THE WAR IMMINENT: Formal Demand for the Surrender of Fort Sumpter; THE REFUSAL OF MAJ. ANDERSON: The Bombardment Probably to Commence Immediately (4/12/1861)

New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 4/12/1861

[Homer_J_Simpson]

CHARLESTON, Wednesday, April 10.

The Floating Battery is now in position, commanding the barbette guns of Fort Sumpter.

It carries two thirty-four-pounders, two fortytwo-pounders, and sixty-four men.

The Federal steamers are expected to-night. The city is filled with troops.

CHARLESTON, Thursday, April 11.

An officer has just arrived from Sullivan's Island, and informs me that three steamers were seen hovering off the coast yesterday for a considerable time.

Major ANDERSON fired a signal gun at 10 o'clock A.M.

An opening on Fort Sumpter by the batteries is expected every moment.

The Battery is crowded with people who wait in anxious expectancy.

The troops continue to pour into the city, and all business is suspended.

CHARLESTON, Thursday, April 11.

The Citadel Cadets are guarding the Battery with heavy cannon, and thousands are waiting there to see the attack commence.

One thousand mounted men and two thousand patrols, heavily armed, are guarding the city.

Absolute secrecy is still observed as to all future movements.

CHARLESTON, Thursday, April 11.

I am enabled to send you important information exclusively.

Ex-Senator CHESNUT, the Special Aid of the Governor, sent with Col. CHISHOLM and one of Gen. BEAUREGARD's Staff, has just returned from Fort Sumpter with Major ANDERSON's reply to the demand for an unconditional surrender.

The answer returned is at present denied to me at headquarters, but there is no doubt that it is a flat refusal.

Every man capable of bearing arms is called out.

CHARLESTON, Thursday, April 11.

WAR! JASPER.

CHARLESTON, Thursday, April 11.

The excitement in the city has been intense, in consequence of rumors that a demand had been made for Fort Sumpter, and if refused, that an engagement would take place this evening at 8 o'clock.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1855-1860: Seminar and Discussion Forum
Bleeding Kansas, Dred Scott, Lincoln-Douglas, Harper’s Ferry, the election of 1860, secession – all the events leading up to the Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: Sometime in the future.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3949663/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The War Imminent: Formal Demand for the Surrender of Fort Sumpter – 2
Our Washington Dispatches – 2-4
The Forts in Charleston Harbor – 5
Our Washington Correspondence – 5-6
The Intentions of the Government – 6-7
The War Excitement: Anxiety about the Fleet of Relief – 7
Military and Naval Movements – 7
The Philadelphia Navy-Yard – 7
The Schooner Hudson at Key West – 7
Movement of Troops West – 7
The Charlestown Navy-Yard – 7
Important from Texas: Arrival of the Coatzacoalcos with United States Troops – 7-8
Latest Reports from Texas – 8
Important from Arizona: The Territory Voted Out of the Union – 8
Warlike Movements at Savannah – 8
Reports from New-Orleans – 8
Reports from Montgomery – 8
The Fort Sumpter Messengers at Norfolk – 8
The Virginia State Convention – 8
Charleston Passengers Landed at Norfolk – 8
Conflicting Views of Allegiance – 8
Editorial: National Necessities – 8-9
Editorial: Virginia and the Union – 9-10
Editorial: Abolition and Coercion – 10
Coals of Fire – 10
Editorial: The Doctrine of Secession – 10-11
Editorial: Slave Insurrection – 11
The Mexican Mission – 11
Passengers Sailed/Passengers Arrived – 11

[Berosus]

I have heard of Fort Sumter, but not Fort Sumpter. Who taught the author of this article to spell?

[Hebrews 11:6]

It’s getting mighty serious! Point of no return and all that.

[KC_Lion]

It's come to this.

What awful days are ahead.

[rdl6989]

Most experts agree that the official estimate of 640,000 casualties is low.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The NYT has been spelling it with a “P’ for a couple months now. Stay tuned. There may be an editorial change in the near future.

[rdl6989]

More information on those estimates.

https://discovere.binghamton.edu/news/civilwar-3826.html

[BroJoeK]

"CHARLESTON, Thursday, April 11.

The Federal steamers are expected to-night. The city is filled with troops....

An officer has just arrived from Sullivan's Island, and informs me that three steamers were seen hovering off the coast yesterday for a considerable time."

But none of Lincoln's "war fleet" arrived until sunset on April 11, and that was just the small revenue cutter Harriet Lane.
The next arrival, still well offshore, at 3:00 AM Friday the 12th, was the large unarmed passenger ship SS Baltic, Capt. Fox commanding, carrying supplies.

By that time Confederates had already rejected Maj. Anderson's offer to surrender in a few days and announced bombardment would soon begin.

[BroJoeK]

"Editorial: The Doctrine of Secession – 10-11"

This editorial lists the signing statements from New York, Virginia & Rhode Island in ratifying the 1787 Constitution.
We've also seen those statements quoted many times on FR CW threads, in arguing for an alleged "right of secession."
The editors here point out: these statements do not refer to secession, but rather to amending the Constitution to withdraw powers which experience may show to be abused.
Such a process is not declared by a single state, or states, but rather by all the people of the United States, using procedures spelled out in our Constitution.

Or so say the Times editors, on the eve of civil war.

[BroJoeK]

Lest we suppose that our current age is unusually colorful in political language, the Times presents for our edification a catalogue of names used by Confederates for the US President & VP:

Confederate names for President Lincoln:

1. Orang-outang

2. Demon

3. Beast

4. Incarnate Devil

5. The Big Illinois Brute

6. Illinois Beast

7. Greasy Hoosier

8. Western Abolition bloodhound

9. Illinois Baboon

10. Old Ape Lincoln

Confederate names for Vice President Hamlin include:

1. Negro

2. N*gg*r

3. Mulatto

4. Half-breed

5. Octoroon

6. Filthy Maine negro

7. Illegitimate

8. Idiotic

9. "a general monster of such beastly depravity and crazy imbecility, that our Christian quill refuses to write the words in which he is depicted."

Now, can you imagine, if anyone learned such names as a child they would ever "un-learn" them in adulthood?

[minnesota_bound]

Just when will they start a firing?

[M Kehoe]

Hi.

I’m guessing Gen. BEAUREGARD will order the intial bombardment of Ft. SUMTER at approximately 2000 or 2100 hrs. EST this evening.

I read the NYT so I could be wrong.

5.56mm

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Just when will they start a firing?

3:27 a.m. today. The NY Times didn't get the latest info before going to press. George Templeton Strong learned of it from a late edition of the NY Herald.

[minnesota_bound]

‘bout time. I want to lick them a Yankees! Hee haw!!

[colorado tanker]

And so it begins . . .

[RedwM]

Sumter Sumter Sumter. Gen. Thomas Sumter.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

You’d think a big important news agency like the New York Times would be able to run down that information fairly easily. I predict they will get around to it before too long.

[RedwM]

I guess liberal editors never just fade away.