Major Anderson at New York — statement of
Captain Doubleday.
The steamer Baltic, with Major Anderson and his command on board, reached the Battery at New York on Thursday, at 1 o'clock. The following account of the arrival is given by telegraph, together with a highly-colored statement of the valiant Doubleday, one of Anderson's officers: ‘ She had as she came up the flags of Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie flying. Maj. Anderson, on landing on the Battery, was received by an immense crowd, and his carriage was surrounded by the people, who expressed in cheers and other demonstrations their admiration of his conduct. He was followed by an immense throng through Broadway to the Brevoort House, where he joined his wife.
’ Capt. Doubleday says that the demand to surrender Fort Sumter was made on the 11th, but was refused not only by Major Anderson, but by the unanimous voice of the command.
On Friday morning, at 3 o'clock, the rebels sent word that the fire would be opened in an hour. At 4 o'clock the fire opened on us from every direction, including a hidden battery. The fire opened with a volley from seventeen mortars firing ten inch shells, and shot from thirty-three guns, mostly columbiads.
We took breakfast very leisurely. The command was divided into three watches, each under the direction of two officers. After breakfast, they immediately went to the guns and opened fire on Fort Moultrie, Cummings' Point, and Sullivan's Island Iron Battery.--Cummings' Point Battery was of immense strength, and most of our shot glanced off.--Major Anderson refused to allow the men to turn the guns on the parapet, on account of such a terrific fire being directed there.
There was scarcely a room in Fort Moultrie left in a habitable condition, and several shots went through the Floating Battery, but it was but little damaged. Two guns on the Iron Battery were dismounted. A man was stationed, who cried shot or shell when the rebels fired, and the garrison was thus enabled to dodge.
At first the workmen were reluctant to help to work the guns, but after wards served most willingly and effectually against the Iron Battery. The barracks caught fire several times on Friday, but were extinguished by the efforts of Mr. Hart, of New York, and Mr. Lyman, of Baltimore, both volunteers.
On Saturday the officers' quarters caught fire from a shell. The mail gates were burnt and the magazine was actually surrounded by fire, and ninety barrels of powder, which had been taken out, were thrown into the sea.--When the magazine was encircled by fire, all our materials were cut off, and we had eaten our last biscuit two days before. The men had to lay on the ground with wet handkerchiefs on their faces to prevent smothering, and a favorable eddy of wind was all that saved our lives! Our cartridge bags gave out, and five men were employed to manufacture them out of our shirts, sheets, blankets, &c. It will take half a million dollars to repair Fort Sumter's interior. Most of their shot were aimed at our flag.
The following was the conversation that passed between Major Anderson and ex-Senator Wigfall. The latter said:
‘ Gen. Beauregard wishes to stop this, sir.
’ Maj. Anderson only replied, "Well, well."
Wigfall — You've done all that can be done, and Gen. Beauregard wishes to know upon what terms you will evacuate?
Maj. Anderson--Gen. Beauregard is already acquainted with the terms.
Wigfall — Do I understand you will evacuate on the terms proposed?
Maj. Anderson--‘"Yes, and only those."’
Wigfall then returned. Ten minutes after Col. Chesnut and others came from General Beauregard asking if Maj. Anderson wanted any help, stating that Wigfall had not seen Gen. Beauregard for two days, and had no authority for his demand on Maj. Anderson, to which the Major replied, ‘"Then we have been sold. We will raise our flag again."’ But they requested him to keep it down until communication could be had with General Beauregard. The firing then ceased and three hours after another deputation came, agreeing to the terms previously decided upon.
Fort Sumter had not been reinforced on any occasion. The steamer Baltic arrived off Charleston on the morning of Friday, after the firing on Sumter had commenced. The steamers Pawnee and Pocahontas arrived yesterday. The Powhatan and the transport steamer Atlantic have not been seen; and the steamtugs also have not been seen. During all the while that the fleet lay off Charleston a heavy gale was blowing.
The day Major Anderson evacuated, preparations to reinforce him had been made for an attempt that night. A schooner was seized, and an agreement made to pay the pilot and captain $500 to put mer into the fort, but the fort was evacuated before an attempt could be made. Capt. Fox had instructions to attempt to provision the fort without troops. If fired on, he was to rush in as best he could.--But the gale prevented the arrival of the tugs and transport.
The Harriet Lane is soon expected to arrive.
The Pawnee has gone to Washington.
Among the many incidents of the battle is that of Mr. Hart, a volunteer, who, when the flag was shot down and the rebel fire was concentrated on the flag-staff, gallantly nailed the Stars and Stripes to the mast amid a deadly fire, the heroic act being greeted by the cheers of the United States troops.
