HAROLD L. LEUPP
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
DAVIS
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REMINISCENCES
OF
FORTS SUITER AND MOULTRIE
1860-'61
BY ABNER DOUBLEDAY
BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL U. S. A.
NEW YORK
HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS
FRANKLIN SQUARE
1876
LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
DAVIS
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by
HARPER & BROTHERS,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
INTRODUCTION.
Now that the prejudices and bitter partisan feel
ing of the past are subsiding, it seems a fitting time
to record the facts and incidents connected with the
first conflict of the Eebellion. Of the eleven officers
who took part in the events herein narrated, but four
now survive. Before the hastening years shall have
partially obliterated many circumstances from my
memory, and while there is still an opportunity for
conference and friendly criticism, I desire to make,
from letters, memoranda, and documents in my pos
session, a statement which will embody my own rec
ollections of the turbulent days of 1860 and 1861.
I am aware that later and more absorbing events
have caused the earlier struggles of the war to re
cede in the distance ; but those who were in active
life at that time will not soon forget the thrill of
emotion and sympathy which followed the move
ments of Anderson's little band, when it became its
INTROD UCTION.
duty to unfold the flag of the Union against a united
South in arms.
I know how difficult it is to write contemporane
ous history, or even to give a bare detail of facts,
without wounding the susceptibilities of others ; but
whenever I have felt called upon to give my own
opinion, I have endeavored to do so in the spirit of
Lincoln's immortal sentiment "With malice to
ward none ; with charity for all."
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
FORT MOULTRIB IN 1860.
The Garrison of Fort Moultrie. Early Indications of Secession.
Situation of the Fort. Edmund Euffin and Robert Barnwell Rhett.
The Secretary of "War. Arms sent to the South. Colonel Gard
ner. Captain Foster ordered to Charleston Harbor. The Officers
at Fort Moultrie. Communications with Northern Men by Ci
pher. Proscription of Antislavery Men in Charleston. Position of
Charleston Merchants. The Secession Leaders only prepared to
resist Coercion. The Mob proves Unmanageable. General Scott's
Letter to the President, October 29th. The Situation in Novem
ber. No Instructions from Washington. Colonel Gardner's Re
port to General Wool Page 13
CHAPTER II.
PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENSE.
Defeat of Captain Seymour's Expedition on the Ashley. Mayor
Macbeth 's Explanation. Captain Foster's Work on Fort Moultrie.
Governor Gist convenes the South Carolina Legislature. Crea
tion of a Standing Army. Arrival of Masons from Baltimore.
Situation of Fort Sumter. A Dramatic Incident. Secretary
Floyd's Action. Horace Greeley's Advocacy of the Right of Se
cession. The Situation November 18th .... .. 30
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER III.
PRELIMINARY MOVEMENTS OF THE SECESSIONISTS.
Arrival of Major Anderson. Huger's Opposition to a Premature As
sault on Fort Moultrie. Anderson's Report to the Secretary of
War. Active Preparations by the South Carolinians. Meeting
of Congress. Attempts at Compromise. Secession Batteries at
Mount Pleasant. Arrival of Major Buell with Written Orders.
Vain Efforts to Strengthen Castle Pinckney. Northern Opinion.
Public Meeting in Philadelphia Page, 41
CHAPTER IV.
THE REMOVAL TO FORT SUMTER.
Passage of the Secession Ordinance. Governor Pickens's Procla
mation. Judge Petigru's Visit to Eort Moultrie. Floyd's Treach
ery. Yancey's Lectures in the North. The Removal to Sumter. 55
CHAPTER V.
THE FIRST OVERT ACT.
The New Quarters. Seizure of Castle Pinckney by Charleston
Troops. Raising the Flag at Fort Sumter. The Sergeant's
Daughter. Major Anderson's Position. The Charleston Troops
take Fort Moultrie. A Military Problem. Condition of Fort
Sumter. Governor Pickens's Commission. A New Outrage... 68
CHAPTER VI.
EFFECT OF ANDERSON'S MOVEMENT.
President Buchanan Aroused. Excitement in Charleston. The Sit
uation at the Beginning of 1861. Governor Pickens's War Meas
ures. "My heart was never in this War" 82
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VII.
THE "STAR OF THE WEST."
Promise of Succor. Fatal Delay. A Contumacious Chaplain.
Visit from our Ladies. Governor Pickens's Cabinet. Appearance
of the Star of the West. The Vessel fired upon from Morris
Island and Fort Moultrie. Major Anderson's Protest. Governor
Pickens's Reply Page 92
CHAPTER VIII.
A RESORT TO DIPLOMACY.
Major Anderson's Proposed Diplomatic Negotiations. Defensive
Preparations. Changes in the Cabinet. Meade's Defection.
Anecdote of Governor Pickens. Battery at Cummings Point.
Soldiers' Families Removed. A Threatening Letter. Confederate
Visitors to the Fort. Organization of the Confederate Govern
ment .,,.. 107
CHAPTER IX.
THE CRISIS AT HAND.
South Carolina's Grievances. Inauguration of President Lincoln.
Determination to Re-enforce Sumter. An Audacious Proposal.
The Shannon. New Rebel Batteries Unmasked. Formal Notice
of Bombardment 123
CHAPTER X.
THE BOMBARDMENT.
The First Shot.' Defective Guns. John Carmody's Exploit. De
structive Effects of the Bombardment. Burning of the Officers'
Quarters. Terrific Conflagration 143
10 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XI.
THE EVACUATION.
Senator Wigfall's Volunteer Mission. Terms of Evacuation Settled.
The Question of Casualties on the Other Side. Salute to the
Flag. Occupation of the Fort by Southern Troops. Embarka
tion. Welcome in New York. Conclusion Page 161
APPENDIX .. 179
EEMINISCENCES OF
FORTS SUITER AND MOULTRIE
IN 186O-'61.
CHAPTER I.
FOST MOULTEIE IN 1860.
The Garrison of Fort Moultrie. Early Indications of Secession.
Situation of the Fort. Edmund Kuffin and Kobert Barnwell Khett.
The Secretary of War. Arms sent to the South. Colonel Gard
ner. Captain Foster ordered to Charleston Harbor. The Officers
at Fort Moultrie. Communications with Northern Men by Ci
pher. Proscription of Antislavery Men in Charleston. Position of
Charleston Merchants. The Secession Leaders only prepared to
resist Coercion. The Mob proves unmanageable. General Scott's
Letter to the President, October 29. The Situation in November.
No Instructions from Washington. Colonel Gardner's Report to
General Wool.
THE summer of 1860 found me stationed at the
head-quarters of the First United States Artillery at
Fort Moultrie, South Carolina. I was captain of Com
pany E, and second in command to Brevet Colonel
14 REMINISCENCES OF
John L. Gardner, who was lieutenant-colonel of the
regiment. The regimental band and Captain Tru
man Seymour's company (H) also formed part of the
garrison. The other forts were unoccupied, except
by the ordnance-sergeants in charge.
Charleston, at this period, was far from being a
pleasant place for a loyal man. Almost every public
assemblage was tinctured with treasonable sentiments,
and toasts against the flag were always warmly ap
plauded. As early as July there was much talk of
secession, accompanied with constant drilling, and
threats of taking the forts as soon as a separation
should occur.
To the South Carolinians Fort Moultrie was al
most a sacred spot, endeared by many precious his
torical associations ; for the ancestors of most of the
principal families had fought there in the Revolu
tionary War behind their hastily improvised ram
parts of palmetto logs, and had gained a glorious vic
tory over the British fleet in its first attempt to enter
the harbor and capture the city.
The modern fort had -been built nearly on the site
of the ancient one. Its walls were but twelve feet
high. They were old, weak, and so full of cracks
that it was quite common to see soldiers climb to the
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 15
top by means of the support these crevices afforded
to their hands and feet. The constant action of the
sea-breeze had drifted one immense heap of sand
against the shore-front of the work, and another in
the immediate vicinity. These sand-hills dominated
the parapet, and made the fort untenable. Indeed,
it was originally built by the engineers as a mere sea-
battery, with just sufficient strength to prevent it from
being taken by a coup de main. As an overpower
ing force of militia could always be summoned for
its defense, it was supposed that no foreign army
would ever attempt to besiege it. The contingency
that the people of Charleston themselves might at
tack a fort intended for their own protection had
never been anticipated.
Our force was pitifully small, even for a time of
peace and for mere police purposes. It consisted of
sixty -one enlisted men and seven officers, together
with thirteen musicians of the regimental band;
whereas the work called for a war garrison of three
hundred men.
The first indication of actual danger came from
Richmond, Virginia, in the shape of urgent inquiries
as to the strength of our defenses, and the number of
available troops in the harbor. These questions were
1 6 REMINISCENCES OF
put by a resident of that city named Edmund Rufiin ;
an old man, whose later years had been devoted to
the formation, of disunion lodges, and who became
subsequently noted for firing the first gun at Fort
Sumter. His love of slavery amounted to fanaticism.
When the cause of the Eebellion became hopeless,
he refused to survive it, and committed suicide.
In the beginning of July, Robert Barnwell Rhett,
and other ultra men in Charleston, made violent
speeches to the mob, urging them to drive every Unit
ed States official out of the State ; but as many in
fluential Secessionists were enjoying the sweets of
Federal patronage under Buchanan, we did not an
ticipate any immediate disturbance. To influence
his hearers still more, Rhett did not hesitate to state
that Hamlin was a mulatto, and he asked if they in
tended to submit to a negro vice-president.*
It is an interesting question to know how far at
this period the Secretary of War himself was loyal.
Mr. Dawson, the able editor of the Historical Maga
zine, is of opinion, after a careful investigation of the
facts, that Floyd at this time was true to the Union,
* Hamlin's father named four of his sons, Europe, Asia, Africa, and
America. The fact that one of them was called Africa gave rise to
the statement that he was an African.
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 17
and that he remained so until December 24th, when
it was discovered that he had been advancing large
sums of money from the Treasury to contractors, to
pay for work which had never been commenced. To
make the loss good, nearly a million of dollars was
taken from the Indian Trust Fund.
Finding he would be dismissed from the Cabinet
for his complicity in these transactions, and would
also be indicted by the Grand Jury of the District
of Columbia, he made a furious Secession speech,
sent in his resignation, and suddenly left for the
South.* Mr. Dawson founds his opinion in this case
upon the statement of Fitz John Porter, who was a
major on duty in the War Department at the time,
and therefore apparently well qualified to judge.
Floyd's actions toward us, however, were not those
of a true man, and I am of opinion that his loyalty
was merely assumed for the occasion. He sent sev
enteen thousand muskets to South Carolina, when he
knew that Charleston was a hot-bed of sedition, and
that in all probability the arms would be used against
* He afterward returned, gave bail, and appeared before the court,
because he was aware that a rule existed that parties who had given
evidence before a Congressional committee in reference to any defal
cation could not be tried for having taken part in it.
1 8 REMINISCENCES OF
the United States. Greeley says, in bis "American
Conflict," that during these turbulent times Floyd
disarmed the Government by forwarding one hun
dred and fifteen thousand muskets, in all, to the
Southern Confederacy.* In addition to this, he sold
large quantities of arms to S. B. Lamar, of Savan
nah, and other Secessionists in the South, on the plea
that the muskets thus disposed of did not conform to
the latest army model. Just before his resignation,
he continued the same policy by directing that one
hundred and twenty -four heavy guns should be
shipped from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, to Ship Island,
Mississippi, where there was no garrison, and to Gal-
veston, Texas. Yet this was the official upon whom
we were to rely for advice and protection. This was
the wolf who was to guard the fold.
Our commander, Colonel Gardner, had done good
service in the War of 1812 and in Mexico ; but now,
owing to his advanced age, was ill fitted to weather
the storm that was about to burst upon us. In poli-
* It is trne there is a law .authorizing the distribution of surplus
United States arms to the States, but there were no surplus muskets
on hand ; and even if there had been, it was a very injudicious time to
distribute them among the insurgent States. A little delay would have
been both patriotic and judicious.
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 19
tics he was quite Southern, frequently asserting that
the South had been treated outrageously in the ques
tion of the Territories, and defrauded of her just rights
in other respects. He acquiesced, however, in the
necessity of defending the fort should it be attacked ;
but as he lived with his family outside of the walls,
lie could not take a very active part himself. In
deed, on one occasion, when a Secession meeting was
held in our immediate vicinity, accompanied with
many threats and noisy demonstrations, he sent word
to me to assume command at once in his place.
He now found himself in a peculiar position. The
populace were becoming excited, and there was every
probability that a collision, accidental or otherwise,
might occur at any moment between the troops and
the mob outside, if not between the troops and the
State militia. The dilemma which confronted him
was either to make a disgraceful surrender of his
command, or take the other alternative, and fight
South Carolina single-handed, without the aid or co
operation of the General Government. .He thought
the difficulty might perhaps be solved by removing
the garrison to Smith ville, North Carolina, having
received permission to do so, in case the yellow fe
ver, which had proved so disastrous the previous year,
20 REMINISCENCES OF
should break out again. Strange to say, some of the
most ultra papers in the Southern interest in New
York and Charleston ridiculed the proposed move
ment. They probably feared that our absence might
deprive the conspirators of the prestige of an easy
victory.
By the middle of August the country people be
gan to be quite violent in their language, and made
many threats of what they would do in case of Lin
coln's election.
While the rebellion was thus drifting onward, the
North remained quiescent, utterly refusing to believe
in the existence of any real danger. Yet it was pub
licly known that, although the Southern States had
refused to commit themselves to Secession, they were
pledged not to allow South Carolina to be coerced,
and this practically amounted to a powerful league
against the Union, since it was a combination to
prevenj the enforcement of the laws which bound
the States together.
As we were liable to be attacked at any moment,
we desired to get rid of the sand-hills which domi
nated our walls. To this end we applied to the
Quartermaster-general (General Joseph E. Johnston)
for authority to hire citizen laborers ; but he declined
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 21
to accede to the request, on tlie ground that the work
did not properly appertain to his department. He
was a nephew of Floyd, and soon went over to the
enemy. With the exception of Robert E. Lee, he
subsequently became the most noted of all the rebel
generals.
We were gratified, about the 1st of September, at
seeing some signs of life in the Secretary of War,
which seemed to show that he appreciated our dan
gers and difficulties. He ordered First Lieutenant
and Brevet Captain John G-. Foster, of the engineers,
to repair to Fort Moultrie, and put that and the oth
er defenses of Charleston harbor in perfect order.
The reason privately assigned for this was that we
were drifting into complications with England and
France with reference to Mexico. For one, I gave
the honorable secretary very little credit for this
proceeding, inasmuch as he had just previous to this
forwarded to South Carolina the means of arming
and equipping seventeen thousand men against the
United States. I, therefore, came to the conclu
sion that the forts were to be made ready for active
service, in order that they might be turned over in
that condition to the Southern League.
Two young lieutenants of engineers, G. W. Snyder
22 REMINISCENCES OF
and R. K. Meade, were soon after sent to Foster as
assistants.
And here it may be well to speak of the officers
of our command, as they were at that period. The
record of their services afterward, during the rebell
ion, would constitute a volume in itself.
Colonel John L. Gardner was wounded in the war
with Great Britain in 1812. He had also been en
gaged in the war against the Florida Indians, and
the war with Mexico, receiving two brevets for the
battles of Cerro Gordo and Contreras.
Seymour, Foster, and myself had also served in
Mexico as second lieutenants on our first entrance
into the army, and Davis as a non-commissioned offi
cer of an Indiana regiment.
John G. Foster, severely wounded at Molino del
Rey, and brevetted captain, was one of the most
fearless and reliable men in the service.
Captain Truman Seymour, twice brevetted for
gallantry at Cerro Gordo and Cherubusco, was an
excellent artillery officer, full of invention and re
source, a lover of poetry, and an adept at music and
painting.
First Lieutenant Jefferson C. Davis, brave, gener
ous, and impetuous the boy-sergeant of Buena Yis-
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 23
ta won his first commission in the regular army by
his gallantry in that action.
First Lieutenant Theodore Talbot, when very young,
had shared the dangers, privations, and sufferings of
Fremont's party in their explorations to open a path
way across the continent. He was a cultivated man,
and a representative of the chivalry of Kentucky,
equally ready to meet his friend at the festive board,
or his enemy at ten paces.
Doctor S. Wiley Crawford, our assistant surgeon, en
tered the service after the Mexican war. He was a
genial companion, studious, and full of varied infor
mation. Hjs ambition to win a name as a soldier
soon induced him to quit the ranks of the medical
profession.
Hall, Snyder, and Meade were recent graduates of
the Academy, who had never seen active service in
the field. They were full of zeal, intelligence, and
energy.
In one respect we were quite fortunate : the habits
of the officers were good, and there was no dissipa
tion or drunkenness in the garrison. The majority
of the men, too, were old soldiers, who could be thor
oughly relied upon under all circumstances.
There was, also, one civilian with us, Mr. Edward
24 REMINISCENCES OF
Moale, who was clerk and brother-in-law to Captain
Foster. His services were subsequently very valua
ble in many ways.
Fearing that in the course of events our corre
spondence might be tampered with, I invented a ci
pher which afterward proved to be very useful. It
enabled me to communicate, through my brother in
New York, much valuable information to Mr. Lin
coln at Springfield, Preston King, Roscoe Conkling,
and other leaders of public opinion, in relation to our
strength and resources.*
Situated as we were, we naturally desired to know
.how far Mr. Buchanan's Cabinet was willing to sus
tain us. William II. Trescott of, South Carolina, was
Assistant Secretary of State at this time, and frequent
ly corresponded with his brother, Doctor Trescott, in
Charleston. "We, therefore, naturally thought the views
of the latter might indirectly reflect those of the Ad
ministration. The doctor was of opinion there would
be no attempt at coercion in case South Carolina se
ceded, but that all postal and telegraphic communi-
* My brother and myself each owned copies of the same dictionary.
Instead of using a word in my correspondence, I simply referred to its
place in the book, by giving the number of the page, number of the
column, and number of the word from the top of the page.
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 25
cation would cease, and a man-of-war be placed out
side to collect the revenue. This arrangement would
leave our little force isolated and deserted, to bear
the brunt of whatever might occur.
In October the disunionists became more bitter,
but they were not disposed to be aggressive, as they
thought Buchanan could be relied upon not to take
any decisive action against them.
Colonel Gardner would not at this time mount the
guns, or take any precautions whatever. He alleged,
with reason, that the work was all torn to pieces by
the engineers ; that it was full of debris, and that,
under the circumstances, he was not responsible for
any thing that might happen. We had been prom
ised a considerable number of recruits, but they were
kept back ; and we now ascertained that none would
be sent until late in December, after the crisis was
over.
In the latter part of the month I became quite un
popular in Charleston ; partly on account of my anti-
slavery sentiments, but more especially because some
very offensive articles, written from that city, had ap
peared in the Northern papers, and were attributed to
me. It seems that at this very time an abolition cor
respondent of the New York Tribune was employed
26 REMINISCENCES OF
in the office of Rhett's paper, the Charleston Mercu
ry. This man professed to be the most loud-mouthed
secessionist of them all. In conversation with me
afterward, he claimed to be the author of the arti
cles referred to.
In truth, these were days of extraordinary proscrip
tion for opinion's sake. I heard with profound indig
nation of the case of a poor seamstress from New
York, who had been sent to jail in Charleston simply
for stating that she did not believe in the institution
of slavery. On appealing to the then mayor of New
York, Fernando Wood, he replied that he was re
joiced she was in prison, and hoped she would be
kept there.
Toward the close of the month, the South Carolina
leaders began to fear that the other Southern States
would not join them, and were engaged in discussing
the subject of a French protectorate.
The negroes overheard a great deal that was said
by their masters, and in consequence became excited
and troublesome, for the news flew like wild -fire
among them that " Massa Linkum " was coming to
set them all free.
The enthusiasm of the moneyed men in Charleston
began to cool when they reflected upon the enormous
FORTS SUMTER KND MO UL TRIE. 27
expenses involved in keeping up a standing army in
an agricultural State like South Carolina. At the re
quest of some Union men, Captain Seymour made a
startling exhibit, showing the large amount required
to maintain even a moderate force. It had a good
effect upon the merchants, and, indeed, if the other
Southern States had not promptly sustained South Car
olina, the movement must have soon collapsed from
its inherent weakness.
Although the secession leaders were preparing to
meet coercion, if it should come, I will do them the
justice to say that they determined to commit no
overt act against the Union so long as the State formed
an integral part of it. They soon found, however,
that the mob did not recognize these fine distinctions.
It was easy to raise the storm, but, once under full
headway, it was difficult to govern it. Independent
companies and minute-men were everywhere form
ing, in opposition to their wishes ; for these organiza
tions, from their very nature, were quite unmanage
able. The military commanders much preferred the
State militia, because they could control it by law.
A gentleman from the country, who had joined the
minute-men, came in one day to the Charleston Hotel,
with a huge cockade on his hat, expecting to be re-
28 REMINISCENCES OF
ceiv 7 ed with great applause ; but, to his astonishment,
he was greeted with laughter and ridicule.
On the 29th of October, General Scott wrote his
celebrated letter to the President, recommending
that strong garrisons be placed at once in all the
Southern forts. Undoubtedly this was good advice ;
but as our army was widely scattered all over the
West to protect the frontier settlements from the
Indians, only five small companies were available for
the purpose. The suggestion, therefore, had but lit
tle practical value.
November had arrived. The muttering of the
storm was heard all around us, and yet not one word
of counsel or encouragement came from Washing
ton. Colonel Gardner began to feel uneasy at this
studied silence, and determined to place the responsi
bility of any disaster that might occur where it prop
erly belonged. On the 1st of the month he made a
full report to his next superior officer, General Wool,
at Troy, New York, to be forwarded to the Secretary
of War, in relation to the dangers that threatened us,
and our imperfect means of defense. He notified
them that our provisions would be exhausted by the
20th of the month, and that we were very deficient
in ammunition and military supplies generally. The
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 29
secretary, in his answer to this communication, sim
ply expressed his regret that he had not been in
formed of all this before. This sympathy was no
doubt very gratifying ; but, being of an entirely pas
sive nature, did not benefit us in the least. Colonel
Gardner, at our solicitation, directed that the guns
which had been dismounted to enable the engineers
to make their repairs be remounted at once, and
Seymour's company and mine soon placed them in
position. It was of little use, however, to have our
armament in readiness, unless the approaches to the
fort could be carefully watched. This it was impos
sible to do by the ordinary system of guard duty ;
but I suggested a plan which enabled us to have an
ample number of sentinels, without exhausting the
men. It was done by placing each man on guard
for a single hour, between tattoo and reveille, allow
ing him to sleep for the remainder of the night.
30 REMINISCENCES OF
CHAPTEE II.
PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENSE.
Defeat of Captain Seymour's Expedition on the Ashley. Mayor
Macbeth 's Explanation. Captain Foster's Work on Fort Moultrie.
Governor Gist convenes the South Carolina Legislature. Crea
tion of a Standing Army. Arrival of Masons from Baltimore.
Situation of Fort Sumter. A Dramatic Incident. Secretary
Floyd's Action. Horace Greeley's Advocacy of the Right of Se
cession. The Situation November 18th.
THE United States Arsenal in Charleston is situ
ated on the banks of the Ashley River. It looked
feasible to go there in a boat without attracting at
tention, and procure a full supply of cartridges and
other articles which were very much needed. Cap
tain Seymour volunteered for the service, and was
sent over with a small party, early in the afternoon.
Notwithstanding he took every precaution, some spy
belonging to a vigilance committee followed him,
and reported the facts in the city. Seymour at once
found himself beset by an excited mob, and wholly
prevented from accomplishing the object of his mis
sion. Colonel Gardner wrote to Mayor Macbeth for
FORTS SUMTRR AND MOULTRIE. 31
an explanation. The latter apologized politely for
this unexpected occurrence, and, speaking for himself
and other city officials, stated that so long as they
staid in the Union they desired to remain faithful to
its obligations, and that no further obstacles would
be thrown in the way of another expedition. Col
onel Gardner, however, did not send out again, think
ing, perhaps, the mob might be beyond the control
of the mayor.
Since his arrival, Captain Foster had been hard at
work on the fort. He had hired laborers from the
vicinity of Charleston, and had sent to Baltimore for
a large number of masons who had formerly worked
for him. In spite of his efforts, we were still in a
very weak condition, and unable to defend ourselves.
It is true the sand had been removed from the sea-
face of the work ; but as that front had no flanking
defenses, the angles in the wall were torn down to
enable the engineers to construct double caponieres
there. This left great gaps, through which an as
saulting party could penetrate at any moment. Per
haps in one sense it added to our security, for there
was no glory to be acquired in capturing a fort
which was wide open and defenseless. Crowds of
excited countrymen, wearing secession cockades, con-
32 REMINISCENCES OF
stantly came to visit the work ; and on the 3d of No
vember they formed in procession and marched
around it, but did not offer any violence.
It may not be improper to state that I was the
only officer of the command who favored Lincoln's
election. As regards my companions, however, there
was no difference of opinion in regard to sustaining
the. new President should he be legally elected, and
they were all both willing and anxious to defend the
fort confided to their honor.
In view of the probable success of the Republican
candidate for the presidency, Governor Gist called
the South Carolina Legislature together, to meet on
Monday, the 5th of November. In his message he
recommended the immediate formation of a stand
ing army of ten thousand men ; and that all persons
between the ages of eighteen and forty-five be armed
for immediate service. In consequence of this rec
ommendation, by the 9th of November the whole
State was swarming with minute-men.
The spark came at last which was to set fire to the
magazine. The startling news of Lincoln's election
O O
reached Charleston on the 7th of November. As
this event was sure to lead to secession, the Disunion-
ists were wild with delight. In their exuberance of
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 33
spirits, they ran through the streets shouting " Hurra
for Lincoln!" The United States District Court,
which was in session, at once broke up, and its judge,
Magrath, sent in his resignation. In the evening of
the same day, Edmund Ruffin, who has already been
referred to, made a fiery secession speech to an im
mense audience at the capitol of the State. The
Legislature, inflamed by public sentiment, called a
convention, to meet on the 17th of the month, to de
cide the question of secession. Governor Joseph E.
Brown, of Georgia, also called a convention there for
the same purpose ; and the excitement in each State
constantly reacted on the other.
In the early part of November, one hundred and
fifty masons arrived from Baltimore to work on the
forts in the harbor. They were undoubtedly good
workmen, but it is much to be regretted that they
were not also good Unionists. Captain Foster at
this time did not believe that any serious complica
tions would arise from the attitude South Carolina
had assumed, and did not, therefore, think it neces
sary to pay any attention to the politics of his labor
ers. Had he selected zealous Union men, their ar
rival would have been a most opportune re-enforce
ment for the garrison. Unfortunately, most of them
2*
34 REMINISCENCES OF
sympathized with the South, and their coming was
rather a source of weakness than of strength, so far
as actual fighting was concerned. They rendered us,
however, great and timely assistance by their labor.
The first thing that attracted the eye of the stran
ger, upon approaching Charleston from the sea, was
Fort Sumter. It was built on an artificial island
made of large blocks of stone. The walls were of
dark brick, and designed 'for three tiers of guns.
The whole structure, as it rose abruptly out of the
water, had a gloomy, prison-like appearance. It was
situated on the edge of the channel, in the narrow
est part of the harbor, between Fort Moultrie and
Cummings Point, distant about a mile from the
former place, and twelve hundred yards from the
latter. The year before, it had been used by us as
a temporary place of confinement and security for
some negroes that had been brought over from Af
rica in a slaver captured by one of our naval vessels.
The inevitable conflict was very near breaking out
at that time ; for there was an eager desire on the
part of all the people around us to seize these negroes,
and distribute them among the plantations ; and if the
Government had not acted promptly in sending them
back to Africa, I think an attempt would have been
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 35
made to take them from us by force, on the ground
that some of them had violated a State law by land
ing at Moultrieville.
As Fort Snmter has considerable historic renown,
it may not be uninteresting to relate another incident
connected with it, although it is not germane to my
narrative. In 1859, after the negroes were taken
away, the fort remained in charge of an ordnance-ser
geant, who lived there alone with his wife and two
little children. Supplies were sent to him regularly,
but in case of emergency he could only communicate
with the shore by means of a small boat. One wild
stormy day, when the wind was blowing a gale, he
was suddenly struck down with yellow fever. His
wife saw that if he did not have immediate medical
assistance he would die. She herself could not go,
as he required constant attention, and the children
were too young -to be of any service. A day passed
on, and it became evident that he was growing worse.
In a frantic state of mind, she rushed up to the top
of the fort, waved a sheet backward and forward, and
raised and lowered the garrison flag repeatedly, in
hopes of attracting the attention of some passing ves
sel ; but although several went by, no one seemed to
notice the signals, or, if they did, they would not stop.
36 REMINISCENCES OF
on account of the tempest, which still continued. She
then took the desperate resolution of putting her two
little children in the small boat, and trusting to the
flood-tide to drift them somewhere in the vicinity of
Charleston. She placed a letter in the hand of one
of them, to be given to the first person they met, im
ploring that a physician might be sent to her at once.
It was a terrible experiment, for the children might
easily have been swept out to sea by the ebb-tide be
fore they could make a landing. They succeeded,
however, in reaching the shore near Mount Pleasant.
A doctor finally arrived, but too late to be of any
service.
Foster wanted forty muskets to arm some of his
workmen, as a guard for the powder in Fort Sumter,
and for valuable public property in Castle Pinckney.
This was approved at Washington ; but the moment
Ire obtained the guns from the arsenal, the Secretary
of War hastily telegraphed him, in the middle of the
night, to send them back again immediately. And yet
at this same period two thousand additional United
States muskets were forwarded by Floyd's order to
South Carolina ; and the Charleston Courier stated
that five thousand more were on their way. This did
not look much as if the Administration intended to
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 37
t
sustain us. While the honorable secretary was thus
supplying our enemies with arms, and leaving the
United States Arsenal in Charleston, full of military
stores, without a guard, he was very solicitous to as
certain whether our garrison duties were accurately
performed, and sent an assistant inspector -general,
Major Fitz John Porter, to make a thorough exam
ination. As the secretary intended neither to re-en
force nor withdraw us, and as he made no effort at any
time to remedy defects in our armament, this inspec
tion seemed to us to be a mere pretense. It resulted,
however, in relieving Colonel Gardner from his com
mand, on Porter's recommendation, Major Eobert
Anderson being ordered to take his place.
Mr. Greeley was at this time the head of the Re
publican party, and one of the great leaders of North
ern opinion. His immense services in rousing the pub
lic mind to the evils of slavery can not be overesti
mated, but some of his views were too hastily formed
and promulgated. In this crisis of our history he
injured the cause he afterward so eloquently advo
cated by publishing an opinion, on the 9th of Novem
ber, that the South had a perfect right to secede when
ever a majority thought proper to do so; and, in an
other communication, he stated that the Union could
38 REMINISCENCES OF
not be' pinned together with bayonets. General Scott
was also at one time in favor of letting the " wayward
sisters depart in peace ;" and I have heard on good au
thority that at least one member of the Cabinet and
one leading general, appalled by the magnitude of
the conflict, were willing to consent to a separation,
provided the Border States would go with the North.
Greeley's article went farther than this, for it seemed
to favor a simple severance of the North and the
South. This was not only a virtual abandonment of
the rights of Northern men who had invested their
capital in the Southern States, but it amounted to giv
ing up all the sea-coast and magnificent harbors south
of New Jersey, including Chesapeake Bay. It was
expressing a willingness to surrender the mouth of
the Mississippi, the commerce of the great North- west,
and the Capitol at Washington, to the control of a for
eign nation, hostile to us from the very nature of its
institutions. In fact, it was a proposition to commit
national suicide. The new Northern republic would
have been three thousand miles long, and only one
hundred mUes wide, in the vicinity of Wheeling. A
country of such a peculiar shape could not, as every
military man knows, have been successfully defended,
and must inevitably have soon broken up into small
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 39
confederacies. We objected, with reason, to the for
mation of a European monarchy in far-off Mexico,
but the proposed separation would have created a
powerful slave empire, with its northern border with
in eighteen miles of Philadelphia. Once firmly es
tablished there and along the Ohio, the Southern
army could have burned Cincinnati from the oppo
site shore, and have penetrated to Lake Erie by a sin
gle successful battle and march, permanently sever
ing the East from the West.
These unexpected views of Mr. Greeley strength
ened the hands of the Disunionists. They were ev
erywhere quoted as evidence that no attempt would
be made to interfere with or coerce the South. The
fearful and wavering were thus induced to join the
clamorous majority.
I think, too, that the publication of these senti
ments did much to influence the after-conduct of
Major Anderson. He was not a Republican himself,
and he may very w^ell have thought, if the Republic
an leaders did not deny the right of secession, there
was little use in his sacrificing his small command in
a feeble attempt to make South Carolina remain in
the Union.
The sky darkened after this, for Georgia voted a
40 REMINISCENCES OF
million of dollars to raise troops, and it became evi
dent that the other Southern States would follow in
the same direction.
By the 18th of November we considered ourselves
reasonably secure against a coup-de-main. Our guns
were up, and loaded with canister, and we had a fail-
supply of hand-grenades ready for use. With a
view to intimidate those who were planning an at
tack, I occasionally fired toward the sea an eight-inch
howitzer, loaded with double canister. The spatter
ing of so many balls in the water looked very de
structive, and startled and amazed the gaping crowds
around. I also amused myself by making some small
mines, which would throw a shell a few feet out of
the ground whenever any person accidentally trod
upon a concealed plank : of course the shell did not
have a bursting charge in it. These experiments
had a cooling effect upon the ardor of the militia,
who did not fancy storming the fort over a line of
torpedoes.
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 41
CHAPTER III.
PKELIMINAKY MOVEMENTS OF THE SECESSIONISTS.
Arrival of Major Anderson. Huger's Opposition to a premature As
sault on Fort Moultrie. Anderson's Keport to the Secretary of
War. Active Preparations by the South Carolinians. Meeting
of Congress. Attempts at Compromise. Secession Batteries at
Mount Pleasant. Arrival of Major Buell with written Orders.
Vain Efforts to Strengthen Castle Pinckney. Northern Opinion.
Public Meeting in Philadelphia.
IT was now openly proclaimed in Charleston that
declarations in favor of the Union would no longer
be tolerated ; that the time for deliberation had
passed, and the time for action had come.
On the 21st our new commander arrived and as
sumed command. He felt as if he had a hereditary
right to be there, for his father had distinguished
himself in the Revolutionary War in defense of old
Fort Moultrie against the British, and had been con
fined a long time as a prisoner in Charleston. We
had long known Anderson as a gentleman ; courte
ous, honest, intelligent, and thoroughly versed in his
42 REMINISCENCES OF
profession. He had been twice brevetted for gal
lantry once for services against the Seminole In
dians in Florida, and once for the battle of Molino
del Rey in Mexico, where he was badly wounded.
In politics he was a strong pro-slavery man. Never
theless, he was opposed to secession and Southern ex
tremists. He soon found himself in troubled waters,
for the approaching battle of Fort Moultrie was
talked of everywhere throughout the State, and the
mob in Charleston could hardly be restrained from
making an immediate assault. They were kept back
once through the exertions of Colonel Benjamin
Huger, of the Ordnance Department of the United
States Army. As he belonged to one of the most
distinguished families in Charleston, he had great in
fluence there. It was said at the time that he threat
ened if we were attacked, or rather mobbed, in this
way, he would join us, and fight by the side of his
friend Anderson.* Colonel Memminger, afterward
the Confederate Secretary of the Treasury, also exert-
* He left the United States service soon after the attack on Fort
Sumter, and joined the Confederates. He did so reluctantly, for he
had gained great renown in our army for his gallantry in Mexico, and
he knew he would soon have been promoted to the position of Chief
of our Ordnance Department had he remained with us.
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 43
ed himself to prevent any irregular and unauthorized
violence.
An additional force of workmen having arrived
from Baltimore, Captain Foster retained one hundred
and twenty to continue the work on Fort Moultrie,
leaving his assistant, Lieutenant Snyder, one hundred
and nine men to finish Fort Sumter.
On the 1st of December, Major Anderson made a
full report to Secretary Floyd in relation to our con
dition and resources. It was accompanied with req
uisitions, in due form, for supplies and military ma
terial. Colonel Gardner, before he left, had already
applied for rations for the entire command for six
months.
Previous to Lincoln's election, Governor Gist had
stated that in that event the State would undoubted
ly secede, and demand the forts, and that any hesita
tion or delay in giving them np would lead to an im
mediate assault. Active preparations were now in
progress to carry out this threat. In the first week
of December we learned that cannon had been se
cretly sent to the northern extremity of the island,
to guard the channel and oppose the passage of any
vessels bringing us re-enforcements by that entrance.
We learned, too, that lines of countervallation had
44 REMINISCENCES OF
been quietly marked out at night, with a view to at
tack the fort by regular approaches in case the first
assault failed. Also, that two thousand of the best
riflemen in the State were engaged to occupy an ad
jacent sand-hill and the roofs of the adjoining houses,
all of which overlooked the parapet, the intention be
ing to shoot us down the moment we attempted to man
our guns. Yet the Administration made no arrange
ments to withdraw us, and no effort to re-enforce us,
because to do the former would excite great indigna
tion in the North, and the latter might be treated as
coercion by the South. So we were left to our own
scanty resources, with every probability that the af
fair would end in a massacre. Under these circum
stances the appropriating of $150,000 to repair Fort
Moultrie and $80,000 to finish Fort Sumter by the
mere order of the Secretary of War, without the
authority of Congress, was simply an expenditure of
public money for the benefit of the Secessionists, and
I have no doubt it was so intended. Forts construct
ed in an enemy's country, and left unguarded, are
built for the enemy.
Congress met on the 3d of December, but took no
action in relation to our peculiar position. As usual,
their whole idea was to settle the matter by some new
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 45
compromise. The old experiment was to be tried
over again : St. Michael and the Dragon were to lie
down in peace, and become boon companions once
more.
The office-holders in the South, who saw in Lin
coln's election an end to their pay and emoluments,
were. Secessionists to a man, and did their best to
keep up the excitement. They tried -to make the
poor whites believe that through the re-opening of the
African slave-trade negroes would be for sale, in a
short time, at thirty dollars a head ; and that every
laboring man would soon become a rich slave-owner
and cotton-planter. To the timid, they said there
would be no coercion. To the ambitious, they spoke
of military glory, and the formation of a vast slave
empire, to include Mexico, Central America, and the
West Indies. The merchants were assured that
Charleston would be a free port, rivaling New York
in its trade and opulence.
They painted the future in glowing colors, but the
present looked dreary enough. All business was at
an end. The expenses of the State had become enor
mous, and financial ruin was rapidly approaching.
The heavy property-owners began to fear they might
have to bear the brunt of all these military prepara-
46 REMINISCENCES OF
tions in the way of forced loans.* For a time a
strong reaction set in against the Rhett faction, but
intimidation and threats prevented any open retro
grade movement.
Among those who were reported to be most clam
orous to have an immediate attack made upon us,
was a certain captain of the United States Dragoons,
named Lucius B. Northrup ; afterward made Pay
master-gen ei'al of South Carolina, and subsequently,
through the personal friendship of Jeff. Davis, pro
moted to be Commissary-general of the rebel army.
He had resided for several years in Charleston on
sick-leave, on full pay. Before urging an assault he
should have had the grace to resign his commission,
for his oath of office bound him to be a friend to his
comrades in the army, and not an enemy. I am
tempted, in this connection, to show how differently
the rebel general Magruder acted, under similar cir
cumstances, when he was a captain and brevet col
onel in our service. He said to his officers, the even
ing before he rode over the Long Bridge, at Wash-
* About a month afterward the Honorable William Aiken, who
was a Union man, and who had formerly been governor of the State,
and a member of Congress, was compelled to pay forty thousand dol
lars as his share of the war taxes.
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTR2E. 47
ington, to join the Confederates, " If the rebels come
to-night, we'll give them hell ; but to-morrow I shall
send in my resignation, and become a rebel my
self."
Amidst all this turmoil, onr little band of regulars
kept their spirits up, and determined to fight it out
to the last against any force that might be brought
against them. The brick-layers, however, at work in
Fort Sumter were considerably frightened. They
held a meeting, and resolved to defend themselves, if
attacked by the Charleston roughs, but not to resist
any organized force.
On the 11 th of December we had the good for-
o
tune to get our provisions from town without excit
ing observation. They had been lying there several
days. It was afterward stated in the papers that the
captain of the schooner was threatened severely for
having brought them. On the same day the enemy
began to build batteries at Mount Pleasant, and at
the upper end of Sullivan's Island, guns having al
ready been sent there. We also heard that ladders
had been provided for parties to escalade our walls.
Indeed, the proposed attack was no longer a secret.
Gentlemen from the city said to us, "We appreciate
your position. It is a point of honor with you to
REMINISCENCES OF
hold the fort, but a political necessity obliges us to
take it."
My wife, becoming indignant at these preparations,
and the utter apathy of the Government in regard to
our affairs, wrote a stirring letter to my brother, in
New York, stating some of the facts I have mentioned.
By some means it found its way into the columns of
the Evening Post, and did much to call attention to
the subject,, and awaken the Northern people to a true
sense of the situation. She was quite distressed to
find her hasty expressions in print, and freely com
mented on both by friends and enemies. I may say,
in passing, that the distinguished editor of that paper,
William Cullen Bryant, proved to be one of the best
friends we had at the North. George W. Curtis, who
aided us freely with his pen and influence, was anoth
er. They exerted themselves to benefit us in every
way, and were among the first to invoke the patriot
ism of the nation to extricate us from our difficulties,
and save the union of the States. When we returned
to New York, they and their friends gave us a cordial
and heartfelt welcome.
To resume the thread of my narrative. The fort
by this time had been considerably strengthened.
The crevices were filled up, and the walls were made
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 49
sixteen feet high, by digging down to the foundations
and throwing up the surplus earth as a glacis. Each
of the officers had a certain portion given him to de-
feud. I caused a sloping picket fence, technically
called a f raise , to be projected over the parapet on
my side of the work, as an obstacle against an esca-
lading party. I understood that this puzzled the mil
itary men and newspapers in Charleston exceedingly.
They could not imagine what object I could have in
view. One of the editors said, in reference to it,
" Make ready your sharpened stakes, but you will not
intimidate freemen."
There was one good reason why our opponents did
not desire to commence immediate hostilities. The
delay was manifestly to their advantage, for the en
gineers were putting Fort Sumter in good condition
at the expense of the United States. They (the reb
els) intended to occupy it as soon as the work ap
proached completion. In the mean time, to prevent
our anticipating them, they kept two steamers on
guard, to patrol the harbor, and keep us from cross
ing. These boats contained one hundred and twenty
soldiers, and were under the command of Ex-lieuten
ant James Hamilton, who had recently resigned from
the United States Navy.
50 REMINISCENCES OF
The threatening movements against Fort Moultrie
required incessant vigilance on our part, and we were
frequently worn out with watching and fatigue. On
one of these occasions Mrs. Seymour and Mrs. Dou-
bleday volunteered to take the places of Captain Sey
mour and myself, and they took turns in walking the
parapet, two hours at a time, in readiness to notify
the guard in case the minute-men became more than
usually demonstrative.
In December the secretery sent another officer
of the Inspector -general's Department, Major Don
Carlos Buell, to examine and report upon our con
dition. Buell bore written orders, which were pre
sented on the llth, directing Major Anderson not to
provoke hostilities, but in case of immediate danger
to defend himself to the last extremity, and take any
steps that he might think necessary for that purpose.
There would appear to be some mystery connected
with this subject, for Anderson afterward stated to
Seymour, as a reason for not firing when the rebels
attempted to sink the Star of the West, that his in
structions tied his hands, and obliged him to remain
quiescent. Now, as there are no orders of this char
acter on record in the War Department, they must
have been of a verbal and confidential nature. In
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 51
my opinion, Floyd was fully capable of supplement
ing written orders to resist, by verbal orders to sur
render without resistance. If he did so, I can con
ceive of nothing more treacherous, for his object
must have been to make Anderson the scape-goat of
whatever might occur. Buell, however, is not the
man to be the bearer of any treacherous communica
tion. Still, he did riot appear to sympathize much
with us, for he expressed his disapproval of our de
fensive preparations; referring particularly to some
loop-holes near the guard-house, which he said would
have a tendency to irritate the people. I thought
the remark a strange one, under the circumstances,
as " the people " were preparing to attack us. I had
no doubt, at the time, in spite of the warlike message
he had brought, that BuelFs expressions reflected the
wishes of his superiors. * I have ascertained recently
that Floyd did have one or more confidential agents
in Charleston, who were secretly intermeddling in
this matter, without the sanction of the President or
the open authority of the War Office. It appears
from the records that another assistant adjutant-
general, Captain Withers, who joined the rebels at
the outbreak of the rebellion, and became a rebel
general, was also sent by Floyd to confer with An-
52 REMINISCENCES OF
derson. It is not at all improbable, therefore, that
some one of the messengers who actually joined the
enemy may have been the bearer of a treasonable
communication. It appears from Anderson's own
statement that his hands were tied, and no one that
knew him would ever doubt his veracity. Yet, if he
really desired to retain possession of Charleston har
bor for the Government, and Floyd's orders stood in
his way, why did he not, after the latter fled to the
South, make a plain statement to the new secretary,
Judge Holt, whose patriotism was undoubted, and
ask for fresh instructions ? It looks to me very much
as if he accepted the orders without question because
he preferred the policy of non-resistance.
I shall have occasion to refer to this subject again
in the course of my narrative.
We had frequently regretted the absence of a gar
rison in Castle Pinckney, as that post, being within a
mile of Charleston, could easily control the city by
means of its mortars and heavy guns. We were too
short-handed ourselves to spare a single soldier. The
brave ordnance-sergeant, Skillen, who was in charge
there, begged hard that we would send him a few
artillerists. He could not bear the thought of sur
rendering the work to the enemies of the Govern-
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 53
raent without a struggle, and would have made a de
termined resistance "if he could have found any one
to stand by him. We talked the matter over, and
Captain Foster thought he could re-enforce Skillen
by selecting a few reliable men from his masons to
assist in defending the place. He accordingly sent
a body of picked workmen there, under his assistant,
Lieutenant R. K. Meade, with orders to make certain
repairs. The moment, however, Meade attempted to
teach these men the drill at the heavy guns, they
drew back in great alarm, and it was soon seen that
no dependence could be placed upon them. So Cas
tle Pinckney was left to its fate.
As the General Government seemed quietly to have
deserted us, we watched the public sentiment at the
North with much interest. There was but little to
encourage us there. The Northern cities, however,
were beginning to appreciate the gravity of the cri
sis. At the call of the Mayor of Philadelphia, a great
public meeting was held in Independence Square.
For one, I was thoroughly dispirited and disgusted
at the resolutions that were passed. They were evi
dently prompted by the almighty dollar, and the fear
of losing the Southern trade. They urged that the
North should be more than ever subservient to the
54 REMINISCENCES OF
South, more active in catching fugitive slaves, and
more careful not to speak against the institution of
slavery. As a pendant to these resolutions, an offi
cial attempt was made, a few days afterward, to pre
vent the eloquent Republican orator, George W. Cur
tis, from advocating the Northern side of the ques
tion.
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 55
CHAPTER IV.
THE REMOVAL TO FORT SUMTER.
Passage of the Secession Ordinance. Governor Pickens's Procla
mation. Judge Petigru's Visit to Fort Moultrie. Floyd's Treach
ery. Yancey's Lectures in the North. The Eemoval to Fort
Sumter.
. ON the 17th a bill was passed to arm the militia
of JSTorth Carolina.
On the same day the Charleston Convention met,
and chose General D. F. Jamison as their president,
and on the 20th of the month the secession ordinance
was duly passed, and South Carolina voted out of the
Union amidst screams of enthusiasm. Immediately
afterward there was great competition for the posses
sion of the immortal pen with which the instrument
was signed. At the close of the war, I heard it was
for sale at a very low figure.
The new Governor, Francis W. Pickens, signed the
ordinance very gladly, and issued his proclamation
on the 24th declaring South Carolina to be a free
and independent nation. He had served as a mem-
56 REMINISCENCES OF
ber of Congress from 1835 to 1843, and as Minister
to Russia in 1858, but he was not considered a man
of decided ability. He was very impetuous in his
disposition, and, according to a statement made by
him in one of his Congressional speeches, which at
tracted much attention at the time, he was " born in
sensible to fear."
Soon after the State seceded, that stern old patriot,
Judge J. L. Petigru, of South Carolina, came over,
with one of his friends, to pay us a final visit, to ex
press the deep sorrow and sympathy he felt for us in
our trying position. As he knew that arrangements
were being made to drive us out, he bade us fare
well with much feeling. The tears rolled down his
cheeks as he deplored the folly and the madness of
the times. He had been previously asked in the city
if he did not intend to join the secession movement.
He replied, "/ should think not ! South Carolina is
too small for a republic, and too large for a lunatic-
asylum" At a later period of the war, it is said he
was called upon to give up the property of his North
ern clients for confiscation, under a law which made
it treason to refuse. He positively declined to com
ply with the demand, arid said, with much spirit,
" Whenever the time comes for me to choose between
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 57
death and dishonor,! shall have no difficulty in say
ing which of the two I shall elect" It is much to be
regretted that he did not live to witness the final tri
umph of the cause which was so dear to him.
Four of Buchanan's Cabinet Floyd, Cobb, Tou-
cey, and Thompson were now open and avowed Dis-
unionists. On the 23d, a defalcation of eight hundred
and thirty-three thousand dollars was discovered in
the Department of the Interior, while the Secretary,
Jacob Thompson, was absent from his post, and act
ing as a disunion agent, to represent the State of Mis
sissippi. This dallying with treason in the Cabinet
was one of the most discouraging signs of the times.
A circumstance now occurred which to my mind
was proof positive that Floyd intended to betray us
and the Government he represented. I have no
doubt it hastened our departure from Fort Moultrie.
He directed Captain Foster to have the guns mount
ed in Fort Sumter immediately. It was plain enough,
from demonstrations already made, that the moment
this was done the rebels would seize the fort, and turn
its powerful armament upon us. There was no one
there to resist them. It seems to me that Floyd's
speech to the Secessionists of Richmond, made short
ly after his flight from Washington, was a pretty
58 REMINISCENCES OF
plain acknowledgment that he had violated his oath
of office as Secretary of War, in order that he might
advance the interests of the Confederacy. He said
on that occasion, "I undertook so to dispose of the
power in my hands that when the terrific hour came,
you, and all of you, and each of you, should say, ' This
man has done his duty.'"
Anderson had been urged by several of us to re
move his command to Fort Sumter, but he had inva
riably replied that he was specially assigned to Fort
Moultrie, and had no right to vacate it without or
ders. Our affairs, however, were becoming critical,
and I thought it my duty to speak to him again on
the subject. He still apparently adhered to his de
cision. Nevertheless, he had fully determined to
make the change, and was now merely awaiting a fa
vorable opportunity. To deceive the enemy, he still
kept at work with unabated zeal on the defenses of
Fort Moultrie. This exactly suited the purposes of
the rebel leaders, for they knew we could make no
effectual defense there, and our preparations would
only increase the prestige of their victory. We were
not authorized to commence hostilities by burning
the adjacent houses, and yet, if they were not leveled,
clouds of riflemen could occupy them, and prevent
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 59
our men from serving the guns. Under any circum
stances, it was plain that we must soon succumb from
over-exertion and loss of sleep incident to repelling
incessant attacks from a host of enemies. The fact
that through the provident care of the Secretary of
War the guns of Fort Surnter would also be turned
upon us, enfilading two sides of Fort Moultrie, and
taking another side in reverse, was quite decisive
as to the impossibility of our making a lengthened
defense.
Up to this time we had hoped, almost against hope,
that, even if the Government were base enough to de
sert us, the loyal spirit of the patriotic North would
manifest itself in our favor, inasmuch as our little
force represented the supremacy of the Constitution
and the laws; but all seemed doubt, apathy, and con
fusion there. Yancey was delivering lectures in the
Northern States, as a representative of the Disunion-
ists, not only without molestation, but with frequent
and vociferous applause from the Democratic masses,
who could not be made to believe there was any real
danger.
In making his arrangements to cross over, Ander
son acted with consummate prudence and ability. He
only communicated his design to the staff -officers,
60 REMINISCENCES OF
whose co-operation was indispensable, and he waited
until the moment of execution before he informed
the others of his intention. No one, of course, would
deliberately betray a secret of this kind, but it some
times happens, under such circumstances, that officers
give indications of what is about to take place by
sending for their washing, packing their trunks, and
making changes in their messing arrangements.
Without knowing positively that any movement
had been projected, two circumstances excited my
suspicions. Once, while I was walking with the
major on the parapet, he turned to me abruptly, and
asked me what would be the best course to take to
render the gun-carriages unserviceable. I told him
there were several methods, but my plan would be
to heap pitch-pine knots around them, and burn them
up. The question was too suggestive to escape my
attention.
On the day previous to our departure, I requested
him to allow me to purchase a large quantity of wire,
to make an entanglement in front of the part of the
work I was assigned to defend. He said, with a quiz
zical look, " Certainly ; you shall have a mile of wire,
if you require it." When I proposed to send for it
immediately, he smiled, and objected in such a pecul-
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 6 1
iar way that I at once saw that he was no longer in
terested in our efforts to strengthen Fort Moultrie.
As a preliminary to the proposed movement, he
directed the post quartermaster, Lieutenant Hall,
to charter three schooners and some barges, for the
ostensible purpose of transporting the soldiers' fami
lies to old Fort Johnson, on the opposite side of the
harbor, where there were some dilapidated public
buildings belonging to the United States. The dan
ger of the approaching conflict was a good pretext
for the removal of the non-combatants. All this
seemed natural enough to the enemy, and no one of
fered any opposition. In reality, these vessels were
loaded with supplies for all the troops, with reference
to a prolonged residence in Fort Sumter. Hall was
directed to land every thing there as soon as a signal-
gun was fired. In the mean time he sailed for Fort
Johnson, and lay off and on, waiting for the signal.
Anderson had broken up his own mess, and on the
last evening of our stay (December 26th) I left my
room to ask him in to take tea with us. The sun
was just setting as I ascended the steps leading to
the parapet and approached him. He was in the
midst of a group of officers, each of whom seemed
silent and distrait. As I passed our assistant - sur-
62 REMINISCENCES OF
geon, I remarked, " It is a fine evening, Crawford."
He replied in a hesitating and embarrassed manner,
showing that his thoughts were elsewhere. I saw
plainly that something "unusual had occurred. An
derson approached me as I advanced, and said quiet
ly, " I have determined to evacuate this post immedi
ately, for the purpose of occupying Fort Sumter ; I
can only allow you twenty minutes to form your
company and be in readiness to start." I was sur
prised at this announcement, and realized the gravity
of the situation at a glance. We were watched by
spies and vigilance-committees, who would undoubt
edly open fire upon us as soon as they saw the ob
ject of the movement. I was naturally concerned,
too, for the safety of my wife, who was the only lady
in the fort at that time, and who would necessarily
be exposed to considerable danger. Fortunately, I
had little or no property to lose, as, in anticipation
of a crisis, I had previously sent every thing of value
to New York. Some of the other officers did not
fare so well. The doctor, not expecting so sudden
a denouement, had necessarily left his medical stores
unpacked. Foster, who had taken a house outside
for his family, was wholly unprepared, and lost
heavily.
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 63
I made good use of the twenty minutes allowed
me. I first went to the barracks, formed my com
pany, inspected it, and saw that each man was prop
erly armed and equipped. This left me ten min
utes to spare. I dashed over to my quarters; told
my wife to get ready to leave immediately, and as
the fighting would probably commence in a few min
utes, I advised her to take refuge with some fam
ily outside, and get behind the sand-hills as soon as
possible, to avoid the shot. She hastily threw her
wearing - apparel into her trunks, and I called two
men to put her baggage outside the main gate. I
then accompanied her there, and we took a sad and
hasty leave of each other, for neither knew when or
where we would meet again. As soon as this was
accomplished, I strapped on my revolver, tied a
blanket across my shoulders, and reported to Major
Anderson that my men were in readiness to move.
In the mean time Lieutenant Jefferson C. Davis,
of my company, who had been detailed to command
the rear guard, aimed the guns, which were already
loaded, to bear upon the passage to Fort Sumter, and
Captain Foster and Assistant-surgeon Crawford, with
two sergeants and three privates, remained with him,
and took post at five columbiads, in readiness to car-
64 REMINISCENCES OF
ry out Major Anderson's design, which was to sink
the guard-boats, should they attempt to fire into us
or run us down while en route. Certainly the major
showed no lack of determination or energy on this
occasion.
If we were successful in crossing, Davis was to
follow with the remainder of the men. Foster and
Mr. Moale agreed to remain behind until morning.
They also volunteered to place themselves at the
guns, and cover the retreat of the rear guard under
Davis, in case an attempt was made to intercept them.
The chaplain, the Rev. Matthias Harris, being a
non-combatant, and having his family in the village,
was not notified. Neither was Surgeon Simons, of
the army, who was living in a house adjoining the
fort, and directly in line with our guns. When he
saw the movement in progress, he hastened out with
his family, to shelter them behind the sand-hills as
soon as possible.
Every thing being in readiness, we passed out of
the main gates, and silently made our way for about
a quarter of a mile to a spot where the boats were
hidden behind an irregular pile of rocks, which orig
inally formed part of the sea-wall. There was not a
single human being in sight as we marched to the
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 65
rendezvous, and we had the extraordinary good luck
to be wholly unobserved. We found several boats
awaiting us, under charge of two engineer officers,
Lieutenants Snyder and Meade. They and their
crews were crouched down behind the rocks, to es
cape observation. In a low tone they pointed out to
me the boats intended for my company, and then
pushed out rapidly to return to the fort. Noticing
that one of the guard-boats was approaching, they
made a wide circuit to avoid it. I hoped there would
be time for my party to cross before the steamer could
overhaul us ; but as among my men there were a num
ber of unskillful oarsmen, we made but slow progress,
and it soon became evident that we would be over
taken in mid-channel. It was after sunset, and the
twilight had deepened, so that there was a fair chance
for us to escape. While the steamer was yet afar off,
I took off my cap, and threw open my coat to con
ceal the buttons. I also made the men take off their
coats, and use them to cover up their muskets, which
were lying alongside the rowlocks. I hoped in this
way that we might pass for a party of laborers re
turning to the fort. The paddle-wheels stopped with
in about a hundred yards of us ; but, to our great re
lief, after a slight scrutiny, the steamer kept on its
66 REMINISCENCES OF
way. In the mean time our men redoubled their ef
forts, and we soon arrived at our destination. As we
ascended the steps of the wharf, crowds of workmen
rushed out to meet us, most of them wearing seces
sion emblems. One or two Union men among them
cheered lustily, but the majority called out angrily,
" What are these soldiers doing here ?" I at once
formed my men, charged bayonets, drove the tumult
uous mass inside the fort, and seized the guard-room,
which commanded the main entrance. I then placed
sentinels to prevent the crowd from encroaching on
us. As soon as we had disembarked, the boats were
sent back for Seymour's company. The major landed
soon after in one of the engineer boats, which had
coasted along to avoid the steamer. Seymour's men
arrived in safety, followed soon after by the remain
ing detachments, which had been left behind as a
rear-guard. The latter, however, ran a good deal of
risk, for in the dark it passed almost under the bow
of the guard-boat Nina. The whole movement was
successful beyond our most sanguine expectations,
and we were highly elated. The signal-gun was fired,
and Hall at once sailed over, and landed the soldiers'
families and supplies. As soon as the schooners were
unloaded, the disloyal workmen were placed on board
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 67
and shipped off to the main-land. Only a few of the
best and most reliable were retained.
Upon leaving me, my wife took refuge temporari
ly in the residence of Dan Sinclair, the sutler of the
post, a most excellent man, and one to whom we were
indebted for many kindnesses. Finding that the peo
ple of Moultrieville were not yet aware of the change
that had taken place, and that every thing was tran
quil, she ventured back to the fort, and finished the
removal of all our effects. After this, in company
with the chaplain's family, she walked up and down
the beach the greater part of the night, looking anx
iously toward Fort Sumter to see if there were any
indications of trouble or disturbance there. In the
morning she took up her residence at the chaplain's
house. As for the other ladies, both Mrs. Simons and
Mrs. Foster fled to the city at the first intimation of
danger, and Mrs. Seymour was already there.
68 REMINISCENCES OF
CHAPTEK Y.
THE FIRST OVERT ACT.
The New Quarters. Seizure of Castle Pinckney by Charleston
Troops. Raising the Flag at Fort Sumter. The Sergeant's
Daughter. Major Anderson's Position. The Charleston Troops
take Fort Moultrie. A Military Problem. Condition of Fort
Sumter. Governor Pickens's Commission. A New Outrage.
ON the very day that these events occurred, the
South Carolina commissioners, R. W. Barnwell, J. H.
Adams, and James L. Orr, arrived in Washington to
treat for the surrender of the forts and other public
property. It proved to be a very inauspicious time
for such a negotiation.
Our garrison were up betimes on the morning of
the 27th, to inspect their new quarters. The soldiers
thronged the parapet in such numbers as to attract
the attention of the troops on board the Nina. That
vessel steamed up to the city in great haste, and com
municated the startling intelligence that Fort Sum
ter, in sonie inexplicable manner, had been fully re-
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 69
enforced.* The chagrin of the authorities was in
tense. Messengers were at once dispatched to all
parts of the city, to ring the door-bells and arouse
the people.
While this was going on in town, Anderson, who
was very punctilious in regard to settling all debts
due by the United States to citizens, determined to
send a detachment, under Lieutenant Davis, back to
Fort Moultrie as a guard to Captain Foster, to en
able him to pay off the claims of the workmen he
had left behind. Doctor Crawford went over also,
to look after some of his medical property. As the
guard-boats had been withdrawn, they reached the
fort without difficulty, and found it deserted. The
people of the little village, to all appearance, were
still ignorant of our change of station. Soon after
their arrival, the party, in accordance with instruc
tions from Major Anderson, set fire to the gun-car
riages bearing on Fort Sumter, and destroyed all the
ammunition and military material that could not be
brought away. The guns had been spiked the night
before, and the flag-staff was cut down, either at that
time or in the morning.
* Dawson's Historical Magazine.
70 REMINISCENCES OF
As I have stated, the major took great pains to
see that all bills, even those of a private nature, due
in Charleston were fully paid by the officers and men
of his command ; but many leading merchants in the
city were not so scrupulous. They gladly took ad
vantage of the war to repudiate the claims of their
Northern creditors. I was also informed by one of
the pay-masters that a number of officers of the army
who resigned to join the rebellion first deliberately
drew their month's pay in advance, and then left the
pay-master, as a penalty for his kindness, to make
good the deficiency from his private funds, in order
to settle his accounts.
Foster and Davis, finding Fort Moultrie still de
serted, made good use of the occasion by loading
up with supplies and ammunition one of the schoon
ers which had been previously chartered to carry
over the women and children, and which were now
lying empty at the wharf.
On their way back from this expedition our offi
cers saw the Charleston troops going over to take
possession of Castle Pinckney. The calm and digni
fied South Carolina Legislature had not authorized
this outrageous proceeding. Even if we assume
that the State had the right to secede, it does not
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 71
follow that the public property within her limits
properly belonged to her. It appertained to the na
tion at large, inasmuch as all the other States had
contributed toward it, and therefore it was a proper
subject of negotiation. To seize it at once, without
a declaration of war, and while the subject was still
pending, was a violation of all right and precedent.
The hot - headed governor, however, irritated at our
change of station, took the responsibility of com
mencing hostilities against the Union, without the
co-operation of the Legislature, and this, too, at a
time when the State was almost destitute of war ma
terial and funds. I doubt if there were more than
half a dozen heavy guns on hand, and there were
certainly not a dozen rounds of cannon-powder for
each.
Major Anderson, who was a very religious man,
thought it best to give some solemnity to our occu
pation of Fort Sumter by formally raising the flag,
at noon, with prayer and military ceremonies. The
band played " The Star-spangled Banner," the troops
presented arms, and our chaplain, the Eev. Matthias
Harris, offered up a fervent supplication, invoking
the blessing of Heaven upon our small command
and the cause we represented. Three cheers were
72 REMINISCENCES OF
then given for the flag, and the troops were dis
missed.
The seizure of Castle Pinckney, on the afternoon
of the 27th, was the first overt act of the Secession
ists against the sovereignty of the United States. As
already stated, it was ordered by Governor Pickens,
on his own responsibility, without the concurrence
of the Legislature.* The latter, indeed, positively
declined to sanction the measure. At 2 P.M. the
Washington Light Infantry and Meagher Guards,
both companies of Colonel J. J. Petigru's rifle reg
iment, embarked, under command of that officer, on
board the Nina, and steamed down to the little isl
and upon which the Castle is situated. When they
arrived in front of the main gates they found them
closed ; whereupon they applied scaling-ladders, and
with eager, flushed faces made their way to the top
of the wall. The excitement was needless, for there
was no one there to resist them, the only fighting-
men present being Lieutenant R. K. Meade, of the
engineers, and Ordnance - sergeant Skillen, who re
sided there with his family, and who was in charge
* See Dawson's story of Fort Sumter, in the Historical Magazine
for January, 1872.
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 73
of the work. Meade, himself a Virginian, had a
sharp colloquy with Petigrn, and expressed himself
in severe terms in relation to this treasonable assault.
After taking possession, one of the rebel officers
found the sergeant's daughter, pretty Kate Skillen,
aged fifteen, weeping bitterly at the foot of the ram
parts. He assured her no harm should befall her.
She replied, " I am not crying because I am afraid !"
" What is the matter, then ?" said he. " I am crying
because you have put that miserable rag up there,"
she said, pointing to the Palmetto flag which had
just been raised to the top of the staff.
Foster's few reliable workmen proved to be a bad
investment. It is said that most of them, when they
found the enemy were actually coming, hid in clos
ets, sheds, and under the beds, and some cried bit
terly.
While this was going on, Major Anderson and my
self stood side by side on the parapet, watching the
scene through our spy-glasses. From his expressions
of indignation, I was in hopes he would take prompt
measures to close the harbor against any further en
croachments of the State troops, made with a view to
occupy Fort Moultrie or Fort Johnson. It would
have required but a short time to mount a few
4
74 REMINISCENCES OF
pieces; and when these were once in position, it
would have been, easy to cut off all direct communi
cation by water between the different posts. In
short, he could take entire possession of the harbor.
He did threaten to put out the lights in the light
houses with his artillery, and close the port in that
way ; but his anger soon passed away, and he took
no aggressive measures of any kind.
In my opinion, if he could have been satisfied that
no other States would join South Carolina in her mad
attempt, he would have dpne every thing that lay in
his power to punish her ; for he looked upon her as
a spoiled child that needed correction. Having mar
ried a lady from Georgia, he had almost identified
himself with that State. He did own a plantation
and negroes there, but had recently sold them. The
purchaser afterward refused to pay for them, on the
ground that Anderson had destroyed their value by
virtually warring against slavery. At this period the
feeling in many parts of the South was strong against
South Carolina. This was particularly the case among
the young men of Georgia, who looked upon the lead
ers of secession in the Palmetto State as very presum
ing, because these leaders thought and acted as if they
were the only representatives of Southern sentiment.
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 75
and as if the leadership belonged to them as a matter
of right. They seemed to consider that the mere fact
of being born in South Carolina (or Carolina, as they
called it, contemptuously ignoring North Carolina) con
stituted in itself a patent of nobility ; and their im
plied scorn of other States caused the antagonistic
feeling which I have mentioned. This was shared
by Anderson, until he found that Georgia also would,
certainly secede. He then seemed to lose all inter
est in the Union, and merely desired to become a
spectator of the contest, and not an actor. His ef
forts thenceforth were simply confined to making his
fort secure against an assault. Hardly any amount
of provocation could induce him to become the as
sailant.
On the day we left Fort Motiltrie, Captain Hum
phreys, of the engineers, arrived there from Washing
ton, with orders for Captain Foster from the Secre
tary of War. I have never learned the purport of
these dispatches.
On the 27th, the day after we evacuated the place,
Lieutenant-colonel Wilinot G. De Saussure arrived at
Fort Moultrie, at 9 P.M., with his battalion of Charles
ton artillery and thirty riflemen ; in all, one hundred
and seventy men. (The companies composing the
76 REMINISCENCES OF
battalion were the Marion Artillery, the La Fayette
Artillery, the German Artillery, and the Washington
Artillery.) I was informed by a spectator that the
new-corners were exceedingly cautious in making an
entrance. They were looking out for mines in all
directions, and had brought ladders with them, on
the supposition that there might be torpedoes in front
of the main gates. It was a clear, beautiful evening,
and the moon was at the full. They were greatly
enraged to find the flag-staff cut down, for they had
hoped to run up their own flag on the very spot where
ours had formerly waved. They found, too, the gun-
carriages burned, and the guns, which had gradually
settled down as the carriages gave way, resting with
their breeches on the platforms, and the muzzles lean
ing against the walls. Out of the mouth of each hung
a small white string. As many of the guns had been
kept loaded for a considerable length of time, these
strings had been tied by me to the cartridges, in or
der that the latter might be pulled out and sunned
occasionally, as a precaution against dampness. De
Saussure's men imagined that these strings were ar
ranged with a view to blow up the guns the moment
any one attempted to interfere with them, and each
soldier, as lie passed, avoided the supposed danger.
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 77
The South Carolina officers, at this period, spent
much of their time in discussing military problems.
One of these, which was afterward referred to us
for solution, occasioned us much amusement. All
cannon-balls used in the army, and exposed to the
weather, are coated with a varnish of coal-tar, to
protect them from rust. Many of those we left
behind were in piles near the guns, and when the
carriages were burned, the tar melted, ran down in
streams, and coagulated in lumps. It was immedi
ately reported that before leaving we had taken
great pains to tar the balls, to render them useless.
The problem which puzzled the military savans of
Charleston ' was, to determine in what way cannon-
balls were ruined by tar. Some months afterward,
when we evacuated Fort Sumter, one of the officers
who had been much interested in this subject took
Seymour aside, and asked him confidentially if he
had any objection to tell him why we tarred our
balls, assuring him most earnestly that they could
scrape it all off.
Upon occupying Fort Sumter, we found it was in
a very unfinished condition, and that it would re
quire an immense amount of labor to render it safe
against an assault. It had no flanking defenses
78 REMINISCENCES OF
whatever. Three or four hundred men, with short
ladders, could easily have taken it ; for no guns were
mounted, except a few on the gorge, and all the em
brasures were open, there being no efficient means of
closing them. On the gorge side, where the wharf
was located, there were two sally-ports and numer
ous windows to be guarded. In the second story
the embrasures were nothing but large unfinished
openings, slightly boarded up. Three or four blows
of an axe would have made a broad entrance for an
escalading party. The form of the fort was a pen
tagon. Retaining a small force as a reserve in the
centre of the work, we could only furnish eight men
to defend each side and guard all the numerous
openings.
Fortunately no assault was made. It was thought
the fort was almost impregnable, and that there
would be no difficulty in inducing Buchanan to or
der us back to Fort Moultrie. This occasioned a
delay, and gave us time to strengthen our position.
We were hard at work, mounting guns, preparing
shells to be used as hand-grenades, stopping up sur
plus embrasures, and removing the de'bris which en
cumbered the passages from one part of the work
to another. Quarters were selected for the officers,
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 79
soldiers, and camp-women ; and the household f urni-
tnre which belonged to each, and which had been
thrown pell-mell on the parade-ground, was all sep
arated and deposited in the different rooms. I chose
an apartment near the mess hall, and made it so com
fortable that Anderson and Seymour came there tem
porarily to live with me. Our mess was also organ
ized, and placed in charge of Mr. Edward Moale.
In the afternoon, Governor Pickens sent Colonel
J. J. Petigru and Major Elison Capers, both field-
officers of the rifle regiment, in full uniform, to in
terview Major Anderson. Their looks were full of
wrath, and they bowed stiffly and indignantly in an
swer to our smiling salutations. I was present at
the conversation that ensued, but did not take notes.
They told the major that perhaps he was not aware-
that an agreement had been entered into with Presi
dent Buchanan not to re-enforce the forts in the har
bor. They desired to call his attention to the fact
that his recent movement was in direct violation of
the contract referred to. They were, 'therefore, di
rected by the governor to request him, perempto
rily but courteously, to immediately return to Fort
Moultrie. Anderson replied, in substance, that he
knew nothing of any such agreement; that as com-
8o REMINISCENCES OF
mander of the defenses of Charleston he had an in
herent right to occupy any fort in the harbor. He
stated that he, too, was a Southern man ; that he be
lieved the whole difficulty was brought on by the
faithlessness of the North here the aids made a
stiff bow but as regards returning to Fort Moultrie,
he 'could not, and he would not, do it. The com
missioners were then courteously dismissed.
I have always felt that this was a most insolent
demand. If the governor considered himself ag
grieved by our change of station, his redress lay in
an appeal to Washington. This attempt to assume
command of us, and order us out of a United States
fort, was an assumption of authority that merited a
more spirited reply.
Before his messengers left, I took occasion, in con
versation with a person who came over in the boat
with them, to refer to the great strength of the work,
and I also spoke of the shells which we had prepared
to throw down on the heads of an attacking party. I
knew the conversation would be repeated, and hoped
it might have some effect in deterring an immediate
assault.
A new outrage now took place in full view of our
garrison. The United States revenue cutter, which
FORTS SUMTRR AND MOULTRIE. 8 1
lay anchored in the stream, was turned over by its
commander, Captain !N. L. Coste, to the authorities of
South Carolina. The previous seizures, made with
out a declaration of war, had been justified on the
ground that the forts and public buildings were fixt
ures within the limits of the State. To retain this
vessel was simply an act of piracy.
When it became apparent that South Carolina did
not control the Administration in Washington, and
that Anderson would not be ordered back, it is pos
sible a boat attack might have been organized against
us ; but a storm came up about this time, and the
wind was so violent that no small boat could venture
out with safety. This occasioned still further delay,
which enabled us to do much toward placing the
fort in a better condition for defense.
4*
82 REMINISCENCES OF
CHAPTEE VI.
EFFECT OF ANDERSON^ MOVEMENT.
President Buchanan Aroused. Excitement in Charleston. The Sit
uation at the Beginning of 1861. Governor Pickens's War Meas
ures. "My heart was never in this War."
ANDERSON'S movement and the sudden uprising of
the North put an end to the mission of the South
Carolina commissioners. Governor Pickens seized
Castle Pinckney and Fort Moultrie on the 27th, and
the custom-house and other United States proper
ty on the 28th. Before leaving, the commissioners
made a formal call upon the President. The latter
expected some apology or explanation in relation to
the high-handed outrages which had been perpe
trated. Had they temporized, or even used concil
iatory language on this occasion, it is possible the
South might still have preserved the ascendency it
had always held in the councils of the President.
Fortunately, they assumed an air of injured inno
cence, and required Mr. Buchanan to humble him
self before them for the past, and give guarantees
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 83
for the future by immediately ordering Fort Sum-
ter to be vacated ; that is, by surrendering to the
State all public property in Charleston harbor which
had" not been already stolen. For once, the Presi
dent, whose personal integrity was called in ques
tion, was thoroughly roused, and made the only an
swer which suited the circumstances. He ordered a
man-of-war to proceed to Charleston immediately,
drive the State garrisons out of the forts, and take
possession of the city. He might, indeed, have ar
rested the commissioners for high treason ; but his
Unionism was of a very mild type, and far from be
ing aggressive.
One of the commissioners, Mr. Adams, hastened
to telegraph to the authorities of Charleston, on the
28th, to prepare for war immediately, as there were
no longer any hopes of a peaceful settlement.
This dispatch caused a great uproar and excite
ment in Charleston. The banks at once suspended
specie payments. All was terror and confusion, for
it was expected that a fleet would bombard the city
and land troops, and there were no adequate means
of opposing its entrance. Castle Pinckney, indeed,
might offer some resistance, but as it had been a de
pendency of Fort Sumter, and unoccupied, little, if
84 REMINISCENCES OF
any, ammunition was kept there. The governor
rushed frantically down to Fort Moultrie to hasten
the preparations for defense. Non-combatants were
urged to leave Moultrieville at once. The laborers
formerly employed by Captain Foster were again
hired by the State engineers, and were kept at work
thereafter, night and day, in piling up sand-bags to
shield the troops from the fire of Fort Sumter. The
batteries at the north-eastern extremity of Sullivan's
Island, which were made up of a few old field-pieces
brought from the Citadel Academy in the city, were
hastily put in order to protect the entrance by that
channel. As for Fort Moultrie, before we left we
had rendered its armament useless. At this time
the guns were still spiked, and the workshops in the
city were going night and day to replace the gun-
carriages that had been burned. In place of these,
some of the guns and carriages were sent over from
Castle Pinckriey.
No attempt had been made to fortify the Morris
Island channel, and vessels could enter there with
out the slightest difficulty. It took several days to
transfer the guns and make the preparations I have
mentioned. It follows, therefore, that if the Admin
istration had acted promptly, Charleston could have
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 85
been taken at once, and full reparation exacted for
all the wrongs perpetrated against the United States.
Why this was not done will be explained hereafter.
Foster had not been able to settle with all his
workmen, and the rebels frequently sent them over
under a flag of truce to demand their back pay and
act as spies. I was enabled through this channel to
keep up a correspondence with my wife, who was
still in Moultrieville. I learned all that was going
on there, and took occasion to inform her that we
had no means of lighting up our quarters a serious
inconvenience in those long winter nights. She pur
chased a gross of matches and a box of candles, and
had them put on board one of the boats referred to,
iu full view of a rebel sentinel, who was supervising
the embarkation. She then requested one of the
crew, an old soldier named M'Narhamy, who for
merly belonged to my company, to deliver them to
me, which he agreed to do. The sentinel stared, but
the self-possessed manner in which she acted made
him think it must be all right, and he did not inter
fere. The box arrived safely, and added very much
to our comfort and convenience.
When the governor found that the spell of South
ern supremacy was broken, and that there was no
86 REMINISCENCES OF
probability that we would be ordered back to Fort
Moultrie, he was in a very angry mood. He stopped
our mail for a time, and cut off all communication
with us. We were, of course, prevented from pur
chasing fresh provisions, and reduced to pork, beans,
and hard -tack. Anderson was quite indignant at
this proceeding, and again talked of shutting up the
port by putting out the lights in the light-houses.
While the leaders in the city complained bitterly
to the public of Anderson for his perfidy in occupy
ing Fort Sumter, they did not hesitate, among them
selves, to express their admiration for his acuteness
in evading the dangers and difficulties which sur
rounded him, and for the skillful mariner in which
he had accomplished it.
Our life now proved to be one of great hardship.
Captain Seymour and myself were the only officers
for duty as officers of the day, Lieutenant Davis and
Lieutenant Hall serving under us as officers of the
guard. The situation required constant vigilance.
Lieutenant Talbot, being a great sufferer from lung-
disease, was unable to do this kind of duty. We
were, therefore, very busy during the day superin
tending measures for defense, and were obliged to
be on the alert, and wide awake every other night,
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 87
so that we were completely exhausted in a short
time. Assistant - surgeon Crawford, having no sick
in hospital, generously offered to do duty as officer
of the day, and his offer was gladly accepted. The
two young engineer officers, Snyder and Meade, were
also willing to serve as line officers; but Captain Fos
ter thought it was contrary to precedent, and they
were not detailed.
As the Engineer department is regarded in this
country as the highest branch of the military serv
ice, and as its officers are really very able men, I can
not conceive what induced them to build Fort Sum-
ter without any flanking defenses whatever, and with
out fire-proof quarters for the officers. The first de
fect I endeavored to remedy by projecting iron-plated,
bullet-proof galleries over the angles of the parapet.
I left small trap-doors in the bottom of these, for the
purpose of throwing down shells on the heads of any
party below attempting to force an entrance through
the embrasures. The other defect the presence of
so much combustible matter in the quarters it was
impossible to remedy, and it ultimately cost the loss
of the fort. The excuse that it never could have
been anticipated that the fort would be attacked from
the land side is hardly a valid one, for a foreign fleet
88 REMINISCENCES OF
might possibly have effected a landing on Morris Isl
and ; or they might have set fire to the quarters
from the decks of the vessels by means of incen
diary shells.
As may well be supposed, there was a great deal
of excitement in New York in relation to us; and,
in view of the small number of men available for.
service in the regular army, three of the principal
citizens, James A. Hamilton, Moses H. Grinnell, and
I. E. Williams, offered, at their own expense, about
the last of December, to send us four hundred pick
ed artillerists from the citizen soldiery of the city ;
but General Scott refused to entertain the proposi
tion.
On the 1st of January, 1861, we took an account
of our resources, and found we had but one month's
supply of fuel for cooking purposes, but few candles,
and no soap. There was, however, a small light-house
inside the fort, and we found a little oil stored there.
It seemed to me that the time had now come when
forbearance ceased to be a virtue. Even our oppo
nents were willing to acknowledge that we repre
sented a legitimate government, and that both duty
and propriety called upon us to resist the numerous
war measures which the governor of South Carolina
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 89
had inaugurated. He had taken forcible possession
of two United States forts, of the money in the cus
tom-house, of the custom-house itself, and of other
national property in Charleston. He had closed the
harbor, by destroying the costly prismatic lenses in
the light -houses, and by withdrawing the warning
light-ship from Rattlesnake Shoal. He had cut off
all communication between us and the city, and had
seized the United States mails. His steamboats,
laden with war material to be used in erecting bat
teries against us, were allowed to pass and repass
Fort Sumter, not only without opposition, but with
out even a protest. Worse than all, he had com
menced imprisoning the crews of merchant vessels
for contumacy in refusing to acknowledge his au
thority as the head of an independent nation. In
vain did these vessels reverse their flags in a mute
appeal to us to use our guns in their defense. An
derson would do nothing not even send a commu
nication to the governor on the subject, although the
latter, without authority from the State Legislature,
was thus wielding all the powers of a military dicta
tor. The enemy were greatly emboldened at our
weakness or timidity, and with good reason, for they
saw us stand by with folded arms, and allow steam-
90 REMINISCENCES OF
boat loads of ammunition and war material to pass
us, on their way to Morris Island, to be used in the
erection and arming of batteries to prevent any
United States vessels from coming to our assistance.
Major Anderson was neither timid nor irresolute,
and he was fully aware of his duties and responsi
bilities. Unfortunately, he desired not only to save
the Union, but to save slavery with it. Without this,
he considered the contest as hopeless. In this spirit
he submitted to every thing, and delayed all action in
the expectation that Congress would make some new
and more binding compromise which would restore
peace to the country. He could not read the signs of
the times, and see that the conscience of the nation
and the progress of civilization had already doomed
slavery to destruction. If he had taken this view
of the situation, he would have made more strenu
ous efforts to hold on to the harbor of Charleston,
and the one hundred and twenty millions of dollars,
more or less, spent to regain it might still have
formed part of the national treasury.
The applause which, both in the North and South,
greeted his masterly movement of the 26th of De
cember, made him feel more like an arbiter between
two contending nations than a simple soldier en-
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 91
gaged in carrying out the instructions of his superi
ors. To show the spirit in which he acted, it is only
necessary to quote from his letter to Governor Pick-
ens while the rebellion was still pending. He wrote :
" My dear Governor, my heart was never in this war."
This sentiment was repeated by him in letters to
other parties, and, strange to say, was actually sent in
the form of an official communication to the adju
tant-general of the army.
The difficulties he experienced in his unavailing
attempts to defer hostilities seriously impaired his
health and spirits, and ultimately brought on the dis
ease which kept him almost entirely out of service
during the remainder of the war, and in all probabil
ity hastened his death.
However much I differed from him in regard to
his pro-slavery sentiments, I take pleasure in stating
that, aside from his political career, the graces of his
private life were such as to win the esteem and re
gard of all who knew him.
92 REMINISCENCES OF
CHAPTER YIT.
Promise of Succor. Fatal Delay. A Contumacious Chaplain.
Visit from our Ladies. Governor Pickens's Cabinet. Appearance
of the Star of the West. The Vessel fired upon from Morris
Island and Fort Moultrie. Major Anderson's Protest. GoA r ernor
Pickens's Reply.
ABOUT the close of the year a great fear fell upon
Charleston, for they had received positive informa
tion that a United States naval vessel was on its way
to the city. The President had indeed acted prompt
ly. On the 31st of December, he ordered the Brook
lyn^ man-of-war, under Captain Earragut, to take three
hundred veteran soldiers on board from Fortress Mon
roe, as a re-enforcement for us, and then proceed to
Charleston harbor to drive out the State troops, and
resume possession of the public property. General
Scott, the commander -in -chief, assented to the ar
rangement at the time ; but, unfortunately, he was
afterward seized with doubts as to whether the with
drawing of so many men from Fortress Monroe might
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 93
not endanger its safety ; and that being a far more
important work than Fort Sumter, he did not like to
run any risk in relation to it. He therefore induced
Mr. Buchanan to change the order, and substitute for
the Brooklyn a merchant vessel, loaded with supplies
and two hundred and fifty recruits.* This was a fa
tal error, for the steamer chosen, the Star of the West,
was, from its nature, wholly unfitted to contend with
shore batteries. The general, who at this time was
quite pacifically inclined, may have thought that if
this vessel could slip in, and land its cargo unawares,
he would have secured the harbor of Charleston with
out increasing the ^. ar fever in the South. Be this
as it may, there is r -j doubt that his policy was too
peaceful in the early days of the war. When a com
pany of the most distinguished men in Washington
was formed, under Cassias M. Clay, to prevent the
capture of the Preside::*, and the destruction of the
public buildings, he ave positive orders to Senator
Nye, who was on d-.^y at the Navy -yard, not to fire
upon the enemy in case they came there to take pos
session.
* The' facts in this statement are taken from Dawson's Historical
Kfaqazinefor January. 1872.
94 REMINISCENCES OF
The original plan to succor us was excellent : the
substitute was an utter failure. A change of this
kind always occasions more or less delay, and in the
present instance nearly a week elapsed before the
vessel left New York. The enemy took immediate
advantage of the time thus gained, to put up a work
to control the main channel which passes by Morris
Island, and which had previously been wholly unob
structed. They received the telegraphic notice on
the 31st of December that a man-of-war would be
sent, and the very next day the cadets of the Citadel
Academy were hard at work at the new battery. It
was located so that it would command the channel,
and at the same time be beyond the reach of our
guns. The day was cold and rainy, and the wind
blew fiercely. We wondered how long those boys
would keep up their enthusiasm amidst the hardships
and trials of the real war which was now fast ap
proaching.
Our chaplain, who had been present at the raising
of the flag, and had then returned to his family in
Moultrieville, desired to make us another visit. For
this purpose, he called upon the rebel commander at
Fort Moultrie, and asked if there would be any ob
stacle thrown in the way of his crossing over to see
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 95
us. The answer was, " Oh no, parson ; I think I will
give you a pass." The chaplain replied, " I did not
ask you for a pass, sir ! I am a United States offi
cer, and I shall visit a United States fort whenever
I think proper, without asking your permission. I
simply desire to know whether you intend to pre
vent my going by force." He was not allowed to
cross; and as he soon gave new proofs of contuma
cy by persisting in praying for the President of the
United States, when asked to hold services in the
chapel, before the rebel soldiers, he was soon ban
ished, and his property confiscated.
The ladies we had left behind naturally felt a
strong desire to be with us once more. My wife did
not wish to ask permission of the rebel authorities,
and I saw little chance of her coming in any other
way. Nevertheless, to my surprise, she made her ap
pearance at the wharf at Fort Sumter on the after
noon of the 3d of January. It seems she found a
boat-load of laborers about to make the passage, for
the purpose of obtaining their back pay from Cap
tain Foster. She took a seat in the stern of the boat,
and told them to take her with them. The sentinel
who was there to examine the passes did not inter
fere or ask her any questions, so she came over with-
96 REMINISCENCES OF
out difficulty. Mrs. Foster and her sister, Mrs. Smith,
were already with us, having obtained a permit from
the governor. Mrs. Seymour had made an unsuc
cessful application to the commander of Fort Moul-
trie, and had been somewhat rudely refused. Two
clever little boys, sons of our generous-hearted sutler,
Dan Sinclair, volunteered to row her across. After
dark, they pulled a boat out from under a house up
the beach ; and as there was no guard there, Mrs.
Seymour came over without difficulty.
The ladies were desirous of remaining an indef
inite length of time ; but we had no means of mak
ing them comfortable, and Major Anderson thought
their presence would merely add to our embarrass
ment. In accordance with his wishes, they left that
night and the next day. The cold was intense, and
as all the wood was retained for cooking purposes, I
was obliged to split up a mahogany table for fuel, to
keep my wife from suffering during her brief visit.
She and Mrs. Seymour went back with the Sinclair
boys at midnight. They succeeded in making a
landing, and in reaching the chaplain's house with
out being observed.
In the mean time, an amusing scene had occurred
there. A very chivalrous gentleman, Ex -Governor
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 97
Means, of South Carolina, had learned in some way
that Mrs. Seymour had been rudely refused permission
to visit her husband in Fort Sumter. He thought
this action of the commandant of Fort Moultrie
harsh and unnecessary, and was kind enough to take
the trouble to call at the chaplain's house to assure
Mrs. Seymour that he would procure her a pass from
higher authority. The chaplain hardly knew how to
act. He did not like to tell the ex-governor that Mrs.
Seymour had already gone, for fear it might get the
Sinclair boys into trouble. He therefore pretended
that Mrs. Seymour was confined to her room with a
sick-headache. The ex-governor sent in repeated mes
sages to beg that she would see him, if it was only
for a moment, but the answers njade up by Mrs.
Harris were invariably in the negative. The chap
lain afterward laughed heartily at the equivocal posi
tion he had been forced to assume.
Now that we were alone once more, we went to
work with a will. The Baltimore laborers were of
inestimable value. They did an immense amount of
labor in the way of mounting guns, and moving
weighty materials from one part of the work to an
other j but they showed no inclination to take part
in the fighting, should any occur.
5
98 REMINISCENCES OF
On the 3d, the South Carolina commissioners final
ly shook off the dust from their feet, and left Wash
ington, having utterly failed to accomplish the object
of their mission.
On the same day, the governor, through Mr. Gour-
din's* influence, permitted us to receive our mails
once more. By this date we had mounted all the
guns we were able to man on the lower tier, and had
bricked up the surplus windows, sally-ports, and em
brasures, as we had no one to guard them. The ene
my, in the mean time, had erected a battery at Fort
Johnson, and marked out another directly opposite to
us in Moultrieville.
On the 6th, the mayor of New York, Fernando
Wood, promulgated a message to the effect that the
Union was breaking up, and recommending that the
city of New York secede from the State. At this
time the seeming indifference of the politicians to
our fate made us feel like orphan children of the
Republic, deserted by both the State and Federal
administrations.
On the same day, Governor Pickens graciously al-
* One of the original leaders of secession, and a life-long friend
and correspondent of Major Anderson.
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 99
lowed Mrs. Anderson to visit her husband, but cou
pled the permission with the ungenerous stipulation
that the interview must take place in presence of
witnesses. He disliked very much to disoblige her,
as she belonged to one of the most distinguished
families of Georgia, and had many influential rela
tives among the Secessionists. Mr. Gourdin too, who
was a warm personal friend of her husband, exerted
himself in her behalf. While she herself displayed
great patriotism, several of her brothers in the final
attack on Fort Sumter were on the opposite side,
fighting against her husband. Under the circum
stances, her visit to us was a brief one. She brought
a valuable addition to the fort in the shape of Peter
Hart, a gallant and trustworthy man, who had been
Anderson's orderly sergeant in Mexico. She felt
much easier in her mind, now that the major had
Hart to look after him. He was only permitted to
join us on condition that his duties were to be those
of a civilian, and not of a soldier.
On the 8th, the governor, who, like Louis XIV.,
might very readily have said, "Eetat, Jest moiT
concluded to form a cabinet to assist him in his on
erous duties. He accordingly appointed J. G. Ma-
grath Secretary of State; D. F. Jamison, Secretary
100 REMINISCENCES OF
of War; C. G. Memminger, Secretary of the Treas
ury ; A. C. Garlington, Secretary of the Interior ; and
W. H. Harlee, Postmaster-general.
On the same day, our ladies, who had assembled
at the Mills House, in Charleston, left for the North
in a body, on account of the state of public feeling
in the city.*
Their presence with us threw a momentary bright
ness over the scene, but after their departure every
thing looked more gloomy and disheartening than
before. The fort itself was a deep, dark, damp,
gloomy-looking place, inclosed in high walls, where
the sunlight rarely penetrated. If we ascended to
the parapet, we saw nothing but uncouth State flags,
representing palmettos, pelicans, and other strange
devices. No echo seemed to come back from the
loyal North to encourage us. Our glasses in vain
swept the horizon ; the one flag we longed to see was
not there. It did come at last, in a timid, apologetic
* My wife applied for board in Charleston, but was told she must
first obtain the sanction of Mr. Rhett, the editor of the Mercury. She
was afterward informed by the boarding-house keeper that, as the
house depended on the patronage of the Southern people for support,
she (the landlady) could not undertake to harbor the wives of Federal
officers.
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 101
way, and not as a representative of the war power of
the Government.
We had seen a statement in a Northern paper that
a steamer named the Star of the West^ which be
longed to Marshall O. Roberts, was to be sent to us,
under command of Captain John M'Gowan, with a
re-enforcement of several hundred men and supplies
of food and ammunition ; but we could not credit the
rumor. To publish all the details of an expedition
of this kind, which ought to be kept a profound se
cret, was virtually telling South Carolina to prepare
her guns to sink the vessel. It was hard to believe
the Government would send to us a mercantile steam
er a mere transport, utterly unfitted to contend with
shore batteries when it could dispatch a man-of-war
furnished with all the means and appliances to repel
force by force. As the insurgents at this period had
but few field-guns, and a very scanty supply of can
non-powder, the Brooklyn alone, in my opinion, could
have gone straight to the wharf in Charleston, and
have put an end to the insurrection then and there ;
for we all know what its distinguished captain, Far-
ragut, was able to accomplish when left to his own
resources.
It seems, however, the news was literally true.
102 REMINISCENCES OF
The expedition was fitted out by Lieutenant Wash
ington A. Bartlett, an ex-officer of our navy.*
Although I had little faith in the announcement,
I scanned with increased interest every vessel that
approached the harbor.
Soon after daylight, on the morning of the 9th, I
was on the parapet with my spy-glass ; for I fancied,
from a signal I had observed the previous evening
on a pilot-boat, that something must be coming. As
I looked seaward, I saw a large steamer pass the bar
and enter the Morris Island channel. It had the or
dinary United States flag up ; and as it evidently did
not belong to the navy, I came to the conclusion it
must be the Star of the West. I do not remember
that any other officers were on the lookout at this
time. Anderson himself was still in bed. When
the vessel came opposite the new battery, which had
just been built by the cadets, I saw a shot fired to
bring her to. Soon after this an immense United
States garrison-flag was run up at the fore. With
out waiting to ascertain the result of the firing, I
* The army officers on board were First Lieutenant Charles K.
Woods, Ninth Infantry, commanding ; First Lieutenant William A.
Webb, Fifth Infantry ; Second Lieutenant Charles W. Thomas, First
Infantry ; and Assistant-surgeon P. G. S. Ten Broeck.
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 103
dashed down the back stairs to Anderson's room, to
notify him of the occurrence. He told me to have
the long roll beaten, and to post the men at the guns
on the parapet. I ran out, called the drummers, and
had the alarm sounded. It took but a few minutes
for men and officers to form at the guns in readiness
for action. The battery was still firing, but the trans
port had passed by, and was rapidly getting out of
range. At the same time it was approaching within
gun-shot of Fort Moultrie. The latter immediately
opened fire from one or two guns. Anderson would
not allow us to return this fire ; and the captain of
the vessel, wholly discouraged by our failure to re
spond, turned about, and made his way back to New
York. Two shots had struck the steamer, but no es
sential injury was done. I think the people in Fort
Moultrie, who expected to be driven out to take ref
uge behind the sand-hills, were especially astonished
at our inaction. It is very true that the Morris Isl
and battery was beyond the reach of our guns. Still,
we did not know this positively at the time; and
our firing in that direction, even if ineffectual, would
have encouraged the steamer to keep on its course.
We had one or two guns bearing on Fort Moultrie ;
and as that was w>thio easy range, we could have
104 REMINISCENCES OF
kept down the fire there long enough to enable the
steamer to come in. It was plainly our duty to do
all that we could. For any thing we knew to the
contrary, she might have been in a sinking condition.
Had she gone down before our eyes, without an ef
fort on our part to aid her, Anderson would have in
curred a fearful responsibility by his inaction.
Mr. Dawson, in his account of these incidents in
the Historical Magazine, has it that a council of
war was held by us to determine whether we would
fire or not, and that we decided not to fire. He
founds this upon verbal statements made by Foster
and Davis. I know Foster was under this impres
sion ; but upon my recalling the circumstances to his
recollection a short time before his death, lie admit
ted his mistake. My memory is very clear and dis
tinct on this point, and I am sustained in regard to it
by both Seymour and Crawford. Davis I have not
seen for some time, but I have no doubt he will con
firm what I have said when his memory is refreshed.
Indeed there was no time for deliberation while
the troops were at the guns, for the vessel was mov
ing very rapidly, and the whole affair was over in a
few minutes. The council was held after the steam
er had gone, to determine what action ought to be
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 105
taken in consequence of the attack. It was too late
then for resistance, and all we could do was to send
Lieutenant Hall to the governor with a flag of truce,
to demand an explanation. In this communication,
Anderson expressly stated that if he did not receive
a satisfactory reply, he would not, hereafter, allow
any vessel from Charleston to pass within reach of
his guns. As might be expected, the governor re
plied that he took the responsibility of the firing, and
would do it again under like circumstances. Ander
son then reconvened the council to lay this answer
before them. Through his influence it was con
cluded to send Lieutenant Talbot to Washington
with a full statement of the occurrence, and await
his return with specific instructions from the War
Department. To carry out even this programme,
the major was obliged to obtain the governor's
permission for Lieutenant Talbot to pass through
Charleston. It was urged by Anderson that the
delay would enable us to finish our preparations
for defense; but it was evident that time was far
more valuable to the enemy than it was to us, for it
enabled them to complete and arm their batteries,
and close the- harbor against our men-of-war, thus
virtually imprisoning us in our island home.
5*
106 REMINISCENCES OF
When Talbot left, we resumed our labors as usual.
No attempt was made to carry out the threat of stop
ping all passing vessels.
By the 14th of January our heavy guns were up ;
but by that time, too, the greater part of Fort Moul-
trie and Castle Pinckney were shielded from our
direct fire by huge piles of sand-bags.*
"We now began to get out of fuel, but we still had
a resource in some wooden sheds inside the fort,
which had been used as a temporary shelter for
cement and building materials. Our position was
greatly alleviated in one respect. Owing, it is said,
to the influence of Mr. Gourdin, already referred to
as a leading Secessionist, and an old friend" of Major
Anderson, we were allowed to receive our mails once
more. After the Star of the West affair, they prob
ably thought we were very harmless people, and de
served some reward for our forbearance.
* Castle Pinckney at this time was commanded by Colonel J. John
ston Petigru ; Sullivan's Island, by Adjutant and Inspector-general
Dunovant ; Fort Johnson, by Captain James Johnson, of the Charles
ton Rifles. The United States Arsenal, by Colonel John Cunningham,
of the Seventeenth South Carolina militia ; its former commander,
Captain Humphreys, the United States military store-keeper, having
been ejected on the 30th of December.
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 107
CHAPTEE VIII.
A KESORT TO DIPLOMACY.
Major Anderson's Proposed Diplomatic Negotiations. Defensive
Preparations. Changes in the Cabinet. Meade's Defection.
Anecdote of Governor Pickens. Battery at Cummings Point.
Soldiers' Families removed. A Threatening Letter. Confederate
Visitors to the Fort. Organization of the Confederate Govern
ment.
AND now the Charleston statesmen concocted a
plan to take away from us all hope of succor, so that
we might be induced to surrender. To this end
they determined to fill up the entrance of the harbor
by depositing stone there. Whether they really in
tended to do this, or made a pretense of doing it, I
never knew ; but they certainly did obtain some old
hulks from Savannah, and sunk them in the channel.
Either these hulks were deposited in the wrong
places, or else the tide drifted them into deep water,
for it is certain they never formed any impediment
to navigation afterward. Perhaps it was a mere
coup de theatre, to intimidate us, and prevent re-
enforcements from attempting to come in ; at all
108 REMINISCENCES OF
events, it was a preliminary to a grand effort to ne
gotiate us out of Fort Snmter. For this purpose two
representative men came over from the city on the
llth, in the little steamer Antelope, under a white
flag. The party consisted of the late United States
district judge, A. G. Magrath, now Secretary of State
for South Carolina, and General D. F. Jamison, their
new Secretary of War. The j udge, who was the cham
pion orator of the State, made a long and eloquent
speech, the purport of which was that South Caro
lina was determined to have Fort Sumter at all haz
ards ; that they would pull it down with their finger
nails, if they could not get it in any other way ; that
the other Southern States were becoming excited on
the subject ; that President Buchanan was in his do
tage ; that the government in Washington was break
ing up ; that all was confusion, despair, and disorder
there; and that it was full time for us to look out
for our own safety, for if we refused to give up the
fort nothing could prevent the Southern troops from
exterminating us. He ended this tragical statement
by saying, " May God Almighty enable you to come
to a just decision !"
Anderson seemed deeply affected at the prospect
of hostilities. He asked them why they did not first
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 109
attempt diplomacy, instead of war. He said if they
would send a commissioner to lay their claims before
the authorities at "Washington, he would send anoth
er to represent the condition of the fort; and the
Government could then form its own judgment, and
come to some decision. Judge Magrath replied that
he would report the proposition to Governor Pickens
for his action. He and his companion then took a
solemn leave of us, and returned to Charleston.
Upon reporting the facts to the governor, it was at
once decided to accept Anderson's proposition. They
gained an immense advantage in so doing; for the
agreement tied the hands of the United States for
an indefinite period of time, and prevented the arriv
al of any war vessels until South Carolina was fully
prepared to receive them. The delay gave the State
time to complete and man its batteries, and to obtain
an unlimited number of guns and quantities of shot
and shell from the cannon foundry at Richmond,
Virginia, known as the Tredegar Iron Works. Thus,
while our supplies would be running out, theirs would
be coming in. Every day's delay would weaken us
and strengthen them. I was strongly opposed to this
fatal measure, which ultimately cost us the loss of
Fort Sumter; but as it had simply emanated from
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Anderson himself, by virtue of his powers as com
manding officer, and had not been submitted to a
council of war, there was no opportunity for protest.
^He was at this time at the height of his popularity,
and every thing he did was sure to be sustained at
Washington.
In this embassy, Colonel Isaac W. Hayne, an emi
nent lawyer of Charleston, was chosen as the com
missioner from South Carolina, and Lieutenant Nor
man J. Hall was sent as a representative of Fort
Sumter.
After this event every thing went on, for a while,
as usual.
By the 15th of January we had secured the main
gates against an assault, by building a wall of stone
and mortar behind them, leaving merely what is call
ed a man-hole, for the entrance of one person at a
time. Even this was covered by a twenty -four-
pounder howitzer, loaded with canister.
By the llth the money appropriated by the South
Carolina Legislature for war purposes amounted to
$1,450,000, and was soon after increased to $1,800,000.
There was not a dollar in the treasury, and nothing
but the bank of the State to draw upon.
On the same day the financial condition of the
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. in
United States was much improved by the appoint
ment of John A. Dix as Secretary of the Treasury.
This gave great confidence to the moneyed men of
New York, who immediately rallied to the support
of the Government.
To all appearance, about six hundred negroes were
now at work, night and day, in perfecting the defenses
of Fort Moultrie. The enemy continued their hos
tile preparations with the utmost energy and zeal,
in spite of the tacit truce which was supposed to ex
ist, and which prevented the President from sending
men-of-war to aid or to re-enforce us. I think An
derson might well have remonstrated against the
landing of additional heavy guns and mortars on
Sullivan's Island, and the erection of new batteries,
to be used against us. He should at once have re
ported this increased activity to "Washington, in or-
der that the agreement might be terminated, or at
least limited to a certain number of days.
On the 17th, Judge Holt was nominated as Sec
retary of War, and was soon after confirmed by the
Senate. We were very glad to have an energetic
and patriotic man at the head of this department.
On the 18th, Lieutenant Meade left us for his
home in Richmond, Virginia, in consequence of a
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dispatch which stated that his mother was at the
point of death. I never knew whether this tele
gram was founded on fact, or was a strategic move
to force poor Meade into the ranks of the Confeder
acy, by detaching him temporarily from us, and tak
ing him where tremendous political and social influ
ences could be brought to bear upon him. He had
previously been overwhelmed with letters on the sub
ject. He was already much troubled in mind; and
some months after the bombardment of Fort Sumter
the pressure of family ties induced him (very reluc
tantly, as I heard) to join the Disunionists. It was
stated that he never was a happy man afterward,
and that before a year had passed death put an end
to his sorrow and regret. He was the son of R K.
Meade, our minister to Brazil.
The troops opposite to us were now regularly re
ceiving supplies and re -enforcements, and drilling
daily, while all the necessaries of life were constant
ly diminishing with us. We were already out of
sugar, soap, and candles.
On the 19th, Lieutenant Talbot returned from his
visit to Washington, where, it will be remembered, he
had been sent to explain the Star of the West affair,
and ask for specific instructions, which would relieve
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 113
Anderson from the responsibility, and throw it upon
the Administration. The orders he brought back
were to the effect that they had the utmost confi
dence in Major Anderson, and that they left every
thing to his judgment. This was throwing the re
sponsibility all back upon him. It was very compli
mentary, but far from satisfactory.
Talbot stated that* he had great difficulty in mak
ing a safe transit through Charleston ; for while the
leaders seemed to be more pacific than ever, the pop
ulace had become more violent. It was even thought
necessary to send an officer with him to secure his
personal safety. He brought me the pleasant infor
mation that the mob were howling for my head,
as that of the only Republican, or, as they called it,
" Black Republican," in the fort.
Many unfavorable comments having been made,
even in the Southern States, more particularly in
Kentucky, in relation to Governor Pickens's treat
ment of us, he relaxed his severity, and on the 21st
sent us over some fresh beef and vegetables; as
if we would consent to be fed by the charity of
South Carolina. Anderson showed a good deal of
proper spirit on this occasion. He declined to re
ceive the provisions, but notified the governor that,
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if we were not interfered with, we would purchase
our own supplies in Charleston market. The gov
ernor consented to this; but nothing came of it.
There seemed to be a combination among the mar
ket-men not to sell us any food. Indeed, this action
of the governor made him very unpopular with the
Rhett faction. Rhett rushed over to inform him
that the people demanded that Fort Sumter should
be taken without any further procrastination or de
lay. The governor made a very shrewd reply. He
said, "Certainly, Mr. Rhett ; I have no objection ! I
will furnish you with some men, and you can storm
the work yourself." Rhett drew back and replied,
" But, sir, I am not a military man !" " Nor I either,"
said the governor, " and therefore I take the advice
of those that are !" After this, there was no further
talk of an immediate assault. The action of the
governor in this case almost gained him the reputa
tion of a wit among the officers of his command.
Lieutenant Hall being absent on diplomatic duty,
and Dr. Crawford being temporarily, and Lieuten
ant Talbot permanently, on the sick-list, the rest
of us were utterly worn out with the labor that de
volved upon us. Guard duty was especially severe,
as increased vigilance became necessary, in conse-
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 115
quence of certain threatening preparations made by
the enemy. The leaders in Charleston soon saw that
the joint mission of Hall and Hayne could not pos
sibly result in any thing decisive ; but as every day
added to their strength and resources, they did not
choose to recall their commissioner. They left him
to continue his arguments in relation to the " right
of eminent domain," while they prepared for war.
In the hope that some day they might take us by sur
prise, they had the guard-boats, which still patrolled
the harbor, painted black, and all the lights and fires
carefully screened from view. They probably in
tended to choose a dark night to drop down noise
lessly with the tide, and take advantage of a sleepy
sentinel, or some other favorable circumstance, to
land a party on the rocks at the base of the wall,
and seize the main entrance, or make their way in
through one of the embrasures.
On the 24th, New York City, speaking through its
mayor, Fernando Wood, seemed to offer the right
hand of fellowship to the Secessionists. Certain
arms which had been purchased by Georgia, to be
used against the General Government, were detained
in New York, and Ex-Senator Toombs telegraphed to
"Wood for an explanation. The latter characterized
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the detention as an outrage for which he was not re
sponsible, and for which he would inflict summary
punishment, if he had the power.
Lieutenant Meade returned faithfully on the 25th,
but brought no news of importance.
On the 26th, Anderson applied for the code of
naval signals, so that if a fleet at any time should
cross the bar, he might communicate with it at a dis
tance.
Up to the 30th we had not been able to procure
any thing to eat from the city; but through the in
fluence of Mr. Gourdin, who seemed to have a spe
cial mission to smooth over all difficulties, a new ar
rangement was made, by which our provisions were
ostensibly purchased for Fort Johnson, and were for
warded to us from there.
. The nearest land to us was called Cumrnings
Point. It was nearly opposite the gorge, which was
the weakest side of Fort Sumter, the wall there be
ing thinner than in any other part. The enemy now
began to build the most formidable of all their bat
teries on the point referred to. It was constructed
of strong timber, plated with railroad iron, and par
tially covered with sand. When finished, it was re
garded as almost impregnable. Steamers from the
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 117
city passed within a stone's-throw of us daily, loaded
with the materials used in its construction, without
opposition and without remonstrance.
As it seemed settled that we were to wait until
Hayne was through with his law-points, and as our
food, in the mean time, was rapidly giving out, An
derson, on the 21st, directed me to make arrange
ments with the authorities of Charleston to enable us
to send off the soldiers' families to Fort Hamilton.
This was done; and the women and children were
shipped off to Charleston on the 30th, and transfer
red to the steamer Marion, which left for New York
on the 3d of February. As they passed the fort
outward-bound, the men gave them repeated cheers
as a farewell, and displayed much feeling ; for they
thought it very probable they might not meet them
again for a long period, if ever.*
* Among these children was a little waif, called Dick Rowley, aft
erward known as "Sumter Dick." He had been abandoned by his
mother, and thus thrown out on the world. For a time he was sent,
after his arrival in New York, to the house of Dr. Stewart, who was a
family connection of mine. After supper he reminded the ladies that
he had not heard tattoo yet, and wished to know at what hour they
beat the reveille. He evidently thought every well-regulated family
kept a drummer and fifer on hand, to sound the calls. He was very
unhappy until he had procured a small stick and a miniature flag.
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On the arrival of these families at Fort Hamilton,
New York, they found themselves in straitened cir
cumstances, because, owing to our isolation, the men
had not been paid off for a long time, and there
fore had no money to give their wives. Plymouth
Church, however, interested itself in their behalf,
and soon made them comparatively comfortable.
Had our Government been really disposed, at this
period, to act with ordinary energy, it might have
opened a communication with us, and cleared the
Morris Island channel without much difficulty. There
were only about three hundred Charleston militia
guarding the batteries on that island; and it would
have been easy for a small force of mariners and sol
diers to land there in the night, take the batteries in
reverse, and drive the troops out, or capture them.
This once accomplished, re - enforcements and sup
plies could have been sent us to any amount. Bu
chanan's administration, however, was drawing to a
close ; and his only desire seemed to be to get
through his term of office without a collision, leav-
Every morning at sunrise he hoisted the flag, and carefully lowered
it and put it away at sunset. He is now a cabinet-maker at Marion,
Ohio, and recently gained a prize for his excellent workmanship.
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 119
ing the difficulties and perplexities of his position
as a legacy to his successor.
On the 30th, I received an insulting letter from
Charleston, informing me that, if I were ever caught
in the city, an arrangement had been made to tar
and feather me as an Abolitionist.
February had now arrived. The 4th of the month
was made memorable by the meeting of the Peace
Congress at Washington, and by a convention to rep
resent the Southern States at Montgomery, Alabama.
On the 6th, the new Secretary of War, Judge Holt,
wrote to South Carolina that the President did not
intend to inaugurate any aggressive measures ; and
if the State government attacked Fort Sumter, they
would incur a fearful responsibility.
On the 8th, some photographic artists were al
lowed to come over and take our portraits in a
group. I think it proved a profitable speculation,
for the sale was quite large. One of the party proved
afterward to be a lieutenant of a Charleston com
pany. It seems he came as a spy, and, no doubt,
thought he had done a very clever thing ; but inas
much as Mr. Gourdin and other Secessionists, in
cluding several military and naval officers, were per
mitted to roam through the fort at will, there was
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very little use in taking precautions against spies.
Indeed, on one occasion, another Major Anderson, a
namesake of our commander, came down to Charles
ton with a freight-train loaded with shot, shell, heavy
guns, and mortars for South Carolina, to be used in
the batteries against us. He was the owner of the
celebrated Tredegar Iron Works, of Richmond, Yir-
ginia, already referred to, and had been enriched by
the patronage of the United States. I thought it de
cidedly cool in him, under the circumstances, to come
over to call on our Major Anderson. He made no
attempt at concealment, but stated without reserve
the object of his trip to the South. To my surprise,
instead of being summarily expelled, he met with a
most cordial reception, was invited to stay to dinner,
and when he left he was dismissed with a " Good
bye ! God bless you ! You haven't such a thing as
a late newspaper about you, have you ?"
On the 9th of February, the enemy's batteries
were completed, manned and ready for action. On
the same day the Confederate Government was duly
organized by the election of Jefferson Davis, of Mis
sissippi, as President, and Alexander H. Stephens, of
Georgia, as Yice- president. The Cabinet consisted
of Robert Toombs, of Georgia, Secretary of State ;
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 12 1
L. Pope Walker, of Alabama, Secretary of War ; and
Charles G. Hemminger, of South Carolina, Secretary
of the Treasury. Afterward, Jndah P. Benjamin, of
Louisiana, was appointed Attorney-general ; Stephen
M. Mallory, of Florida, Secretary of the Navy ; and
John H. Reagan, of Texas, Postmaster-general. Pe
ter Gnstave T. Beauregard, of Louisiana, was made
Brigadier-general to command the provisional army.
By this time we had finished most of our prepa
rations, and were busily engaged in constructing a
mine at the extremity of the wharf, for the benefit
of any hostile party that might land there.
Lieutenant Hall returned on the 10th. He had
had a very pleasant time in Washington, and had
been petted a good deal by the loyal people of the
North, but his mission proved of no real benefit to
the United States, and we had missed him a great
deal, for we had been very short-handed.
He brought nothing definite from the Adminis
tration. All the latter desired was to have a peace
able death-bed, leaving its burdens for Mr. Lincoln's
shoulders.
As Hall passed through Charleston, one of the
young men there told him there was quite a revul
sion of feeling with regard to attacking Fort Sum-
122 - REMINISCENCES OF
ter. Hall inquired the reason. The reply was, that
a schooner which had just come in had been in great
danger from one of our infernal machines, which
had exploded and whitened the water for three hun
dred yards around. It seems that Seymour, who is
very ingenious, had fastened a cannon cartridge in
the centre of a barrel of paving-stones, so arranged
that when the barrel was rolled off the parapet, the
powder would explode about five feet from the base
of the wall. I was trying the experiment one day
as the schooner passed, and the explosion did look
very destructive, as the paving-stones dashed up the
water for a distance of fifty feet from the fort.
On the 14th, we had two more mines ready for any
storming party that might desire to land.
About this time Captain Edward M'Cready, of
Charleston, who had formerly been very intimate
with the officers of the garrison, wrote a letter urg
ing them to throw off their allegiance to the United
States, and enter into the Confederate service. No
one took the trouble to answer it.
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 123
CHAPTEE IX.
THE CRISIS AT HAND.
South Carolina's Grievances. Inauguration of President Lincoln.
Determination to Re-enforce Sumter. An Audacious Proposal.
The Shannon. New Rebel Batteries Unmasked. Formal Notice
of Bombardment.
WE saw advertisements now in the Northern pa
pers showing that dramas founded on our occupa
tion of Fort Sumter, and confinement there, were be
ing acted both in Boston and New York. It was
quite amusing to see our names in the play-bills, and
to find that persons were acting our parts and spout
ing mock heroics on the stage.
On the 15th, several Southern senators at Wash
ington wrote to Governor Pickens, recommending
that we be allowed fresh provisions, fuel, and other
necessaries, at the same time expressing their sympa
thy with South Carolina. After this the governor
became more polite and considerate, and allowed
our officers to send to purchase oil and groceries in
Charleston. Rhett's paper, The Mercury, of course,
124 REMINISCENCES OF
bitterly opposed this concession. We now learned
that the whole question of Fort Sumter had been
turned over to the new Southern Confederacy for so
lution.
At this period grievous complaints were made
by the merchants of the city of the utter stagna
tion of trade. All the business had fled to Savan
nah. Foreign vessels would not attempt to enter a
harbor where civil war was raging, especially as it
was reported that obstructions had been sunk in the
channel. The Charleston people said they now fully
understood and appreciated the kindness of the peo
ple of Savannah in furnishing them with old hulks
to destroy the harbor of Charleston.
When the organization of the new government
was complete, the original Secessionists of the Pal
metto State were exceedingly angry to find them
selves ignored. The President, Vice-president, and
all the prominent members of the Cabinet, with the
single exception of the Secretary of the Treasury,
were from other States. Henceforward, instead of
pretentious leadership, the position of South Caro
lina was to be that of humble obedience to the new
regime. Nor was this their only grievance. Free
trade was not proclaimed ; and no ordinance was
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 125
passed to re-open the African slave-trade, inasmuch
as it would destroy the domestic slave-trade and the
profits of slave-breeding in Virginia. It was soon
seen that the associated States differed widely on a
great many vital points. One of these related to
Indian incursions into Texas. The Border States,
owing to the withdrawal of the United States forces,
desired large appropriations in money, for the pur
pose of organizing troops to guard the settlements
from Indian incursions. The people of South Car
olina, whose burdens were already very great, and
who were advertising in vain for a loan, were very
unwilling to be taxed for the benefit of Texas and
Arkansas. In their anger at these untoward events,
the proposition was freely discussed whether it would
not be the best course to secede from the Confedera
cy altogether, and place themselves under a British
protectorate. The only difficulty in the way seemed
to be the unwillingness of Great Britain to act as
step-father to such a spoiled child as South Carolina.
Virginia had not yet seceded. She still professed
neutrality, but allowed a brisk trade in cannon and
ammunition to be carried on with the South, know
ing they were to be used against the General Gov
ernment.
126 REMINISCENCES OF
Anderson now expressed himself as openly opposed
to coercion. He was in favor of surrendering all the
forts to the States in which they were located. This
course would simply be an acknowledgment that the
sovereignty did not vest in the United States, and
would have led to nothing but disorder and disunion.
He said if his native State, Kentucky, seceded, he
should throw up his commission and go to Europe.
The fact is, as I have stated, he was a strong pro-
slavery man, and felt bitterly toward the Xorth for
not carrying out the Fugitive Slave Law. He con
tended that slavery was right in principle, and ex
pressly sanctioned by the Bible. One day, while we
were conversing on the subject, I called his atten
tion to the fact that slavery in ancient times was not
founded on color ; and if white slavery was right, I
saw no reason why some one might not make a slave
of him, and read texts of Scripture to him to keep
him quiet. He was unable to answer this argument.*
On the 1st of March, he informed the General
Government that he had no doubt we would soon be
* It is due to the major to state that, in a speech made before the
Board of Brokers in New York, on the 13th of May, he asserted that
if the question lay between the preservation of the Union or the preser
vation of slavery, slavery must be sacrificed.
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 127
attacked. The communication, however, led to no
comment and no immediate action.
From certain circumstances, I saw that South Car
olina not only intended to build iron-clad batteries,
but was thinking of iron-clad ships, to sink our wood
en navy, and at some future time capture our North
ern harbors.
I was so much impressed with the importance of
this subject that I felt it my duty to call attention
to it, in letters to Mr. Curtis, of Missouri, and other
members of Congress ; but no one at the North seem
ed to give the matter a second thought, or imagine
there was any danger to be apprehended in the future.
It was not so with our enemies. They were fully
alive to the aggressive power it would give them,
and they commenced to experiment by building an
iron -clad floating battery, which was to be plated
deep enough to resist our heaviest metal. When fin
ished, it was to be anchored off the gorge of Fort
Surnter, so that it could beat down our main gates,
and make wide breaches in the walls for an assault
ing party to enter. This battery was completed on.
the 3d of March ; but the State militia had a great
prejudice against it, and could not be induced to man
it. They christened it " The Slaughter Pen," and felt
128 REMINISCENCES OF
certain it would go to the bottom the moment we
opened fire upon it. Out of deference to public opin
ion, it was tied up to the wharf in Monltrieville, and
took part from that position in the final bombard
ment of Fort Su inter.
The eventful 4th of March had now arrived, and
with it a new President, representing the patriotism
and vigor of the great North-west. We looked for
an immediate change of policy ; but it was some
weeks before any definite action was taken with re
gard to us. This is not to be wondered at, when
we consider that a large proportion of the employe's
of the previous Administration were disloyal and
treacherous, while the new appointments could not
be made hastily, on account of the tremendous press
ure for office, and the difficulty of canvassing the
claims of so many rival and influential candidates.
If Mr. Lincoln wrote a private dispatch, it was sure
to be betrayed to the enemy. The defection in the
civil service, in the army, and navy, was so great
that, if he gave an order, he was always in doubt
whether it would be faithfully carried out. Gen
eral Cooper, who was Adjutant -general of the
army, and the mouth -piece of the Secretary of
War and of the Commander-in-chief, was himself
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 129
a rebel at heart, and soon resigned to join the Con
federacy.
Enough, however, was already known of the pol
icy of the Administration to cause great uneasiness
in Charleston. The feeling there was very gloomy
at the prospect of real war ; for almost every one
had persuaded himself that the new President would
not attempt coercion, but would simply submit to the
dismemberment of the country, and make the best
terms he could. They now knew they would be
obliged to face the storm they had raised, and they
already foresaw great sufferings and sacrifices in the
future.
On the 5th, Anderson wrote to Washington that
he needed no re-enforcement. The fact is, he did
not want it, because its arrival would be sure to
bring on a collision, and that was the one thing he
wished to avoid.
Mr. Lincoln soon after appointed Simon Cameron
as the new Secretary of War.
On the 7th, an accidental shot, fired from the
battery opposite, struck near our wharf. The enemy
sent a boat over at once to make an explanation.
Our men were dissatisfied that the affair ended
in nothing. They were becoming thoroughly angry
6*
130 REMINISCENCES OF
and disgusted at their long confinement, and at
the supervision South Carolina exercised over them.
One and all desired to fight it out as soon as pos
sible.
After consultation with Major Anderson, it was
deemed impossible at Washington to succor us with
out sending a force of at least twenty thousand men
to storm the batteries on Morris Island. There was
a time when these works could have been easily capt
ured ; but now, with the North full of spies, any at
tempt to take them by force would have called out
all the available strength of South Carolina, assist
ed by volunteers from other States. On the 10th, it
was everywhere published that the Administration
intended to withdraw us; but no admission of the
kind could be obtained from Mr. Lincoln.*
Learning that we had nothing but pork and hard
biscuit to eat, Mr. Haight, a wealthy gentleman of
New York, sent us several boxes of delicacies. The
governor, under the impression we were soon to be
* About this time, my wife, who was in Washington, was very much
sin-prised at receiving a call from the President. He came quietly to
request her to show him my letters from Fort Snmter, so that he might
form a better opinion as to the condition of affairs there, more particu
larly in regard to our resources.
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 131
withdrawn, allowed them to come over. They were
fully appreciated.
The great tobacconist, John Anderson, of New
York, also sent a large supply of the best quality of
tobacco, having learned that the men felt the loss of
their smoking more than any thing else.
By this time the South Carolina treasury was in a
state of collapse. A loan for six hundred and seven
ty-five thousand dollars was freely advertised, but no
one desired to invest. The city trade, however, be
gan to be quite brisk again, from the immense influx
of sympathizing strangers that poured into the city
to see the preparations for war. Goods, too, began
to come in from all quarters, and there was a gleam
of prosperity.
On the 20th, G. W. Lay, one of General Scott's
aids, who had resigned on the 2d of the month, came
down to offer his services to Governor Pickens. He
must have had in his possession much valuable mili
tary and diplomatic information, to which his late
confidential position had given him access.
On the 21st, another messenger, Captain G.V.Fox,
United States Navy, came over to see us. Captain
Hartstein, who was an ex-officer of our navy, and an
old friend of Fox's, was sent with him, to be within
I3 2 REMINISCENCES OF.
ear-shot, and see that he did no harm to the Confed
eracy. Fox had an excellent plan of his own in ref
erence to us, and came to reconnoitre, and ascertain
whether it was practicable to carry it out ; for the
President had now fully determined not to with
draw us, or surrender Fort Sumter without an effort
to hold and re-enforce it. Indeed, there came up an
indignant roar from the great North-west, and many
parts of the North, that could not be disregarded
with impunity. To have done so would almost have
created a revolution.
I was struck by one modest question which Hart-
stein put to me on this occasion. He asked if I
thought Anderson would object to his anchoring the
iron-plated floating- battery within a hundred yards
of our main gates. Upon my expressing my sur
prise at such an audacious proposal, he replied, "An
derson has allowed these batteries to be built around
him, and has permitted so many things to be done,
that I don't see why he should not go a step farther
and allow this."
On the 22d, we learned that Beau regard had as
sumed command of the forces opposite to us. As he
had just left our army, where he had been highly
trusted and honored, it is said he displayed a good
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 133
deal of feeling at finding himself opposed to the flag
under which he had served so long. He expressed
much sympathy for his old friend, Anderson, who,
he stated, was merely fulfilling his duty as a soldier
in fighting for his own Government, and asserted that
he would not attack us, even if we withdrew all our
sentinels, but would force us to surrender by cutting
off our supplies.
On the 23d, we had but two days' regular fuel
left, but we had contrived to secure and utilize
a number of floating logs as they passed the fort,
and these increased the amount on hand to some
extent.
Anderson now had no doubt that we would be
withdrawn, and the papers all gave out the same
idea. Under these circumstances, as we were out
of fuel, and had a large number of surplus gun-car
riages on hand which we could not possibly use, and
which would inevitably fall into the hands of the
enemy when we left, I suggested that it would be
good policy to use them for fire-wood, especially as
many of them were decayed and worthless. He
would not, however, consent to this. Perhaps he
thought fuel at six hundred dollars a cord was rath
er dear. The result was that they were finally all
134 REMINISCENCES OF
turned over to the Confederacy, with the other pub
lic property on hand.
On the 25th, Colonel Ward C. Lamon, the former
law-partner of Mr. Lincoln, came over to visit us un
der charge of Colonel Duryea, of Charleston. It was
given out that he was sent as an agent of the Gener
al Government to see Governor Pickens in relation
to post-office matters ; but in reality he came to con
fer with Anderson, and ascertain the amount of pro
visions on hand. He took with him the important
information that our food would be out by the mid
dle of April.
On the 28th, Beauregard sent a message of some
kind to Anderson. I do not know its purport.
The latter stated to us that he expected decisive
orders from Washington on the 29th, but none
came.
The 1st of April arrived, and as the heavy work
of mounting guns, etc., was completed, our command
er thought it would be a good idea to send off the
hired laborers, and he intrusted Captain Foster to
ask permission of the rebel authorities to allow them
to land. The request was granted, and all left with
the exception of a few, who desired to remain with
us and share our fortunes. Among them was Mr.
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 135
William O. Lyman, the principal overseer of the ma
sons, a brave and reliable man.
On the 3d of April, another affair occurred similar
to that of the Star of the West. The schooner R.H.
Shannon, of Boston, under Captain Mounts, en route
for Savannah with a cargo of ice, sailed into the har
bor of Charleston on account, of a fog. As the cap
tain did not read the papers, he did not know that
any thing unusual was going on. A battery on
Morris Island fired a shot across the bow of his ves
sel to bring her to. Very much astonished at this
proceeding, he ran up the Stars and Stripes to show
that he was all right. This was regarded as a direct
defiance, and a heavy cannonade was at once open
ed on the vessel. Very much puzzled to account
for this hostility, he lowered his flag, and the firing
ceased. A boat's crew now put off from the shore
to ascertain his character and purpose in entering the
harbor. While this was going on, we were formed
at our guns, in readiness to fire, but were not allowed
to do so, although there was every probability that
the vessel would be sunk before our eyes. It is true
we could not have reached the particular battery that
was doing the mischief ; but the other works of the
enemy were all under our guns, and, not expecting
136 REMINISCENCES OF
immediate action, were in a measure unprepared.
Anderson, however, contented himself with sending
Seymour and Snyder over in a boat with a white
flag to ask for an explanation, with the usual result :
Lieutenant Talbot and Lieutenant Snyder were then
sent over to have an interview with the governor in
relation to this matter. This being far from satis
factory, Lieutenant Snyder returned to Fort Sumter,
and Lieutenant Talbot kept on his way to Washing
ton with dispatches.
Although this affair attracted very little attention
or comment at the North, I was convinced, from the
major's depression of spirits, that it acted a great deal
upon his mind. He evidently feared it might be
considered as a betrayal of his trust, and he was very
sensitive to every thing that affected his honor.
I have already stated the reasons for his inaction.
In amplifying his instructions not to provoke a col
lision into instructions not to fight at all, I have no
doubt he thought he was rendering a real service to
the country. He knew the first shot fired by us
would light the flames of a civil war that would con
vulse the world, and tried to put off the evil day as
long as possible. Yet a better analysis of the situa
tion might have taught him that the contest had al-
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 137
ready commenced, and could no longer be avoided.
The leaders of the South at this period would hardly
have been satisfied with the most abject submission
of the anti-slavery party to all their behests. In fact,
every concession made to their wishes seemed to
them to be dictated by the weakness of the Govern
ment, and its fears of internal dissensions and civil
war in all the great cities of the North. They need
ed blood and the prestige of a victory to rouse the
enthusiasm of their followers, and cement the rising
Confederacy. They wanted a new and powerful
slave empire, extending to the Isthmus of Panama,
and for this a direct issue must be made with the
free States. In vain did a member of Congress, who
afterward became a distinguished Union general, offer
in "Richmond to raise an army of twenty thousand
men in the North to fight the abolitionists, if the
South would consent to remain in the Union. Even
this was not deemed sufficient or satisfactory. Slav
ery had so long dominated every thing with a rod of
iron, that its votaries deemed it was born to universal
dominion. All the pathways to political power, all
the avenues of promotion in the army and navy, lay
in that direction. General Scott was accustomed to
say that " with Virginia officers and Yankee troops
138 REMINISCENCES OF
he could conquer the world," and this implied that
slave-holders, in his opinion, were the only men fitted
to command.
Washington was too full of spies for the rebel
leaders to remain in ignorance of Lincoln's inten
tion to re-enforce us. On the 6th of April, Beaure-
gard restricted our marketing to two days in the
week. On the Tth, it w T as wholly cut off, and we no
ticed gangs of negroes hard at work strengthening
the defenses on Morris Island. Every thing beto
kened that the conflict would soon take place. An
derson was greatly troubled at the failure of all his
plans to keep the place. The rebels knew, and per
haps he knew, that on the 6th and 7th of April a
number of naval vessels had left New York and Nor
folk under sealed orders. Their destination could
hardly be doubted. Lieutenant Talbot reached
Washington on the 6th, but was immediately sent
back with a message from the President to Govern
or Pickens, notifying the latter that the Government
intended to provision Fort Sumter at all hazards.
This formal notice was given by the President, prob
ably because he considered himself bound to do so
before putting an end to the semi-pacific code which
had governed Anderson's intercourse with the forces
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 139
around him ever since the departure of Hall and
Hayne for Washington.
Talbot delivered his message on the 8th. Beau-
regard immediately telegraphed the information to
the rebel Secretary of War, at Montgomery, Ala
bama, and received orders on the 10th to open fire
at once upon Fort Sumter.
I think it was on the 9th that the official letter
came, notifying Anderson that a naval expedition
had been sent to our relief, and that he must co-oper
ate with it to the best of his ability. He communi
cated this information to us on the 10th, but desired
it should be kept secret. The preparations we were
obliged to make told the men plainly enough, how
ever, that the fighting was about to commence. The
news acted like magic upon them. They had pre
viously been drooping and dejected; but they now
sprung to their work with the greatest alacrity, laugh
ing, singing, whistling, and full of glee. They were
overjoyed to learn that their long imprisonment in
the fort would soon be at an end. They had felt
themselves humiliated by the open supervision which
South Carolina exercised over us, and our tame sub
mission to it. It was very galling to them to see
the revenue-cutter, which had been stolen from the
140 REMINISCENCES OF
United States, anchored within a stone's cast of our
walls, to watch our movements and overhaul every
thing coining to or going from the fort, including
our mail-boat.
On the 10th, Beauregard announced his personal
staff to consist of Colonels Wigfall, Chestnut, Means,
M'Gowan, Manning, and Boyleston.
On the same day, a house directly opposite to us
in Moultrieville, at the nearest point, was suddenly
removed, disclosing a formidable masked battery,
which effectually enfiladed two rows of our upper
tier of guns in barbette, and took a third tier in re
verse. It was a sad surprise to us, for we had our
heaviest metal there. I set to work immediately to
construct sand-bag traverses; but it was difficult to
make much progress, as we had no bags, and were
obliged to tear up sheets for the purpose, and have
the pieces sewed together. This labor, however,
was entirely thrown away, for Anderson ordered us
to abandon all the guns on the parapet. This, of 1
course, was much less dangerous for the men, but
it deprived us of the most powerful and effective
part of our armament.
About 3 P.M. of the same day, a boat came over
with Colonel James Chestnut, Ex-United States Sen-
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 141
ator, and Captain Stephen D. Lee, both aids of Beau-
regard. They bore a demand for the surrender of
the fort. Anderson politely declined to accede to
this request, but stated in conversation he would
soon be starved out. This gratuitous information
ought never to have been given to the enemy, in
view of the fact that a naval expedition was on its
way to us. It was at once supposed that Anderson
desired to surrender without fighting; and about
11 P.M. another boat came over, containing Colonel
Chestnut, Colonel Pryor, and Captain Lee, to inquire
upon what day he would be willing to evacuate the
work in case he was not attacked. The answer was,
on the 15th at noon, provided he did not receive
fresh instructions, or was not relieved before that
time. As we had pork enough on hand to last for
two weeks longer, there was no necessity for fixing
so early a day. It left too little margin for naval
operations, as, in all probability, the vessels, in case of
any accident or detention, would arrive too late to
be of service. This proved to be the case.
The enemy's batteries on Sullivan's Island were
so placed as to fire directly into the officers' quarters
at Fort Sumter; and as OUT rooms would necessa
rily become untenable, we vacated them, and chose
142 REMINISCENCES OF
points that were more secure. I moved my bed
into a magazine which was directly opposite to Cum-
mings Point, and which was nearly empty. As I
was sensible that the next three days would call for
great physical exertion and constant wakefulness, I
endeavored to get all the sleep I could on the night
of the llth. About 4 A.M. on the -12th, I was awak
ened by some one groping about my room in the
dark and calling out my name. It proved to be
Anderson, who came to announce to me that he
had just received a dispatch from Beauregard, dated
3.20 A.M., to the effect that he should open fire upon
ns in an hour. Finding it was determined not to
return the fire until after breakfast, I remained in
bed. As we had no lights, we could in fact do noth
ing before that time, except to wander around in the
darkness, and fire without an accurate view of the
enemy's works.
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 143
CHAPTER X.
THE BOMBARDMENT.
The First Shot. Defective Guns. John Carmody's Exploit. De
structive Effects of the Bombardment. Burning of the Officers'
Quarters. Terrific Conflagration.
As soon as the outline of our fort could be distin
guished, the enemy carried out their programme. It
had been arranged, as a special compliment to the
venerable Edmund Ruffin, who might almost be call
ed the father of secession, that he should fire the first
shot against us, from the Stevens battery on Cum-
mings Point, and I think in all the histories it is
stated that he did so ; but it is attested by Dr.
Crawford and others who were on the parapet at the
time, that the first shot really came from the mortar
battery at Fort Johnson.* Almost immediately aft
erward a ball from Cummings Point lodged in the
magazine wall, and by the sound seemed to bury it-
* I have since learned that the shell from Fort Johnson was not a
hostile shot, but was simply intended as a signal for the firing to com
mence.
144 REMINISCENCES OF
self in the masonry about a foot from my head, in
very unpleasant proximity to my right ear. This is
the one that probably came with Mr. Ruffin's com
pliments. In a moment the firing burst forth in one
continuous roar, and large patches of both the ex
terior and interior masonry began to crumble and
fall in all directions. The place where I was had
been used for the manufacture of cartridges, and
there was still a good deal of powder there, some
packed and some loose. A shell soon struck near
the ventilator, and a puff of dense smoke entered the
room, giving me a strong impression that there would
be an immediate explosion. Fortunately, no sparks
had penetrated inside.
Nineteen batteries were now hammering at us, and
the balls and shells from the ten -inch columbiads,
accompanied by shells from the thirteen-inch mortars
which constantly bombarded us, made us feel as if
the war had commenced in earnest.
When it was broad daylight, I went down to break
fast. I found the officers already assembled at one
of the long tables in the mess-hall. Our party were
calm, and even somewhat merry. We had retained
one colored man to wait on us. He was a spruce-
looking mulatto from Charleston, very active and
FOR TS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 145
efficient on ordinary occasions, but now completely
demoralized by the thunder of the guns and crash
ing of the shot around us. He leaned back against
the wall, almost white with fear, his eyes closed, and
his whole expression one of perfect despair.* Our
rneal was not very sumptuous. It consisted of pork
and water, but Dr. Crawford triumphantly brought
forth a little farina, which he had found in a corner
of the hospital.
When this frugal repast was over, my company
was told off in three details for firing purposes, to
be relieved afterward by Seymour's company. As I
was the ranking officer, I took the first detachment,
and marched them to the casemates, which looked
out upon the powerful iron -clad battery of Cum-
rnings Point.
In aiming the first gun fired against the rebellion
I had no feeling of self-reproach, for I fully believed
that the contest was inevitable, and was not of our
seeking. The United States was called upon not
* In this he was an exception to most negroes. Those I have seen
in the colored regiments in Texas have shown themselves to be among
the best and most reliable men in the service for operations against the
Indians. It was a line of negroes that charged over the torpedoes at
Mobile.
7
146 REMINISCENCES OF
only to defend its sovereignty, but its right to exist
as a nation. The only alternative was to submit to
a powerful oligarchy who were determined to make
freedom forever subordinate to slavery. To me it
was simply a contest, politically speaking, as to wheth
er virtue or vice should rule.
My first shot bounded off from the sloping roof of
the battery opposite without producing any apparent
effect. It seemed useless to attempt to silence the
guns there; for our metal was not heavy enough to
batter the work down, and .every ball glanced harm
lessly off, except one, which appeared to enter an em
brasure and twist the iron shutter, so as to stop the
firing of that particular gun.
I observed that a group of the enemy had vent
ured out from their intrenchments to watch the ef
fect of their fire, but I sent them flying back to their
shelter by the aid of a forty-two-pounder ball, which
appeared to strike right in among them.
Assistant-surgeon Crawford, having no sick in hos
pital, volunteered to take command of one of the de
tachments, lie and Lieutenant Davis were detailed
at the same time with me; and I soon heard their
guns on the opposite side of the fort, echoing my
own. They attacked Fort Moultrie with great vigor.
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 147
Our firing now became regular, and was answered
from the rebel guns which encircled us on the four
sides of the pentagon upon which the fort was built.
The other side faced the open sea. Showers of balls
from ten-inch columbiads and forty - two - pounders,
and shells from thirteen - inch mortars poured into
the fort in one incessant stream, causing great flakes
of masonry to fall in all directions. When the im
mense mortar shells, after sailing high in the air,
came down in a vertical direction, and buried them
selves in the parade - ground, their explosion shook
the fort like an earthquake.*
Our own guns were very defective, as they had no
breech-sights. In place of these, Seymour and my-
* The troops and defenses on Morris Island were commanded by
Brigadier - general James W. Simons. The artillery was under the
command of Colonel Wilmot G. De Saussure, of the South Carolina
Artillery Battalion.
Sullivan's Island was commanded by Brigadier-general John Dun-
ovant, formerly an officer of the United States Army. His second
in command was Lieutenant-colonel Eoswell S. Ripley, of the South
Carolina Artillery Battalion, formerly of our army.
Major N. G. Evans, assistant adjutant - general, commanded on
James Island.
The battery at Mount Pleasant was under the command of Captain
Robert Martin, of the South Carolina Infantry.
148 REMINISCENCES OF
self were obliged to devise notched sticks, which an
swered the purpose, but were necessarily very imper
fect.
Our fort had been built with reference to the pen
etration of shot when the old system of smooth-bore
guns prevailed. The balls from a new Blakely gun
on Cummings Point, however, had force enough to
go entirely through the wall which sheltered us, and
some of the fragments of brick which were knocked
out wounded several of my detachment. None were
seriously hurt except Sergeant Thomas Kirnan, of
my company. His contusions were severe, but did
not keep him out of the fight.
After three hours' firing, my men became exhaust
ed, and Captain Seymour came, with a fresh detach
ment, to relieve us. He has a great deal of humor
in his composition, and said, jocosely, "Doubleday,
what in the world is the matter here, and what is all
this uproar about ?"
I replied, " There is a trifling difference of opinion
between us and our neighbors opposite, and we are
trying to settle it."
" Very well," he said ; " do you wish me to take a
hand?"
I said, " Yes, I would like to have you go in."
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 149
"All right," he said. "What is your elevation,
and range ?"
I replied, "Five degrees, and twelve hundred
yards."
" Well," he said, " here goes !" And he went to
work with a will.
Part of the fleet was visible outside the bar about
half-past ten A.M. It exchanged salutes with us, but
did not attempt to enter the harbor, or take part in
the battle. In fact, it would have had considerable
difficulty in finding the channel, as the marks and
buoys had all been taken up. It was composed orig
inally of the frigates Pawnee, under Commodore
Rowan ; the Pocahontas, under Captain Gillis ; the
Powhatan, under Captain Mercer ; the steam trans
port Baltic, under Captain Fletcher ; and, I believe,
the steam -tugs Yankee, Uncle Ben, and another,
which was not permitted to leave New York. The
soldiers on board consisted of two hundred and fifty
recruits from Governor's Island, under command of
First Lieutenants E. M. K. Hudson, of the Fourth,
and Eobert O. Tyler, of the Third Artillery, and Sec
ond Lieutenant A. I. Thomas, of the First Infantry.
This expedition was designed by Captain Fox, in
consultation with G. W. Blunt, William H. Aspin-
150 REMINISCENCES OF
wall, Russel Sturges, and others. After the event
much obloquy was thrown upon the navy because
it did not come in and engage the numerous batter
ies and forts, and open for itself a way to Charles
ton ; but this course would probably have resulted in
the sinking of every vessel.
As far back as December I had written to New
York that it was very difficult for a gun on shore to
hit a small boat dancing on the waves in the day
time, and at night it is almost impossible. I suggest
ed, therefore, that we might be re-enforced and pro
visioned by means of a number of small boats, sup
plied from several naval vessels as a base of opera
tions. The same idea had occurred to Captain Fox ;
and on the present occasion he had brought thirty
launches to be used for this purpose. They were to
be manned by three hundred sailors, and in case they
were assailed, the fleet was to protect them as far
as possible by its guns. Unfortunately, the different
vessels did not reach the rendezvous together. The
Pawnee and Pocahontas arrived on the 12th, but
lost a great deal of time in waiting for the Powha-
tan, which contained the launches and other arrange
ments, without which a boat expedition could not be
organized. The Powhatan never appeared, having
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 151
been unexpectedly detached, by order of the Presi
dent, at the solicitation of Secretary Seward, and
without consultation with the Navy Department. I
think the Baltic was detained by running upon Rat
tlesnake Shoal. The steam-tug Uncle Ben was driv
en into "Wilmington by a storm, and the Yankee did
not make its appearance until the 15th. The ex
pedition was thus an utter failure. Nevertheless, a
passing schooner was purchased and loaded up with
provisions and soldiers, and an attempt would have
been made to run in on the night of the 13th, but
by that time it was too late. The fort had surren
dered.
Having explained this matter, we will now resume
the narrative of our operations. For the next three
hours a vigorous fire was kept up on both sides. A
great many shots were aimed at our flag -staff, but
nearly all of them passed above the fort and struck
in the water beyond. I think we succeeded in si
lencing several guns in Fort Moultrie, and one or
more in the Stevens battery.
When Seymour's three hours were up, I relieved
him, and continued the firing. As our balls bounded
off the sloping iron rails like peas upon a trencher,
utterly failing to make any impression, and as the
152 REMINISCENCES OF
shot from the Blakely gun came clear through our
walls, Anderson directed that the men should cease
firing at that particular place. I regretted very much
that the upper tier of guns had been abandoned, as
they were all loaded and pointed, and were of very
heavy calibre. A wild Irish soldier, however, named
John Carmody, slipped up on the parapet, and, with
out orders, fired the pieces there, one after another,
on his own account. One of the ten-inch balls so
aimed made quite an impression on the Cummings
Point battery; and if the fire could have been kept
up, it might possibly have knocked the iron- work to
pieces.
After my detachment had abandoned the case
mate opposite the Blakely gun, to my great aston
ishment the battery I had left recommenced firing. I
could not imagine who could have taken our places.
It seems that a group of the Baltimore workmen had
been watching our motions, and had thus learned the
duties of a cannoneer. In spite of their previous de
termination not to take part in the fight, they could
not resist the fun of trying their hand at one of the
guns. It was already accurately pointed, and the
ball struck the mark in the centre. The men attrib
uted it to their own skill, and when I entered they
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 153
were fairly in convulsions of laughter. One of them,
in answer to my question, gasped out, " I hit it square
in the middle." After this first attempt, each of
them was desirous of trying his skill at aiming. The
result was, that we soon had them organized into a
firing-party.
Finding one of my chests had been left in the of
ficers' quarters, and that it would probably be knock
ed to pieces by the shells, I asked the mulatto, who
still sat back against the wall, apparently asleep, to
bear a hand and help me bring it out. He opened
his eyes, shook his head dolefully, and said, " De ma
jor, he say, I muss not expose myself."
If I mistake not, Roswell S. Ripley, formerly a
brevet major in our army, fired the second or third
shot to bring down the flag under which he had
served for so many years. Ripley was born in Ohio,
appointed from New York, and educated at the Mil
itary Academy. He had, therefore, even on the
Southern theory of State rights, no necessary affilia
tion with the South. In fact, they always despised a
man who joined them to fight against his own State.
In one instance, Jeff Davis himself had to use all his
influence to induce the Southern troops to obey one of
these. Northern generals. Ripley had previously been
154 REMINISCENCES OF
engaged as an agent for Sliarpe's Arms Company in
Europe ; and, having been unsuccessful there, came
to Charleston, with the hope of repairing his shat
tered fortunes by selling guns to South Carolina.
Through the influence of Colonel Huger, of our Ord
nance Department, who was in the city at the time,
Eipley failed in this, and, being entirely out of em
ployment, accepted a commission from the Confed
eracy to fight against his old comrades. Being a
man of talent, and a skillful artillerist, he did us a
great deal of harm. Like all Northern converts, he
thought it necessary to be overzealous in his new po
sition, to do away with the suspicions excited by his
birth and education. I was told at the time that for
this purpose he took pains to denounce me as an
Abolitionist, and to recommend that I be hanged by
the populace as soon as caught.
The firing continued all day, without any special
incident of importance, and without our making
much impression on the enemy's works. They had
a great advantage over us, as their fire was concen
trated on the fort, which was in the centre of the
circle, while ours was diffused over the circumfer
ence. Their missiles were exceedingly destructive
to the upper exposed portion of the work, but no es-
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 155
sential injury was done to the lower casemates which
sheltered us.
Some of these shells, however, set the officers' quar
ters on fire three times; but the flames were prompt
ly extinguished once or twice through the exertions
of Peter Hart, whose activity and gallantry were
very conspicuous.
The night was an anxious one for us, for we
thought it probable that the launches, filled witli
armed men from the fleet, might take advantage of
the darkness to come in with provisions and sup
plies. Then, too, it was possible that the enemy
might attempt a night attack. We were on the
alert, therefore, with men stationed at all the embra
sures; but nothing unusual occurred. The batter
ies fired upon us at stated intervals all night long.
We did not return the fire, having no ammunition to
waste.
On the morning of the 13th, we took our breakfast
or, rather, our pork and water at the usual hour,
and marched the men to the guns when the meal
was over.
From 4: to 6f A.M. the enemy's fire was very spirit
ed. From 7 to 8 A.M. a rain - storm came on, and
there was a lull in the cannonading. About 8 A.M.
156 REMINISCENCES OF
the officers' quarters were ignited by one of Rip-
ley's incendiary shells, or by shot heated in the fur
naces at Fort Moultrie. The fire was put out ; but
at 10 A.M. a mortar shell passed through the roof,
and lodged in the flooring of the second story, where
it burst, and started the flames afresh. This, too, was
extinguished; but the hot shot soon followed each
other so rapidly that it was impossible for us to con
tend with them any longer. It became evident that
the entire block, being built with wooden partitions,
floors, and roofing, must be consumed, and that the
magazine, containing three hundred barrels of pow
der, would be endangered ; for, even after closing the
metallic door, sparks might penetrate through the
ventilator. The floor was covered \vith loose pow
der, where a detail of men had been at work manu
facturing cartridge - bags out of old skirts, woolen
blankets, etc.
While the officers exerted themselves with axes to
tear down and cut away all the wood-w r ork in the
vicinity, the soldiers were rolling barrels of powder
out to more sheltered spots, and were covering them
with wet blankets. The labor was accelerated by
the shells which were bursting around us; for Rip-
ley had redoubled his activity at the first signs of a
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 157
conflagration. We only succeeded in getting out
some ninety-six barrels of powder, and then we were
obliged to close the massive copper door, and await
the result. A shot soon after passed through the in
tervening shield, struck the door, and bent the lock
in such a way that it could not be opened again.
We were thus cut off from our supply of ammuni
tion, but still had some piled up in the vicinity of
the guns. Anderson officially reported only four
barrels and three cartridges as on hard when we
left.
By 11 A.M. the conflagration was terrible and dis
astrous. One-fifth of the fort was on fire, and the
wind drove the smoke in dense masses into the angle
where we had all taken refuge. It seemed impossi
ble to escape suffocation. Some lay down close to
the ground, with handkerchiefs over their mouths,
and others posted themselves near the embrasures,
where the smoke was somewhat lessened by the
draught of air. Every one suffered severely. I
crawled out of one of these openings, and sat on the
outer edge; but Ripley made it lively for me there
with his case-shot, which spattered all around. Had
not a slight change of wind taken place, the result
might have been fatal to most of us.
158 REMINISCENCES OF
Our firing having ceased, and the enemy being
very jubilant, I thought it would be as well to show
them that we were not all dead yet, and ordered the
gunners to fire a few rounds more. I heard after
ward that the enemy loudly cheered Anderson for
his persistency under such adverse circumstances.
The scene at this time was really terrific. The
roaring and crackling of the flames, the dense mass
es of whirling smoke, the bursting of the enemy's
shells, and our own which were exploding in the
burning rooms, the crashing of the shot, and the
sound of masonry falling in every direction, made
the fort a pandemonium. When at last nothing was
left of the building but the blackened walls and
smoldering embers, it became painfully evident that
an immense amount of damage had been done. There
was a tower at each angle of the fort. One of these,
containing great quantities of shells, upon which we
had relied, was almost completely shattered by suc
cessive explosions. The massive wooden gates, stud
ded with iron nails, were burned, and the wail built
behind them was now a mere heap of debris, so that
the main entrance was wide open for an assaulting
party. The sally-ports were in a similar condition,
and the numerous windows on the gorge side, which
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 159
had been planked up, had now become all open en
trances.
About 12.48 P.M. the end of the flag-staff was shot
down, and the flag fell.* It had been previously
hanging by one halliard, the other having been cut
by a piece of shell. The exultation of the enemy,
however, was short-lived. Peter Hart found a spar
in the fort, which answered very well as a temporary
flag-staff. He nailed the flag to this, and raised it
triumphantly by nailing and tying the pole firmly to
a pile of gun-carriages on the parapet. This was gal
lantly done, without undue haste, under Seymour's su
pervision, although the enemy concentrated all their
fire upon the spot to prevent Hart from carrying out
his intention. From the beginning, the rebel gun
ners had been very ambitious to shoot the flag down,
and had wasted an immense number of shots in the
attempt.
While the battle was going on, a correspondent
of the New York Tribune, who was in Charleston,
wrote that the populace were calling for my head.
Fortunately, I was not there to gratify them. My
* It is claimed that this shot was fired by Lieutenant W. C. Preston,
of South Carolina.
160 REMINISCENCES OF
relations with the gentlemen of Charleston had al
ways been friendly. The enmity of the mob was
simply political, and was founded on the belief that
I was the only " Black Republican," as they termed
it, in the fort.
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 161
CHAPTER XI.
THE EVACUATION.
Senator Wigfall's Volunteer Mission. Terms of Evacuation Settled.
The Question of Casualties on the Other Side. Salute to the
Flag. Occupation of the Fort by Southern Troops. Embarka
tion. Welcome in New York. Conclusion.
THEEE was a large, first-class wooden hotel, near
the shore, on Sullivan's Island, called the Moultrie
House. It was only kept open during the summer,
and was a favorite resort, for planters and others, to
enjoy the fresh sea-breeze, and the beautiful drive
up the beach at low tide. Since the rebel occupa
tion of Fort Moultrie, this hotel had been used as a
depot and barracks for the troops in the vicinity.
Just before the attack was made upon us, the Pal
metto flag, which had waved over the building, was
taken down ; but I noticed with a spy-glass that there
was still quite a number of people, apparently troops,
remaining in the house. I saw no reason why the
mere lowering of the flag should prevent us from fir
ing at them. I therefore aimed two forty-two pound-
1 62 REMINISCENCES OF
er balls at the upper story. The crashing of the shot,
which went through the whole length of the building
among the clapboards and interior partitions, must
have been something fearful to those who were with
in. They came rushing out in furious haste, and
tumbled over each other until they reached the bot
tom of the front steps, in one writhing, tumultuous
mass.
When we left Fort Sumter, a South Carolina of
ficer, who seemed to feel aggrieved in relation to
this matter, asked me why we fired at that building.
Not caring to enter into a discussion at that time, I
evaded it by telling him the true reason was, that
the landlord had given me a wretched room there
one night, and this being the only opportunity that
had occurred to get even with him, I was unable to
resist it. He laughed heartily, and said, " I under
stand it all now. You were perfectly right, sir, and I
justify the act."
About 2 P.M., Senator Wigfall, in company with
W. Gourdin Young, of Charleston, unexpectedly
made his appearance at one of the embrasures, hav
ing crossed over from Morris Island in a small boat,
rowed by negroes. He had seen the flag come down,
and supposed that we had surrendered in consequence
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 163
of the burning of the quarters. This visit was sanc
tioned by the commander of Morris Island, Briga
dier-general James W. Simons. An artillery-man,
serving his gun, was very much astonished to see a
man's face at the entrance, and asked him what he
was doing there. Wigfall replied that he washed to
see Major Anderson. The man, however, refused to
allow him to enter until he had surrendered himself
as a prisoner, and given up his sword. This done, an
other artillery-man was sent to bring an officer. Lieu
tenant Davis came almost immediately, but it took
some time to find Anderson, who was out examining
the condition of the main gates. I was not present
during this scene, or at the interview that ensued, as
I was engaged in trying to save some shells in the
upper story from the effects of the fire. Wigfall, in
Beau regard's name, offered Anderson his own terms,
which were, the evacuation of the fort, with permis
sion to salute our flag, and to march out with the hon
ors of war, with our arms and private baggage, leav
ing all other war material behind. As soon as this
matter was arranged, Wigfall returned to Cummings
Point.
In the mean time, Beauregard having noticed the
white flag, sent a boat containing Colonel James
1 64 REMINISCENCES OF
Chestnut, and Captain Lee, Colonel Koger A. Pryor,
and Colonel William Porcher Miles, to ascertain the
meaning of the signal. A second boat soon followed,
containing Major D. K. Jones, who was Beauregard's
adjutant -general, Ex-Governor J. L. Manning, and
Colonel Charles Alston.
Miles and Pryor were exceedingly astonished when
they heard that Wigfall had been carrying on nego
tiations in Beauregard's name, and stated that, to
their certain knowledge, he had had no communica
tion with Beauregard. They spoke of the matter
with great delicacy, for Wigfall was a parlous man,
and quick to settle disputed points with the pistol.
Anderson replied with spirit that, under the circum
stances, he would run up his flag again, and resume
the firing. They begged him, however, not to take
action until they had had an opportunity to lay the
whole subject before General Beauregard ; and An
derson agreed to wait a reasonable time for that pur
pose. The boat then returned to the city. In due
time another boat arrived, containing Colonels Chest
nut and Chisholm, and Captain Stephen D. Lee, all
aids of Beauregard. They came to notify Major An
derson that the latter was willing to treat with him
on the basis proposed. Colonel Charles Alston soon
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 165
came over with Major Jones (who was chief -of-staff
to Beauregard, and adjutant-general of the Provis
ional Army), to settle the details of the evacuation.
There was some difficulty about permitting us to sa
lute our flag ; but that, too, was finally conceded. In
case we held out for another day, the rebels had made
arrangements to storm the fort that night.
During all these operations, our officers and men
behaved with great gallantry. Hall, Snyder, and
JVleade had never been under fire before, but they
proved themselves to be true sons of their Alma Ma
ter at West Point.
The first contest of the war was over, and had
ended as a substantial victory for the Secessionists.
They had commenced the campaign naked and de
fenseless ; but the General Government had allowed
them time to levy an army against us, and we had
permitted ourselves to be surrounded with a ring of
fire, from which there was no escape. Nor had we
employed to the fullest extent all our available
means of defense. No attempt had ever been made
to use the upper tier of guns, which contained our
heaviest metal, and which, from its height, overlook
ed the enemy's works, and was, therefore, the most
efficient part of our armament. Although the fire
1 66 REMINISCENCES OF
of our columbiads, under ordinary circumstances,
could not quite reach the city, we had arranged one
of them to point upward at the maximum angle. As
the carriage would not admit of this, the gun was
taken off, and made to rest on a bed of masonry.
Seymour and myself thought, by loading it with ec
centric shells, we could increase the range of the guns
so that the balls would reach that part of Charleston
which was nearest to us; but we were not allowed
to use the gun at all. It seemed to me there was a
manifest desire to do as little damage as possible.
About eighteen hundred shot had been fired into
Fort Sumter, and the upper story was pretty well
knocked to pieces. To walk around the parapet, we
had constantly to climb over heaps of debris. With
all this expenditure of ammunition, we had but one
man dangerously wounded. This was John Schwei-
rer, foreman of the Baltimore brick-layers. He was
struck by a piece of shell while standing near the
open parade-ground. So long as our men fought in
the lower casemates, which were shell-proof, the ver
tical fire could not reach them ; and by drilling them
to step one side of the embrasure whenever they saw
the flash of a gun opposite, they escaped the danger
of being struck by any ball which might enter the
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 167
opening ; so that, on the whole, they ran very little
risk. Had they used the guns on the parapet, the
number of casualties would have been greatly in
creased, but our missiles would have been much
more effective.
When William Porcher Miles was about to enter
the boat to return to Charleston, he told our com
mander that none of the secession soldiers were in
jured by our fire. Anderson raised his hands and
ejaculated, " Thank God for that !" As the object
of our fighting was to do as much damage as possi
ble, I could see no propriety in thanking Heaven for
the small amount of injury we had inflicted. I have
since had reason to suspect, from several circum
stances, that the contest was not as bloodless as it
was represented to be at the time. The coxswain
of the boat that brought Miles over heard him make
the remark that no one 'was hurt on the rebel side.
The man stared at him for a moment in undisguised
amazement, and then stepped aside behind an angle
of the work, where he could indulge in a hearty fit
of laughter. His whole action was that of one who
thought his chief had been indulging in romance.
Of course Miles believed the assertion, or he would
not have made it.
1 68 REMINISCENCES OF
The fact is, Fort Moultrie was all slivered and
knocked to pieces; and as I heard so much in ref
erence to the narrow escapes of officers and soldiers
there, I concluded that, if no one was hurt, a miracle
must have taken place. The rebel who carried dis
patches between Fort Moultrie and Mount Pleasant
in a small boat was in a position to know, and he told
Peter Hart, some years after the war, that a schoon
er, to his certain knowledge, came from Charleston
during the battle, and took off a number of killed
from Fort Moultrie, who were taken to Potter's Field,
on Cooper Kiver, and buried there on Saturday, at
4J A.M. I had previously seen the same story pub
lished as coming from Charleston. A similar state
ment was made, on his arrival in New York, by the
mate of the schooner D. B. Pitts, and it purported
to be founded on his own observation.
When we left Fort Surater for New York, a man
of my company, named Fielding, was seriously in
jured by an explosion, and left behind in the hospi
tal at Charleston. He was frequently visited there
by an old comrade, named Galloway, who was one
of our discharged soldiers. Galloway laughed at the
idea that no one had been injured, and told Fielding
that he himself had served in Fort Moultrie during
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 169
the bombardment, and had seen with his own eyes a
number of killed and wounded there. If Galloway's
story is true, Ripley may have concealed his losses,
as he did not wish to have us appear more successful
than he had been. I believe there were a great many
Irish laborers enlisted in Fort Moultrie, and their loss
would hardly have excited a remark in aristocratic
Charleston. It is said, too, that a list of killed and
wounded was posted up on a bulletin-board in the
city, and afterward torn down, for fear that it might
discourage the troops. On the other hand, the asser
tion of men holding high official position on the oth
er sfde, that no one was killed or injured, would seem
to leave little room for doubt.
When Beauregard received notice that Anderson
was willing to ratify the terms agreed upon, he sent
over another boat, containing Colonel Miles, Colonel
Pryor, Ex-Governor Manning, Major Jones, and Cap
tain Hartstein, to arrange the details of the evacua
tion.
Almost a fatal accident occurred to Roger A. Pry
or shortly after his arrival in the fort. He was sit
ting in the hospital at a table, with a black bottle
and a tumbler near his right hand. The place was
quite dark, having been built up all around with
8
1 70 REMINISCENCES OF
boxes of sand, to render it shell-proof. Being thirsty,
and not noticing what he did, he mechanically pick
ed up the bottle, poured some of the liquid into the
glass, and drank it down. It proved to be iodide of
potassium, which is quite a poisonous compound.
When I saw him, he was very pale, and leaning on
the shoulder of Dr. Crawford, who was taking him
out on the grass to apply the stomach-pump. He
was soon out of danger. Some of us questioned the
doctor's right to interpose in a case of this kind. It
was argued that if any rebel leader chose to come
over to Fort Sumter and poison himself, the Medical
Department had no business to interfere with such a
laudable intention. The doctor, however, claimed,
with some show of reason, that he himself was held
responsible to the United States for the medicine in
the hospital, and therefore he could not permit Pryor
to carry any of it away.
All of the preliminaries having been duly adjusted,
it was decided that the evacuation should take place
the next morning. Our arrangements were few and
simple, but the rebels made extensive preparations
for the event, in order to give it the greatest eclat,
and gain from it as much prestige as possible. The
population of the surrounding country poured into
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 17 1
Charleston in vast multitudes, to witness the humili
ation of the United States flag. We slept soundly
that night for the first time, after all the fatigue and
excitement of the two preceding days.
The next morning, Sunday, the 14th, we were up
early, packing our baggage in readiness to go on
board the transport. The time having arrived, I
made preparations, by order of Major Anderson, to
fire a national salute to the flag. It was a dangerous
thing to attempt, as sparks of fire were floating around
everywhere, and there was no safe place to deposit
the ammunition. In that portion of the line com
manded by Lieutenant Hall, a pile of cartridges lay
under the muzzle of one of the guns. Some fire had
probably lodged inside the piece, which the sponging
did not extinguish, for, in loading it, it went off pre
maturely, and blew off the right arm of the gunner,
Daniel Hough, who was an excellent soldier. His
death was almost instantaneous. He was the first
man who lost his life on our side in the war for the
Union. The damage did not end here, for some of
the fire from the muzzle dropped on the pile of cart
ridges below, and exploded them all. Several men
in the vicinity were blown into the air, and seriously
injured. Their names were George Fielding, John
172 REMINISCENCES OF
Irwin, George Pinchard, and Edwin Galway, and, I
think, James Hayes. The first -named being very
badly hurt, was left behind, to be cared for by the
rebels. He was sent over to Charleston, where he
was well treated, finally cured, and forwarded to us
without being exchanged.
The salute being over, the Confederate troops
inarched in to occupy the fort. The Palmetto Guard,
Captain Cuthbert's company, detailed by Colonel
De Saussure, and Captain Hollinquist's Company B,
of the regulars, detailed by Colonel Eipley, consti
tuted the new garrison under Ripley.* Anderson di
rected me to form the men on the parade-ground, as
sume command, and march them on board the trans
port. I told him I should prefer to leave the fort
with the flag flying, and the drums beating Yankee
Doodle, and he authorized me to do so. As soon as
our tattered flag came down, and the silken banner
made by the ladies of Charleston was run up, tre
mendous shouts of applause were heard from the
* Edmund Ruffin entered the fort as a volunteer ensign of the Pal
metto Guard ; Captain Samuel Ferguson received the keys of Fort
Sumter, and raised the Confederate flag over the ramparts ; Lieuten
ant-colonel F. J. Moses raised the State flag. Moses has since fig
ured as the Republican governor of South Carolina.
FORTS SUMTER AND MO UL TRIE. 173
vast multitude of spectators; and all the vessels and
steamers, with one accord, made for the fort. Cor
poral Bringhurst came running to tell me that many
of the approaching crowd were shouting my name,
and making threatening demonstrations. The dis
order, however, was immediately quelled by the ap
pearance of Hartstein, an ex-officer of our navy, w r ho
threw out sentinels in all directions, and prevented
the mob from landing.
The bay was alive with floating craft of every de
scription, filled with people from all parts of the
South, in their holiday attire. As I marched out at
the head of our little band of regulars, it must have
presented a strange contrast to the numerous forces
that had assailed us ; some sixty men against six
thousand. As we went on board the Isabel, with the
drums beating the national air, all eyes were fixed
upon us amidst the deepest silence. It was an hour
of triumph for the originators of secession in South
Carolina, and no doubt it seemed to them the cul
mination of all their hopes ; but could they have
seen into the future with the eye of prophecy, their
joy might have been turned into mourning. Who
among them could have conceived that the Charles
ton they deemed so invincible, which they boasted
174 REMINISCENCES OF
would never be polluted by the footsteps of a Yan
kee invader until every son of the soil had shed the
last drop of his blood in her defense who could
have imagined that this proud metropolis, after much
privation and long-suffering from fire and bombard
ment, would finally surrender, without bloodshed, to
a negro regiment, under a Massachusetts flag the
two most abhorred elements of the strife to the
proud people of South Carolina? Who could have
imagined that the race they had so despised was des
tined to govern them in the future, in the dense ig
norance which the South itself had created, by pro
hibiting the education of the blacks?
My story is nearly done. We soon reached the
Baltic, and were received with great sympathy and
feeling by the army and navy officers present.
Among the latter was Captain Fox, who afterward
became the Assistant Secretary of the Na\-y.
It is worthy of remark that, after we had left the
harbor, Bishop Lynch, of Charleston, threw the Cath
olic influence in favor of the Secessionists by cele
brating the Southern victory by a grand Te Deum.
We arrived in New York on the 19th, and were
received with unbounded enthusiasm. All the pass
ing steamers saluted us with their steam-whistles and
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 175
bells, and cheer after cheer went up from the ferry
boats and vessels in the harbor. We did not attempt
to land, but came to anchor in the stream, between
Governor's Island and the Battery. Several distin
guished citizens at once came on board, and Major
Anderson was immediately carried off to dine with
Mr. Lloyd Aspinwall. As somebody had to remain
with the troops and attend to their wants, I accom
panied them to Fort Hamilton, where we soon found
ourselves in comfortable quarters. Nearly all of the
officers obtained a furlough immediately ; but I re
mained in command of the fort during the tempora
ry absence of Major Anderson, who was soon after
permanently detached from us.
Our captivity had deeply touched the hearts of
the people, and every day the number of visitors al
most amounted to an ovation. The principal city
papers, the Tribune, Times, Herald, and Evening
Post, gave us a hearty welcome. For a long time
the enthusiasm in New York remained undimin-
ished. It was impossible for us to venture into the
main streets without being ridden on the shoulders
of men, and torn to pieces by hand-shaking. Shortly
after our arrival, Henry Ward Beecher came down
to the fort to meet us, and made a ringing speech,
176 REMINISCENCES OF
of fire and patriotism. It seemed as if every
one of note called to express his devotion to the
cause of the Union, and his sympathy with us, who
had been its humble representatives amidst the per
ils of the first conflict of the war.
As I have stated, of the officers who were engaged
in the operations herein narrated, but four now sur
vive.
George W. Snyder was the first to leave us. He
was present in the battle of Bull Run, attained the
brevet of captain, and died in Washington, District
of Columbia, on the 17th of November, 1861.
Theodore Talbot became assistant-adjutant-gener
al, with the rank of major, and died on the 22d of
April, 1862, also in "Washington.
Richard K. Meade was induced, by the pressure
of social and family ties, to resign his commission in
our army. He became a rebel officer, and died at
Petersburg, Virginia, in July, 1862.
Norman J. Hall became colonel of the Seventh
Michigan Volunteers, and received three brevets in
the regular army, the last being for gallant and dis
tinguished services at Gettysburg. He died on the
26th of May, 1867, at Brooklyn, New York.
John L. Gardner received the brevet of brigadier-
FORTS SUMTER AND MOULTRIE. 177
general, and was retired at the commencement of the
war. He died at Wilmington, Delaware, on the 19th
of February, 1869.
Robert Anderson was made a brigadier -general,
and afterward a brevet major-general, for his serv
ices at Fort Snmter. He served about six months
as Commander of the Department of Kentucky and
of the Cumberland, and was then obliged to leave
the field in consequence of ill health. He was re
tired from active service on the 27th of October,
1863, and died at Nice, in France, on the 26th day
of October, 1871.
Lastly, John GK Foster, after a brilliant career as
commander of a department and army corps, died at
Nashua, New Hampshire, September 2d, 1874.
Each of us who survive became major-general
during the rebellion, and each now holds the same
grade by brevet in the regular army.
Mr. Edward Moale, the citizen who remained with
ns, did excellent service in the war. At present he
is a brevet lieutenant-colonel in the regular army.
This statement of events was completed at New
York, April 14th, 1875, on the fourteenth anniversa
ry of the evacuation of Fort Surnter.
8*
APPENDIX.
List of Officers and Enlisted Men present at the Bombardment of
Fort Sumter, April 12th and 13^, 1861.
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Major ROBERT ANDERSON, First United States Artillery.
Captain ABNER DOUBLEDAY, First United States Artillery.
Captain TRUMAN SEYMOUR, First United States Artillery.
First Lieutenant JEFFERSON C. DAVIS, First United States Artillery.
Second Lieutenant NORMAN J. HALL, First United States Artillery.
Captain J. G. FOSTER, United States Engineers.
Lieutenant G. W. SNYDER, United States Engineers.
Lieutenant R. K. MEADE, United States Engineers.
Assistant Surgeon S. W. CRAWFORD, United States Army.
ENLISTED MEN.
Ordnance-sergeant James Kearney, United States Army.
Quartermaster-sergeant William H. Hammer, First United States Ar
tillery.
Regimental Band, First Artillery.
Sergeant James E. Gal way.
Corporal Andrew Smith.
Private Andrew Murphy.
" Fedeschi Onoratti.
Private Peter Rice.
" Henry Schmidt,
" John Urquhart.
" Andrew Wickstroni.
Company E, First Artillery.
First Sergeant Eugene Scheibner.
Sergeant Thomas Kirnan.
" William A. Harn.
" James Chester.
Corporal Owen M'Guire.
" Francis J. Oakes.
** Charles Bringhurst.
" Henry Ellerbrook.
iSo
APPENDIX.
Musician Charles Hall.
Private Philip Anderman.
" John Erail Noack.
" Cornelius Baker.
" Thomas Carroll.
" Patrick Clancy.
" John Davis.
" James Digdam.
" George Fielding.
" Edward Gallway.
" James Gibbons.
" James Hays.
Company H,
First Sergeant John Renehan.
Sergeant James M'Mahon.
" John Carmody.
* John Otto.
Corporal Christopher Costolan.
Musician Robert Foster.
Artificer Henry Strandt.
Private Edward Brady.
" Barney Cain.
" John Doran.
'* Dennis Johnson.
" John Kehoe.
" John Klein.
" John Lanagan.
" Frederick Lintner.
" John Magill.
Private Daniel Hongh.
" John Irwin.
" James M 'Donald.
" Samuel Miller.
" John Newport.
" George Pinch ard.
" Frank Rivers.
" Lewis Schroeder.
" Carl A. Sellman.
" John Thompson.
" Charles H. Tozer.
" William Witzman.
First Artillery.
Private John Laroche.
" Frederick Meier.
" James Moore.
" William Morter.
" Patrick Neilan.
" John Nixon.
" Michael O'Donald.
" Robert Roe.
" William Walker.
u Joseph Wall.
" Edmond Walsh.
41 Henry R. Walter.
" Herman Will.
*' Thomas Wishnowski.
*' Casper Wutterpel.
List of Mechanics and Employe's present in Fort Sumter during the
Bombardment, April 12th and 13th, 1861.
EMPLOYES OF THE ENGINEER DEPARTMENT.
George Coons, mason.
John Schweirer, "
John Buckley, smith.
John Lindsay, carpenter.
John Saxton, rigger.
James Tweedle, smith.
Wm. O. Lyman, overseer.
APPENDIX.
181
Michael Berne.
John Burns.
John Branley.
Peter Caine.
Patrick Conner.
Michael Cummins.
William Dorsey.
Edward Davis.
Patrick Donahoe.
Peter Donley.
William Eagen.
Andrew Felton.
Michael Goff.
James Hewlett.
Patrick Heeney.
Andrew Lindsey.
Samuel Abraze.
LABORERS.
Dennis Magrath.
John M'Carty.
James M'Mahon.
Michael Meechins.
Thomas Murphy.
Thomas Myers.
William Powers.
Edward Quinn.
Patrick Quinn.
Martin Rafferty.
John Riley.
Michael Ryan.
Jeremiah Ryan.
James Ryan.
James Shea.
COOKS.
| Patrick Walsh.
The following is taken from a South Carolina official document, but
it seems somewhat defective in detail :
List of Confederate Batteries constructed with a View to the Reduc
tion of Fort Sumter.
ON MORRIS ISLAND.
Brigadier-general JAMBS W. SIMONS, commanding ; Colonel WILMOT
G. DE SAUSSURE, commanding Artillery Battalion. Lieutenant J.
R. MACBETH, Captain J. JONES, and Lieutenant F. L. CHILDS,
acting as aids to Colonel DE SAUSSURE.
STEVENS BATTERY. (Ffred 1200 shots.)
Three Eight-inch columbiads.
Garrisoned by the Palmetto Guard, Captain GEORGE B. CUTHBERT
commanding; Lieutenant G. L. BUIST. The ammunition was
served out by Mr. PHILIPS and Mr. CAMPBELL. One gun was dis
abled on Friday.
182 APPENDIX.
CUMMINGS POINT BATTERY.
Two forty-two-pounders, three ten-inch mortars, one Blakely gun.
Garrisoned by a detachment of the Palmetto Guard, and by cadets
from the Citadel Academy in Charleston. Captain J. P. THOMAS,
of the Citadel Academy, commanding Blakely gun ; Lieutenant C.
R. HOLMES, of the Citadel Academy, commanding mortars ; Lieu
tenant W. W. ARMSTRONG, of the Citadel Academy, at the mortars ;
Second Lieutenant THOMAS SUMTER, of the Palmetto Guard, in
charge of the forty-two-pounders.
CHANNEL BATTERY. (Did not fire.)
Captain CALHOUN, commanding; First Lieutenant A. M.WAGNER;
Lieutenant SITGREAVES ; Second Lieutenant M. C. PRESTON.
ON JAMES ISLAND.
Major N. G. EVANS, A. A. G., commanding.
BATTERY OP TWENTY-FOUR-POUNDERS.
Captain GEORGE S. JAMES, commanding.
MORTAR BATTERY.
First Lieutenant W. H. GIBBES, of the Artillery ; Lieutenant H. S.
FARLEY; Lieutenant J. E. M'PHERSON, Washington; Lieutenant
T. B. HAYNE ; Doctor LIBBY.
UPPER BATTERY. (Fired 2425 shots.)
Two ten-inch mortars.
LOWER BATTERY.
Two ten-inch mortars.
Captain S. C. TIIAYER, of the S. C. Navy, commanding.
ON SULLIVAN'S ISLAND.
Brigadier -general JOHN DUNOVANT, commanding. Lieutenant- col
onel KOSWELL S. RIPLEY, commanding the Artillery; Captain J.
APPENDIX. 183
B. BURNS, of General DUNOVANT'S staff; Surgeons P. J. ROBIN
SON, R. F. MITCHELL, and ARTHUR LYNCH ; Assistant - surgeons
D. W. TAYLOR, Doctor F. F. MILES, Doctor F. L. PARKER.
THE IRON-CLAD- FLOATING BATTERY. (At the Cove. Fired 1900 shots.)
Two forty-two-pounders. Two thirty-two-pounders.
Garrisoned by Company D, of the Artillery. Captain JAMES HAM
ILTON; First Lieutenant J. A. YATES, Second Lieutenant F. H.
HARLESTON.
THE DAHLGREN BATTERY. (Near the Floating Battery.)
One nine-inch Dahlgfen gun.
Garrisoned by Company D, of the Artillery. Captain S. R. HAMIL
TON ; Mr. JOHN WELLS.
THE ENFILADE BATTERY. (Fired 1825 shots.)
Garrisoned by Company K, of the Artillery, Captain JAMES H. HAL-
LONQUIST, Company B, of the Artillery, commanding ; First Lieu
tenant J. VALENTINE, B. S. BURNETT.
MORTAR BATTERY, NO. 1. (Between Fort Moultrie and the Cove.)
Captain JAMES H. HALLONQUIST, Company B, of the Artillery, com
manding. Lieutenant O. BLANDING, Lieutenant FLEMING.
FORT MOULTRIE. (Fired 1825 shots.)
Three eight-inch co/umbiads, two thirty-two-pounders, four twenty-
four-pounders.
Garrisoned by the Artillery Battalion under Lieutenant-colonel RIP-
LEY. Captain W. R. CALHOUN, Company A, of the Artillery, ex
ecutive officer.
SUMTER BATTERY. (Facing south-south-west.)
Lieutenant ALFRED RHETT, Company B, Artillery, commanding;
Second Lieutenant JOHN MITCHELL, Jun. ; Mr. F. D. BLAKE, Vol
unteer Engineer.
OBLIQUE BATTERY. (On the west.)
Two twenty -four-pounders.
Lieutenant C. W. PARKER, Company D, of the Artillery.
1 84 APPENDIX.
MORTAR BATTERY, No. 2. (East of Fort Moultrie.)
Two ten-inch mortars.
Captain WILLIAM BUTLER, of the Infantry ; Lieutenant J. A. HUGE-
NIN. E. MOWRY, Mr. BLOCKER, Mr. BILLINGS, and Mr. RICE as
sisted. This battery was joined to the Maffit Channel Battery.
THE TRAPIER BATTERY. (Fired 1300 shots.)
Three ten-inch mortars.
Garrisoned by the Marion Artillery, J. GADSDEN KING, commanding.
Lieutenant W. D. II. KIRKWOOD, J. P. STROHECKER, A. M. Hc-
GER, E. L. PARKER. The Marion Artillery was afterward relieved
by the Sumter Guard, under Captain JOHN RUSSELL,
AT MOUNT PLEASANT.
BATTERY. (Fired 2925. shots.)
Two ten-inch mortars.
Cnptain ROBERT MARTIN of the Infantry, commanding ; Lieutenant
G. N. REYNOLDS, Company B, of the Artillery ; Lieutenant I). S.
CALHOUN, of the Infantry.
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Reminiscences of Fort;
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Call Number:
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7
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168506
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