April 4, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
Another suspicious vessel was fired into yesterday. We furnish the following statements, from reliable parties, for the information of our readers:
FIRST STATEMENT.
Yesterday morning, General BEAUREGARD, with his Aids, Captains FERGUSON and CHISOLM, and Governor PICKENS, with his Aid Colonel LUCAS, visited Sullivan’s Island and the batteries there. About half past 2 o’clock, whilst they were standing in the porch of the Moultrie House, a schooner was discovered coming in, with the United States flag flying. They saw the battery fire at the vessel, upon which they think she turned back. The battery, however, continued firing. Major ANDERSON sent a boat with a white flag to the vessel, but what the message was had not at this writing transpired at Headquarters.
SECOND STATEMENT.
About three o’clock yesterday afternoon an unknown schooner was seen entering the harbor, with no colors flying. When she came within range of the ‘Star of the West’ battery, it was deemed expedient to fire across her bows in order to force her to show her colors. Two shots were accordingly fired, when she ran up the flag of the United States, but continued to stand in, in defiance of the admonition which she had received. Three more shots were fired, making five in all, when the vessel altered her course and anchored near the bar. It was pretty generally believed she was struck, but some doubts were entertained. Before I left the Island I learned that Major ANDERSON had sent his messenger over there with a message to the effect, that if the vessel had been struck, or if any damage had been done to her, he would feel himself compelled to open his batteries upon us. After that his boats went out to this vessel, and up to the time I left, they were both laying aside of her, trying to find out whether or not any damage had really been done. The Revenue Cutter sent out a boat also, but it reported the boat too high on the breakers to get at it, and came back, having brought no news. The schooner is very heavily laden, but it is not thought that she brings reinforcements. I have just learned since I have been here that a steamer has been seen outside the bar, but I am not certain of this, because I know nothing about it myself.
THIRD STATEMENT.
Yesterday afternoon, abut three o’clock, while the wind was blowing heavy from the northeast, a schooner crossed the bar and was beating up the channel, abreast of the beach of Morris Island, when she, having attracted the attention of some of the sentinels, one of the batteries fired several blank cartridges at her, for the purpose of bringing her to, but kept on his course, when a shotted gun was discharged, the ball from which, it is supposed, struck her in the bulwark, when she put about and proceeded down near the bar and anchored. During the firing, it is said that the schooner displayed the “United States ensign,” but as her character, and not her nationality, was in question, she should immediately have come to an anchor and held intercourse with the commander on Morris Island, instead of acting in a manner that produced the impression that she intended to force a passage soon after the firing took place, a boat from Fort Sumter visited Morris Island, sent by Major ANDERSON to make inquiry into the cause of the vessel having been shot at, and also to request permission for his boat to proceed to the schooner; and it is reported that the boat did go to the suspicious vessel, but of this we have no certain information. It is also said that one of the officers in the boat from Fort Sumter stated, that Major ANDERSON’S batteries would probably pay their respects to those on Cumming’s Point before morning. About six o’clock last evening the steamer Gen. Clinch, with Lieut. T.B. HUGER, was sent from the city to look after the schooner, and investigate her character, but, after proceeding some distance down the channel, they were unable to discover anything of her, and suppose that she had gone to sea. As the wind was blowing very strong from the northeast, she will, no doubt, take a southerly course.
OTHER FACTS.
The suspicious part of the whole proceeding is, that this schooner, instead of coming to and establishing her character, immediately, on finding that she could not successfully run the gauntlet of the harbor batteries, attempted to escape. The latest, and apparently the most reliable rumor last night was, that the schooner is a coasting vessel, laden with merchandize. In connection with the suspicion that she carried supplies for ANDERSON, it may not be out of place to state that the usual supplies went over to Fort Sumter yesterday.
We are informed that the agent of one of the lines of steamers to the North sent an agent to Major ANDERSON, the other day, stating that he could furnish him with excellent accommodations for himself and his soldiers on their return trip. Major ANDERSON is said to have replied, that he would like to make the arrangements, but as yet he had received no orders for the evacuation of Fort Sumter.