 | Memoirs of the war of secession |  |
The Siege of Charleston.
The naval attack on Fort Sumter in April, 1863, was prefatory
to Gilmore's operations, and General Ripley's report of it is
given below:
"Department S. C., Georgia and Fla.,
"Charleston, 13 April, 1863.
"General: Upon the first inst., the increase of the enemy's force in the
Stono, and information from North Edisto, gave warning that the long-threatened
combined movement upon Charleston was about to take place.
Brigadier-General S. R. Gist, commanding 1st subdivision of this District
observation and repulse of any attack in that direction. Colonel R. F.
Graham, commanding 3rd subdivision, occupied the shore of Morris Island
on Light House Inlet to control the passage from Folley Island, and a strict
watch has been kept up to the present time on the land movements of the
enemy.
"On the 5th, the ironclad fleet of the enemy, consisting of seven (7)
monitors and one (1) double turreted vessel, hove in sight from Fort Sumter,
and came to anchor outside in the vicinity of the Ironsides frigate, then a
part of the blockading squadron. The 6th was apparently spent by the
enemy in preparation, and by our artillerists in verifying the condition of
their material. On the morning of the 7th, the enemy was inside the bar
with all his ironclads, including the frigate, but from his proximity to the
shoals and the haziness of the atmosphere his position could not be determined.
"The various works of preparation were progressed with, both upon the
exterior and interior lines of defense, until about 2 p. m., when the enemy
steamed directly up the channel, the Weehawken (supposed) with a false
prow for removing torpedoes attached, leading, followed by three monitors;
the Keokuk, double turreted, bringing up the rear.
"At each fort and battery, officers and men made preparations for immediate
action, while the enemy came slowly and steadily on. At 3 o'clock
Fort Moultrie opened fire. At 5 minutes past 3, the leading vessel having
arrived at fourteen hundred yards, Fort Sumter opened upon it with two
guns. Batteries Bee, Beauregard, Wagner and Gregg opened about this
time; and the action became general, the four leading monitors closing upon
the Weehawken, and taking position from the forts and batteries at an average
distance of about fifteen hundred yards. In accordance with instructions
the fire from the different points was concentrated upon the leading vessel;
and the effort was soon apparent in the withdrawal of the leading monitor
from action, her false prow having been detached and otherwise apparently
injured. The remaining monitors in advance of the flag ship held their
position, directing their fire principally at Fort Sumter, but giving occasional
shots at Fort Moultrie, of which the flagstaff was shot away, Batteries
Beauregard and Bee.
"The Ironsides meantime opened fire and drew the attention of Forts
Moultrie and Sumter and Battery Gregg. A few heavy and concentrated
discharges caused her to withdraw out of range, where she was followed by
two other monitors.
"At 5 minutes past 4 the Keokuk left her consorts, and came to the front,
approaching to within nine hundred yards of Fort Sumter, twelve hundred
from Battery Bee, and one thousand from Fort Moultrie. Her advance was
characterized by more boldness than had yet been exhibited by any of the
enemy's fleet, but receiving full attention from the powerful batteries opposed
to her, the effect was soon apparent. The ten-inch shell and seven-inch rifled
bolts crashed through her armor, her hull and turrets were riddled and
stove in, her boats were shot away, and in less than forty minutes she
"The remaining monitors kept their position for a short time, but soon
one by one dropped down the channel, and came to anchor out of range,
after an action of two hours and twenty-five minutes at ranges varying
from nine hundred to nineteen hundred yards.
"The full effect of our batteries upon the enemy could not be precisely
ascertained, and, as our strength had not been fully put forth, it was
believed the action would soon be renewed. The monitor which had led in
the action proceeded south outside of the bar the same evening.
"Before the commencement of the affair, I was proceeding in a boat to
Battery Bee, and watched the progress of the cannonade from that point.
The guns were worked with as much precision as the range would admit.
There were no damages or casualties. Visiting Fort Moultrie, the damaged
flagstaff was being replaced and everything prepared for a renewal of fire
should the enemy again approach. One man had been mortally wounded
by the falling of the staff. Crossing the channel to Fort Sumter, the effect
of the impact of the heavy shot sent by the enemy against the fort they
are so anxious to repossess, greater in caliber and supposed destructive
force than any hitherto used in war, was found to have been much less
than had been anticipated. Five men had been injured by splinters from
the traverses, one 8-inch columbiad had exploded, one 10-inch carriage had
its transom shot away and two rifled 42 drs. had been temporarily
disabled from the effect of recoil on defective carriages.
"The garrison was immediately set to work to repair damages, and, the
strength of the enemy's projectiles having been ascertained, to guard such
points as might be exposed to their effect should the attack be renewed.
Battery Gregg and Battery Wagner were uninjured except from the accidental
explosion of an ammunition chest in Battery Wagner.
"During the night of the 7th, stores were replenished; threatened points
upon land re-enforced; working parties from the Forty-sixth Georgia Regiment
brought to Fort Sumter, and the renewal of the struggle in the morning
awaited with confidence.
"When day dawned on the morning of the 8th, the enemy's fleet was discovered
in the same position as noticed on the previous evening. About 9
o'clock the Keokuk, which had been evidently the most damaged in the
action, went down about three and a half miles from Fort Sumter and
three-quarters of a mile from Morris Island. The remainder of the fleet
were repairing damages. Preparations for repulsing a renewed attack
were progressed with in accordance with the instructions of the commanding
general, who visited Fort Sumter on that day. A detachment of seamen,
under Flag Officer W. F. Lynch, arrived from Wilmington, and on
the 9th temporarily relieved the artillerists in charge of Battery Gregg.
The operations of the enemy's fleet consisted only of supply and repair.
Towards evening of the 9th, a raft, apparently for removing torpedoes or
obstructions, was towed inside the bar. Nothing of importance occurred
during the 10th. During the night of the 10th, Lieutenant-Colonel Dargan,
drove back the enemy's picket with loss, and returned with one prisoner.
On the 11th, there were indications that the attacking fleet were about to
withdraw; and on the 12th, at highwater, the Ironsides crossed the bar and
took up her position with the blockading fleet; and the monitors steamed
and went toward the southward—leaving only the sunken Keokuk as a
monument of their attack and discomfiture.
"In this, the first trial of the enemy's iron fleet against brick fortifications
and their first attempt to enter the harbor of Charleston, in which
they were beaten before their adversaries thought action had well commenced,
they were opposed by seventy-six pieces in all, including mortars.
Thirty-seven of these, exclusive of mortars, were above the caliber of
thirty-two pounders. The guns which the enemy brought to bear were,
if their own account is to be believed, thirty-six in number, including
eight-inch rifled, eleven, thirteen and fifteen-inch guns, which would make
their weight of metal at one discharge nearly, if not quite, equal to that
thrown by the batteries.
"During the action Brigadier-General Trapier, commanding 2nd subdivision
of this District, was present at Fort Moultrie. Brigadier-General
Gist, commanding 1st subdivision, at Fort Johnson. Colonel R. F. Graham,
commanding 3rd subdivision, at Morris Island, and Colonel L. M. Keitt,
commanding Sullivan's Island, at Battery Bee, attending to their duties,
and awaiting the developments of the attack.
"The action, however, was purely of artillery; forts and batteries against
ironclad vessels—other means of defense, obstructions and torpedoes not
having come into play. Fort Sumter was the principal object of the enemy's
attack and to that garrison, under its gallant commander, Colonel Alfred
Rhett, ably seconded by Lieutenant-Colonel Yates, and Major Blanding,
and all the officers and men, special credit is due for sustaining the shock
and with their powerful armament contributing principally to the repulse.
The garrison of Fort Moultrie, under Colonel William Butler, seconded by
Major Baker and the other officers and soldiers, upheld the historic reputation
of that fort and contributed their full share to the result. The
powerful batteries of Battery Bee was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel
John C. Simkins[28]
and were served with great effect. Battery Wagner,
under Major Cleland F. Huger; Battery Gregg, Lieutenant Lesene, and
Battery Beauregard, under Captain Sitgreaves, all did their part according
to their armament.
"Indeed, from the reports of commanders, it is hard to make any distinction
where all did their duty with zeal and devotion. Those cases which
have been ascertained will be found in the reports of the subordinate commanders.
The steady preparation for receiving a renewed attack, and the
discipline of the troops, especially in the garrison of Fort Sumter, the labor
being necessarily great, have been quite as creditable as their conduct
under fire.
"While service in immediate action is that which is most conspicuous
after such a result has been accomplished, the greater credit is due to that
long, patient and laborious preparation by which our works and material,
never originally intended to withstand such an attack as this, have been
so prepared as to enable our gallant and well-instructed officers and men
to obtain their end with comparatively small loss. In that preparation the
late Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas M. Wagner contributed much on both sides
of the channel, and Colonel Rhett and Lieutenant-Colonel Yates, Major
Blanding and other officers of Fort Sumter have been more or less engaged
since the fort fell into our hands two years since. Colonel Butler, Lieutenant-Colonel
Simkins, and other officers of the First South Carolina
Infantry, have been for more than a year engaged in the work on Sullivan's
Island. Besides various officers of engineers and other branches
of the department staff known to the commanding general have been at
different times principal contributors in the work, and although in the
limits of this report it is impossible to mention all to whom credit is due,
it is well that works like these, without which in such emergencies as the
present personal gallantry avails nought, should be appreciated.
"During the seven days while the presence of the enemy's fleet threatened
action, Captain William F. Nance, principal Assistant Adjutant General on
the District staff, performed his difficult duties in the administration of a
command of twenty thousand men in a prompt, judicious and efficient manner.
He was assisted by Lieutenants H. H. Rogers and W. H. Wagner,
aid-de-camps. Captain F. B. DuBarry, District Ordnance Officer, was
especially active and energetic in the supply of ammunition and material
for the batteries. He was assisted by Lieutenant C. C. Pinckney.
"Captain B. H. Read, Assistant Adjutant-General, Colonel Edward Manigault,
and Lieutenant-Colonel St. Clair Dearing, volunteers upon the staff,
were present during the action at Fort Sumter. Captain Seabrook, volunteer
aid-de-camp, and Lieutenant Schirmlee, enrolling officer and acting
aid-de-camp, were generally with me during the active period and all were
energetic and prompt in the duties required of them. To Majors Motte A.
Pringle and Norman W. Smith, post and district quartermasters, and
Captain McCleneghan, assistant commissary sergeant, many thanks should
be rendered. The duties of the quartermaster's department were excessively
laborious on account of the limited means of transportation, and it
is a matter of congratulation that with such means they were so well performed,
Captain John S. Ryan, A. C. S., acted on my immediate staff.
"The reports of the engineer officers will inform the commanding general
of the condition of the various works as well as of the action of the
officers in that branch of the service.
"I have the honor to transmit herewith a return of the guns engaged, a
return of the ammunition expended, and a numerical return of casualties,
together with the reports of the different commanders.
"I have also to transmit herewith two Federal ensigns obtained from the
Keokuk as she lies off Morris Island beach, by Lieutenant Glassell, C. S.
Navy, one of which is evidently the ensign under which she fought and was
doubtless been to avoid presenting a mark to our artillerists.
"Very respectfully,
"Brigadier-General, Commanding."
| Fort Sumter | Wounded 5 | |
| Fort Moultrie | Wounded 1 | |
| Battery Wagner | Wounded 5 | killed 3 (by explosion ammunition chest) |
| Total Casualties | 14 |
| 10-in. Columbiad | 9-in. Dahlgren | 7-in. Brooke | 8-in. Columbiad | 42 Dr. Rifled | 32 Dr. Smooth | 32 Dr. Rifled | 10-in. Mortar | ||
| Fort Sumter | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 7 | |
| Fort Moultrie | 9 | 5 | 5 | 2 | |||||
| Battery Bee | 5 | 1 | |||||||
| Beauregard | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Wagner | 1 | ||||||||
| Gregg | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| 10 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 7 | 18 | 8 | 9 | Total 76 |
| Round Shot | 1,539 |
| Round Shell | 98 |
| Shot, Rifle | 359 |
| Shot Bolts | 233 |
| Friction tubes | 2,856 |
| Cannon Powder | 21,093 lbs. |
Resuming operations against Charleston, General Gilmore, on
the 10th July, assaulted and carried the south end of Morris
Island. His infantry moved in a flotilla of small boats from the
north end of Folley Island under cover of a heavy fire from
batteries on the latter constructed without attracting serious
attention from the Confederates. The movement was well
planned and executed with considerable dash. Co-operative with
it was the attempt to cut the Charleston and Savannah Railroad
in speaking of events in the Second Military District, and a
demonstration in force from Stono on James Island.
Upon reporting on the evening of the 10th July at General
Beauregard's headquarters in pursuance of the dispatch received
at Barnwell, General Hagood was sent to James Island to take
command of that sub-district. All day from Blackville down,
whenever the cars stopped, the booming of the guns from Morris
Island could be heard. Captain Moloney, Assistant Adjutant
General, was with General Hagood, and Mr. William Izard Bull,
acting as volunteer aide to General Beauregard, was by order of
the latter directed to report to him for temporary duty. General
Hagood arrived on the island about 12 o'clock at night, and
learned from Colonel Simonton, in command, the condition of
affairs. The enemy were in force on the Stono shore of the
island, with gunboats and transports in the river. Our defensive
works were the same as at the close of the Secessionville campaign;
nothing had been done to them save at Secessionville,
which had been much strengthened. These works looked only
to an advance from the Stono front; and the enemy, now
holding Folley and the south end of Morris Island with their
transports in Light House Inlet, were in rear of their left flank
with an uninterrupted water approach of from one and a half
to two miles available for light-draft steamers, and the landings
not even picketed. Had a flotilla of boats with two thousand
men and a light battery landed that night at Legare's Landing,
it is probable that Fort Johnson, unentrenched to the rear, would
have fallen before day; and, within the limits of possibility, that
before the following night the whole of James Island except the
garrison of Secessionville and Fort Pemberton, which would have
been cut off and isolated, would have been in their possession. A
vigorous co-operative march of General Terry's force on the
Stono side of the island, against the center of our line by way
of Royall's house, would have made it almost a certain thing;
and then the northern shore of James Island held by four thousand
men would have been safe against any force at Beauregard's
command for several days. Gilmore could have re-enforced
afterward as fast as Beauregard, had the James instead of the
time and for a day or two the promising plan.
The Confederate force on James Island consisted of the regiment
of Frederick (late Lamar's), the battalions of White and
Lucas, three companies of Rhett's—all heavy artillery; the siege
train, consisting of four companies under Major Manigault, some
cavalry as couriers, and one regiment of infantry, the Twenty-fifth
South Carolina, under Colonel Simonton. This last was
the only force available for movement. The heavy artillerists
were barely enough to garrison the three forts in which they
were stationed and to man the few guns in position on the lines.
Major Manigault was with all dispatch moved that night from
his camp near Wappoo to Legare's Landing, where he arrived
at daylight and immediately proceeded to erect epaulements for
his siege guns. This was the beginning of Battery Haskell and
the series of works on the eastern shore of the island. The enemy
on the Stono under General Terry remained quiet, advancing
their pickets without opposition some short distance. General
Beauregard rapidly pushed re-enforcements over to James Island
as they arrived. Large working parties of negroes were, together
with the troops, kept steadily at work, and in a few days the
opportunity of doing anything by surprise or assault on James
Island had passed away.
Subsequently General W. B. Taliaferro was assigned to the
command of James Island, and Generals Hagood and A. H. Colquitt
commanded the eastern and western divisions of the lines
respectively under him. Secessionville was the dividing point in
these sub-commands. These general officers served with others
on the detail of commanders on Morris Island during the operations
in that quarter, and when not on duty there resumed their
positions on James Island.
General Hagood's tours of duty on Morris Island were: From
the 18th to 22nd July, from the 6th to 10th August, from the 21st
to 25th August; arriving and leaving generally on the nights of
these respective dates. His next tour of duty would have commenced
on the 7th September. The island was evacuated on the
previous night. Of his staff, Captain Moloney, acting adjutant-general,
and his aides, Ben Martin and Tracy, with his orderly,
S. N. Bellinger, always accompanied him. Majors Hay and
ordnance officer, were with him on the first tour; afterwards these
offices on the island were made post offices and others filled them.
Lieutenant-Colonel Del. Kemper served the first tour with him
as chief of artillery. This officer had distinguished himself in
Virginia at First Manassas, and subsequently an unclosed wound
in his shoulder unfitted him for field duty and he was sent to this
department, where he served the rest of the war. He was in
person very like General Beauregard, of high mental and social
culture, and an officer of much dash and merit. General Hagood
was thrown much with him and formed a warm regard for him.
Lieutenant-Colonel Welsman Brown served the second tour as
chief of artillery, and Major F. F. Warley the third. These
officers all discharged their duties with credit to themselves and
to the entire satisfaction of their chief. Captain Moloney
especially was invaluable, cool, intelligent and indefatigable. He
relieved the command of half its burthen.
The period of active operations against Charleston, looking to
its direct capture, was from 10th July to 10th September.
Afterward the siege was marked only by the bombardment of
Sumter and the city, with comparatively harmless cannonading
of each other by the opposing batteries and some skirmishes.
This continued until the spring of 1864, when Gilmore and Beauregard
were both, with the bulk of their troops, transferred to
the theatre of war in Virginia, where the conflict was then culminating,
and Charleston was left with a skeleton garrison to
hold its own against a force adequate to little more than protect
from assault the long-range guns which continued day and night
to hurl their crashing and exploding missiles into the ruins of
the devoted city. For twelve months longer this continued,
while the contest upon which depended alike the fate of Charleston
and the Confederacy was elsewhere prosecuted to the bitter
end. At length in the spring of '65, when all that was left of the
Confederacy was concentrated for the last desperate hazard, the
garrison of Charleston, her artillerists converted into infantry,
silently and sadly, and bearing with them their warworn banners,
marched to strengthen the hands of Johnston in North Carolina.
There, upon the fields of Averysboro and Bentonville, in two
field fights, they lost nearly as many men in killed and wounded
columns. So much for the art of the engineer.
In arranging the material of this memoir of the siege, General
Beauregard's report embracing the time from his assumption
of command until the evacuation of Morris Island is taken; then
General Ripley's report continues the narrative till the 10th of
September; and from that time till the departure of General
Hagood for Virginia in May, '64, his recollection is relied upon.
In notes to these official papers, the writer has embodied such
comments as appeared to him proper.
Of events in and around Charleston, subsequent to April, '64,
in the absence of personal knowledge or official reports, no
attempt will be made to give an account.
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