TELEGRAPHIC CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN BEAUREGARD AND WALKER.
COPY FURNISHED BY B. G. BIDWELL, WEATHERFORD, TEX.
a War Becun—Fort SuMTER SURRENDERED.
Charleston, April 12—The following is the telegraphic correspondence between the War Department at Montgomery and General Beauregard immediately preceding hostilities. The correspondence grew out of the formal notification by the Washington government, which is disclosed in General Beauregard's first dispatch:
CuHareston, April 10.
To L. P. Walker, Secretary of War: An authorized messenger from President Lincoln just informed Governor Pickens and myself that provisions will be sent to Fort Sumter peaceably or otherwise by force. G. T. BEAUREGARD.
Montcomery, April ro. 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. L. P. Waker, Secretary of War.
Cuarveston, April ro. To L. P. Walker, Secretary of War: The demand will be made to-morrow at twelve o'clock. G. T. BEAUREGARD.
Montcomery, April to. To General Beauregard: Unless there are special reasons connected with your own condition, it is considered proper that you should make the demand at an early hour. L. P. Waker, Secretary of War.
Cuarveston, April to. To L. P. Walker, Montgomery: The reasons are special for twelve o'clock. G. T. BEAUREGARD.
Cuareston, April 11. To L. P. Walker, Secretary of War, Montgomery: Demand sent at two o'clock; allowed till six to answer. G. T. BEAuREGARD.
Montcome_ry, April 11. To General Beauregard, Charleston: Telegraph the reply of Major Anderson. L. P. Wavker, Secretary of War.
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 say in reply that it is a demand with 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 attack; and if you do not batter us to pieces, we will be starved out in a few days." G. T. BEAUREGARD.
Montcome_ry, April 11. To General Beauregard, Charleston: We do not desire needlessly to bombard Fort Sumter. If Major 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 ours 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 de-
cides to be the most practicable. L. P. Watxer, Secretary of War.
Cuareston, April 12.
L. P. Walker, Secretary of War, Montgomery: He would not consent. I write to-day. G. T. BEAUREGARD.
Charleston, April 11.—Intercepted dispatches disclose the fact that Mr. Fox, who had been allowed to visit Major Anderson on pledge that his purpose was pacific, employed this opportunity to devise a plan for supplying the fort by force, and this plan has been adopted by the Washington goyernment and is in process of execution.
April 12—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 returned the fire, and 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 in the streets, and every available space facing the harbor is filled with anxious spectators.
New York, April 12—The Herald special says: "Fort Moultrie began the bombardment with two guns, to which Anderson replied with three shots from his barbette guns, after which the batteries at Mount Pleasant, Cumming's Point, and the Floating Battery opened a brisk fire of shot and shell. Anderson only replied at long intervals, when he opened from two tiers of guns looking toward Moultrie and Stevens's 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 battery, and Fort Johnson, they being the only ones operating against him. Fifteen or eighteen shots struck the floating battery without effect. Breaches to all appearances were made in the sides of Sumter exposed to the fire, portions of the parapet were destroyed, and several guns shot away."
Charleston, April 12—The firing continued all day without intermission. Two of Sumter's guns have been silenced, and it is reported that a breach has been made on the southeast walls. Not a casualty has yet happened to any of the forces. The bombardment continues from the floating and eleven other batteries. Fort Sumter returns the fire. It is reported that three war vessels are now off the bar. The storm and rough sea make attempts at reénforcements impracticable.
April 13—There is fierce cannonading from all points and from the vessels outside and all along the coast. Later: Fort Sumter is on fire. Our batteries are pouring shell and hot shot. Anderson is still firing. 1:30 p.m.: Fort Sumter has surrendered. The flag of the Confederate States is floating over its walls. None of the garrison or Confederate troops are hurt.