COVER STORY THE CIVIL WAR AS REPORTED BY THE STAR 100 YEARS AGO: Fort Sumter Surrenders After Shelling Compiled by JOHN W. STEPP Star Staff Writer ©1961 by The Washington Star Background had forewarned the ¦ /A WASHINGTONConfederacy: a Federal fleet was Fort on the way peaceably to provision in Sumter, but escorted by warships case the effort should be contested. To the Confederates, the news was infuriating. For had not Secretary of State Seward all but vowed the fort would be abandoned? And although his assurances had been secret and unofficial, was not Seward ostensibly the top man in the Lincoln Ad- ministration? The Davis government reacted swift- ly, despite a warning fro<n its midst. Pro- phesied Secretary of State Toombs: “At this time, it is suicide, murder, and will Ejlßh <1 The lose us every friend at the North. fir- ing upon that fort willinaugurate a civil war greater than any the world has yet seen.” Word went from Montgomery, Ala., to Gen. Beauregard, commanding at Charleston: Demand Maj. Anderson's surrender, and, failing compliance, com- mence fire. On April 11, and again early the next morning, the general delivered the Confederacy’s ultimatum. The major at Fort Sumter politely declined. the is raised the Civil War. Fort Johnson cannon blast away at Fort Sumter as curtain on From The Evening Star. Saturday. April 13. 1861 THE WAR COMMENCED- The News in Brief COMFDICt7aTCHARI.EBTON. April 10 Federal warship Pocahontas soils southward from Norfolk, Va. IMMENSE EXCITEMENT. April 11 Gen Beauregard makes written Bombardment of Fort Sumter. demand that Maj Anderson surrender Ilf! Fort Sumter, demand rejected The Fire Beteraed by MaJ« indenes. April 12 Federal relief ships start gath- ering in outer harbor. Fort Sumter gets betweea Gen Beanretard Corretpaadeaee one-hour final notice from Confeder- and Majar Andersen. ates, first gun fired at fort at 4:30 a.m.; TWO GUNS AT FORTBUMTE* SILENCED. Federal reinforcements arrive at Fort Pickens, Pensacola, Fla. BREACH Ilf THE FORT REPORTED. April 13 — Sumter surrenders after 34 •< War eff Hi Bar. Arrival as V. ». Shin hours of bombardment. April 14 Garrison marches out of Sumter CHARLESTON, April 12.-The excitement to sound of "Yankee Doodle" and 50- rose prevailing here for several days past gun salute from its own cannon; de- when to the very highest pitch this morning, parts by ship for New York as Charles- been it was ascertained that war had actually ton goes wild with joy. ST and Fort Sumter attacked by the commenced April 15— President Lincoln issues call for Carolina. forces of South 75,000 militia to "suppress combina- It the fire was opened on Sumter appears tions" in the South against U. S. laws, PRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION.LIBRARYOF CONGRESS about 4 o'clock... with considerable spirit of summons special session Congress A distant artist's conception fancifully shows Federal officers Sullivan's Island (where States from the batteries on for July 4, seven Northern staring at shells exploding near a Columbiad cannon in Fort Sumter. Moultrie is Cummings’ Point, two Fort situated). respond to troop call, Southern Morris Island, and other points. States refuse; Fort Macon, N. C., fire, and Maj. Anderson returned the seized by State. a has been through- more re- brisk cannonading kept up April 16 — Three Northern States out the day. spond to troop call, Virginia refuses. and the whole The militia are under arms, Forts Caswell and Johnson, N. C., on Every of our population are the streets. seized by State. filledwith available space facing the harbor is anxious spectators. jSw. (The first Confederate shot was fired by a Virginian, the aged but spry arch- secessionist Edmund Ruffin, from a LATEST FROM SEAT OF WAR. columbiad on Cummings' Point immedi- after a signal mortar had belched ately CHARLESTON. April 13,10 o’clock a.m- Johnson. Abner Double- v UMUr" - from Fort Capt The bombardment is being continued at inter- of New York, who invented baseball Jr' day vals on the Confederate States' side.... 15 earlier and was now violent- some years It is supposed that Anderson is resting his ly abolitionist, had the personal pleasure of men, as he is not responding. EDMUND RUFFIN ABNER DOUBLEDAY the Federal reply from a 32- firing first Three vessels-of-war are reported outside, Find first at Sumtor. First to fin back. pounder.) APRIL 16. 19'11 SUNDAY. THE STAR MAGAZINE. WASHINGTON. D C.. 6.