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THE FIRST STEP IN THE IVAR.
this was discovered, the Confederatebatteries redoubled their efforts, toprevent the fire being extinguished.Fort Sumter fired at little longer in-tervals, to enable the garrison to fightthe flames. This brave action, undersuch a trying ordeal, aroused greatsympathy and admiration on the partof the Confederates for Major Ander-son and his gallant garrison; thisfeeling was shown by cheers when-ever a gun was fired from Sumter.It was shown also by loud reflec-tions on the “ men-of-war” outsidethe harbor. %
About 12:30 the flag-staff of FortSumter was shot down, but it wassoon replaced. As soon as GeneralBeauregard heard that the flag wasno longer flying, he sent three of hisaides, William Porcher Miles, RogerA. Pryor , and myself, to offer, andalso to see if Major Anderson wouldreceive or needed, assistance, in sub-duing the flames inside the fort. Before we reached it, we saw the UnitedStates flag again floating over it, and began to return to the city. Beforegoing far, however, we saw the Stars and Stripes replaced by a whiteflag. We turned about at once and rowed rapidly to the fort. We weredirected, from an embrasure, not to go to the wharf, as it was mined, andthe fire was near it. We were assisted through an embrasure and conductedto Major Anderson. Our mission being made known to him, he replied,“Present my compliments to General Beauregard, and say to him I thank himfor his kindness, but need no assistance.” He further remarked that he hopedthe worst was over, that the fire had settled over the magazine, and, as it hadnot exploded, he thought the real danger was about over. Continuing, he said,“ Gentlemen, do I understand you come direct from General Beauregard 1 ”The reply was in the affirmative. He then said, “ Why ! Colonel Wigfall hasjust been here as an aide too, and by authority of General Beauregard, and
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J These vessels, part of the second expeditionfor the relief of Port Sumter, were the Baltic (noguns), the Pawnee (8 9-inch guns), and the HarrietLane (1 8-ineh gun and 4 32-pounders). ThePocahontas did not arrive till the afternoon of the13th. The expedition was in charge of CaptainGustavus V. Pox (afterward Assistant Secretary ofthe Navy), who had visited the fort on the 21st ofMarch. It had been understood between Secre-tary Welles and Captain Pox that the movementshould be supported by the Poicliatan (1 11-inch
and 10 9-inch guns); but, unknown to Mr. Welles,and perhaps without full understanding of thisplan, President Lincoln had consented to thedispatch of the ship to the relief of Port Pickens,for which destination it had sailed from New York ,April 6th, under command of Lieutenant DavidD. Porter . This conflict of plans deprived CaptainPox of the ship which he calls the “fightingportion” of his fleet; and to this circumstancehe attributed the failure of the expedition.
Editors.