<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Wikisource has original text related to this article: Major Anderson's telegram announcing the surrender </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Wikisource has original text related to this article: Major Anderson's telegram announcing the surrender </Td> </Tr> <P> The fort's central flagpole was knocked down at 1 p.m. on April 13, raising doubts among the Confederates about whether the fort was ready to surrender . Col. Louis Wigfall, a former U.S. senator, had been observing the battle and decided that this indicated the fort had had enough punishment . He commandeered a small boat and proceeded from Morris Island, waving a white handkerchief from his sword, dodging incoming rounds from Sullivan's Island . Meeting with Major Anderson, he said, "You have defended your flag nobly, Sir . You have done all that it is possible to do, and General Beauregard wants to stop this fight . On what terms, Major Anderson, will you evacuate this fort?" Anderson was encouraged that Wigfall had said "evacuate," not "surrender ." He was low on ammunition, fires were burning out of control, and his men were hungry and exhausted . Satisfied that they had defended their post with honor, enduring over 3,000 Confederate rounds without losing a man, Anderson agreed to a truce at 2: 00 p.m. </P> <P> Fort Sumter raised Wigfall's white handkerchief on its flagpole as Wigfall departed in his small boat back to Morris Island, where he was hailed as a hero . The handkerchief was spotted in Charleston and a delegation of officers representing Beauregard--Stephen D. Lee, Porcher Miles, a former mayor of Charleston, and Roger Pryor--sailed to Sumter, unaware of Wigfall's visit . Anderson was outraged when these officers disavowed Wigfall's authority, telling him that the former senator had not spoken with Beauregard for two days, and he threatened to resume firing . Meanwhile, General Beauregard himself had finally seen the handkerchief and sent a second set of officers, offering essentially the same terms that Wigfall had presented, so the agreement was reinstated . </P>

Who surrendered at the battle of fort sumter