Charleston, S.C. Crowd inside Fort Sumter awaiting the flag-raising. CREATED/PUBLISHED 1865 April 14. SUMMARY When news reached Washington of the evacuation of Charleston, in February, 1865, the President appointed the anniversary (April 14) of the evacuation of the fort when the old flag which Anderson took with him should be again raised over the fortress by his hand. A large number of citizens left New York in the steamer Oceanus to assist in the ceremonies. When the multitude were assembled around the flag-staff, the songs of Victory at Last and Rally round the Flag were sung. Rev. Mr. Harris, who made the prayer at the raising of the flag over Fort Sumter, Dec. 27, 1860, now offered prayer and pronounced a blessing on the old flag. Rev. Dr. Storrs read selections from the Psalms. General Townsend read Major Anderson's dispatch announcing the fall of Sumter. Then the faithful Sergeant Hart appeared with a carpet-bag containing the flag. It was attached to the halyards, when General Anderson, after a brief and touching address, hoisted it to the peak of the flag-staff amid load huzzas, followed by singing The Star-spangled Banner. Six guns on the fort were then fired, and were responded to by all the batteries that took part in the bombardment in
1861. Henry Ward Beecher, the orator of the day, pronounced an address. |