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Originally appearing in the Charleston Courier, Dec. 28 1860. Reprinted in the NY Times January 1, 1861
THE QUESTION OF THE FORTS.; FORT SUMTER AS OCCUPIED. FORT MOULTRIE AND ITS CONDITION. THE EVACUATION. REASONS FOR EVACUATION. THE OCCUPATION OF FORT MOULTRIE BY SOUTH CAROLINA TROOPS. MAJOR ANDERSON'S COURSE DENOUNCED. HOW IT WAS MANAGED.
Throughout the city yesterday the greatest excitement prevailed in relation to the news from Forts Moultrie and Sumter. An early as 8 o'clock in the forenoon the rumors of the destruction of the former of these military posts, and the occupation of the latter by the forces of the Unites States, was circulated. It was at first currently reported and believed, that Fort Moultrie had been laid in rains: that the guns were spiked, and the carriages, &c, together with the baraacks, burned, and that the post had been entirely abandoned. The reports spread like wildfire, and soon gained currency in every part of the city. Crowds of citizens anxiously inquired of each other the latest intelligence in relation to the affair; squads collected on every corner of the streets, and in front of the public resorts, to canvass the subject.
The newspaper offices were besieged, the hotel halls were thronged, and even the grave and serious gentlemen composing the State Convention snared in the general excitement. On all hands anger and indignation was expressed at the supposed perfidious conduct of the Federal authorities, at whose instance it was at first thought the movement was made. The people were greatly incensed at the idea of a willful breach of those assurances of non action which had been volunteered by the Government of Washington and upon which so much reliance and confidence had been placed by the entire population, that every impulse to take the necessary precautions for their own safety had been restrained.
Instinctively men flew to arms. Orders were immediately issued to the following Companies to hold themselves in readiness for service: Washington Light Infantry, Capt. C.H. Simonton; Carolina Light Infantry, Capt. B.G. Pinckoey: Meagner Guards, Capt. Ed McCreavy, Jr.; altogether forming a portion of the Regiment of Rides, commanded by Col. J.J. Pettigrew and Major Ellison Capers; also, to the Marion Artillery, Capt. J.G. King; Lafayette Artillery, Capt. J.J. Pope, Jr; Washington Artillery, Capt. G.H. Walter; German Artillery, Capt. C. Nohrden; all under command of Lieut. W.G. De Saussnre; Adjutant. Jas. Simmons. Jr.; Sergeant-Major, E. Prioleau Ravener; Quatermaster-Sergeant, J.R. Macbeth; Surveyor, A Barbot: Surgeons, P. Gervais Robinson and Middleton Mitchel. Also, the Palmetto Guard, Capt. Thomas Middleton, and Cadet Riflemen, Capt. W.S. Elliott.
All the military forces thus ordered out promptly obeyed the summons, and the streets were soon enlivened by the appearance of individual members of the different organizations in their uniforms.
About noon the excitement in the streets had attained the highest pitch. The Convention was known to be in secret conclave, and it was believed that this was the subject matter of their deliberations. The streets swarmed with people. Additional flags were displayed from the stores and houses on the principal streets. The Custom-House. and other buildings formerly in the possession, of the United States Government, displayed the bunting of the infant Republic of South Carolina. Every one looked upon the "war as actually begun," and all seemed to feel that their brethren were in the field, and themselves began to grow restless at the prospect of inactivity and sus pense.
Later in the day, however, the excitement was somewhat abated, when it became known that the movement on the part of the forces of the United States at Fort Moultrie was not at the instance of the Administration at Washington, but was merely a precautionary measure taken by Commander Anderson, under conviction that has position within the fortress on Sullivan's Island would not be tenable, if attacked in it by well organized and disciplined troops. The contradiction of the first reports in relation to the damage done the fort by the troops that had evacuated it, also had a tendency to allay the excitement of the occasion.
In order to ascertain truthful statements of the actual damage done to the Forts, of the causes of the movement and of the state of affairs generally, reporters were dispatched to the scene during the forenoon. On the way across the harbor, the hoisting of an American flag from the staff of Fort Sumter, at precisely 12 o'clock, gave certain indication that the stronghold was occupied by the troops of the United States. On a nearer approach the fortress was discovered to be occupied, the guns appeared to be mounted, and sentinels were discovered on duty, and the place to give every sign of occupancy and military discipline. The grim fortress frowned defiance an every side -- the busy notes of preparation resounded through its unforbidding recesses, and everything seemed to indicate the utmost alacrity in the work on hand.
Turning towards Fort Moultrie, a dense cloud of smoke was seen to pour from the end facing the sea. The flagstaff was down, and the whole place had an air of desolation and abandonment quite the reverse of its busy look one week ago, when scores of laborers were engaged in adding to its strength all the works skill and experience could suggest.
In the immediate vicinity of the rear or landside entrance, however, greater activity was noticeable. At the time of our visit, a large force of hands had been summoned to deliver up their implements for transportation to Fort Sumter. Around on every side were the evidences of labor in the fortification of the work. In many places, a portion of the defences were strengthened by every appliance that art could suggest or ingenuity devise: while, in others, the uncomplexed works gave evidences of the utmost confusion. On all hands the process of removing goods, furniture and munitions, was yet going on. The heavy guns upon the ramparts of the Fort were thrown down from their carriages and spiked. Every ounce of powder and every cartridge had been removed from the magazines: and. in fact, everything like small arms, clothing, provisions, accoutrements and other munitions of war, had been removed off and deposited -- nothing but heavy bails and useless cannon remained.
The entire place was, to all appearances, littered up with the odd ends and fragments of wars desolation. Confusion could not have been more complete had the late occupants retired in the face of a besieging foe. Fragments of gun-carriages, &c., broken to pieces, bestrewed the ramparts. Sand bags, and barrels filled with earth, crowned the walls. and were firmly imbedded in their bomb-proof surface, as an additional safeguard; and notwithstanding the heterogeneous scattering of materials and implememts, the walls of the fort evinced a vague degree of energy in preparing for an attack. A ditch, some fifteen feet size and about the same in depth, surrounds the entire wall on three sides. On the south side, or front, a glacis has been commenced and prosecuted nearly to complexion, with a rampart of sand bags, barrels, &c.
On one side of the fort a palisade of Palmetto logs is extended around the ramparts as a complete defence against an escalading party. New embrasures have been cut in the walls so as to command the faces of the bastions and ditch. These new defences are all complete, and are evidences of the haste with which they were erected. Considering the inferior force, in point of numbers, under his command, Maj. ANDERSON had paid particular attention to strengthening only a small part of the fort.
A greater portion of the labor expended was spent upon the citadel or centre of the west point of the population. This he had caused to be strengthened in every way; loop-poles were cut, and everything was so arranged that to care a well-concerted attack was made, he would have retired from the outer bastions to the citadel, and afterwards blow up the other portions of the fort. For this purpose mines had already been sprung, and trains had been laid, ready for the application of the match. The barrack-rooms and every other part of the fort that was indefensible would have gone at a touch.
On the ramparts of the fort fronting Fort Sumter, were nine 8-inch Columbiads, mounted on woolen carriages. As soon as the evacution of the fort was complete, the carriages of these guns were fired, and at the time of visiting the fort yesterday, were nearly consumed, and the guns thereby dismounted. These guns, as well as those constituting the entire armament of the fortress, were spiked before it was abandoned. This is the only damage done the fortification, further than cutting down the flag-staff, and the breaking up of ammunition wagons to form ramparts on the walls of the fort.
The fort was found to be in charge of two officers and four men, who had been left behind merely to act as a watch. The place was sealed to all but the watch, and none but there were allowed to enter.
From the officers in charge it was learned that the evacuation of the fort commenced a little after sundown on Wednesday evening. The men were ordered to hold themselves in readiness, with knapsacks packed, at a moment's notice, but up to the moment of their leaving had no idea of abandoning the post. They were reviewed on parade, and were then ordered to two schooners, lying in the vicinity, where they embarked, taking with them all the necessaries, stores &c., requisite in their evacuation.
Several trips were made during the night, and a great part of the provisions and camp furniture were transported under cover of night. The brightness of the moon, however, afforded but slight concealment to their movements, and in one of the trips. Lieut. DAVIS in command, a schooner full of soldiers and baggage passed directly under the bow of the guard-boat Nina. The officer who made the statement expressed himself to be ignorant whether the watch on board the Nina discovered the movement or not -- at all events he said they did not signify any cognizance of the fact.
From conversations held with the gentlemen in possession of the fort yesterday, it was ascertained that the first impetus given to the work of strengthening the fort, was after the speeches of Messrs, Magrath, Memoninger and others, when fears were aroused that the time would shortly come which would call into exercise the use of force in protecting the public property. Upon this, all the energies of the officers and men were called forth to renrender the position as strong as possible. Attacks were expected only from the land side, and to the strengthening of these points all the available force was put. The officers expressed themselves to be able, after preparation, &c, to make a successful resistance against any mob or undisciplined force, but against organized troops the small garrison could make no stand.
Major ANDERSON had been ordered to hold the Fort, to protect the work, and he intended to do it at every hazard. He denied that either the President or Secretary of War had given any orders for the evacuation of the post. Major Anderson had done this on his own responsibility -- thinking that by such a step he would make himself secure against attack, protect the lives of his soldiers, and could better guard the public property, for in his position at Fort Sumter he could easily command, and if necessary, silence the batteries of Fort Moultrie.
At twenty minutes to 8 o'clock the troops on board the Nina and Gen. Clinch landed on the wharf of Sullivan's Island. Rapidly forming, they proceeded under the command of Col. DE SAUSSURE towards the walls of Fort Moultrie. A sergeant and ten men held possession of the place. On the approach of Col. DE SAUSSURE'S command the detachment of United States troops retired without offering any resistance.
The gates were not closed even, and forty minutes after the steamer touched the wharf the Palmetto flag, mounted on a hastily prepared staff, (as the original one had been cutaway,) was flung to the breeze, amid the huzzas of the occupants. Active preparations were immediately commenced to render the place defensible The spiked guns, and those dismantled by the burning of the carriages, will soon be in a position to respond to any hostile demonstration made against the place
At 12 o'clock last night, when our reporter left the island, all was quiet and orderly. Sentries were pacing the rampants, and the hall of "All well" resounded at intervals from the several posts.
At Castle Pinckney the same quiet prevailed up to the hour of going to press. The spirited commands in possession are active in their vigilance, and perfectly competent to take care of themselves.
In its editorial columns the Courier has some further particulars of the evacuation. It says:
"Maj. ROBERT ANDERSON, U.S.A., has achieved the unenviable disfunction of opening civil war between American citizens by an act of gross breach of faith. He has, under counsels of a panic, deserted his post at Fort Moultrie, and, under false pretexts, has transferred his garrison and military stores and supplies to Fort Sumter.
Throughout the day, on Wednesday, preparations of some unusual sort were going on about Fort Moultrie, and it was currently reported that the women and families of the garrison were to be removed to Fort Johnson, on James' Island.
The work of transportation began on Wednesday evening, and was carried on with such energy that, under the generous confidence reposed by the authorities of South Carolina, it was effected in the course of Wednesday night.
About 8 o'clock Wednesday evening guns were heard from Fort Moultrie, and this was the first intimation to the city that anything unusual was going on.
Instead of proceeding to Fort Johnson, as avowed the transports, which comprised three schooners and some barges that had been previously engaged ostensibly for completing the defences of Fort Moultrie, were ordered to Fort Sumter, under cover of darkness.
On Thursday morning it was found that Fort Moultrie was dismantled, its guns all spiked, and several guns ranging towards Fort Sumter completely dismounted, and their carriages, &c., tarred and burned. Capt. FOSTER, U.S. Engineers, who had been in charge of the works on Fort Sumter, was left with a small detail in Fort Moultrie.
The excitement which the promulgation of this news created in Charleston cannot be described, and we cannot compose ourselves to attempt the details. The bulletin boards and all places of pubic concourse were thronged with eager inquirers, and settled determination was marked on every face.
As soon as the facts were reported, military orders were issued to many companies, who responded promptly.
By command of Gov. PICKENS a steamer was chartered to bear a dispatch to Maj. ANDERSON, at Fort Sumter. The orders of the Governor were committed to Col. PITTIGREW and Maj. CAPERS, of the Rille Regiment, whose return from Fort Sumter was awaited by thousands.
The answer of Maj. ANDERSON has not transpired, but we are informed on the best authority that he acknowledges the act of deserting Fort Moultrie and repairing to Fort Sumter as entirety his own, and as done without specific orders.
We have other information that Major ANDERSON for some time has indulged constant apprehensions of an unauthorized and tumultuous attack on Fort Moultrie. If he has acted under such misapprehensions he has committed the error which officers always commit when they take counsel under panic.
He has virtually and grossly violated a solemn pledge given by his Chief and accepted by South Carolina; and he had all possible assurance from South Carolina that his honor, and position, and duty would be respected until a proper and open declaration of war. While the enemies of South Carolina have been falsely accusing her of violence and precipitation and have been endeavoring, by exciting rumors, to urge her or her sons to such premature demonstrations, South Carolina took her position honorably and fairly.
Major ANDERSON has clandestinely taken refuge in an unfinished fortress, and has thus violated the solemn pledges that assured on that Fort Sumter would not be garrisoned.
It is not our duty at present to estimate the reasons which have impelled this act, which is without precedent in the records of the United states Army -- on army whose honor has never suffered when in the keeping of South Carolina. Our feelings warn us, however, to defer comments and to await developments, for we could not willingly do injustice to such a foe.
Soon after the "steamer which bore the dispatch from Gov. PICKENN had left Fort Sumter to return, the United states flag was displayed from that fortress, and it thus became a stronghold of defiance and insult to the State for whose defence it was commenced and designed.
For other details and incidents connected with or resulting from this outrage, so far as policy has sanctioned publishing, we refer to other places in this issue.'
THE QUESTION OF THE FORTS.; FORT SUMTER AS OCCUPIED. FORT MOULTRIE AND ITS CONDITION. THE EVACUATION. REASONS FOR EVACUATION. THE OCCUPATION OF FORT MOULTRIE BY SOUTH CAROLINA TROOPS. MAJOR ANDERSON'S COURSE DENOUNCED. HOW IT WAS MANAGED.
Throughout the city yesterday the greatest excitement prevailed in relation to the news from Forts Moultrie and Sumter. An early as 8 o'clock in the forenoon the rumors of the destruction of the former of these military posts, and the occupation of the latter by the forces of the Unites States, was circulated. It was at first currently reported and believed, that Fort Moultrie had been laid in rains: that the guns were spiked, and the carriages, &c, together with the baraacks, burned, and that the post had been entirely abandoned. The reports spread like wildfire, and soon gained currency in every part of the city. Crowds of citizens anxiously inquired of each other the latest intelligence in relation to the affair; squads collected on every corner of the streets, and in front of the public resorts, to canvass the subject.
The newspaper offices were besieged, the hotel halls were thronged, and even the grave and serious gentlemen composing the State Convention snared in the general excitement. On all hands anger and indignation was expressed at the supposed perfidious conduct of the Federal authorities, at whose instance it was at first thought the movement was made. The people were greatly incensed at the idea of a willful breach of those assurances of non action which had been volunteered by the Government of Washington and upon which so much reliance and confidence had been placed by the entire population, that every impulse to take the necessary precautions for their own safety had been restrained.
Instinctively men flew to arms. Orders were immediately issued to the following Companies to hold themselves in readiness for service: Washington Light Infantry, Capt. C.H. Simonton; Carolina Light Infantry, Capt. B.G. Pinckoey: Meagner Guards, Capt. Ed McCreavy, Jr.; altogether forming a portion of the Regiment of Rides, commanded by Col. J.J. Pettigrew and Major Ellison Capers; also, to the Marion Artillery, Capt. J.G. King; Lafayette Artillery, Capt. J.J. Pope, Jr; Washington Artillery, Capt. G.H. Walter; German Artillery, Capt. C. Nohrden; all under command of Lieut. W.G. De Saussnre; Adjutant. Jas. Simmons. Jr.; Sergeant-Major, E. Prioleau Ravener; Quatermaster-Sergeant, J.R. Macbeth; Surveyor, A Barbot: Surgeons, P. Gervais Robinson and Middleton Mitchel. Also, the Palmetto Guard, Capt. Thomas Middleton, and Cadet Riflemen, Capt. W.S. Elliott.
All the military forces thus ordered out promptly obeyed the summons, and the streets were soon enlivened by the appearance of individual members of the different organizations in their uniforms.
About noon the excitement in the streets had attained the highest pitch. The Convention was known to be in secret conclave, and it was believed that this was the subject matter of their deliberations. The streets swarmed with people. Additional flags were displayed from the stores and houses on the principal streets. The Custom-House. and other buildings formerly in the possession, of the United States Government, displayed the bunting of the infant Republic of South Carolina. Every one looked upon the "war as actually begun," and all seemed to feel that their brethren were in the field, and themselves began to grow restless at the prospect of inactivity and sus pense.
Later in the day, however, the excitement was somewhat abated, when it became known that the movement on the part of the forces of the United States at Fort Moultrie was not at the instance of the Administration at Washington, but was merely a precautionary measure taken by Commander Anderson, under conviction that has position within the fortress on Sullivan's Island would not be tenable, if attacked in it by well organized and disciplined troops. The contradiction of the first reports in relation to the damage done the fort by the troops that had evacuated it, also had a tendency to allay the excitement of the occasion.
In order to ascertain truthful statements of the actual damage done to the Forts, of the causes of the movement and of the state of affairs generally, reporters were dispatched to the scene during the forenoon. On the way across the harbor, the hoisting of an American flag from the staff of Fort Sumter, at precisely 12 o'clock, gave certain indication that the stronghold was occupied by the troops of the United States. On a nearer approach the fortress was discovered to be occupied, the guns appeared to be mounted, and sentinels were discovered on duty, and the place to give every sign of occupancy and military discipline. The grim fortress frowned defiance an every side -- the busy notes of preparation resounded through its unforbidding recesses, and everything seemed to indicate the utmost alacrity in the work on hand.
Turning towards Fort Moultrie, a dense cloud of smoke was seen to pour from the end facing the sea. The flagstaff was down, and the whole place had an air of desolation and abandonment quite the reverse of its busy look one week ago, when scores of laborers were engaged in adding to its strength all the works skill and experience could suggest.
In the immediate vicinity of the rear or landside entrance, however, greater activity was noticeable. At the time of our visit, a large force of hands had been summoned to deliver up their implements for transportation to Fort Sumter. Around on every side were the evidences of labor in the fortification of the work. In many places, a portion of the defences were strengthened by every appliance that art could suggest or ingenuity devise: while, in others, the uncomplexed works gave evidences of the utmost confusion. On all hands the process of removing goods, furniture and munitions, was yet going on. The heavy guns upon the ramparts of the Fort were thrown down from their carriages and spiked. Every ounce of powder and every cartridge had been removed from the magazines: and. in fact, everything like small arms, clothing, provisions, accoutrements and other munitions of war, had been removed off and deposited -- nothing but heavy bails and useless cannon remained.
The entire place was, to all appearances, littered up with the odd ends and fragments of wars desolation. Confusion could not have been more complete had the late occupants retired in the face of a besieging foe. Fragments of gun-carriages, &c., broken to pieces, bestrewed the ramparts. Sand bags, and barrels filled with earth, crowned the walls. and were firmly imbedded in their bomb-proof surface, as an additional safeguard; and notwithstanding the heterogeneous scattering of materials and implememts, the walls of the fort evinced a vague degree of energy in preparing for an attack. A ditch, some fifteen feet size and about the same in depth, surrounds the entire wall on three sides. On the south side, or front, a glacis has been commenced and prosecuted nearly to complexion, with a rampart of sand bags, barrels, &c.
On one side of the fort a palisade of Palmetto logs is extended around the ramparts as a complete defence against an escalading party. New embrasures have been cut in the walls so as to command the faces of the bastions and ditch. These new defences are all complete, and are evidences of the haste with which they were erected. Considering the inferior force, in point of numbers, under his command, Maj. ANDERSON had paid particular attention to strengthening only a small part of the fort.
A greater portion of the labor expended was spent upon the citadel or centre of the west point of the population. This he had caused to be strengthened in every way; loop-poles were cut, and everything was so arranged that to care a well-concerted attack was made, he would have retired from the outer bastions to the citadel, and afterwards blow up the other portions of the fort. For this purpose mines had already been sprung, and trains had been laid, ready for the application of the match. The barrack-rooms and every other part of the fort that was indefensible would have gone at a touch.
On the ramparts of the fort fronting Fort Sumter, were nine 8-inch Columbiads, mounted on woolen carriages. As soon as the evacution of the fort was complete, the carriages of these guns were fired, and at the time of visiting the fort yesterday, were nearly consumed, and the guns thereby dismounted. These guns, as well as those constituting the entire armament of the fortress, were spiked before it was abandoned. This is the only damage done the fortification, further than cutting down the flag-staff, and the breaking up of ammunition wagons to form ramparts on the walls of the fort.
The fort was found to be in charge of two officers and four men, who had been left behind merely to act as a watch. The place was sealed to all but the watch, and none but there were allowed to enter.
From the officers in charge it was learned that the evacuation of the fort commenced a little after sundown on Wednesday evening. The men were ordered to hold themselves in readiness, with knapsacks packed, at a moment's notice, but up to the moment of their leaving had no idea of abandoning the post. They were reviewed on parade, and were then ordered to two schooners, lying in the vicinity, where they embarked, taking with them all the necessaries, stores &c., requisite in their evacuation.
Several trips were made during the night, and a great part of the provisions and camp furniture were transported under cover of night. The brightness of the moon, however, afforded but slight concealment to their movements, and in one of the trips. Lieut. DAVIS in command, a schooner full of soldiers and baggage passed directly under the bow of the guard-boat Nina. The officer who made the statement expressed himself to be ignorant whether the watch on board the Nina discovered the movement or not -- at all events he said they did not signify any cognizance of the fact.
From conversations held with the gentlemen in possession of the fort yesterday, it was ascertained that the first impetus given to the work of strengthening the fort, was after the speeches of Messrs, Magrath, Memoninger and others, when fears were aroused that the time would shortly come which would call into exercise the use of force in protecting the public property. Upon this, all the energies of the officers and men were called forth to renrender the position as strong as possible. Attacks were expected only from the land side, and to the strengthening of these points all the available force was put. The officers expressed themselves to be able, after preparation, &c, to make a successful resistance against any mob or undisciplined force, but against organized troops the small garrison could make no stand.
Major ANDERSON had been ordered to hold the Fort, to protect the work, and he intended to do it at every hazard. He denied that either the President or Secretary of War had given any orders for the evacuation of the post. Major Anderson had done this on his own responsibility -- thinking that by such a step he would make himself secure against attack, protect the lives of his soldiers, and could better guard the public property, for in his position at Fort Sumter he could easily command, and if necessary, silence the batteries of Fort Moultrie.
At twenty minutes to 8 o'clock the troops on board the Nina and Gen. Clinch landed on the wharf of Sullivan's Island. Rapidly forming, they proceeded under the command of Col. DE SAUSSURE towards the walls of Fort Moultrie. A sergeant and ten men held possession of the place. On the approach of Col. DE SAUSSURE'S command the detachment of United States troops retired without offering any resistance.
The gates were not closed even, and forty minutes after the steamer touched the wharf the Palmetto flag, mounted on a hastily prepared staff, (as the original one had been cutaway,) was flung to the breeze, amid the huzzas of the occupants. Active preparations were immediately commenced to render the place defensible The spiked guns, and those dismantled by the burning of the carriages, will soon be in a position to respond to any hostile demonstration made against the place
At 12 o'clock last night, when our reporter left the island, all was quiet and orderly. Sentries were pacing the rampants, and the hall of "All well" resounded at intervals from the several posts.
At Castle Pinckney the same quiet prevailed up to the hour of going to press. The spirited commands in possession are active in their vigilance, and perfectly competent to take care of themselves.
In its editorial columns the Courier has some further particulars of the evacuation. It says:
"Maj. ROBERT ANDERSON, U.S.A., has achieved the unenviable disfunction of opening civil war between American citizens by an act of gross breach of faith. He has, under counsels of a panic, deserted his post at Fort Moultrie, and, under false pretexts, has transferred his garrison and military stores and supplies to Fort Sumter.
Throughout the day, on Wednesday, preparations of some unusual sort were going on about Fort Moultrie, and it was currently reported that the women and families of the garrison were to be removed to Fort Johnson, on James' Island.
The work of transportation began on Wednesday evening, and was carried on with such energy that, under the generous confidence reposed by the authorities of South Carolina, it was effected in the course of Wednesday night.
About 8 o'clock Wednesday evening guns were heard from Fort Moultrie, and this was the first intimation to the city that anything unusual was going on.
Instead of proceeding to Fort Johnson, as avowed the transports, which comprised three schooners and some barges that had been previously engaged ostensibly for completing the defences of Fort Moultrie, were ordered to Fort Sumter, under cover of darkness.
On Thursday morning it was found that Fort Moultrie was dismantled, its guns all spiked, and several guns ranging towards Fort Sumter completely dismounted, and their carriages, &c., tarred and burned. Capt. FOSTER, U.S. Engineers, who had been in charge of the works on Fort Sumter, was left with a small detail in Fort Moultrie.
The excitement which the promulgation of this news created in Charleston cannot be described, and we cannot compose ourselves to attempt the details. The bulletin boards and all places of pubic concourse were thronged with eager inquirers, and settled determination was marked on every face.
As soon as the facts were reported, military orders were issued to many companies, who responded promptly.
By command of Gov. PICKENS a steamer was chartered to bear a dispatch to Maj. ANDERSON, at Fort Sumter. The orders of the Governor were committed to Col. PITTIGREW and Maj. CAPERS, of the Rille Regiment, whose return from Fort Sumter was awaited by thousands.
The answer of Maj. ANDERSON has not transpired, but we are informed on the best authority that he acknowledges the act of deserting Fort Moultrie and repairing to Fort Sumter as entirety his own, and as done without specific orders.
We have other information that Major ANDERSON for some time has indulged constant apprehensions of an unauthorized and tumultuous attack on Fort Moultrie. If he has acted under such misapprehensions he has committed the error which officers always commit when they take counsel under panic.
He has virtually and grossly violated a solemn pledge given by his Chief and accepted by South Carolina; and he had all possible assurance from South Carolina that his honor, and position, and duty would be respected until a proper and open declaration of war. While the enemies of South Carolina have been falsely accusing her of violence and precipitation and have been endeavoring, by exciting rumors, to urge her or her sons to such premature demonstrations, South Carolina took her position honorably and fairly.
Major ANDERSON has clandestinely taken refuge in an unfinished fortress, and has thus violated the solemn pledges that assured on that Fort Sumter would not be garrisoned.
It is not our duty at present to estimate the reasons which have impelled this act, which is without precedent in the records of the United states Army -- on army whose honor has never suffered when in the keeping of South Carolina. Our feelings warn us, however, to defer comments and to await developments, for we could not willingly do injustice to such a foe.
Soon after the "steamer which bore the dispatch from Gov. PICKENN had left Fort Sumter to return, the United states flag was displayed from that fortress, and it thus became a stronghold of defiance and insult to the State for whose defence it was commenced and designed.
For other details and incidents connected with or resulting from this outrage, so far as policy has sanctioned publishing, we refer to other places in this issue.'
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