April 14, 1865. |
April 15, 1861. |
 |
| Gold Box presented to Anderson. |
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again over the battered fortress, or be wrapped in it as his winding-sheet at the last.
Precisely four years from that day,
--after four years of terrible civil war--Major Anderson, bearing the title of Major-General in the Armies of the United States, again raised that tattered flag over all that remained of Fort Sumter--a heap of ruins.1
The Isabel lay under the battered walls of the fort, waiting for a favoring tide, until Monday morning,
when she conveyed the garrison to the Baltic, then commanded by Captain Fletcher.
The insurgent soldiers had been so impressed with the gallantry of the defense of the fort, that, as the vessel passed, they stood on the beach with uncovered heads, in token of profound respect.2 After the surrender, every courtesy was extended to Major Anderson and his men by the military authorities at Charleston.
When all the garrison were on board the Baltic, the precious flag, for which they had fought so gallantly, was raised to the mast-head and saluted with cheers, and by the guns of the other vessels of the little relief-squadron.
It was again raised when the Baltic entered the harbor of New York, on the morning of the 18th, and was greeted by salutes from the forts there, and the plaudits of thousands of welcoming spectators.
Off Sandy Hook, Major Anderson had written a brief dispatch to the Secretary of War, saying:--“Having defended Fort Sumter for thirty-four hours, until the quarters were entirely burned, the main gates destroyed by fire, the gorge wall seriously injured, the magazine surrounded by flames, and its doors closed from the effects of heat, four barrels and four cartridges of powder only being available, and no provisions but pork remaining, I accepted terms of evacuation offered by General Beauregard, being the same offered by him on the 11th inst., prior to the commencement of hostilities, and marched out of the fort
Sunday afternoon, the 14th instant, with colors flying and drums beating, bringing away company and private property, and saluting my flag with fifty guns.”
3 This was immediately forwarded to the War Department.
The praises of Major Anderson, his officers and men, were unbounded.
The gratitude of the American people was overflowing; and honors were showered upon the commander without stint.
Already the citizens of
1 See picture of the ruins on the preceding page.
2 Charleston Mercury.
3 Major Anderson to Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, April 18, 1861. I am indebted for the facts concerning the occupation and evacuation of Fort Sumter, to statements made to me by Major Anderson during several interviews, and to his official correspondence, in manuscript, which he kindly lent me, by permission of the War Department. Also, to the very interesting Manuscript Diary of Surgeon (afterward Major-General) S. W. Crawford, and the official report of Lieutenant (afterward Major-General) J. G. Foster.
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