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The War Has Actually Begun

NEWS OF 150 YEARS AGO

March and April 1861

From The Missouri Democrat, Saturday, April 13, 1861.

BY TELEGRAPH.

IMPORTANT FROM CHARLESTON!

The War Has Actually Begun!

Gen’l Beauregard Demands the Surrender of Sumter.

MAJOR ANDERSON’S REPLY.

Correspondence Between Beauregard and the Montgomery Officials.

The Rebel Batteries Opened the Fire on Sumter.

 SUMTER BOMBARDED FROM SEVEN BATTERIES ALL DAY.

Only one Vessel of the Fleet in Sight.

TWO OF SUMTER’S GUNS SILENCED!

A BREACH IN THE WALLS OF SUMTER REPORTED.

The Floating Battery Stands the Fire.

ANDERSON’S GUNS DIRECTED AGAINST MOULTRIE AND THE FLOAT.

The Harriet Lane Receives a Shot through Her Wheelhouse.

THE COMBAT CONTINUES TILL PAST NIGHTFALL.

SUMTER STILL REPLYING VIGOROUSLY.

Probable Attempt to Carry Sumpter by Storm.

TROOPS POURING INTO CHARLESTON.

Two Soldiers Reported Wounded.

THE FLEET OFF THE BAR.

THE STORM PREVENTS ENTERING THE PORT.

The Bombardment Continued all Night.

EXTRA SESSION OF THE SOUTHERN CONGRESS.

CHARLESTON, April 11.—Roger A. Pryor has been appointed on Beauregard’s staff.  Beauregard, at 2 o’clock this morning, demanded the surrender of Fort Sumter, which Maj. Anderson declined, probably with reservation.  It is currently reported that negotiations will be opened to-morrrow between Anderson and Beauregard about the surrender of Sumter.

CHARLESTON, April 12.—The following is the telegraphic correspondence between the War Department at Montgomery, and Gen. Beauregard, immediately preceding the hostilities.  The correspondence grew out of the formal notification by the Washington government, which is disclosed in Gen. Beauregard’s first dispatch:

[No. 1.]                                                                CHARLESTON, April 8.

To L. P. Walker, Secretary of War, Montgomery:
An authorized messenger from President Lincoln, just informed Gov. Pickens and myself, that provisions will be sent to Fort Sumter peaceably, or otherwise by force.

G. T. BEAUREGARD.

[No. 2.]                                                               MONTGOMERY, April 10.

To Gen. G. T. Beauregard, Charleston:

If you have no doubt of the authorized character of the agent who communicated to you the intention of the Washington government to supply Fort Sumter by force, you will at once demand its evacuation, and if this is refused, proceed in such manner as you may determine, to reduce it.  Answer.

L. P. WALKER, Sec. of War.

[No. 3.]                                                                            CHARLESTON, April 10.

To L. P. Walker, Secretary of War, Montgomery:

The demand will be made to-morrow at 12 o’clock.

G. T. BEAUREGARD.

[No. 4.]                                                                            MONTGOMERY, April 10.

To Gen. Beauregard, Charleston:

Unless there are especial reasons connected with your own condition, it is considered proper that you should make the demand at an early hour.

L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War.

[No. 5.]                                                                            CHARLESTON, April 10.

To L. P. Walker, Secretary of War, Montgomery:

The reasons are special for twelve o’clock.

G. T. BEAUREGARD.

[No. 6.]                                                                           CHARLESTON, April 11.

To L. P. Walker, Secretary of War, Montgomery:

The demand was sent at two o’clock, and until six o’clock allowed to answer.

G. T. BEAUREGARD.

[No. 7.]                                                                          MONTGOMERY, April 11.

To Gen. Beauregard, Charleston:

Telegraph the reply of Major Anderson.

L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War.

[No. 8.]                                                                         CHARLESTON, April 11.

To L. P. Walker, Secretary of War, Montgomery:

Major Anderson replies:  “I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication demanding the evacuation of this fort, and to say in reply that it is a demand which I regret that my sense of honor and my obligation to my government, prevent my compliance.”

He adds, probably I will await the first shot, and if you do not batter us to pieces, we will be starved out in a few days.  Answer.

G. T. BEAUREGARD.

[No. 9.]                                                                      MONTGOMERY, April 11.

To Gen. Beauregard, Charleston:

We do not desire needlessly to bombard Fort Sumter.  If Maj. Anderson will state the time at which, as indicated by him, he will evacuate, and agree that in the meantime he will not use his guns against us unless our should be employed against Fort Sumter, you are thus to avoid the effusion of blood.  If this or its equivalent be refused, reduce the fort as your judgment decides to be the most practicable.

L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War.

[No. 10.]                                                                  CHARLESTON, April 11.

To L. P. Walker, Secretary of War, Montgomery:

He would not consent.  I write to-day.

G. T. BEAUREGARD.

CHARLESTON, 12th.—Intercepted dispatches disclose the fact that Mr. Fox, who had been allowed to visit Major Anderson on the pledge that his purpose was pacific, employed his opportunity to devise a plan for supplying the fort by force, and that the plan had been adopted by the Washington government, and was in progress of execution.

 

SECOND DISPATCH.

 

CHARLESTON, 12th.—The ball has opened.  War is inaugurated.  The batteries of Sullivan’s Island, Morris Island, and other points, were opened on Fort Sumter at four o’clock this morning.  Fort Sumter has returned the fire, and a brisk cannonading has been kept up.  No information has been received from the seaboard yet.  The military are under arms, and the whole of our population are on the streets, and every available space facing the harbor is filled with anxious spectators.

THIRD DISPATCH.

The firing has continued all day without intermission.  Two of Fort Sumter’s guns have been silenced, and it is reported that a breach has been made in the southeast wall.  The answer to Gen. Beauregard’s demand by Maj. Anderson was that he would surrender when his supplies were exhausted, that is if he was not reinforced.  Not a casualty has yet happened to any of the forces.  Of the nineteen batteries in position, only seven have opened fire on Fort Sumter.  The remainder are held in reserve for the expected fleet.  Two thousand men reached this city this morning and embarked for Morris Island and the neighborhood.

NEW YORK, April 12.—The Herald’s special dispatch says Ft. Moultrie began the bombardment with two guns, to which Anderson replied with three shots from his Barbette guns; after which the batteries of Mount Pleasant, Cumming’s Point and the floating battery opened a brisk fire of shot and shell.  Anderson replied only at long intervals until between 7 and 8 o’clock, when he opened from two tiers of guns looking towards Moultrie and Stevens battery, but up to three o’clock failed to produce serious effect.

During the greater part of the day Anderson directed his shots principally against Moultrie, the Stevens and floating batteries at Fort Johnson, they being the only ones operating against him.  Fifteen or eighteen shots struck the floating battery without effect.  Breaches, to all appearances, are being made in the side of Sumter exposed to the fire.  Portions of the parapets were destroyed, and several guns shot away.  The fight will continue all night.  The fort will probably be carried by storm.  It is reported that the Harriet Lane received a shot through her wheelhouse.  She is in the offing.  No other government ships are in sight.

The troops are pouring into the city by thousands.

The bombardment continues from the floating, Stevens and other batteries.  Sumter continues returning the fire.  It is reported that three war vessels are now off the bar.

FOURTH DISPATCH.

The firing has ceased for the night, and will be renewed early in the morning.  Ample arrangements have been made to prevent a reinforcement to-night.

LATEST DISPATCH.

The bombardment had recommenced with mortars, and will be kept up all night.  It is supposed Anderson is resting his men for the night.  Vessels cannot get in.  The storm is raging and the sea rough, making it impossible to reinforce to-night.  The floating battery works well.

[Special to the Herald.]

Two men are wounded on Sullivan’s Island.  A number were struck with spent projectiles.  Three ships of war are visible in the offing, and it is believed an attempt will be made to-night to reinforce Sumter.  From the regularity of the firing it is thought Anderson has a larger force than has been supposed.  Rained to-day.

MONTGOMERY, April 12.—An extra session of Congress has been called for April 29th.