INSIDE SUMTER IN ’61.

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Fort Sumter was raised by Major Anderson, and the halliards secured. Hethen turned toward the officers and directed that the companies be dismissed.If any of those who doubted the loyalty to the Union of Major Andersoncould have had but one glimpse of that impressive scene, they would havedoubted no longer.

The weary waiting for war or deliverance which filled up the few weeksthat intervened between the preparations and the actual bombardmentdeveloped no discontent among the men, although food and fuel were gettingscarce. The latter was replenished from time to time by tearing downsheds and temporary workshops, but the former was a constantly dimin-ishing quantity, and the men could count on their fingers the numberof days between them and starvation. It was a favorite belief among thesecessionists that the pinchings of hunger would arouse a spirit of mutinyamong the soldiers, and compel Major Anderson to propose terms ofevacuation. But no such spirit manifested itself. On the contrary, themen exhibited a devotion to their Government and the officers appointedover them which surprised their enemies, but attracted little attention fromtheir friends. J

The opening of the bombardment was a somewhat dramatic event. A reliev-ing fleet was approaching, all unknown to the Sumter garrison, and GeneralBeauregard, perhaps with the hope of tying Major Anderson’s hands in theexpected fight with that fleet, had opened negotiations with him 011 the 11thof April looking toward the evacuation of the fort. But Major Andersondeclined to evacuate his post till compelled by hunger. The last ounce ofbreadstuffs had been consumed, and matters were manifestly approachinga crisis. It was evident from the activity of the enemy that somethingimportant was in the wind. That night we retired as usual. Toward half-past three on the morning of the 12th we were startled by a gun fired in theimmediate vicinity of the fort, and many rose to see what was the matter.It was soon learned that a steamer from the enemy desired to communicatewith Major Anderson, and a small boat under a flag of truce was receivedand delivered the message. Although no formal announcement of the factwas made, it became generally known among the men that in one hourGeneral Beauregard would open his batteries on Sumter.

The men waited about for some time in expectation of orders, butreceived none, except an informal order to go to bed, and the information thatreveille would be sounded at the usual hour. This was daylight, fully twohours off, so some of the men did retire. The majority perhaps remained up,anxious to see the opening, for which purpose they had all gone on the ram-parts. Except that the flag was hoisted, and a glimmer of light was visibleat the guard-house, the fort looked so dark and silent as to seem deserted.The morning was dark and raw. Some of the watchers surmised thatBeauregard was “ bluffing,” and that there would be no bombardment. But

j So faithful and true have the soldiers of the which were abandoned by all the commissionedarmy always been that even very striking exhibi- officers, at which not one of the enlisted mentions of these qualities are not considered worthy proved untrue. The loyalty of the latter hasof notice. There were military posts in 1861 never been properly appreciated.—J. C.

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