INSIDE SUMTER IN '61.

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inside, the bearer asked to see Major Anderson. The major was soon on thespot and opened the conversation by asking, “ To what am I indebted forthis visit ? ” The visitor replied, “ I am Colonel Wigfall, of General Beaure-gard’s staff. For God ’s sake, Major, let this thing stop. There has beenenough bloodshed already.” To which the major replied, “ There has beennone on my side, and besides, your batteries are still firing on me.” At whichWigfall exclaimed, “I’ll soon stop that,” and turning to Thompson, who stillheld the sword under his arm, he said, pointing to the handkerchief, “Wavethat out there.” Thompson then handed the sword to Wigfall, saying, in sub-stance, “ Wave it yourself.” Wigfall received back his sword and took a fewsteps toward the embrasure, when the major called him back, saying, “ If youdesire that to be seen you had better send it to the parapet.” There was agood deal more said on the subject of the white flag both by Wigfall andthe major which the writer cannot recall, but the end of it all was that awhite flag was ordered to be displayed from the parapet at the request ofColonel Wigfall, and pending negotiations with him, which was instantlydone, a hospital sheet being used for the purpose. Then the firing graduallyceased, and the major and his officers and Colonel Wigfall retired into thehospital bomb-proof, the only habitable room left. This was about 3 o’clockin the afternoon.

Wigfall’s conference was not of long duration. He left the fort in thesmall boat which brought him from Morris Island, and which was manned bynegroes. Shortly after his departure another small boat from Sullivan’sIsland, containing officers in full uniform (Wigfall wore citizen’s dress withthe sword), approached the fort. The officers in this boat were very muchastonished and annoyed at being warned off by the sentinel, and compelledto show a white flag before they were permitted to approach. They werereceived by the officer of the day, who apologized for not meeting them afloat,saying that all our boats had been destroyed by shot or burned up. Theywere indignant at their reception, and demanded to know whether or notthe fort had surrendered. What was said in reply was not distinctly heardby the writer, but it was believed to be a negative. The officer then askedwhat the white flag meant, and Wigfall’s name was mentioned in reply,About this time Major Anderson made his appearance, and the visitors, stilltalking in an indignant tone, addressed themselves to him. What was saidseemed to be a repetition of what had just been said to the officer of the day.The major’s replies were inaudible where the writer of this stood, except whenhe raised his hand in a sweeping sort of gesture in the direction of FortMoultrie, and said, “Very well, gentlemen, you can return to your batteries.”They did not return, however, immediately, but were conducted into thehospital where Wigfall had been, and remained there some time. When theyleft we learned that there would be no more firing until General Beauregardhad time to hear from his Government at Montgomery.

About 7 o’clock in the evening another white flag brought the announce-ment that the terms agreed upon between General Beauregard and MajorAnderson had been confirmed, and that we would leave Fort Sumter thefollowing day; which we did, after saluting our flag with fifty guns.