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The first step in the War.
Stephen D. Lee, Lieutenant-General, C. S. A.
In the month of December, 1860, the
South itself had no more realizing sense than the
North of the magnitude of events about to be entered into so lightly.
Even the
Southern leaders did not realize that there could be any obstacle to “peaceable secession.”
Many at the
North were willing to “let the wayward sisters depart in peace.”
Only a few on either side expected that blood would be shed.
When, in the first Confederate Congress at
Montgomery, one prudent debater exclaimed, “What if we really have a war?”
the general response was, “There will be no war.”
“But,” he persisted, “if there
is a war, what are our resources?”
and when one man in reply expressed his conviction that if the worst came, the
South could put fifty thousand men into the field, he was looked upon as an enthusiast.
The expectation of “peaceable secession” was the delusion that precipitated matters in the
South; and it was on this expectation, when the crisis came, that
South Carolina seceded.
Her first step was to organize troops and assert the sovereignty in which she believed, by the occupation of her territory.
After the evacuation of
Fort Moultrie, although
Major Anderson was not permitted by the
South Carolina authorities to receive any large supply of provisions, yet he received a daily mail, and fresh beef and vegetables from the city of
Charleston, and was unmolested at
Fort Sumter.
He continued industriously to strengthen the fort.
The military authorities of
South Carolina, and afterward of the
Confederate States, took possession of
Fort Moultrie, Castle Pinckney, the arsenal, and other
United States, property in the vicinity.
They also remounted the guns at
Fort Moultrie, and constructed batteries on
Sullivan's,
Morris, and
James islands, and at other places, looking to the reduction of
Fort Sumter if it should become necessary; meantime leaving no stone unturned to secure from the authorities at
Washington a quiet evacuation of the fort.
Several arrangements to accomplish this purpose were almost reached, but failed.
Two attempts were made to reinforce and supply the garrison: one by the steamer
Star of the West, which tried to reach the fort, January 9th, 1861, and was driven back by a battery on
Morris Island, manned by
South Carolina troops; the other just
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before the bombardment of
Sumter, April 12th.
The feeling of the
Confederate authorities was that a peaceful issue would finally be arrived at; but they had a fixed determination to use force, if necessary, to occupy the fort.
They did not desire or intend to take the initiative, if it could be avoided.
So soon, however, as it was clearly understood that the authorities at
Washington had abandoned peaceful views, and would assert the power of the
United States to supply
Fort Sumter,
General Beauregard, the commander of the Confederate forces at
Charleston, in obedience to the command of his Government at
Montgomery, proceeded to reduce the fort.
His arrangements were about complete, and on April 11th he demanded of
Major Anderson the evacuation of
Fort Sumter.
He offered to transport
Major Anderson and his command to any port in the
United States; and to allow him to move out of the fort with company arms and property, and all private property, and to salute his flag in lowering it. This demand was delivered to
Major Anderson at 3:45 P. M., by two aides of
General Beauregard,
James Chesnut, Jr., and myself.
At 4:30 P. M. he handed us his reply, refusing to accede to the demand; but added, “Gentlemen, if you do not batter the fort to pieces about us, we shall be starved out in a few days.”
The reply of
Major Anderson was put in
General Beauregard's hands at 5:15 P. M., and he was also told of this informal remark.
Anderson's reply and remark were communicated to the
Confederate authorities at
Montgomery.
The
Secretary of War,
L. P. Walker, replied to
Beauregard as follows:
Do not desire needlessly to bombard Fort Sumter.
If Major Anderson will state the time at which, as indicated by him, he will evacuate, and agree that in the meantime he will not use his guns against us, unless ours should be employed against Fort Sumter, you are authorized thus to avoid the effusion of blood.
If this, or its equivalent, be refused, reduce the fort as your judgment decides to be most practicable.
The same aides bore a second communication to
Major Anderson, based on the above instructions, which was placed in his hands at 12:45 A. M., April 12th.
His reply indicated that he would evacuate the fort on the 15th provided he did not in the meantime receive contradictory instructions from his Government, or additional supplies, but he declined to agree not to open his guns upon the
Confederate troops, in the event of any hostile demonstration on their part against his flag.
Major Anderson made every possible effort to retain the aides till daylight, making one excuse and then another for not replying.
Finally, at 3:15 A. M., he delivered his reply.
In accordance with their instructions, the aides read it and, finding it unsatisfactory, gave
Major Anderson this notification:
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Sir: By authority of
Brigadier-General Beauregard, commanding the
Provisional Forces of the
Confederate States, we have the honor to notify you that he will open the fire of his batteries on
Fort Sumter in one hour from this time.
We have the honor to be very respectfully, Your obedient servants,
The above note was written in one of the casemates of the fort, and in the presence of
Major Anderson and several of his officers.
On receiving it, he was much affected.
He seemed to realize the full import of the consequences, and the great responsibility of his position.
Escorting us to the boat at the wharf, he cordially pressed our hands in farewell, remarking, “If we never meet in this world again, God grant that we may meet in the next.”
The boat containing the two aides and also
Roger A. Pryor, of
Virginia, and
A. R. Chisolm, of
South Carolina, who were also
members of
General Beauregard's staff, went immediately to
Fort Johnson on
James Island, and the order to fire the signal gun was given to
Captain George S. James, commanding the battery at that point.
It was then 4 A. M.
Captain James at once aroused his command, and arranged to carry out the order.
He was a great admirer of
Roger A. Pryor, and said to him, “You are the only man to whom I would give up the honor of firing the first gun of the war” ; and he offered to allow him to fire it.
Pryor, on receiving the offer, was very much agitated.
With a husky voice he said, “I could not fire the first gun of the war.”
His manner was almost similar to that of
Major Anderson as we left him a few moments before on the wharf at
Fort Sumter.
Captain James would allow no one else but himself to fire the gun.
1
The boat with the aides of
General Beauregard left
Fort Johnson before arrangements were complete for the firing of the gun, and laid on its oars, about one-third the distance between the fort and
Sumter, there to witness the firing of “the first gun of the war” between the States.
It was fired from a ten-inch mortar at 4:30 A. M., April 12th, 1861.
Captain James was a skillful officer, and the firing of the shell was a success.
It burst immediately over the fort, apparently about one hundred feet above.
The firing of the
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mortar woke the echoes from every nook and corner of the harbor, and in this the dead hour of night, before dawn, that shot was a sound of alarm that brought every soldier in the harbor to his feet, and every man, woman, and child in the city of
Charleston from their beds.
A thrill went through the whole city.
It was felt that the Rubicon was passed.
No one thought of going home; unused as their ears were to the appalling sounds, or the vivid flashes from the batteries, they stood for hours fascinated with horror.
After the second shell the different batteries opened their fire on
Fort Sumter, and by 4:45 A. M. the firing was general and regular.
It was a hazy, foggy morning.
About daylight, the boat with the aides reached
Charleston, and they reported to
General Beauregard.
Fort Sumter did not respond with her guns till 7:30 A. M. The firing from this fort, during the entire bombardment, was slow and deliberate, and marked with little accuracy.
The firing continued without intermission during the 12th, and more slowly during the night of the 12th and 13th.
No material change was noticed till 8 A. M. on the 13th, when the barracks in
Fort Sumter were set on fire by hot shot from the guns of
Fort Moultrie.
As soon as
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this was discovered, the Confederate batteries redoubled their efforts, to prevent the fire being extinguished.
Fort Sumter fired at little longer intervals, to enable the garrison to fight the flames.
This brave action, under such a trying ordeal, aroused great sympathy and admiration on the part of the
Confederates for
Major Anderson and his gallant garrison; this feeling was shown by cheers whenever a gun was fired from
Sumter.
It was shown also by loud reflections on the “men-of-war” outside the harbor.
2  |
|
Secession Hall, Charleston, scene of the passage of the ordinance of secession.
From a photograph. |
About 12:30 the flag-staff of
Fort Sumter was shot down, but it was soon replaced.
As soon as
General Beauregard heard that the flag was no longer flying, he sent three of his aides, William Porcher Miles,
Roger A. Pryor, and myself, to offer, and also to see if
Major Anderson would receive or needed, assistance, in subduing the flames inside the fort.
Before we reached it, we saw the
United States flag again floating over it, and began to return to the city.
Before going far, however, we saw the Stars and Stripes replaced by a white flag.
We turned about at once and rowed rapidly to the fort.
We were directed, from an embrasure, not to go to the wharf, as it was mined, and the fire was near it. We were assisted through an embrasure and conducted to
Major Anderson.
Our mission being made known to him, he replied, “Present my compliments to
General Beauregard, and say to him I thank him for his kindness, but need no assistance.”
He further remarked that he hoped the worst was over, that the fire had settled over the magazine, and, as it had not exploded, he thought the real danger was about over.
Continuing, he said, “Gentlemen, do I understand you come direct from
General Beauregard?”
The reply was in the affirmative.
He then said, “Why!
Colonel Wigfall has just been here as an aide too, and by authority of
General Beauregard, and
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proposed the same terms of evacuation offered on the 11th instant.”
We informed the major that we were not authorized to offer terms; that we were direct from
General Beauregard, and that
Colonel Wigfall, although an aide-de-camp to the general, had been detached, and had not seen the general for several days.
Major Anderson at once stated, “There is a misunderstanding on my part, and I will at once run up my flag and open fire again.”
After consultation, we requested him not to do so, until the matter was explained to
General Beauregard, and requested
Major Anderson to reduce to writing his understanding with
Colonel Wigfall, which he did. However, before we left the fort, a boat arrived from
Charleston, bearing
Major D. R. Jones,
assistant adjutant-general on
General Beauregard's staff, who offered substantially the same terms to
Major Anderson as those offered on the 11th, and also by
Colonel Wigfall, and which were now accepted.
Thus fell
Fort Sumter, April 13th, 1861.
At this time fire was still raging in the barracks, and settling steadily over the magazine.
All egress was cut off except through the lower embrasures.
Many shells from the Confederate batteries, which had fallen in the fort and had not exploded, as well as the hand-grenades used for defense, were exploding as they were reached by the fire.
The wind was driving the heat and smoke down into the fort and into the casemates, almost causing suffocation.
Major Anderson, his officers, and men were blackened by smoke and cinders, and showed signs of fatigue and exhaustion, from the trying ordeal through which they had passed.
It was soon discovered, by conversation, that it was a bloodless battle; not a man had been killed or seriously wounded on either side during the entire bombardment of nearly forty hours. Congratulations were exchanged on so happy a result.
Major Anderson stated that he had instructed his officers only to fire on the batteries and forts, and not to fire on private property.
The terms of evacuation offered by
General Beauregard were generous, and were appreciated by
Major Anderson.
The garrison was to embark on the 14th, after running up and saluting the
United States flag, and to be carried
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Fort Sumter after the bombardment, from a sketch made in April, 1861. |
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to the United States fleet.
A soldier killed during the salute was buried inside the fort, the new Confederate garrison uncovering during the impressive ceremonies.
Major Anderson and his command left the harbor, bearing with them the respect and admiration of the
Confederate soldiers.
3 It was conceded that he had done his duty as a soldier holding a most delicate trust.
This first bombardment of
Sumter was but its “baptism of fire.”
During subsequent attacks by land and water, it was battered by the heaviest Union artillery.
Its walls were completely crushed, but the tons of iron projectiles imbedded in its ruins added strength to the inaccessible mass that surrounded it and made it impregnable.
It was never taken, but the operations of
General Sherman, after his march to the sea, compelled its evacuation, and the Stars and Stripes were again raised over it, April 14th, 1865.
4
