render. After some conference, it was agreed that the garrison should surrender the fort, taking with them, as they retired at their leisure, and in their own way, all their individual and company property, their side arms, and their tattered flag, which they were to salute with a hundred guns, before they hauled it down.

The battle ceased; the fire was extinguished, after destroying almost everything combustible in the fort. Next morning, about nine o'clock, the evacuation took place, while the guns of the fort boomed a salute to the lowering flag, which had been so bravely defended against the unequal foe. The garrison marched out of the main gate, preceded by the band playing "Yankee Doodle" and "Hail Columbia," with the Stars and Stripes floating over them. They embarked on board the United States ship Baltic, and were carried to New York, where they met with an enthusiastic reception.

That seven thousand well drilled men, with all the needed appliances, could overcome seventy, out of provisions, for they had eaten their last biscuit, and nearly destitute of ammunition, and with no hope of succor, was regarded by the chivalry of South Carolina as a most wonderful and glorious victory, and as establishing beyond dispute the independence of the Confederacy.

Arrived at New York, Major Anderson despatched to his government the following report:

"STEAMSHIP BALTIC, OFF SANDY HOOK, April 18, 1861,

"THE HON. S. CAMERON,

"Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.

"Sir: Having defended Fort Sumter for thirty-four hours, until the quarters were entirely burned, the main gates destroyed, the gorge wall seriously injured, the magazine surrounded by flames, and its door closed from the effects of the heat, four barrels and three cartridges of powder only being available, and no provisions but pork remaining, I accepted terms of evacuation offered by General Beauregard (being the same offered by him on the 11th instant, prior to the commencement of hostilities), and marched out of the fort on Sunday afternoon, the 14th instant, with colors flying and drums beating, bringing away company and private property, and saluting my flag with fifty guns.

"ROBERT ANDERSON,

"Major First Artillery."

On the next day after the evacuation of Fort Sumter, April 15, President Lincoln issued a call for seventy-five thousand volunteers for three months' service, and called an extra session of Congress to

meet on the ensuing 4th of July. The uprising of the freemen of the North was such as the world never witnessed before. The insult to the old honored flag created a feeling of the most intense indignation, and all party lines seemed for the time obliterated, and two parties only had an existence, those who would destroy the Union, on the one hand, and those who would defend and preserve it, at any cost, on the other.

There were many who believed that the state of feeling which had resulted in an open rebellion of the slaveholders against the government, had been produced by extremists both at the North and the South, instead of attributing the difficulty to its true cause,the wide difference between a society of educated freemen and a society of slaveholders and slaves, where only the few were educated; but there were none in the free States who openly justified the assault upon Fort Sumter.

On the 15th of April the President promulgated the following

"PROCLAMATION.

"Whereas, the laws of the United States have been for some time past, and now are, opposed, and the execution thereof obstructed, in the States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Lou

isiana, and Texas, by combinations, too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the powers vested in the marshals by law: Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, in virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution and the laws, have thought fit to call forth the militia of the several States of the Union, to the aggregate number of seventy-five thousand, in order to suppress said combinations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed.

"The details of this object will be immediately communicated to the State authorities, through the War Department. I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate, and aid this effort to maintain the honor, the integrity, and existence of our national Union, and the perpetuity of popular government, and to redress wrongs already long enough endured. I deem it proper to say, that the first service assigned to the forces hereby called forth, will probably be to repossess the forts, places, and property which have been seized from the Union. And, in every event, the utmost care will be observed, consistently with the objects aforesaid, to avoid any devastation, any destruction of, or interference with, property, or any disturbance of peaceful citizens of any part of the country. And I hereby command the persons comprising the combinations aforesaid to disperse, and retire peaceably to

their respective abodes, within twenty days from this date.

Deeming that the present condition of public affairs presents an extraordinary occasion, I do hereby, by virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution, convene both Houses of Congress. The Senators and Representatives are, therefore, summoned to assemble at their respective chambers, at twelve o'clock, noon, on Thursday, the fourth day of July next, then and there to consider and determine such measures as, in their wisdom, the public safety and interest may seem to demand.

"In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

"Done at the city of Washington, the fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-fifth.

"By the President:

“ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

"WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State."

With this proclamation, was sent from the War Department, to the Governors of the several States, a circular, explaining that the call was for regiments of infantry, or riflemen only, each regiment to be composed of seven hundred and eighty men. They were apportioned to the several States as follows: Maine,