rations compelled the
evacuation of the city, which was occupied by the Union troops on the
eighteenth of February, 1865. Lieutenant-Colonel A.G. Bennett, of the
Twenty-first United States colored troops, was the first to land with
a small force, while some of the rebel mounted patrols still remained,
applying the torch as they retreated. The Colonel at once addressed
himself to the Mayor: "In the name of the United States government I
demand a surrender of the city, of which you are the executive
officer." The Mayor responded by immediately turning over the Cradle
of Rebellion to its rightful owners. The Colonel then proceeded to the
citadel with his colored troops, two companies of the Fifty-second
Pennsylvania Regiment, and about thirty men of the Third Rhode Island
Heavy Artillery, under Lieutenant-Colonel Ames, and proclaimed martial
law. In his official report he says: "Every officer and soldier
exerted himself to a most willing performance of every allotted duty,
yet I do not deem it invidious for me to make special mention of
Lieutenant John Hackett, Company M, Third Rhode Island Artillery, who
volunteered to go alone to Fort Moultrie, and there raised the flag."
This was a most perilous service, gallantly performed amid the danger
of exploding rebel powder magazines.

It was the beginning of the end. President Lincoln, realizing that the
fall of the Confederacy was near at hand, determined to celebrate the
fourth anniversary of the surrender of Fort Sumter by replanting the
old flag of 1861, with imposing ceremonies, upon the ruins of the
fort, and the following order was accordingly issued:

GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 50.
WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, }
WASHINGTON, MARCH 27, 1865. }

ORDERED: _First_, That at the hour of noon, on the 14th day
of April, 1865, brevet Major-General Anderson will raise and
plant upon the ruins of Fort Sumter, in Charleston harbor,
the SAME United States flag which floated over the
battlements of that fort during the rebel assault, and which
was lowered and saluted by him, and the small force of his
command, when the works were evacuated on the 14th of April,
1861.

_Second_, That the flag, when raised, be saluted by one
hundred guns from Fort Sumter, and by a national salute from
every fort and rebel battery that fired upon Fort Sumter.

_Third_, That suitable ceremonies be h