It was
delayed longer than usual; and at length a heavy mail came, consisting of
letters and Capers of various dates from the twelfth to the twentieth of
April, and bringing news of the most exciting character in the fall of
Fort Sumter: the call of the president for seventy-five thousand troops to
defend the capital, the seizure of the United States armory at Harper's
Ferry by the Confederates; the attack on the Massachusetts troops while
passing through Baltimore, and lastly the seizure of Norfolk Navy-yard.
Dinner was just over at the villa, the family still chatting over the
dessert, children and all in an unusually merry mood, when this mail was
brought in by a servant, and handed to Mr. Dinsmore.
He promptly distributed it, took up the paper of the earliest date, and
glancing over the headings, exclaimed, with a groan, "It has come!"
"What?" queried the others, in excited chorus.
"War! My country! oh, my country! Fort Sumter has fallen after a terrific
bombardment of thirty-six hours." And he proceeded to read aloud the
account of the engagement, the others listening in almost breathless
silence.
"And they have dared to fire upon the flag! the emblem of our nationality,
the symbol of Revolutionary glory; to tear it down and trample it in the
dust!" cried Mr.
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