Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902.

April 12

Sumter

By Edmund Clarence Stedman (1833–1908)

On the 12th of April, 1861, Fort Sumter, in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, garrisoned by United States troops, was bombarded by the Confederate forces, and, after resisting for thirty-four hours, capitulated. This was the first battle of the war.

CAME the morning of that day

When the God to whom we pray

Gave the soul of Henry Clay

To the land;

How we loved him, living, dying!

But his birthday banners flying

Saw us asking and replying

Hand to hand.

For we knew that far away,

Round the fort in Charleston Bay,

Hung the dark impending fray,

Soon to fall;

And that Sumter’s brave defender

Had the summons to surrender

Seventy loyal hearts and tender—

(Those were all!)

And we knew the April sun

Lit the length of many a gun—

Hosts of batteries to the one

Island crag;

Guns and mortars grimly frowning,

Johnson, Moultrie, Pinckney, crowning,

And ten thousand men disowning

The old flag.

Oh, the fury of the fight

Even then was at its height!

Yet no breath, from noon till night,

Reached us here;

We had almost ceased to wonder,

And the day had faded under,

When the echo of the thunder

Filled each ear!

Then our hearts more fiercely beat,

As we crowded on the street,

Hot to gather and repeat

All the tale;

All the doubtful chances turning,

Till our souls with shame were burning,

As if twice our bitter yearning

Could avail!

Who had fired the earliest gun?

Was the fort by traitors won?

Was there succor? What was done

Who could know?

And once more our thoughts would wander

To the gallant lone commander,

On his battered ramparts grander

Than the foe.

Not too long the brave shall wait;

On their own heads be their fate,

Who against the hallowed State

Dare begin;

Flag defied and compact riven!

In the record of high Heaven

How shall Southern men be shriven

For the sin!