Sullivan’s Island March 5^th 61

On the night of the 5^th March the Str. “Excel”, a large high pressure boat, came puffing up the creek and brought orders for the removal of the regiment to Sullivan’s Island, for which place they departed next day, leaving our company there in charge of some stores that could not be carried on that trip;  after waiting nearly [25] two days, a flat boat arrived on the 8^th, on which we were embarked with the stores, and off she steamed down Light House creek, where as it was low tide, she grounded very often on some of the many banks there;  after many such stoppages we got into the harbor and steamed across for our destination;  passing a streamer on an excursion, the same saluting us by dipping their flag and ringing their bell to which compliment we responded with “three cheers and a tiger,” at the same time waving our company flag; and all this within a short distance of the grim fortress, Sumter.  Arriving at last at Sullivan’s Island we took up our quarters at a house on the front beach, near the “Moultrie House,” the latter a large fine hotel taken down by the confederates as a too prominent mark for the federals, at this hotel the regimental headquarters had been established.

Divine Service Episcopal Church, Sullivan’s Island

The first Sunday there I attended services at the Episcopal church, now only a pile of bricks, but I must acknowledge that during the sermon, though it was a good one, my mind would often wander to home and loved ones, and wished myself there. [26]

“Myrtles” Sullivan’s Is’d Apl 9/61

With the usual routine of drills and guard duty on the beach, interrupted only by a regimental court martial to try some of the members of the Moultrie Guard, a company then belonging to the regiment, who had tied a white sheet over a donkey and letting it run at large, causing as it was reported, great consternation among some of the country soldiers who thought it was a ghost, time passed until on the 9^th April the regiment was ordered to the “Myrtles” higher up on the island, in expectation of the attack on Fort Sumter, during which our regiment was to prevent any landing of the enemy from their vessels to flank our batteries lower down.  The two first days passed very quietly, the increasing number of the enemy’s war vessels off the bar, the top masts of which could be distinctly seen from our camp,  being the only break in the dull monotony of our duties.

Battle of Fort Sumter Apl 12-18/61

At 4 o’clock on the morning of the 12^th April, the report of a gun from Fort Johnson aroused the whole camp, we knew then that the battle had begun and the excitement among the men became great; [27] orders were issued to the different companies for the men to remain in their respective camps, but still a large number went off to where they could get a better view of the conflict; I remained in camp until in the afternoon my impatience got the best of me and I went as far as the Moultrie Houseal others.  Sumter was holding out defiantly, shot and shell were pouring into her from all sides whilst she returned the fire slowly and deliberately, no doubt to make the most of her scant supply, or in expectation of succor from the fleet outside. I returned in camp just in time to “fall in” to a roll call that had been ordered to note absentees.

During that night we “slept on our arms,” that is:  we had to lie down for the night in our uniform, with the cartridge box and 40 rounds of ammunition around on our belt around our waist, and the rifle in our arms, the uncomfortableness of which it will not be hard to convince any one of;  this precaution was taken in order to be ready at any moment should the enemy attempt a [28] to land, but we “had” the pains for our trouble not even a movement of their vessels was made.  The next morning the bombardment that had slacked off almost entirely during the night began again with renewed vigor, Sumter’s firing being more sparing;  about 1 o’clock the flagstaff of Fort Sumter was shot away, which raised a shout in our camp, while a boat under flag of truce put off from Morris Island for the fort, but before they had proceeded far the Stars and Stripes had been replaced; almost simultaneously though a dense smoke arose from Sumter and it became apparent that the fort was on fire; not long after a white flag appeared on the ramparts and the bombardment ceased; the battle was over, the victory won, as it proved afterwards without bloodshed on either side.

Surrender of Fort Sumter Apl 13/61

At 2 o’clock P.M. on the 13^th April Fort Sumter struck her flag in token of surrender, and a glad shout arose on all sides and the Palmetto flag had won its first laurels.  Not a word of reproach was there for the brave soldier who, against such odds, had so nobly defended the honor of his flag, [29]  while the fleet, the duty of which should have been to aid or relieve him lay quietly at anchor outside; they could have hardly failed to see what was going on, and although sent for the purpose had brought no help to poor besieged Anderson for which they were denounced even by our men.  The terms of surrender granted to Maj. Anderson were very favorable though they were well deserved, it showed that a brave deed is always admired, even from an enemy; the conditions were:  That he could march out of the fort with full honors, with the side arms, colors and private property of the garrison, and that he be allowed to salute his flag on withdrawing from the fort, to be permitted to go out to the fleet for transportation outwards, the surrender to take place the next day, Sunday 14^th at 12 M.  At the appointed time the Steamship “Isabel” went to Fort Sumter, a salute of 100 guns was fired, the flag taken down, and the brave little garrison marched out and embarked on the steamship and went out to the fleet where they were transferred to one of the United States vessels.  [30]

During the firing of the salute it was remarked that the report of one gun was so much heavier than the others, which was afterwards learned to have been caused by the explosion of one of the guns, by which one man was killed and several wounded; thus the only blood spilt during the engagement was on the enemy’s side, and in saluting his flag.  After the withdrawal of the garrison the Palmetto flag was run up the ramparts amidst the cheers and shouts of the troops on all sides.  A company of regulars from Fort Moultrie, the Palmetto guard from Morris Island, and a fire engine from the city arrived at the fort immediately after its evacuation, and the air that had so lately yet resounded with the reports of the cannon and bursting shells, became peaceful and quiet;  thus ended the first battle for southern independence. 

The first days after the engagement, we had enough to interest us in looking around at the batteries and houses, noticing the damage done to them, as the effect of the shot and shell; among the former, Fort Moultrie had received the most attention and was [31] of course the most damaged, while among the houses that of Mr. Henry Getjen, at the point, near the wharf, which had been used by us as a guardhouse before the bombardment, had been completely riddled, an old piano standing in one of the ruins had been totally knocked to pieces; this house had been in the range of the floating battery, a covered battery protected by railroad iron, manning four guns and made to float to any point desired, this battery was also protected by Mr. C. H. Stevens, and gave the first idea of using iron as a protection for vessels, first to the confederates and then to the monitors of the federals, now the whole world nearly has taken the idea to used the same to perfection in the ponderous iron-clads of the present day.  Yet in spite of the armor of the battery, the same had not been bomb-proof as several holes could be seen through the iron.