'Sumter Fired On'

George McDonald, Now 90,
Looks Back 75 Years to That Stirring Day in '61
When Beauregard Became The Idol of the South

By Irene M. Cudlipp

What boy living in Charleston, S.C. during the War Between the States would not remember General Beauregard, and the stirring times around Fort Sumter.

Some time ago in Charleston, I met George McDonald, nearly 90 years old. Thin and active, his chief delight is to talk about "those terrible days," and the men who made history then. Perhaps he likes best to talk about General Beauregard, who was in command of the provisional army of the Confederacy, with headquarters at Charleston during the early days of the war.

Mr. McDonald tells of the never-to-be-forgotten day when the President of the United States attempted to send the merchant steamer "Star of the West" with troops and supplies to Fort Sumter, then under command of Major Robert Anderson with a small number of federal soldiers.

Anderson, in command at Fort Moultrie, had secretly transferred to Fort Sumter, feeling that Sumter would be a more advantageous position.

The people of Charleston resented this, and feeling ran high. They asked the President for the immediate withdrawal of all troops from South Carolina. The the Governor of the State demanded that Anderson Return to Moultrie.

The people of the North urged that reenforcements be sent to Anderson, and President Buchanan dispatched the "Star of the West" with men, ammunition and supplies.

"I heard the firing from the battery on Morris Island," Mr. McDonald says, his eyes sparkling. "the vessel had to lie outside the harbor and anchor, to wait for high water; so I was awake when it happened.

"The deep channel in the harbor was not made until later. In the days of the War Between the States, light boats running the blockade had to wait for high water. That's why the vessel had to proceed so slowly through the channel."

"The 'Star of the West' tried to continue in spite of the firing, but finally lowered her flag, turned around and streamed out of the harbor. She was probably about two miles from Sumter when the first shot was fired."

Mr. McDonald remembered the date as January 12, 1861.

Describes Scenes During Bombardment of Sumpter

The firing on Sumter began about daybreak on April 12, 1861. Beauregard had demanded of Major Anderson that he evacuate the fort. Following his refusal, the Confederates fired on Sumter. Anderson's men answered fire, and war began. Mr. McDonald says, "The bombardment was a sight, grand and terrible! The day came clear and beautiful; the sea was calm. The whole city was awakened by the firing. Men, women and children gathered on the battery (along the waterfront). The wharves were crowded. We could see the shells bursting and hear the pieces falling."

The cannonade continued throughout that day and the following night, dark and rainy, and then into the next day. Major Anderson, in his official report, said the defense lasted 34 hours.

Mr. McDonald's face brightened as he concluded: "After the surrender, there was a great relief. Anderson landed in the city from boats off the post office wharves. I don't suppose he had 100 men, all told; and there were some women, wives of the soldiers, with the troops. Many of the women and children had gone North before this. Anderson took the tattered red flag under which he had fought. It was a great miracle that not a single person was killed in all that firing."

Beauregard Was Hero of the Hour

When the fighting was over, people went wild with joy. The church bells rang and rang. The hero of the hour was General Beauregard, the victorious commander. "he was the most noticed man in Charleston," Mr. McDonald says. "on the street people would stop and turn around just to look at him. They would go to parties, or anywhere, to get a chance to see this wonderful man.

"All the people loved him, and he was especially popular with the ladies. He was always pleasant with them, and that helps to make one popular, doesn't it? He had a cheerful way with people that was worth much.

"General Beauregard had eyes to see a person: they were piercing and black. He would sit on his big bay horse and look so stern and straight; yet he was a witty man, was full of life, and liked to tell a good joke. He rode his horse with great ease and grace."

Mr. McDonald's description reminds one of the statement of General John B. Gordon in his "reminiscences," when he said, "It was my privilege to serve under General Beauregard and to learn something of those cheery,debonair characteristics which helped to make him the idol of the vivacious Creoles of Louisiana."

'Irish' Jones was General's Bodyguard

Mr. McDonald marvels at the work of General Beauregard in fortifying Charleston: "In spite of his great popularity and invitations to the great houses, he was a tireless worker, and a great engineer. A small man, full of energy, he was continually 'on the go.'

Often he would be seen riding through the streets, and at his side his bodyguard, a prizefighter named Aaron Jones, a powerful Irishman who weighed over 200 pounds.

"They said that Jones was very loyal to the general. I guess all his men loved him. But he was even more popular with the ladies. There was a magnetism, beyond fame and popularity, that attracted them.

"But they said that Jeff Davis didn't like him so much. I dont' know that. I saw Jeff one time when he was in Charleston. (Oh, those were terrible days!)

"General Beauregard and Jeff Davis rode through the streets. You ask me to describe Jeff Davis? I can't say much about him. I think the people were really looking at General Beauregard!"