Primary tabs
2
Latest by Telegraph.
CHARLESTON, April 12. — The bombardment continues from the floating battery, Stevens and other batteries. Sumter continues returning the fire.
It is reported that three war vessels are now off the bar.
The firing has ceased for the night, to be renewed early in the morning.
Ample arrangements are made to prevent reinforcement to-night.
Two men were wounded on Sullivan's Island. Three ships are visible in the offing. It is believed an attempt will be made to-night to reinforce Sumter. From the regularity of firing throughout Anderson has a larger force than was supposed.
Bombardment is continuing with mortars, and will be kept up all night. It is supposed that Anderson is resting his men for to-night. Vessels cannot get in, as a storm is raging, and the sea rough, making it impossible to effect reinforcement to night. The floating battery works well.
The opinion prevails that an attempt will be made before sunrise to run the light draft vessels of the fleet up to Sumter to reinforce and provision it.
CHARLESTON, April 13. — The cannonading is going on fiercely, from all points, from the vessels outside and all along our coast. It is reported Fort Sumter is on fire.
CHARLESTON, April 13, 10:30, a. m. — At intervals of 20 minutes, firing was kept up all night on Fort Sumter. Maj. Anderson ceased firing from Fort Sumter at 6 o'clock in the evening; all night he was engaged in repairing damages, and protecting the barbette guns; he commenced to return the fire at 7 o'clock this morning. — Fort Sumter seems to be greatly disabled. The battery on Cummings' Point does Fort Sumter great damage. At 9 o'clock this morning a dense smoke poured out from Fort Sumter. The federal flag is at half mast, signifying distress. The shells from Fort Moultrie, and the batteries on Morris' Island fall into Major Anderson's stronghold thick and fast, and they can be seen in their course from the Charleston battery.
CHARLESON, (VIA AUGUSTA, GA.,) April 13. — Fort Sumter has surrendered. The confederate flag floats over its walls. None of the garrison of confederate troops are hurt.
CHARLESTON, April 13 — Two of Major Anderson's magazines exploded. Only occasional shots are fired at him from Fort Moultrie. The Morris Island battery is doing heavy work. It is thought that only the smaller magazines have exploded. The greatest excitement prevails. The wharves, steeples, and every available place is packed with people. U. S. ships are in the offing, but have not aided Maj. Anderson. It is too late now to come over the bar, as the tide is ebbing.
CHARLESTON, April 13. — The ships in the offing appear to be quietly at anchor. They have not fired a gun yet. The entire roof of the barracks at Sumter is in a vast sheet of flames. Shells from Cummings' Point and Fort Moultrie are bursting in and over Fort Sumter in Quick succession. The federal flag still waver. Maj. Anderson is only occupied putting out fire. — Every shot now on Sumter seems to fall heavily. The people are anxiously looking for Major Anderson to strike his flag. It is stated from a reliable source, that up to 10 o'clock to-day, no one at Moultrie was killed. Eleven shots from Fort Sumter penetrated the floating battery below the water line. The few shots fired by Major Anderson early this morning knocked the chimneys from the officers' quarters at Moultrie like a whirlwind. Maj Anderson's only hope now is to hold out for aid from the ships. Two ships are now making in toward Morris Island, with a view to land troops, and silence the batteries there.
CHARLESTON, April 13. — Fort Sumter is undoubtedly on fire; the flames are raging all around it. Major Anderson has thrown out a raft loaded with men, who are passing up buckets of water to extinguish the fire. The fort is scarcely discernable. The men on the raft are now objects of fire from Morris Island. With glasses balls can be seen skipping over the water striking the unprotected raft.
Great havoc is created among the poor fellows. It is surmised that Major Anderson is gradually blowing up the fort. He scarcely fires a gun. At half past eleven o'clock flames were bursting from all the port holes. The destruction of Fort Sumter is inevitable. Four vessels, two of them large steamers, are in sight, over the bar; the largest appears to be engaging Morris Island. — The flames have nearly subsided in Sumter; but Major Anderson does not fire any guns.
Gen. Beauregard left the wharf just now in a boat, for Morris Island. The excitement, if anything, is increasing.
I have received a letter from S. C. Boylston, dated Moultrie, 6 o'clock, this a. m. The letter says, not one man was killed or wounded. The iron battery had been damaged. The rifled cannon of the battery had been damaged. The rifled cannon of the battery did great execution on Sumter, and were all aimed into Anderson's port holes. Three of Sumter's barbette guns were dismounted, one of which was a ten inch Columbiad. A corner of Fort Sumter, opposite Moultrie, was knocked off. The steamers Water Witch, Mohawk and Pawnee, it was thought, were the three first vessels seen in the offing. — Another corresponded says, the bombardment has closed. Maj. Anderson has drawn down the stars and stripes, and displayed a white flag, which has been answered from the city, and a boat is on the way to Fort Sumter.
The breaches made in Fort Sumter are on the side opposite to Cummings' Point. Two of its port-holes are knocked into one, and the wall from the top is crumbling.
Three vessels, one of them a large steamer, are over the bar, and seem to be preparing to participate in the conflict. The fire of Morris Island and Moultrie is divided between Sumter and the ships of war. The ships have not yet opened.
CHARLESTON, April 13, A. M. — The batteries of Sullivan's Island, Cummings' Point and Stevens' battery are pouring shot and shell into Fort Sumter. Major Anderson does not return the fire. Fort Sumter is still on fire. There has just been two explosions at Fort Sumter.
CHARLESTON, April 13, P. M. — The federal flag was again hoisted over Fort Sumter, when Porcher Miles, with a flag of truce, went to the fort. In a few moments the federal flag was again drawn down by Maj. Anderson, and the white flag again unfurled.
CHARLESTON, April 13, 9 P. M. — Sumter has unconditionally surrendered. The people are wild with joy. No Carolinians are hurt. There were two thousand shots fired altogether. Anderson and his men were conveyed to Morris Island under guard. Anderson reached the city and is the guest of Beauregard. The people sympathize with Anderson, but abhor those in the steamers in sight, who didn't even attempt to reinforce. The wood-work and officers' quarters in Sumter are all burnt. No officers were wounded. The fort was taken possession of to-night by the confederate troops.
CHARLESTON, April 13, 11 P. M. — Beauregard has just gone to Sumter; also, three fire companies, to quench the fire before it reaches the magazine.
CHARLESTON, April 13. — Negotiations were completed last night.
Anderson's command will evacuate in the morning, and embark on war vessels now off the harbor. Five of Anderson's men are wounded, one thought mortally. After surrender a boat load of men who were sent from one of the ship were outside of Morris Island requesting permission for a vessel to enter and take off Anderson. The command reported that Anderson surrendered because the quarters and barracks were destroyed, and they had no hope of reinforcements. The fleet lay by 30 hours and could not or would not help him. His men prostrated by over exertion; explosions were heard in Sumter, caused by shells igniting. The barracks caught fire three times from the hot shot from Moultrie. Everything [missing lines]
Moultrie is badly damaged. Houses on the island are riddled. A boat was sent from the port to-night to officially notify the fleet of the surrender of Sumter. It is not known what will be done with Sumter or the vanquished.
CHARLESTON, April 13. — Half-past four o'clock firing ceased, and unconditional surrender made. The Carolinians were surprised that the fight was over so soon. After the flagstaff was shot away Wigfall was sent by Beauergard to Sumter with a white flag to offer assistance to subdue the flames.
CHARLESTON, April 14. — Anderson and men leave to-night on the Isabella for New York.
The fleet is still outside.