First shot of the war was fired in the air.
W. H. Gibbes, of South Carolina, aids in Establishing the fact of who fired it.
Correspondent seems to show that his father, Major Gibbes, pulled the Lanyard—Order to fire was given by Captain James.An interesting correspondence on the subject of the first gun fired on Fort Sumter has been handed to the State. Mr. W. H. Gibbes, the son of the late Major Wade Hampton Gibbes, writes Colonel Wade Hampton Manning, historian of Camp Hampton, as follows:
Enclosed you will find letter written to Colonel J. P. Thomas by Mr. D. A. Thomas, of Gaffney, who was present during the bombardment of Fort Sumter.
This bit of contemporaneous evidence comes from a gentleman who is now local editor of the Gaffney Ledger and father of the sheriff of Cherokee county.
In reviewing the life of my father I consider the chance that led him to pull the lanyard of the first gun that blazed at Sumter one of the least noteworthy features. Every other service that he performed during the war when facing the foe, and when in danger from him, was more creditable and more honorable to him than this act of opening the bombardment upon a quiescent enemy.
But since you want the “truth of history,” accept the evidence from all sides, and be kind enough to have it published as conspicuously as that formerly adduced. Since my childhood my father has told me the facts in the case.
Captain James himself gave Lieutenant Gibbes the order to fire the signal gun, and the captain was not even at the battery in person whence it was fired, but probably at a battery below on the beach nearer the fort. At Lieutenant Gibbes' battery the signal gun was aimed to burst a shell high in the air; another gun was carefully aimed at the fort and the wires were laid ready to explode a mine under an old house in the way. As nearly as possible these things were done simultaneously.
Now, which of the shots fired at the fort from the three separate [74] mortar batteries by Captain James, Mr. Ruffin or Lieutenant Gibbes' battery was the second shot no man may certainly say.
The official statement of General Beauregard, as quoted by Mr. G. G. Alexander, of Camden, that “Captain George S. James, commanding at Fort Johnson, had the honor of firing the first shell at Fort Sumter” proves so much that it completely disestablishes the position now taken by the friends of Captain James; for the first shell was not fired at Fort Sumter, but into the air.
It seems hard even for military men to understand military language. Beauregard gave the order to James and his report means simply that Captain James was his lieutenant, and not necessarily the direct actor in effecting his purposes.
As a matter of interest I enclose some articles from the Providence Journal upon the same subject, and I also invite attention to the statement of Major J. J. Lucas, who fully corroborates the signed statement of Major Gibbes that he fired the signal gun at Sumter.
The letter from Mr. D. A. Thomas to Colonel John P. Thomas follows as an enclosure:
I have read with interest the several controversies about who fired the first gun at Fort Sumter when the Confederates, under General Beauregard, attacked it on the morning of the 12th of April, 1861, and have noted with pleasure your commendable effort to establish the fact that it was Major Wade Hampton Gibbes who fired said first shot, and to secure to him and his descendants the honor which I never doubted he was entitled to.
At the time that shot was fired I was serving in Company E, Captain J. M. Gadberry, Colonel Maxey Gregg's First regiment, South Carolina volunteers, on Morris Island, and was on picket at Light House inlet on this island when the shot was fired. About 2 o'clock on the morning of the 12th of April Colonel Gregg, accompanied by Colonel A. C. Haskell, visited my post. Colonel Gregg mentioned the importance of the post and gave me some specific instructions, and turned to leave, when Colonel Haskell held back and told me that our batteries would open on Fort Sumter about 4 o'clock. I watched and saw the flash and heard the report of what many call the first gun of the war. Of course, from my position on Morris Island, and the gun being fired from James Island, I know nothing of my own knowledge as to who fired it. But I do know [75] that “who fired the first gun” was the subject of much talk during the bombardment of the fort, and some days after Major Anderson surrendered. At that time and place I only heard that Lieutenant Wade Hampton Gibbes fired the first gun at Sumpter; none disputed it; all conceded it, and I have always believed, and do now believe, that he did it.
Major J. J. Lucas, of Society Hill, who commanded a battery of heavy artillery during the war between the States, writes Colonel Manning as follows:
It was my privilege to share in the defense of Charleston during the entire war between the States, and although not a member of Camp Hampton, have thought a short paper on the beginning of the struggle for Southern independence would be of interest to my brother veterans, and herewith submit the same.
Major Lucas's paper, which is entitled ‘Recollections of the Beginning of the War Between the States, by Major J. J. Lucas, of Lucas's Battery Heavy Artillery (regulars)’ is given:
[77]The prevalent opinion in South Carolina in 860 was that war would not follow secession, and accordingly no preparation was made for it. A select militia of 10,000 men, armed and equipped for service, was recommended by Colonel L. M. Hatch, General A. M. Manigault and myself, to the legislature in 1858, but so satisfied were the political leaders that war was not probable, that the bill failed to pass. Hon. A. G. Magrath was an exception to this general view. He said at one of Governor Picken's cabinet meetings:
“This great government cannot be dissolved save by war, and we had better prepare for it.”
On the 9th of January, 1861, the steamer Star of the West was sent to provision and reinforce Fort Sumter, and was forced to abandon the expedition by a battery of heavy artillery on Morris island, manned by a detachment of Citadel cadets, under the command of Major P. F. Stevens, superintendent of the military academy, and afterward colonel of the Holcombe Legion. The first gun of this engagement was fired by Cadet Haynesworth, of Sumter. Notwithstanding this conflict, South Carolina still hoped for a peaceful separation, but began preparations for war, if forced upon her.
As aid-de-camp to Governor F. W. Pickens, I was sent to the [76] governor of Alabama to obtain a supply of artillery powder, and secured 40,000 pounds, which was subsequently used against Fort Sumter.
General P. G. T. Beauregard was placed in command of the military forces in the vicinity of Charleston, and preparations were begun to reduce Fort Sumter, should peaceful measures fail. General Beauregard was without a staff, and it was my privilege to attend him as aide when locating the batteries to operate against Fort Sumter, which was done as fast as General Beauregard could walk, those on Morris island being located first, and then those on Sullivan's island.
When it became apparent that the government at Washington meant subjugation, the Confederate government directed General Beauregard to capture Fort Sumter. Accordingly, General Beauregard ordered Captain George S. James to fire the signal gun at 4:30 A. M., on the 12th of April, 1861. This gun was fired by Lieutenant Wade Hampton Gibbes, afterwards major of artillery in the Army of Northern Virginia.
One of the most formidable guns used against Sumter was presented by Mr. Prioleau, of Liverpool, of the firm of John Fraser & Co., of Charleston, of which city Mr. Prioleau was native. By order of Governor Pickens I delivered this gun to the engineer officer in charge of the Morris island batteries. When mounted it was placed under the command of Captain John P. Thomas (afterwards colonel), professor at the State Military Academy.
On Sunday, 14th of April, 1861, Fort Sumter was formally surrendered and evacuated by Major Robert Anderson. Governor Pickens and General Beauregard, accompanied by their staff officers, were present. Major Anderson and his officers, save Captain Doubleday, were introduced to Governor Pickens.
Among the officers present was Captain Hartstem, formerly of the United States navy, to whom, at his request, was presented, by Major Anderson, a piece of the garrison flag, which was shared with the writer, and which is still in his possession.
While picking up fragments of shell near the southeast angle of Sumter, on the day of the surrender, the writer was accosted by a soldier of Major Anderson's command, who said: “you can gather as many pieces as you want near this gun,” a 10-inch Columbian, which had been dismounted by Captain Thomas with the rifle gun. The soldier added: “Faith, sor, the man that fired that rifle gun was a good Democrat.”
In the Providence (R. I.) Journal appeared a statement written by Rev. Isaac Crocker, chaplain of Slocum Post, No. 10, G. A. R., and dated June 23. It follows:
On July 6th, a card from Major S. A. Pearse, formerly of this city, appeared. Major Pearce resided in Columbia many years and is remembered as the director for South Carolina of the last census taken by order of the government. His card follows:
[80] [From the New York Herald, November 11, 1903.]
