un. Newspaper
correspondents and agents of the Federal Government, and the Southern
leaders, rushed for the telegraph-wires; and the news soon sped over
the country, that Sumter was occupied. The South Carolinians at once
began to build earthworks on all points bearing on the fort, and were
evidently preparing to drive Anderson and his troops out. Anderson
promptly telegraphed to Washington for supplies and re-enforcements,
and expressed his intention of staying as long as the walls stood. The
Government was dilatory, but finally concluded to re-enforce the fort,
and to that end secured the steamer "Star of the West," and began the
work of provisioning her for the voyage. It was decided that she
should carry no guns: that would look too much like war; and
accordingly, on the 8th of January, this helpless vessel set out to
the aid of the beleaguered garrison of Fort Sumter. The news was at
once telegraphed to Charleston; and the gunners in the Confederate
trenches shotted their guns, and awaited the appearance of the
steamer. She hove into sight on the morning of the 12th, and when
within range was notified, by a shot across her bows, that she was
expected to stop. This signal being disregarded, the firing began in
earnest; and the shot and shell fell thick about the ship, which kept
pluckily on her course. But it was useless to persist. One shot struck
the steamer near the bows, others whizzed through her rigging, and
finally her captain saw a tug putting out from the land, towing a
schooner crowded with armed men to cut off the "Star's" retreat. He
gave the command "Hard a port." The ship's head swung round, and she
steamed away, leaving the garrison to their fate. An old gunner who
stood in a casemate of Fort Sumter, with the lanyard of a shotted gun
in his hand, tells the story of how he begged Major Anderson to let
him fire on the rebel batteries. "Not yet; be patient," was the
response. When the shells began to fall thick about the steamer, he
again asked permission to retaliate, but met the same response. Then
when he saw the white splinters fly from the bow, where the enemies'
shell had struck, he cried, "Now, surely, we can return _that!_" but
still the answer was, "Be patient." When the "Star of the West,"
confessing defeat, turned and fled from the harbor, Anderson turned
and walked away, curtly saying there was no need to fire then, but to
save the load for the necessity that was coming.

[Illustration: Ande