed Friday night without firing.
A shot or shell came against our walls about every fifteen minutes during the night.
We placed a non-commissioned officer and four men at each salient embrasures; partly expecting the boats from the fleet outside, and partly expecting a boat attack from the enemy.
Our own shells and rampart grenades caught fire from the burning of the quarters, and exploded among us in every direction, happily without doing any injury.
The officers were engaged in moving barrels of powder with the flames around then, in tearing down a burning platform near the magazine, and in rescuing public property from the burning buildings, with our own shells and those of the enemy bursting among us.
The interior of the fort is a scene of frightful desolation; it is indescribable.
Mr. Hart, a volunteer from New York, particularly distinguished himself in trying to put out the flames in the quarters, with shells and shot crashing around him. lie was ordered away by
Major Anderson, but begged hard to be permitted to remain and continue his exertions.
When the building caught fire, the enemy commenced firing hot shot.
Mr. Sweaner of
Baltimore was badly wounded in three places by a piece of shell.
Many of the
South Carolina officers who came into the fort on Saturday, who were formerly in our service, seemed to feel very badly at firing upon their old comrades and flag.
Commander Hartstene acted like a brother.
He was very active in offers of service, and when he went aboard the lighter he ran up the
American flag over us. He took charge of the men left behind wounded by the accident.
He asked
Capt. Doubleday to procure a small piece of our flag for him.
Our flag has several shell-holes through it.
An impromptu account of the siege of Sumter.
While the reporters were seated at a table, busily engaged in transcribing the various statements they had received from the officers of
Maj. Anderson's command, an officer who had previously stood quietly in the back-ground, suddenly addressed them in a most emphatic manner, substantially as follows; “Gentlemen of the press, I earnestly entreat that you will clearly set before our country-men at the
North the fact that
Fort Sumter was not evacuated while there was a cartridge to fire, or pow. der enough left to make one with. Never did famished men work more bravely than those who defended that fortress, knowing, as they did, that if successfully defended and held by them, there was not even a biscuit left to divide among them.
They never would have left it while a protecting wall stood around them, had they been provided with provision and ammunition.
Every man was true and faithful to his post, and the public may be assured that hunger and want of ammunition alone caused us to leave
Fort Sumter.
We were all exposed to a most terrible fire from all quarters, and it was only by exercising the utmost care that the officers were enabled to preserve the men from a terrible slaughter.
You may further state, Gentlemen, that
Fort Sumter is hardly worth the holding; had there been the fill fighting complement of men within its walls, the fort would not have afforded suitable protection for one-half of them.
The enemy's shot rained in upon and about us like hail, and more men in
Sumter would only have made more havoc.
As it was, we are fortunate in having escaped without the loss of one of those brave men who were willing to die for the flag which waved over them.
It was a painful sight to all to see the Stars and Stripes finally hauled down, but we all felt that we had done our duty, and must submit.
The fort was not surrendered, but evacuated almost upon our own terms.” --
Tribune, April 19.
Opinions of the press.
Fort Sumter is lost, but freedom is saved.
There is no more thought of bribing or coaxing the traitors who have dared to aim their cannon balls at the flag of the
Union, and those who gave their lives to defend it. It seems but yesterday that at least two-thirds of the journals of this city were the virtual allies of the Secessionists, their apologists, their champions.
The roar of the great circle of batteries pouring their iron hail upon devoted
Sumter, has struck them all dumb.
It is as if one had made a brilliant and effective speech, setting forth the innocence of murder, and having just bidden adieu to the cheers and the
gas-light, were to be confronted by the gory form and staring eyes of a victim of assassination, the first fruit of his oratorical success.
For months before the late Presidential election, a majority of our journals predicted forcible resistance to the government as the natural and necessary consequence of a Republican triumph; for months since they have been cherishing and encouraging the
Slaveholder's Rebellion, as if it were a very natural and proper proceeding.
Their object was purely partisan — they wished to bully the
Republican Administration into shameful recreancy to Republican principle, and then call upon the people to expel from power a party so profligate and cowardly.
They did not succeed in this; they
have succeeded in enticing their Southern
proteges and some time allies into flagrant treason.
There cannot be a rational doubt that every man who aided or abetted the attack on
Fort Sumter is involved in the guilt of treason.
That all the besiegers of
Forts Sumter and
Pickens have incurred the penalty of treason — which is death — is indisputable.
