Article From Harper's Weekly Magazine
VOL. V.—No. 226.]
NEW YORK, SATURDAY,
APRIL 27, 1861.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the Year 1861, by Harper & Brothers, in
the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York.
THE BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER.
WE devote most of our space this week to illustrations of this memorable event. On pages 264 and 265 will be found a general picture of the BOMBARDMENT, SEEN FROM FORT JOHNSON. On page 260 we give a picture of the INTERIOR OF FORT SUMTER during the terrible rain of shot and shell from the Confederate batteries; and on page 261 an accurate MAP OF THE HARBOR OF CHARLESTON, showing the relative position of Sumter and of the batteries by which it was surrounded. We now subjoin, by way of record, a brief account of the transaction.
On 8th April Lieutenant Talbot and Mr. Chew, messengers from the President, informed General Beauregard that the Government would supply Major Anderson with provisions—which were denied him by the South Carolinian people—peaceably if they could, forcibly if they must. General Beauregard referred the message to his Government at Montgomery, and was ordered to reduce the fort. He summoned Major Anderson to surrender on 11th. The reply was:
"I have the honor
to acknowledge the receipt of your communication, demanding the evacuation of
this fort, and to say, in reply thereto, that it is a demand with which I
regret that my sense of honor and my obligations to my Government prevent my
compliance."
Accordingly at 4:27 A.M. on 12th fire was opened from Fort Moultrie on Fort Sumter. To this Major Anderson replied with three of his barrette guns, after which the batteries on Mount Pleasant, Cummings's Point, and the Floating Battery opened a brisk fire of shot and shell. Major Anderson did not reply, except at long intervals, until between seven and eight o'clock, when he brought into action the two tiers of guns looking toward Fort Moultrie and Stevens' iron battery. The fire continued brisk all day. At 7 P.M. a heavy rain-storm caused a cessation of hostilities till 11 P.M. Major Anderson appears to have employed the interval in repairing damages. At or about 11 P.M. the fire recommenced, and a shell was thrown into Fort Sumter from each battery every twenty minutes (luring the night. With daybreak the heavy bombardment recommenced from
all the batteries ; the fire was returned from Fort Sumter with vigor until about 8 A.M., when Fort Sumter was perceived to be on fire. Major Anderson's fighting then slackened, but the fire of the besiegers increased in intensity. At about 10 A.M. Major Anderson lowered his flag to half-mast in token of distress ; perhaps as a signal to the United States vessels which were lying at anchor outside the bar, unable to get into the harbor so as to participate in the conflict. About half past ten one or two explosions took place in the fort ; it has since been ascertained that these proceeded from the heating of piles of shells. Meanwhile the fire progressed rapidly ; the whole roof of the barracks was a sheet of flame, and flames and smoke issued thickly from the case-mates. At or about eleven Major Anderson ceased firing, and devoted his whole attention to putting out the fire. At about noon some of his men were noticed on the wharf of the fort handing in buckets of water ; the besiegers' fire, which had never slackened, was at once directed upon them. In a few minutes afterward Major Anderson hauled down his flag. A boat then put off, containing ex-Governor Manning, Major D. R. Jones,and Colonel Charles Allston, to arrange the terms of surrender, which were the same as those offered on the 11th. These were official. They stated that all proper facilities would be afforded for the removal of Major Anderson and his command, together with the company arms and property, and all private property, to any post in the United States he might elect. Major Anderson stated that he surrendered his sword to General Beauregard as the representative of the Confederate Government. General Beauregard said he would not receive it from so brave a man.
The correspondent of the Press telegraphs on 14th:
" The last act in the drama of Fort Sumter has been concluded. Major Anderson has evacuated, and, with his command, departed by the steamer Isabel from the harbor. He saluted his flag, and the company, then forming on the parade-ground, marched out upon the wharf, with drum and fife playing 'Yankee Doodle.'
" During the salute a pile of cartridges burst in one of the case-mates, killing two men and wounding four others. One was buried in the fort with military honors. The other will be buried by the soldiers of South Carolina.
"The scene in the city after the raising of the flag of truce and the surrender is indescribable; the people were perfectly wild. Men on horseback rode through the streets proclaiming the news, amidst the greatest enthusiasm.
"On the arrival of the officers from the fort they were marched through the streets, followed by an immense crowd, hurrahing, shouting, and yelling with excitement.
" The number of soldiers in the fort was about seventy, besides twenty-five workmen, who assisted at the guns. His stock of provisions was almost exhausted, however. He would have been starved out in two more days.
"The entrance to the fort is mined, and the officers were told to be careful, even after the surrender, on account of the heat, lest it should explode.
"Several fire companies were immediately sent down to Fort Sumter to put out the fire, and any amount of assistance was offered.
" The fort is burned into a mere shell; not a particle of wood-work can be found. The guns on one side of the parapet are entirely dismounted, others split, while the gun. carriages are knocked into splinters.
"The flames have destroyed everything. Both officers and soldiers were obliged to lie on their faces in the case-mates to prevent suffocation.
NEW YORK, SATURDAY,
APRIL 27, 1861.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the Year 1861, by Harper & Brothers, in
the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York.
THE BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER.
WE devote most of our space this week to illustrations of this memorable event. On pages 264 and 265 will be found a general picture of the BOMBARDMENT, SEEN FROM FORT JOHNSON. On page 260 we give a picture of the INTERIOR OF FORT SUMTER during the terrible rain of shot and shell from the Confederate batteries; and on page 261 an accurate MAP OF THE HARBOR OF CHARLESTON, showing the relative position of Sumter and of the batteries by which it was surrounded. We now subjoin, by way of record, a brief account of the transaction.
On 8th April Lieutenant Talbot and Mr. Chew, messengers from the President, informed General Beauregard that the Government would supply Major Anderson with provisions—which were denied him by the South Carolinian people—peaceably if they could, forcibly if they must. General Beauregard referred the message to his Government at Montgomery, and was ordered to reduce the fort. He summoned Major Anderson to surrender on 11th. The reply was:
"I have the honor
to acknowledge the receipt of your communication, demanding the evacuation of
this fort, and to say, in reply thereto, that it is a demand with which I
regret that my sense of honor and my obligations to my Government prevent my
compliance."
Accordingly at 4:27 A.M. on 12th fire was opened from Fort Moultrie on Fort Sumter. To this Major Anderson replied with three of his barrette guns, after which the batteries on Mount Pleasant, Cummings's Point, and the Floating Battery opened a brisk fire of shot and shell. Major Anderson did not reply, except at long intervals, until between seven and eight o'clock, when he brought into action the two tiers of guns looking toward Fort Moultrie and Stevens' iron battery. The fire continued brisk all day. At 7 P.M. a heavy rain-storm caused a cessation of hostilities till 11 P.M. Major Anderson appears to have employed the interval in repairing damages. At or about 11 P.M. the fire recommenced, and a shell was thrown into Fort Sumter from each battery every twenty minutes (luring the night. With daybreak the heavy bombardment recommenced from
all the batteries ; the fire was returned from Fort Sumter with vigor until about 8 A.M., when Fort Sumter was perceived to be on fire. Major Anderson's fighting then slackened, but the fire of the besiegers increased in intensity. At about 10 A.M. Major Anderson lowered his flag to half-mast in token of distress ; perhaps as a signal to the United States vessels which were lying at anchor outside the bar, unable to get into the harbor so as to participate in the conflict. About half past ten one or two explosions took place in the fort ; it has since been ascertained that these proceeded from the heating of piles of shells. Meanwhile the fire progressed rapidly ; the whole roof of the barracks was a sheet of flame, and flames and smoke issued thickly from the case-mates. At or about eleven Major Anderson ceased firing, and devoted his whole attention to putting out the fire. At about noon some of his men were noticed on the wharf of the fort handing in buckets of water ; the besiegers' fire, which had never slackened, was at once directed upon them. In a few minutes afterward Major Anderson hauled down his flag. A boat then put off, containing ex-Governor Manning, Major D. R. Jones,and Colonel Charles Allston, to arrange the terms of surrender, which were the same as those offered on the 11th. These were official. They stated that all proper facilities would be afforded for the removal of Major Anderson and his command, together with the company arms and property, and all private property, to any post in the United States he might elect. Major Anderson stated that he surrendered his sword to General Beauregard as the representative of the Confederate Government. General Beauregard said he would not receive it from so brave a man.
The correspondent of the Press telegraphs on 14th:
" The last act in the drama of Fort Sumter has been concluded. Major Anderson has evacuated, and, with his command, departed by the steamer Isabel from the harbor. He saluted his flag, and the company, then forming on the parade-ground, marched out upon the wharf, with drum and fife playing 'Yankee Doodle.'
" During the salute a pile of cartridges burst in one of the case-mates, killing two men and wounding four others. One was buried in the fort with military honors. The other will be buried by the soldiers of South Carolina.
"The scene in the city after the raising of the flag of truce and the surrender is indescribable; the people were perfectly wild. Men on horseback rode through the streets proclaiming the news, amidst the greatest enthusiasm.
"On the arrival of the officers from the fort they were marched through the streets, followed by an immense crowd, hurrahing, shouting, and yelling with excitement.
" The number of soldiers in the fort was about seventy, besides twenty-five workmen, who assisted at the guns. His stock of provisions was almost exhausted, however. He would have been starved out in two more days.
"The entrance to the fort is mined, and the officers were told to be careful, even after the surrender, on account of the heat, lest it should explode.
"Several fire companies were immediately sent down to Fort Sumter to put out the fire, and any amount of assistance was offered.
" The fort is burned into a mere shell; not a particle of wood-work can be found. The guns on one side of the parapet are entirely dismounted, others split, while the gun. carriages are knocked into splinters.
"The flames have destroyed everything. Both officers and soldiers were obliged to lie on their faces in the case-mates to prevent suffocation.
Harper's Weekly Article ~ Description of The Battle of Fort Sumter
According to the above article, The Battle of Fort Sumter was very quick, but hectic. This is because it only lasted several hours from April 12, 4:27 am, to around 6 and a half hours later, when the Fort was surrendered. After a pile of shells exploded inside of the Fort, the Union was occupied with getting it put out. From reading this article, it is clear that the Fort was completely destroyed because of the destructive fire. This article also makes it clear that this battle was won by the Confederacy.
A Letter Home from the Battlefield
~Student Composed~
Dear Mother and Father,
Although my days in this first battle of The Civil War have been short, they have felt interminable. From the first fire, to the surrender of this poor fort, I have felt much responsibility to keep Sumter in the hands of the Union. Although this has been a difficult task, I must continue pressing on to end this dreadful war.
The first shot was fired at 4:27 A.M., on April 12, 1861, by the Confederacy, which denoted the start of the war. These shots continued between Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter until 7 P.M. This is when the rain started to pour down. A wave of relief ran through my body, because this rain created a brief pause in the firing. Then, about 4 hours later, the Confederacy began throwing shells from each of their batteries into our fort every twenty minutes. This continued on for 9 hours, until 8 A.M., then to see that Fort Sumter had lit fire.
While there was still little fighting, our main attention was focused on taking down this flaming wild beast, that became even larger when there were two explosions inside of the fort. Major Anderson then terminated the fighting at 11 A.M. I can still remember the red and orange flames quickly spreading, and swallowing everything in their path. Although many men were trying to put out the horrid flames, we did not succeed. The fire destroyed the entire fort, leaving barely anything.
It brings me great shame to say that we had to surrender Fort Sumter. Around noon Major Anderson brought the flag down, and surrendered Fort Sumter to the Confederacy. Although the Union was not successful in this first battle, I know that we will do everything possible to win this war ahead of us.
I love both of you, and I hope that you will stay safe.
Sincerely,
Your Son
Dear Mother and Father,
Although my days in this first battle of The Civil War have been short, they have felt interminable. From the first fire, to the surrender of this poor fort, I have felt much responsibility to keep Sumter in the hands of the Union. Although this has been a difficult task, I must continue pressing on to end this dreadful war.
The first shot was fired at 4:27 A.M., on April 12, 1861, by the Confederacy, which denoted the start of the war. These shots continued between Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter until 7 P.M. This is when the rain started to pour down. A wave of relief ran through my body, because this rain created a brief pause in the firing. Then, about 4 hours later, the Confederacy began throwing shells from each of their batteries into our fort every twenty minutes. This continued on for 9 hours, until 8 A.M., then to see that Fort Sumter had lit fire.
While there was still little fighting, our main attention was focused on taking down this flaming wild beast, that became even larger when there were two explosions inside of the fort. Major Anderson then terminated the fighting at 11 A.M. I can still remember the red and orange flames quickly spreading, and swallowing everything in their path. Although many men were trying to put out the horrid flames, we did not succeed. The fire destroyed the entire fort, leaving barely anything.
It brings me great shame to say that we had to surrender Fort Sumter. Around noon Major Anderson brought the flag down, and surrendered Fort Sumter to the Confederacy. Although the Union was not successful in this first battle, I know that we will do everything possible to win this war ahead of us.
I love both of you, and I hope that you will stay safe.
Sincerely,
Your Son