the day of the confederacy-第4章

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by　sea；　backgrounded　by　an　estuary；　and　looped　about　by　a　sickle
of　wooded　islands。　　This　same　scene；　so　far　as　city　and　nature
go；　was　beheld　by　the　crowds　that　swarmed　East　Battery；　a
flagstone　marine　parade　along　the　seaward　side　of　the　boulevard
that　faces　Sumter；　that　filled　the　windows　and　even　the
housetops；　that　watched　the　bombardment　with　the　eagerness　of　an
audience　in　an　amphitheater；　that　applauded　every　telling　shot
with　clapping　of　hands　and　waving　of　shawls　and　handkerchiefs。
The　fort　lay　distant　from　them　about　three　miles；　but　only　some
fifteen　hundred　yards　from　Fort　Johnston　on　one　side　and　about　a
mile　from　Fort　Moultrie　on　the　other。　From　both　of　these　latter；
the　cannon　of　those　days　were　equal　to　the　task　of　harassing
Sumter。　Early　in　the　morning　of　the　12th　of　April；　though　not
until　broad　day　had　come；　did　Anderson　make　reply。　All　that　day；
at　first　under　heavily　rolling　cloud　and　later　through　curiously
misty　sunshine；　the　fire　and　counterfire　continued。　〃The
enthusiasm　and　fearlessness　of　the　spectators；〃　says　the
Charleston　Mercury；　〃knew　no　bounds。〃　Reckless　observers　even　put
out　in　small　boats　and　roamed　about　the　harbor　almost　under　the
guns　of　the　fort。　Outside　the　bar；　vessels　of　the　relieving
squadron　were　now　visible；　and　to　these　Anderson　signaled　for
aid。　They　made　an　attempt　to　reach　the　fort；　but　only　part　of　the
squadron　had　arrived；　and　the　vessels　necessary　to　raise　the
siege　were　not　there。　The　attempt　ended　in　failure。　When　night
came；　a　string　of　rowboats　each　carrying　a　huge　torch　kept　watch
along　the　bar　to　guard　against　surprise　from　the　sea。

On　that　Friday　night　the　harbor　was　swept　by　storm。　But　in　spite
of　torrents　of　rain　East　Battery　and　the　rooftops　were　thronged。
〃The　wind　was　inshore　and　the　booming　was　startlingly　distinct。〃
At　the　height　of　the　bombardment；　the　sky　above　Sumter　seemed　to
be　filled　with　the　flashes　of　bursting　shells。　But　during　this
wild　night　Sumter　itself　was　both　dark　and　silent。　Its　casements
did　not　have　adequate　lamps　and　the　guns　could　not　be　used　except
by　day。　When　morning　broke；　clear　and　bright　after　the　night's
storm；　the　duel　was　resumed。

The　walls　of　Sumter　were　now　crumbling。　At　eight　o'clock　Saturday
morning　the　barracks　took　fire。　Soon　after　it　was　perceived　from
the　shore　that　the　flag　was　down。　Beauregard　at　once　sent　offers
of　assistance。　With　Sumter　in　flames　above　his　head；　Anderson
replied　that　he　had　not　surrendered；　he　declined　assistance；　and
he　hauled　up　his　flag。　Later　in　the　day　the　flagstaff　was　shot　in
two　and　again　the　flag　fell；　and　again　it　was　raised。　Flames　had
been　kindled　anew　by　red…hot　shot；　and　now　the　magazine　was　in
danger。　Quantities　of　powder　were　thrown　into　the　sea。　Still　the
rain　of　red…hot　shot　continued。　About　noon；　Saturday；　says　the
Courier；　〃flames　burst　out　from　every　quarter　of　Sumter　and
poured　from　many　of　its　portholes。。。the　wind　was　from　the
west　driving　the　smoke　across　the　fort　into　the　embrasures　where
the　gunners　were　at　work。〃　Nevertheless；　〃as　if　served　with　a　new
impulse；〃　the　guns　of　Sumter　redoubled　their　fire。　But　it　was　not
in　human　endurance　to　keep　on　in　the　midst　of　the　burning　fort。
This　splendid　last　effort　was　short。　At　a　quarter　after　one；
Anderson　ceased　firing　and　raised　a　white　flag。　Negotiations
followed　ending　in　terms　of　surrenderAnderson　to　be　allowed　to
remove　his　garrison　to　the　fleet　lying　idle　beyond　the　bar　and　to
salute　the　flag　of　the　United　States　before　taking　it　down。　The
bombardment　had　lasted　thirty…two　hours　without　a　death　on　either
side。　The　evacuation　of　the　fort　was　to　take　place　next　day。

The　afternoon　of　Sunday；　the　14th　of　April；　was　a　gala　day　in　the
harbor　of　Charleston。　The　sunlight　slanted　across　the　roofs　of
the　city；　sparkled　upon　the　sea。　Deep　and　rich　the　harbor　always
looks　in　the　spring　sunshine　on　bright　afternoons。　The　filmy
atmosphere　of　these　latitudes；　at　that　time　of　year；　makes　the
sky　above　the　darkling；　afternoon　sea　a　pale　but　luminous
turquoise。　There　is　a　wonderful　soft　strength　in　the　peaceful
brightness　of　the　sun。　In　such　an　atmosphere　the　harbor　was
flecked　with　brilliantly　decked　craft　of　every　description；　all
in　a　flutter　of　flags　and　carrying　a　host　of　passengers　in　gala
dress。　The　city　swarmed　across　the　water　to　witness　the　ceremony
of　evacuation。　Wherry　men　did　a　thriving　business　carrying
passengers　to　the　fort。

Anderson　withdrew　from　Sumter　shortly　after　two　o'clock　amid　a
salute　of　fifty　guns。　The　Confederates　took　possession。　At　half
after　four　a　new　flag　was　raised　above　the　battered　and
fire…swept　walls。



Chapter　II。　The　Davis　Government

It　has　never　been　explained　why　Jefferson　Davis　was　chosen
President　of　the　Confederacy。　He　did　not　seek　the　office　and　did
not　wish　it。　He　dreamed　of　high　military　command。　As　a　study　in
the　irony　of　fate；　Davis's　career　is　made　to　the　hand　of　the
dramatist。　An　instinctive　soldier；　he　was　driven　by　circumstances
three　times　to　renounce　the　profession　of　arms　for　a　less
congenial　civilian　life。　His　final　renunciation；　which　proved　to
be　of　the　nature　of　tragedy；　was　his　acceptance　of　the　office　of
President。　Indeed；　why　the　office　was　given　to　him　seems　a
mystery。　Rhett　was　a　more　logical　candidate。　And　when　Rhett；
early　in　the　lobbying　at　Montgomery；　was　set　aside　as　too　much　of
a　radical；　Toombs　seemed　for　a　time　the　certain　choice　of　the
majority。　The　change　to　Davis　came　suddenly　at　the　last　moment。
It　was　puzzling　at　the　time；　it　is　puzzling　still。

Rhett；　though　doubtless　bitterly　disappointed；　bore　himself　with
the　savoir　faire　of　a　great　gentleman。　At　the　inauguration；　it
was　on　Rhett's　arm　that　Davis　leaned　as　he　entered　the　hall　of
the　Confederate　Congress。　The　night　before；　in　a　public　address；
Yancey　had　said　that　the　man　and　the　hour　were　met。　The　story　of
the　Confederacy　is　filled　with　dramatic　moments；　but　to　the
thoughtful　observer　few　are　more　dramatic　than　the　conjunction　of
these　three　men　in　the　inauguration　of　the　Confederate　President。
Beneath　a　surface　of　apparent　unanimity　they　carried；　like
concealed　weapons；　points　of　view　that　were　in　deadly　antagonism。
This　antagonism　had　not　revealed　itself　hitherto。　It　was　destined
to　reveal　itself　almost　immediately。　It　went　so　deep　and　spread
so　far　that　unless　we　understand　it；　the　Confederate　story　will
be　unintelligible。

A　strange　fatality　destined　all　three　of　these　great　men　to
despair。　Yancey；　who　was　perhaps　most　directly　answerable　of　the
three　for　the　existence　of　the　Confederacy；　lost　influence　almost
from　the　moment　when　his　dream　became　established。　Davis　was
partly　responsible；　for　he　promptly　sent　him　out　of　the　country
on　the　bootless　English　mission。　Thereafter；　until　his　death　in
1863；　Yancey　was　a　waning；　overshadowed　figure；　steadily　lapsing
into　the　background。　It　may　be　that　those　critics　are　right　who
say　he　was　only　an　agitator。　The　day　of　the　mere　agitator　was
gone。　Yancey　passed　rapidly　into　futile　but　bitter　antagonism　to
Davis。　In　this　attitude　he　was　soon　to　be　matched　by　Rhett。

The　discontent　of　the　Rhett　faction　because　their　leader　was　not
given　the　portfolio　of　the　State　Department　found　immediate
voice。　But　the　conclusion　drawn　by　some　that　Rhett's　subsequent
course　sprang　from　personal　vindictiveness　is　trifling。　He　was
too　large　a　personality；　too　well　defined　an　intellect；　to　be
thus　explained。　Very　probably　Davis　made　his　first　great　blunder
in　failing　to　propitiate　the　Rhett　faction。　And　yet　few　things
are　more　certain　than　that　the　two　men；　the　two　factions　which
they　symbolized；　could　not　have　formed　a　permanent　alliance。　Had
Rhett　entered　the　Cabinet　he　could　not　have　remained　in　it
consistently　for　any　considerable　time。　The　measures　in　which；
presently；　the　Administration　showed　its　hand　were　measures　in
which　Rhett　could　not　acquiesce。　From　the　start　he　was
predestined　to　his　eventual　positionthe　great；　unavailing
genius　of　the　opposition。

As　to　the　comparative　ignoring　of　these　leaders　of　secession　by
the　Government　which　secession　had　created；　it　is　often　said　that
the　explanation　is　to　be　found　in　a　generous　as　well　as　poli