ire, the gorge walls
seriously injured, the magazine surrounded by flames, and its door
closed from the effect of heat, four barrels and three cartridges of
powder only being available, and no provisions remaining but pork, I
accepted terms of evacuation offered by General Beauregard, being the
same offered by him on the 11th inst., prior to the commencement of
hostilities, and marched out of the fort Sunday afternoon, the 14th
inst., with colors flying and drums beating, bringing away company and
private property, and saluting my flag with fifty guns.

ROBERT ANDERSON,
_Major First Artillery, Commanding_.

HON. S. CAMERON, _Secretary of War, Washington_.

WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, April 20, 1861.

MAJOR ROBERT ANDERSON, _Late Commander at Fort Sumter_:--

MY DEAR SIR,--I am directed by the President of the United States to
communicate to you, and through you to the officers and men of your
command at Forts Moultrie and Sumter, the approbation of the government
of your and their judicious and gallant conduct there, and to tender you
and them the thanks of the government for the same.

SIMON CAMERON,
_Secretary of War_.

The conspiracy had now ceased to be such. Revolution and war had begun,
and by the firing upon Fort Sumter the political atmosphere was cleared
up as if by magic. If there were now any _doubters_ on either side
they had betaken themselves out of sight; for them, and for all the
world, the roar of Beauregard's guns had changed incredulity into fact.
Behind those guns stood seven seceded States, with the machinery of a
perfectly organized local government and with a zeal worthy of a nobler
cause.

The news of the assault reached the Capitol on Saturday, April 13th, On
Sunday, the 14th, the President and his cabinet held their first council
of war. On the following morning the first "call for troops" was
proclaimed to the whole country, in a grand "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."

The North was now aroused. Within forty-eight hours from the publication
of the proclamation armed companies of volunteers were moving towards
the expected scene of conflict. For the first time in the history of
this nation parties vanished from politics, and "universal opinion
recognized but two rallying points,--t