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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/34566-h.zip b/34566-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a6cdb18 --- /dev/null +++ b/34566-h.zip diff --git a/34566-h/34566-h.htm b/34566-h/34566-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c7ef1a --- /dev/null +++ b/34566-h/34566-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1930 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Reminiscences of Service with the First Volunteer Regiment of Georgia, by Colonel Charles H. Olmstead. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + + h1 {text-align: center; clear: both; font-weight: normal;} + + h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center; clear: both;} + + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + + a {text-decoration: none;} + + em {font-style: italic;} + + .hidden {display: none;} + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; left: 92%; font-style: normal; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .bbox {border: 2px black solid; padding: 1em; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + + .sig {margin-left: 4em; padding-bottom: 2em;} /* signature at end of article */ + + .lrgfont {font-size: 120%;} + .smlfont {font-size: 90%;} + .vsmlfont {font-size: 75%;} + .tinyfont {font-size: 50%;} + + .padtop {padding-top: 3em;} + .padbase {padding-bottom: 3em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Reminiscences of Service with the First +Volunteer Regiment of Georgia, Charleston Harbor, in 1863, by Charles H. Olmstead + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Reminiscences of Service with the First Volunteer Regiment of Georgia, Charleston Harbor, in 1863 + An address delivered before the Georgia Historical Society, + March 3, 1879 + +Author: Charles H. Olmstead + +Release Date: December 4, 2010 [EBook #34566] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REMINISCENCES OF SERVICE IN 1863 *** + + + + +Produced by Sam W. and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from +scanned images of public domain material from the Google +Print project.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<h1 class="padtop">REMINISCENCES OF SERVICE<br /> +<br /> +<span class="tinyfont">WITH THE</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="lrgfont">FIRST VOLUNTEER REGIMENT</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="vsmlfont">OF GEORGIA,</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap vsmlfont">Charleston Harbor, in 1863</span>.</h1> + +<p class="center padtop padbase"><span class="lrgfont">AN ADDRESS</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="vsmlfont">DELIVERED BEFORE THE</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="lrgfont">GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY,</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smlfont">MARCH 3, 1879.</span><br /> +<br /> +BY COLONEL CHARLES H. OLMSTEAD.</p> + +<p class="center padtop padbase"><span class="smlfont">SAVANNAH, GA.:</span><br /> +<span class="vsmlfont">PRINTED AND PRESENTED BY J. H. ESTILL, PROPRIETOR MORNING NEWS,</span><br /> +1879.</p> + + + +<p class="padtop"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>3]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="smcap">Annals of the War.</h2> + + +<p>In preparing the following paper, it +has been my desire only to record what +its title suggests—personal reminiscences.</p> + +<p>Leaving to other and abler pens the +task of writing an accurate history of +the scenes and events to which reference +is now about to be made, I shall confine +myself simply to the task of setting down +such things as came under my personal +observation, or within the scope of my +individual knowledge.</p> + +<p>I do this the more confidently, remembering +the marked interest that invariably +attaches to the testimony of an eyewitness, +and also bearing in mind (for +my own comfort) that this interest will +always incline his hearers to leniency in +judging literary demerits. It is probable, +too, that some of my old comrades will +be pleased at this recurrence to an eventful +period in their lives, while a younger +generation in the ranks may be glad to +have placed before them a record, not of +the “pomp and circumstance of glorious +war,” but of its privations, its hardships, +its perils, and, it may be added, its lessons +of self-abnegation and of devotion to +duty.</p> + +<p>Early in the month of July, 1863, +while stationed very comfortably at the +Isle of Hope, a courier, “spurring in hot +haste,” brought orders from Department +headquarters that set our camp at once +in a turmoil of eager and excited preparation. +The 32d Georgia, Col. George P. +Harrison, Jr., the 12th and 18th Georgia +Battalions, Lieut.-Col. H. D. Capers and +Major W. S. Basinger, and a battalion +from the First Volunteer Regiment of +Georgia, were ordered to proceed with +the least possible delay to Savannah, there +to take cars for Charleston.</p> + +<p>A private note at the same time +brought the intelligence that that city, +so long threatened, and, indeed, once already +assailed by sea, was now to undergo +a vigorous and combined attack from +both land and naval forces. The day +was an eventful one to us without this +additional stimulant. In the morning +we had received the sad news of the fall +of Vicksburg and the consequent opening +of the Mississippi river to the Federal +fleet, from the mountains to the sea, +a disaster that secured to the enemy the +grand object of his most strenuous exertions, +while it severed the young Confederacy +in twain and deprived our armies +east of the river of all the aid and +comfort in the way of material supplies +and gallant recruits, that had been so long +and so freely drawn from the west bank. +We had just learned, too, of the check +received by General Lee at the battle of +Gettysburg, and now came the summons +to tell that our turn had come for a little +squeeze in the folds of the traditional +“Anaconda,” that the New York <i>Herald</i> +had so graphically depicted as encircling +the South.</p> + +<p>The men received the orders with enthusiasm—indeed, +when was it otherwise +with the Southern soldier. +Thoroughly conversant, as they all were, +with the details of the war, they could +not but be depressed by the news of such +grave reverses to our arms as the morning’s +mail had brought them, and they +gladly welcomed the relief that active +service promised from the tedium of +camp life, and the necessity of thinking +upon melancholy subjects.</p> + +<p>Our march began in the midst of a terrific +thunder-storm that had the effect, +not only of cooling down any overplus +of excitement, but also of rendering the +road to the city almost a quagmire +throughout its entire length.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>4]</a></span> +There are pleasanter ways of spending +a summer’s evening than in trudging +for eight miles, through mud and rain, in +heavy marching order; but upon this, as +on similar occasions during the war, I +was deeply impressed by the uncomplaining +patience and cheerfulness with +which the men endured hardships that +few would care to face now, but which, +then, were regarded as mere matters of +course—distasteful, certainly—but not +worth talking about.</p> + +<p>The storm delayed our march considerably, +and upon reaching the depot we +found that the 32d Regiment, which had +been stationed at a point nearer the city, +had already taken train for Charleston.</p> + +<p>We, too, were soon <i>en route</i>, and early +in the forenoon of the following day—July +10, 1863—the three battalions were +safely in bivouac at the terminus of the +Savannah and Charleston Railroad. +Here we were met by a staff officer, who +informed us that we were to reinforce +the garrison of Battery Wagner, on Morris +Island, and that at dusk the necessary +transportation would be furnished to +take us down to the fort. He also told +us that the enemy, under cover of a tremendous +fire of artillery, from batteries +on Folly Island, which had been unmasked +during the night, had effected a +lodgment on the south end of Morris +Island, and had driven our forces back +upon “Wagner,” which fortification +would, doubtless, be attacked on the +next day. We learned, also, that another +force was threatening James Island, and +that the 32d had been sent, with other +troops, to meet that danger. Events +proved that this last was a feint, to distract +attention from the main attack.</p> + +<p>All day we remained quietly at this +place, endeavoring to make out the various +points of interest in the beautiful +harbor spread before us, and watching +the little clouds of smoke that ascended +from the parapets of Fort Sumter, as its +guns were slowly fired at the enemy. It +was a lovely day, clear and bright, without +a cloud in the sky. The vegetation +about us, freshened by the rain of the +previous evening, added sweet odors to +the soft sea-breeze that came up the bay. +Upon our left the city of Charleston “sat +like a queen,” her roof tops and spires +glittering in the sunlight, while afar +down, over an expanse of shining water, +could be seen the ships of the fleet +swinging lazily at their anchors.</p> + +<p>The picture was beautiful, and for one +I would have found it difficult to realize +that beneath it all were the grim front +and iron hand of war, but for the dull +rumble of the constantly recurring shot +from Sumter. That was “the fly in the +ointment of the apothecary;” that “the +spectre at the feast;” that the refrain +ever ringing in our ears and suggesting +the unwelcome thought—“it looks peaceful +enough now, but just wait until tomorrow.”</p> + +<p>About nightfall we embarked in a +steamer that had been sent for us, and, +after many delays, were safely landed at +Cumming’s Point, on the northern end +of Morris Island. The line was formed +at once, and we set out for Battery Wagner, +reporting to its commander, Col. +Graham, of the 21st South Carolina Regiment, +at about 11 o’clock at night.</p> + +<p>At the risk of being somewhat tedious, +I must here devote a few lines to the topography +of this famous island. It is a +long, narrow strip of sand, running almost +due north and south for about four +miles, varying in breadth from, say one +hundred yards at the narrowest point to +half a mile at the broadest. Upon the +west side the island is separated from +James Island by Vincent’s creek and by +broad marshes intersected by numerous +salt water creeks, while its eastern shore +is washed throughout its entire length +by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. At +the south end were the batteries from +which our troops had been driven in the +morning. Light House Inlet separated +this point from Folly Island, and across +this inlet the enemy had suddenly thrown +their forces, under cover of a furious +fire of artillery, as has already been +stated. At the northern extremity of the +island, known as Cumming’s Point, was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>5]</a></span> +located Battery Gregg, and about three +quarters of a mile to the south of this, +Battery Wagner stretched entirely across +the island from the sea on the left to Vincent’s +creek on the right, the battery +facing due south. It was an irregular +work. On the extreme left a heavy traverse +and curtain protected the sally +port and gave a flanking fire down the +beach to any force that might assail the +main work. Then came a salient, one +face of which commanded the ship channel, +then a broken line, arranged for +flanking fires, extending to the marsh. +The parapets were solid, and a broad, +deep, dry moat added boldness to their +profile. Within the parade were bomb-proofs +and lightly constructed barracks +for the small garrison that had heretofore +occupied the work. The armament consisted +of one 10 inch Columbiad and +some 32-pounders in the sea face, and +four or five lighter guns, chiefly howitzers, +on the land side. A short distance +in front of the right of the line an inward +bend of Vincent’s creek narrowed +the island in such manner as to render it +obligatory upon an attacking force to deliver +its assault only against the left half +of the fort, and also affording scant opportunity +for the deployment of such a +column. In point of fact this peculiar +feature in the topography proved of +great service to us, and correspondingly +troublesome to the enemy in the operations +that followed. The surface of the +island is but little raised above the level +of the sea and presents a glaring stretch +of white sandy hillocks, which were +sparsely dotted with the coarse grasses +of the coast, and which changed their +contour in every high wind.</p> + +<p>There is but to add that the main +channel by which ships enter Charleston +harbor runs within easy gunshot of +Morris Island from one end of it to the +other, then crosses to the northward and +passes between Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s +Island, and Fort Sumter, built +upon a shoal about midway between the +two islands.</p> + +<p>From this rapid sketch, reference being +had to the map, it will be readily appreciated +that from the base held by the +enemy, a <em>front</em> attack upon Charleston +could begin here and nowhere else; and +that, as the defences of the inner harbor +were at that time imperfect, the immediate +fall of Wagner would gravely impair +the safety of Charleston also. But +that little mound of sand had its history +to make, a story that will ever bring a +flush of honest pride to the face of every +man who participated in the long defence.</p> + +<p>As soon as we had reported to Colonel +Graham, the troops were put into position, +the 18th Battalion in the salient, the +12th upon its right, and the 1st Georgia +on the left, occupying the flanking curtain +and the sea face, to which allusion +has been made. The guns were all +manned by South Carolina artillery and +the right and centre of the fort were +held by infantry from the same State. +The men were cautioned that an attack +was expected at daylight, and then, tired +out, they slept on their arms upon the +ramp, ready at a moment’s call for action. +Captain C. Werner, of the German Volunteers, +was appointed officer of the +night, and in a few minutes every sound +was hushed save the swash of the waves +upon the beach, and the occasional challenge +of a sentinel from his post.</p> + +<p>My own resting place was upon the +parapet, and looking up to the cloudless +heavens above the solemn glory of the +night impressed itself upon my last +waking thoughts.</p> + +<p>At the first peep of dawn, on the 11th, +we were wakened by a few straggling +shots in our front, followed by a ringing +cheer and three distinct volleys of musketry +from our picket line. The anticipated +assault was upon us. In an instant, +the garrison was aroused, and as the men +had slept in position they had only to +spring to their feet, and we were ready. +Now we could see our pickets, their duty +having been faithfully performed, retiring +rapidly towards our right, in accordance +with the instructions they had +received, so as to uncover the advancing +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>6]</a></span> +columns of the enemy. And, then, +through the dim, gray light of the morning +we could distinguish a dark, blue +mass of men moving up the beach towards +us, at the double quick, cheering +as they came.</p> + +<p>Then came the thunder of our first +gun (what old soldier is there who does +not recall <em>its</em> startling effect), then another +and another, then the deafening rattle of +small arms, mingled with yells and cheers, +and we were fairly in the midst of battle. +The issue was never doubtful for a moment. +The attacking column attempted +to deploy after passing the narrow neck +in front, but entirely failed to do so; +while the dense formation rendered it an +easy mark for both infantry and artillery. +Still it pressed gallantly on, and some +few of the foremost men reached the +scarp of the work, only to find themselves +unsupported by their comrades, and with +no other alternative than to yield themselves +prisoners. One brave fellow I +saw, however, who had not the thought +of yielding in him. Alone he reached +the top of the parapet, immediately in +front of a 32-pounder, double charged +with grape shot. The officer in command +(Lieutenant Gilchrist, of South +Carolina, if memory serves me,) struck +by his bearing, called to him to come in +before the gun was fired. His only reply +was to put his musket to his shoulder, +and a bullet whizzed by Gilchrist’s head. +The explosion of the gun followed, and +a blue and mangled body, all that remained +of a brave man and a good soldier, +was hurled across the ditch.</p> + +<p>The engagement was of short duration; +the attack had failed, and soon the +broken column was in full retreat, rapidly, +and without any semblance of order, +leaving some hundreds of their +number, stretched dead and wounded on +the sands, or prisoners in the fort.</p> + +<p>Our own loss was insignificant in numbers, +but the 1st Regiment was sorely bereaved +in the death of Captain Werner. +This gallant officer was slain early in the +fight. He died in the discharge of duty, +nobly battling for the land of his +adoption. His voice, calling his comrades to +arms, had been the first to greet our ears +as the morning broke, and now it was +hushed forever. Modest, simple, and +unpretending in his manners, he had won +a warm place in the affections of the +command, while his perfect reliability +under all circumstances enforced the respect +and admiration of all who knew +him. Savannah was called upon to +mourn the loss of many sons in those +terrible years, but none of them had +taken up arms in her defense sooner, +none suffered privation and imprisonment +for her more patiently, and none died +more gallantly than Claus Werner.</p> + +<p>The loss in the 18th Georgia was heavier +than in any other organization, as it +had occupied the salient, against which +the assault was principally directed.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Frederick Tupper was severely +wounded, and among the killed +was young Edward Postell, who now +sleeps in Laurel Grove, side by side with +a noble brother, who, like himself, as the +marble record testifies, “died in battle.”</p> + +<p>Immediately after the action, a singular +instance of the ups and downs and +uncertainties of warfare, was brought to +our attention. Among the first troops +to enter Fort Pulaski, at its capture in the +previous year, was the 7th Connecticut +Regiment, then commanded by Colonel +Alfred H. Terry (subsequently Major-General). +Both officers and men had behaved +towards us with great kindness +during the few days that we remained at +the fort after its capture, and we had become +personally acquainted with quite a +number of them. <em>Now</em>, we were the +victors, and among the prisoners brought +in at our end of the line, were many of +our old friends of the 7th Connecticut, +who recognized and called us by name.</p> + +<p>The news of the attack created much +excitement in Charleston, and during the +morning many visitors, both military and +civilian, came to the island, some to assure +themselves of the continued strength +of our position; others to gratify a pardonable +curiosity. Among the former +was Brig. Gen. Ripley, the district +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>7]</a></span> +commander, who was much elated at the +successful issue of the fight, and who +wished to examine, personally, the +ground in front of the fort.</p> + +<p>Now, at one point in our front, torpedoes +had been planted the day before, +and to prevent any of the garrison from +treading upon them, a sentinel was placed +to warn them off. At that time the man +who held this post was Private Donnolly, +of Company G, 1st Georgia, a native of +the Emerald Isle, as his name would indicate, +and a true son of his mother. Of +any knowledge of ordinary military manœuvres +he was calmly innocent. On +one occasion a Lieutenant of the company +asked him, impatiently:</p> + +<p>“Donnolly, why <em>don’t</em> you keep step? +All the men are complaining about you.” +And received the reply:</p> + +<p>“Faith, its divil a one of ’em can kape +shtep wid me!”</p> + +<p>Past this hero General Ripley spurred +his horse, and was riding straight for the +dangerous ground, when he was suddenly +brought to a halt by a loud +“Shtop!” uttered in the most emphatic +tone, and the emphasis receiving additional +point from Donnolly’s attitude, as +he stood with his musket at full cock, at +the shoulder, and squinted along the +barrel, taking dead aim at the General. +For a moment there was strong probability +of a vacancy among the Brigadiers +of the Confederate army, but an +officer rushed forward, struck up the +gun, and explained to General Ripley +the reason for his being halted.</p> + +<p>Subsequently, our sentinel was asked:</p> + +<p>“Donnolly, what were you going to +do?”</p> + +<p>“I was going to shot him.”</p> + +<p>“And why?”</p> + +<p>“To kape him from being blown up +with the saltpaters, to be sure.”</p> + +<p>Donnolly’s comrades, in view of his +little infirmities of drill, had always insisted +upon his having a place in the rear +rank, but on this day he was heard to say, +with much satisfaction:</p> + +<p>“There’s moighty little throuble getting +in the front rank now.”</p> + +<p>Our experience for the next week was +a trying one. Failing in the direct attack, +the enemy’s endeavor seemed to be +to make our berth uncomfortably warm, +and here the success was undoubted. +Day after day the monitors—some four +or five in number—and that tremendous +war vessel, the “New Ironsides,” would +take their positions directly opposite the +fort, at a distance of six to eight hundred +yards, the wooden ships being at +much longer range. Then would be +poured in upon us a steady stream of +shot and shell, much more pleasant to +dwell upon as a memory than it was to +endure, while upon the land side new +batteries were built by the enemy, and +each day the weight of metal thrown +against us would seem to be heavier than +the day before. I well remember the +approach of the first monitor. How deliberate +its movements; how insignificant +its appearance; the deck almost +level with the water, and the little black +turret giving small promise of its hidden +power for attack. My curiosity about +the vessel was great, but was soon to be +satisfied without stint. There was a slow +revolving motion of the turret, a cloud +of smoke, a deafening roar, and then, +with the rush and noise of an express +train, the huge fifteen inch shell, visible +at every point of its trajectory, passed +over head and burst far in the rear. The +next shell exploded in the parapet, covering +several of us with dirt. The introduction +was complete. Thenceforward +we held these singular looking +craft in wholesome respect. The “Ironsides,” +however, was probably the most +formidable ship of the fleet. She is said +to have carried at bow and stern two +hundred pound Parrott guns, and nine +eleven-inch Dahlgrens on a side. Her +broadsides were not fired in volley, but +gun after gun, in rapid succession, the +effect upon those who were at the wrong +end of the guns being exceedingly demoralizing. +Whenever she commenced +there was a painful uncertainty as to +what might happen before she got +through.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>8]</a></span> +We had but one gun with which to +fight the monitors—the ten-inch Columbiad +located just over the sally-port. +True, the thirty-twos were tried for a +while, but they were so impotent to harm +the heavy mail of the ships that their +use was soon discontinued. This Columbiad +was manned, I think, by the +Matthew’s Artillery, of South Carolina, +and the gunner, Frazer Matthews, was as +noble a soldier as the siege produced. In +the midst of the hottest fire he would +stand quietly on the chassis directing the +aiming of the gun with all the coolness +and precision of target practice. Never +flurried, always intent upon the work +before him, and never giving the signal +to fire until the aim was taken to his entire +satisfaction, the accuracy of his +marksmanship was great. Again and +again I saw the solid ten-inch shot strike +upon the sides of the monitors, only to +break into a thousand fragments, that +would splash into the sea like so much +grape-shot.</p> + +<p>At first we thought that no harm was +done by our fire, but we learned afterwards +that the concussion within the turret was +tremendous, and that, among others, one +very prominent officer had been killed +by it.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, our Columbiad was +soon dismounted, and although a new +carriage was supplied, that, too, was +knocked to pieces in short order. Indeed, +this experience was repeated half a dozen +times.</p> + +<p>Such continuous cannonading of +course seriously impaired the integrity +of our parapets. But as at that stage of +the siege the firing ceased at nightfall, +opportunity was given to repair damages, +and all night long the garrison would +work, filling sand bags and painfully endeavoring +to make good the yawning +chasms and ragged craters left by the +terrible missiles that had been hurled into +the fort during the day. There was a constant +strain upon all the faculties, that +gave little time for anything save the +stern duties of the hour, and yet there +were humorous incidents ever occurring +that even now will bring smiles to the +lips of all who remember them.</p> + +<p>Who can forget “Aquarius,” the water +bearer, as he was dubbed—a simple-hearted +fellow, from the back woods of +South Carolina, who devoted his time to +bringing water to the wounded. Both +heels of his shoes were carried away by +a shell, and from that time he went barefooted—there +was “danger in shoes,” he +said. And, then, the simple manner in +which, on returning from one of his +trips to the well, he held up one full jug +and only the handle of another, saying, +apologetically, “Oh, a shell took hit.”</p> + +<p>I can see in my mind’s eye, too, the +brilliant engineering feat of a member of +the Oglethorpe Light Infantry, who, +while cooking a little dinner in the open +parade, provided protection for himself +by placing an empty flour barrel alongside +of the fire, and gravely sticking his +head into it whenever the scream of a +shell warned him of approaching trouble.</p> + +<p>During the week General Taliaferro, +of Virginia, assumed command, and on +the night of the 17th fresh troops were +sent to relieve us—and it may be mentioned +here, that this plan of changing +commanders, and the garrison (or at least +a part of it), every few days, was continued +throughout the siege. In fact, the +strain upon body and mind was so unremitting, +that a week’s tour of duty was +about as much as any men could undergo +at a time, as there was no rest day +nor night.</p> + +<p>We were landed at Fort Johnson, on +James Island, a little before dawn on the +18th, and were just getting comfortably +settled in the village then existing at that +point, when a tremendous cannonading +began against the fort we had just left. +All day long it continued, exceeding +in fierceness and rapidity anything we +had yet witnessed. The noise was terrific, +great clouds of smoke hung over +the devoted battery, and huge columns +of sand rose high in the air, as shell after +shell rent the parapets, while only an occasional +shot in return gave any sign that +there was life left in the garrison. With +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>9]</a></span> +mingled feelings we watched the bombardment, +full of anxiety for the ultimate +result, and for the safety of our +comrades in the fort, there was, also, it +must be confessed, a profound complacency +at the thought that we were well +out of it ourselves.</p> + +<p>A little before dusk the firing suddenly +ceased on the part of the enemy, and almost +instantaneously a rapid succession +of guns from Sumter, trained for the +beach of Morris Island, gave notice that +another attempt was to be made to throw +a column into Wagner by escalade.</p> + +<p>It was even so. General Gillmore, +fully alive to the difficulties which the +topographical features of the ground +presented for regular approaches, and +counting with reason upon the damaging +effect of the awful bombardment, both +upon the work itself and the “morale” +of the garrison, had determined to make +one more effort to wrest the position +from the Confederates by storm. To +this end he had organized a strong column +of two brigades (a third brigade +being held in reserve), under command of +General Seymour, the formation being +made behind the sand hills. Its advance +was supported by light batteries, and as +the heavy firing ceased, it swept forward +with a rush. An officer, who was in +Wagner, told me on the following day +that the assault came very near meeting +with perfect success, for, although it was +anticipated, the awful artillery fire had +compelled the garrison to seek shelter in +the bomb-proofs. The exits from these +places were narrow, and there was much +trouble in getting the men to the ramparts +in time to repel the onslaught. As +it was, the result was long doubtful. A +part of the enemy’s column effected a +lodgment in the salient on the left, and +not until reinforcements were sent down +from James Island to the assistance of +the garrison, were these assailants finally +overpowered and the entire fort once +more in the hands of the Confederates.</p> + +<p>The attack was bloody and disastrous +to the attacking force. Its leader, General +Seymour, was dangerously wounded, +and General Strong, with many of his +best officers, and hundreds of the men, +were killed, while the total loss in killed, +wounded and prisoners, has been variously +estimated at from 1,500 to 2,200 +men. Nearly all of the enemy’s regiments +were in a state of disorganization, +and gloom and dismay settled upon them.</p> + +<p>In this connection it will be of interest +to state that, during the siege, the Federal +signal book was in our possession, +having been captured on the person of a +signal officer, near Georgetown, South +Carolina. Its valuable secrets had been +drawn from him by a Confederate who +shared his place of imprisonment in the +garb of a Federal prisoner. More than +once the knowledge thus acquired +proved of essential service to us. On +this occasion, the following dispatch +from General Gillmore to Admiral Dahlgren +had been intercepted, and in General +Beauregard’s possession hours before +the assault: “Continue the bombardment +throughout the day; at sunset +redouble it. The assault will commence +at seven.”</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding this disaster, General +Gillmore, with great tenacity of purpose +worthy of admiration, gave no evidence +of having been diverted from his objective +point. Though apparently convinced +of the futility of all efforts at a <i>coup de +main</i>, he at once settled down into an endeavor +to reduce Wagner by parallels +and trenches. Time was necessary to do +this, however, and time was the salvation +of Charleston, for upon <em>our</em> side the distinguished +officer who commanded the +department, General Beauregard, was +not idle, and nothing was left undone +for the defence, not only of the outworks, +but of the inner harbor, and of adjacent +islands and inlets. The batteries on Sullivan’s +Island were strengthened, heavy +additions were made to the armament of +Sumter, new batteries were constructed +within the city limits and upon the +shores of James Island; some to command +the ship channel, and others to deliver +a flanking fire, though at a long distance, +upon the enemy’s works on Morris +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>10]</a></span> +Island, while every device that the highest +engineering skill could suggest, was +gallantly acted upon by the garrison of +Wagner to prolong its defence and retard +its fall to the latest possible moment. +Torpedoes and submarine batteries +were placed in the waters of the harbor +also, and, although I did not learn that +one of them was ever exploded, there +can be no doubt that they exerted a great +moral effect, and deterred the vessels of +the fleet from prowling around where +we did not want them.</p> + +<p>On the night of the 22d of July our +second tour of duty at Wagner began. +We found General Taliaferro still in +command, and the garrison increased to +about 1,500 men—though changes were +so constantly being made that, without +reference to statistical reports, I will not +pretend to accuracy on this point. On +every hand could be seen evidences of +the severe trial through which the fort +had already passed and was daily called +upon to endure. The barracks and +store houses were in ruins, and all of +the slopes and inclines, upon which the +eye of the engineer had loved to rest, were +ploughed up in huge furrows, or pitted +with cavernous holes that marked the +bursting place of shells. But sand has +many advantages over masonry, and +wherever during the day the injuries +done had impaired the defensive powers +of the fort, a thousand busy workers +would bend their energies, and the morning +light would show guns remounted, +parapets repaired and a strong front still +presented to the enemy. On the 24th of +July the bombardment was unusually severe. +The iron-clads, having nothing in +Wagner to oppose them (for on that day +our 10-inch gun was useless), came in as +close as the channel would permit, +shortly after daylight, and in conjunction +with the land batteries poured in an awful +fire upon us for hours, while from +our side, Moultrie, Sumter, Gregg, and +the batteries on James Island, Johnson, +Haskell, and Cheves, joined in the fray. +It was certainly a sublime yet terrible +sight, never to be forgotten by any who +witnessed it. The impact of tremendous +missiles, followed by the roar of their +explosion, shook the solid earth, and the +loud thunder of the guns seemed to rival +the artillery of the heavens as its unceasing +reverberations smote upon the ear.</p> + +<p>Grave doubts were entertained as to the +ability of our fort to stand much longer +this dreadful storm, but help came. +About noon the steamer Alice (that had +recently run the blockade), under command +of Colonel Edward C. Anderson, +of this city, came rapidly down the harbor +from Charleston, bearing a white +flag, and laden, as we learned, with a +large number of Federal wounded, who +were to be exchanged for Confederate +wounded. She steered directly for a +position between the fleet and Wagner. +One shot was fired over her, but in a +moment the cannonading ceased, and +never was relief more welcome or more +needed.</p> + +<p>Serious injury had been done to +Wagner, injury, indeed, that a short +continuance of the firing might have +rendered irremediable, as upon inspection +it was found that there remained +but about eighteen inches of sand as a +covering for the logs, of which our main +service magazine was built. One shell +had carried away the air-flue and the +flame, as it burst, had lit up the interior +of the magazine, very much to the dismay +of the men who were serving there, +and who came tumbling out head over +heels—evidently not standing on the order +of their coming—only desiring to +come quickly.</p> + +<p>Colonel Anderson, in speaking of this +occurrence, tells me that as he came +down the bay, the gravity of our position +was fully realized by him, and his +determination formed to pursue the +course he did in order to bring the firing +to an end as soon as possible. He was +warned off as he drew near the fleet, +and a shell fired over him, but paid no +attention to the warning, and succeeded +in what he aimed to do. It was the right +thing done at the right time, and, as a +member of the garrison, I beg to make +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>11]</a></span> +here my acknowledgments of the service +performed.</p> + +<p>The bombardment was not renewed +that day, and during the afternoon General +Taliaferro worked to such good purpose +that nightfall found the principal +damages substantially repaired.</p> + +<p>On this occasion was brought to my +attention a striking instance of the fact +that a lofty heroism and nobility of soul +may exist where an ordinary observer +would never expect to find them. In the +ranks of Company K, of the 1st Georgia, +was a man from Bulloch county. Before +his enlistment, a charcoal burner; he +was of mean exterior, sickly frame and +complaining disposition. He had long +been a butt for the rough witticisms of +his comrades, and more than once came +to me for redress. What troubled him +most was that the men told him he had +been “dug-up,” an implication upon the +manner of his entry into the world—that +he resented bitterly. During the bombardment +of this day he had, in the performance +of customary guard duty, been +posted at the rampart, near the flag staff, +to watch for any movements of the +enemy that might indicate the formation +of an assaulting column. At the end of +his tour, Lieutenant Cyrus Carter started +from the guard quarters to relieve him. +Carter told me that as he crossed the +parade, he did so with the profound conviction +that he would be struck down +before reaching the other side, so appalling +was the storm of projectiles that +tore up the ground around him. What +was his surprise, therefore, to find the +sentinel, not sheltered behind the parapet, +as it was intended he should be, but +quietly walking back and forth upon its +very crest, for the expressed reason that +he “couldn’t see good down thar.”</p> + +<p>The flag staff had been shattered at +his side, and with a strip torn from his +shirt, he had tied the colors to the +stump and continued his walk. As may +be well supposed our charcoal burner +escaped criticism after that.</p> + +<p>From this time forward the works of +the enemy were pushed forward most +assiduously. One parallel after another +was opened and breaching batteries established, +armed with heavy sea coast +mortars and rifle guns of tremendous +size and power.</p> + +<p>On our part, corresponding exertions +were made. A heavy fire from our howitzers +and other guns was maintained; +sharp-shooters, armed with Whitworth +rifles, kept unremitting watch upon the +movements of the enemy, and a well +placed line of rifle-pits, two or three hundred +yards in our front, gave additional +strength to our position and seriously annoyed +the besiegers. There were two +sides to the matter of sharp-shooting, +however, and the loss of some brave officers +and men, killed by bullets fired at a +thousand yards distance, or more, +warned us against anything like heedless +exposure.</p> + +<p>The discomforts and privations to +which the garrison was subjected rapidly +increased, and soon attained proportions +that will be remembered by those +who endured them, like the details of +some horrible dream. To avoid an unnecessary +loss of life, the men were kept +as much as possible within the bomb-proofs +during the day time; but the gun +squads and riflemen, of course, were constantly +exposed, as well as numbers who +could find no room in the shelters, or who +preferred taking the fresh air, with all +its attendant hazards. From these there +were constant additions to the list of our +losses. The wounded (and the wounds +were mostly of a terrible character), were +all brought in among the men, and the +surgical operations were performed in the +midst of the crowd, by the light of candles, +that dimly burned in the heavy air +from which all vitality had been +drawn. The cries of these poor sufferers, +the unceasing roar of artillery above and +around, the loss of rest, the want of pure +air, and the baking heat of a Southern +summer, all combined to render the position +almost unbearable. The enemy’s +dead from the two assaults had been +buried immediately in front of the moat; +those from our garrison just back of the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>12]</a></span> +fort. From the description of the island +it will be understood that shallow graves +only could be given—graves from which +a high wind would blow the light, sandy +soil, or which a bursting shell would rend, +exposing the bodies to the sunshine. The +whole air was tainted with corruption, +and finally the little wells, from which +our supply of water was drawn, became +so foul, from the same cause, that their +use was abandoned, and thenceforward +drinking water was sent from the city of +Charleston.</p> + +<p>Now began a most remarkable feature +of the siege, and one that has marked a +new era in the science of attack and imposed +new and startling problems upon +the military engineer charged with the +construction of permanent fortifications. +I allude, of course, to the battering down +of the walls of Fort Sumter from a distance +of two and a half miles. The +power of rifled guns against masonry +had been conclusively demonstrated during +the previous year at Fort Pulaski. +There, however, the breaching batteries +were distant about one mile, but there were +few who could believe that at more than +twice that range Sumter was seriously +endangered. It had been thought that +the grand old fort was safe so long as +Wagner held out. But one morning a +new battery opened; the shot and shell +went high above our heads, and were +hurled with irresistible power against the +walls of Sumter. Great masses of masonry +from the outer wall fell as each shot +struck, and ere many days it seemed as +though nought but a pile of ruins would +mark the spot. Here, however, General +Beauregard gave splendid evidence of +his readiness to meet emergencies, and +of his skill as an engineer.</p> + +<p>As soon as it became evident that the +fort must yield to the power of the heavy +artillery brought to bear upon it, he rapidly +withdrew all the guns that could be +utilized for defensive purposes at other +points, and from the very ruins of Sumter, +constructed, as it were, a new fortification, +fully adequate to the purpose of +commanding the ship channel to the city. +But all other power of the fort was gone, +and in the subsequent events on Morris +Island, Sumter took no part. This bombardment +lasted for seven days, and in +that time a first class masonry fort was +reduced to a shapeless ruin from batteries +located at points far beyond the remotest +distance at which any engineer +had ever dreamed of danger. The debris +of the walls fell in a natural slope +and served as an impenetrable protection +to the lower casemates of the channel +face, in which the new battery was +placed. Some little time elapsed, however, +before these changes were completed, +and I am unable to understand +why Admiral Dahlgren did not meanwhile +avail himself of the opening thus +offered and push with his iron-clads for +the inner harbor. We certainly looked +for such a dash, and General Gillmore +was evidently chagrined at the fact that +it was not made. Whether or not such +a course would have been successful is +problematical. There can be no doubt, +though, that it would have added grave +complications to the Confederate military +position, to say the least of it.</p> + +<p>At such time as the 1st Regiment was +not on duty at Wagner, it was posted at +Fort Johnson, the point of James Island +nearest to Morris Island. For a time our +comrades of the 12th and 18th Battalions +shared this post with us, but as the season +progressed, we were separated; the +12th going to Sumter and other points, +and the 18th to Fort Moultrie, where it +performed months of arduous and trying +service.</p> + +<p>At Fort Johnson, which, up to that +time had possessed no special strength, +very heavy works were constructed, +having reference not only to the inner +harbor, but also to the operations of the +enemy on Morris Island. These batteries, +as well as the others along the shores +of James Island, proved very annoying +to the enemy, and the accuracy of their +fire is mentioned more than once in +his reports.</p> + +<p>A most interesting feature in this summer’s +operations was the development of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>13]</a></span> +the attacking power of movable torpedoes. +Special interest attaches to a +boat that was brought from Mobile, by +railroad, and which was generally known, +from its shape, as the “Cigar Boat.” Its +history is linked with deeds of the loftiest +heroism and devotion of self to the +service of country. The story is familiar +to all of us, yet I cannot refrain from repeating +it.</p> + +<p>This boat was one day made fast to +the wharf at Fort Johnson, preparatory +to an expedition against the fleet, and +taking advantage of the opportunity, I +examined it critically. It was built of +boiler iron, about thirty feet in length, +with a breadth of beam of four feet by +a vertical depth of six feet, the figures +being approximate only. Access to the +interior was had by two man-holes in the +upper part, covered by hinged caps, into +which were let bull’s eyes of heavy glass, +and through these the steersman looked +in guiding the motions of the craft. The +boat floated with these caps raised only a +foot or so above the level of the water. +The motive power was a propeller, to be +worked by hand of the crew, cranks +being provided in the shaft for that purpose. +Upon each side of the exterior +were horizontal vanes, or wings, that +could be adjusted at any angle from the +interior. When it was intended that the +boat should go on an even keel, whether +on the surface or under, these vanes were +kept level. If it was desired to go below +the water, say, for instance, at an angle of +ten degrees, the vanes were fixed at that +angle and the propeller worked. The +resistance of the water against the vanes +would then carry the boat under. A reversal +of this method would bring it to +the surface again. A tube of mercury +was arranged to mark the depth of +descent. It had been the design of the +inventor to approach near to an enemy, +then to submerge the boat and pass under +the ship to be attacked, towing a floating +torpedo to be exploded by means of electricity +as soon as it touched the keel. Insufficient +depth of water in the harbor +prevented this manner of using the boat, +however, and so she was rigged with a +long spar at the bow, to which a torpedo +was attached, to be fired by actual concussion +with the object to be destroyed. +This change necessarily made the boat +more unwieldy, and probably had something +to do with the tragic circumstances +of her after history.</p> + +<p>It will be remembered that she was +sunk at the wharf at Port Johnson by +the waves from a passing steamer, while a +part of the crew were in her. Days +elapsed before she could be raised. The +dead were removed, and a second crew +volunteered. They made repeated and +successful experiments in the harbor, but +finally they, too, went down and, from +some unknown cause, failed to come up. +Once more a long time passed before the +boat was raised, and then the poor remains +of the devoted crew were taken +from her in an indescribable condition. +Yet, still another set of men came forward +and volunteered for the duty. +Surely love of country and courage of +the sublimest type never found better exponents +than these. The expedition +started, but did not return. That night +the sloop-of-war, “Housatonic,” was reported +as having been sunk by a torpedo +in the lower harbor, but of the gallant +men who had thus accomplished what +they aimed to do, nothing definite was +ever known until after the war, when +divers, in endeavoring to raise the Housatonic, +discovered the cigar boat with +the bleached bones of her crew lying +near the wreck of the noble ship that she +had destroyed.</p> + +<p>The line of rifle pits in front of Wagner +had been gallantly held by our men +during the siege, and had sorely troubled +the besiegers. On the 21st of August an +infantry force attempted the capture of +these pits, without success. On the afternoon +of the 26th, a heavy artillery fire +was brought to bear upon them without +dislodging the holders, but that night a +dashing charge of the 24th Massachusetts +Regiment gained the position, capturing +most of the Confederates who held it, +about seventy men. General Gillmore’s +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>14]</a></span> +fifth and last parallel was at once established +on the ground thus won, and before +dawn on the 27th, under cover of the +flying sap, the trenches were pushed about +one hundred yards nearer to the fort.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding this success, General +Gillmore, in his report, speaks of this +period as “the dark and gloomy days +of the siege,” and of the progress made +as “discouragingly slow, and even painfully +uncertain.”</p> + +<p>The ground between his front and +Wagner was thickly studded with torpedoes, +his left flank was searched by the +unremitting fire from our batteries on +James Island. The head of the sap was +slowly pushed forward under the ceaseless +fire of howitzers and sharp-shooters +from the entire front of the fort, while +last, though not least, the besiegers had +now reached a point where every onward +step compelled them to dig through the +bodies of their dead, who had been +buried some weeks before.</p> + +<p>“In the emergency,” General Gillmore +availed himself of his superior resources +in artillery, to keep down the active resistance +of Wagner, and to this end +every gun ashore and afloat was turned +upon it. The final bombardment began +at daybreak on the 5th of September +and for forty-two hours continued with +a severity and awful terror beyond the +power of words to describe. That night, +as witnessed from Fort Johnson, where +the 1st Regiment were stationed, the +scene was grand in the extreme. The +lurid flushes of the guns, their unceasing +roar, the shells from every description of +tremendous artillery, that could be +tracked through the air by flaming fuses; +the mortar shell rising in stately curve +and steady sweep, the Parrott shell darting +like lightning in its mission of death, +the missiles from the fleet booming along +the water and bursting in Wagner with +cruel accuracy, the glare of calcium +lights, bringing out every detail of our +works as in the noonday—all these +filled the souls of Confederate spectators +with awe, and found their painful +antithesis in—<em>the silence of Wagner</em>. The +end had come.</p> + +<p>All through the 6th the bombardment +continued, and that evening the sap had +reached the counter scarp of the work, +and only the ditch and parapet separated +the combatants. The assault was ordered +for nine o’clock on the morning of +the 7th, but by midnight on the 6th the +place was evacuated by the Confederates, +the whole force being taken off +the island in row boats. Some few of +these boats were intercepted, but the +garrison, as a garrison, was saved. The +enemy at once occupied both Wagner +and Gregg, and Morris Island, in its entirety, +was in their possession.</p> + +<p>So ended the siege of Battery Wagner, +after a defense of fifty-seven days: a defense +that may, without question, be +said to have saved Charleston. The outwork +was taken, but the inner citadel +still proudly stood. Still from the ruins +of Sumter, still from historic Moultrie, +still from the “City by the Sea,” the +Southern Cross fluttered in the breezes +of the bay and bade defiance to the foe.</p> + +<p>The evacuation so successfully accomplished, +in the face of so many difficulties, +under so terrible a fire, and with the +enemy in such close proximity, has justly +been considered a remarkable event +and the crowning glory of the defense. +That had been protracted to the latest +moment, and when resistance was no +longer possible, the brave garrison was +saved to add fresh lustre to the Southern +arms on many another field.</p> + +<p>On the afternoon of the 8th of September, +notice was received by the commanders +of batteries within range of +Sumter, that a boat attack would be +made upon that fortification during the +night, and they were ordered at a given +signal to open with all their guns upon +the point where the boats were expected. +The signals of the enemy had again been +interpreted, and upon our side there was +perfect readiness. The garrison of Sumter +prepared to meet the enemy upon the +slope with a shower of musketry. The +guns of our contiguous batteries were +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[<span class="hidden">Pg </span>15]</a></span> +carefully trained upon the right spot before +dark, and as soon as night had fallen, +a Confederate ironclad moved into +position to add the fire of her powerful +guns. Silently the night wore on; +for hours not a sound broke its stillness; +the men sat drowsily by the guns, and +the belief gained ground that the proposed +attack had been abandoned, when +suddenly there was a twinkle of a +musket from Sumter, then a rocket +soared in the air, and then the bellowing +thunder of the great guns and the explosion +of shells instantaneously and startlingly +contrasted with the sleepy quiet of +our long hours of watching. The assault +was repulsed with considerable +loss to the assailants, but with no loss to +the garrison.</p> + +<p>It is singular to note from General +Gillmore’s report, as an evidence of a +want of harmony between the land and +naval forces, that two independent expeditions +were organized for this attack—one +by Admiral Dahlgren, the other +by General Gillmore. The report says: +“The only arrangement for concert of +action between the two parties, that +were finally made, were intended simply +to prevent accident or collision between +them. Each party was deemed in itself +sufficiently strong for the object in +view.”</p> + +<p>The naval expedition, consisting of +some twenty-five or thirty boats, came +directly from the ships, in tow of steam +tugs, and, reaching Sumter first, at once +delivered its attack. The land forces, +about 400 strong, embarked in their +boats in Vincent’s creek. The windings +of the creek probably delayed them, and +they had not quite reached the fort when +the naval assault was made and repulsed. +All hope of a surprise being at an end, +the second force retired.</p> + +<p>From this time the active operations +for the reduction of Charleston upon +this line virtually ceased, though an interchange +of artillery fire was continued +with more or less activity for many +months. Not until Sherman’s great army +swept through South Carolina, and the +dying days of the Confederacy were at +hand, did the proud city bow her head, +and yield to the inevitable.</p> + +<p>Mr. President, my story is told. It has +been my endeavor to place graphically +before this audience a sketch of some of +the scenes of that eventful summer. +They have passed into history, but history +fails to record a thousand little details +which breathe life into the picture. +Some of these I have tried to present.</p> + +<p>Certainly no period of the war was +more fruitful in dramatic incident, and +in no portion of the Confederacy was +there a grander exhibition of scientific +warfare. The wonderful developments +of engineering skill, both in the attack +and in the defense, will ever mark the +siege as a most memorable one, while +the share of success attained by each +side robs the memory of the event of any +sting of mortification for Federal and +Confederate alike. Sure am I that every +member of the First Georgia who participated +in these stirring scenes will, to +his latest day, feel his heart throb with +pride in saying, “I was at Charleston in +1863.”</p> + +<p class="sig"><span class="smcap">Savannah</span>, March, 1879.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Note.</span>—Referring to the action of Col. Anderson, related on page <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, it is proper to state that the +steamer Alice was sent out from Charleston <em>in conformity to an explicit arrangement that had been entered +into by the commanding Generals for an exchange of wounded on that day</em>.</p> + +<p>She carried a “hospital flag,” as well as the ordinary flag of truce. Soon after the firing ceased, +she was met by the Federal steamer Cosmopolitan, bearing the Confederate wounded, when the +exchange was effected. Both steamers then returned, and the truce ended.</p> + +<p class="sig">C. H. O.</p> + + + +<div class="bbox"> +<p><b>Transcriber's Note</b></p> + +<p>Variable spelling, e.g. defense and defence, is preserved as printed.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Reminiscences of Service with the +First Volunteer Regiment of Georgia, Charleston Harbor, in 1863, by Charles H. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Reminiscences of Service with the First Volunteer Regiment of Georgia, Charleston Harbor, in 1863 + An address delivered before the Georgia Historical Society, + March 3, 1879 + +Author: Charles H. Olmstead + +Release Date: December 4, 2010 [EBook #34566] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REMINISCENCES OF SERVICE IN 1863 *** + + + + +Produced by Sam W. and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from +scanned images of public domain material from the Google +Print project.) + + + + + + + + + + REMINISCENCES OF SERVICE + WITH THE + FIRST VOLUNTEER REGIMENT + OF GEORGIA, + + CHARLESTON HARBOR, IN 1863. + + + AN ADDRESS + DELIVERED BEFORE THE + GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY, + + MARCH 3, 1879. + + BY COLONEL CHARLES H. OLMSTEAD. + + + SAVANNAH, GA.: + PRINTED AND PRESENTED BY J. H. ESTILL, + PROPRIETOR MORNING NEWS, + 1879. + + + + +ANNALS OF THE WAR. + + +In preparing the following paper, it has been my desire only to record +what its title suggests--personal reminiscences. + +Leaving to other and abler pens the task of writing an accurate +history of the scenes and events to which reference is now about to be +made, I shall confine myself simply to the task of setting down such +things as came under my personal observation, or within the scope of +my individual knowledge. + +I do this the more confidently, remembering the marked interest that +invariably attaches to the testimony of an eyewitness, and also +bearing in mind (for my own comfort) that this interest will always +incline his hearers to leniency in judging literary demerits. It is +probable, too, that some of my old comrades will be pleased at this +recurrence to an eventful period in their lives, while a younger +generation in the ranks may be glad to have placed before them a +record, not of the "pomp and circumstance of glorious war," but of its +privations, its hardships, its perils, and, it may be added, its +lessons of self-abnegation and of devotion to duty. + +Early in the month of July, 1863, while stationed very comfortably at +the Isle of Hope, a courier, "spurring in hot haste," brought orders +from Department headquarters that set our camp at once in a turmoil of +eager and excited preparation. The 32d Georgia, Col. George P. +Harrison, Jr., the 12th and 18th Georgia Battalions, Lieut.-Col. H. D. +Capers and Major W. S. Basinger, and a battalion from the First +Volunteer Regiment of Georgia, were ordered to proceed with the least +possible delay to Savannah, there to take cars for Charleston. + +A private note at the same time brought the intelligence that that +city, so long threatened, and, indeed, once already assailed by sea, +was now to undergo a vigorous and combined attack from both land and +naval forces. The day was an eventful one to us without this +additional stimulant. In the morning we had received the sad news of +the fall of Vicksburg and the consequent opening of the Mississippi +river to the Federal fleet, from the mountains to the sea, a disaster +that secured to the enemy the grand object of his most strenuous +exertions, while it severed the young Confederacy in twain and +deprived our armies east of the river of all the aid and comfort in +the way of material supplies and gallant recruits, that had been so +long and so freely drawn from the west bank. We had just learned, too, +of the check received by General Lee at the battle of Gettysburg, and +now came the summons to tell that our turn had come for a little +squeeze in the folds of the traditional "Anaconda," that the New York +_Herald_ had so graphically depicted as encircling the South. + +The men received the orders with enthusiasm--indeed, when was it +otherwise with the Southern soldier. Thoroughly conversant, as they +all were, with the details of the war, they could not but be depressed +by the news of such grave reverses to our arms as the morning's mail +had brought them, and they gladly welcomed the relief that active +service promised from the tedium of camp life, and the necessity of +thinking upon melancholy subjects. + +Our march began in the midst of a terrific thunder-storm that had the +effect, not only of cooling down any overplus of excitement, but also +of rendering the road to the city almost a quagmire throughout its +entire length. + +There are pleasanter ways of spending a summer's evening than in +trudging for eight miles, through mud and rain, in heavy marching +order; but upon this, as on similar occasions during the war, I was +deeply impressed by the uncomplaining patience and cheerfulness with +which the men endured hardships that few would care to face now, but +which, then, were regarded as mere matters of course--distasteful, +certainly--but not worth talking about. + +The storm delayed our march considerably, and upon reaching the depot +we found that the 32d Regiment, which had been stationed at a point +nearer the city, had already taken train for Charleston. + +We, too, were soon _en route_, and early in the forenoon of the +following day--July 10, 1863--the three battalions were safely in +bivouac at the terminus of the Savannah and Charleston Railroad. Here +we were met by a staff officer, who informed us that we were to +reinforce the garrison of Battery Wagner, on Morris Island, and that +at dusk the necessary transportation would be furnished to take us +down to the fort. He also told us that the enemy, under cover of a +tremendous fire of artillery, from batteries on Folly Island, which +had been unmasked during the night, had effected a lodgment on the +south end of Morris Island, and had driven our forces back upon +"Wagner," which fortification would, doubtless, be attacked on the +next day. We learned, also, that another force was threatening James +Island, and that the 32d had been sent, with other troops, to meet +that danger. Events proved that this last was a feint, to distract +attention from the main attack. + +All day we remained quietly at this place, endeavoring to make out the +various points of interest in the beautiful harbor spread before us, +and watching the little clouds of smoke that ascended from the +parapets of Fort Sumter, as its guns were slowly fired at the enemy. +It was a lovely day, clear and bright, without a cloud in the sky. The +vegetation about us, freshened by the rain of the previous evening, +added sweet odors to the soft sea-breeze that came up the bay. Upon +our left the city of Charleston "sat like a queen," her roof tops and +spires glittering in the sunlight, while afar down, over an expanse of +shining water, could be seen the ships of the fleet swinging lazily at +their anchors. + +The picture was beautiful, and for one I would have found it difficult +to realize that beneath it all were the grim front and iron hand of +war, but for the dull rumble of the constantly recurring shot from +Sumter. That was "the fly in the ointment of the apothecary;" that +"the spectre at the feast;" that the refrain ever ringing in our ears +and suggesting the unwelcome thought--"it looks peaceful enough now, +but just wait until tomorrow." + +About nightfall we embarked in a steamer that had been sent for us, +and, after many delays, were safely landed at Cumming's Point, on the +northern end of Morris Island. The line was formed at once, and we set +out for Battery Wagner, reporting to its commander, Col. Graham, of +the 21st South Carolina Regiment, at about 11 o'clock at night. + +At the risk of being somewhat tedious, I must here devote a few lines +to the topography of this famous island. It is a long, narrow strip of +sand, running almost due north and south for about four miles, varying +in breadth from, say one hundred yards at the narrowest point to half +a mile at the broadest. Upon the west side the island is separated +from James Island by Vincent's creek and by broad marshes intersected +by numerous salt water creeks, while its eastern shore is washed +throughout its entire length by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. At +the south end were the batteries from which our troops had been driven +in the morning. Light House Inlet separated this point from Folly +Island, and across this inlet the enemy had suddenly thrown their +forces, under cover of a furious fire of artillery, as has already +been stated. At the northern extremity of the island, known as +Cumming's Point, was located Battery Gregg, and about three quarters +of a mile to the south of this, Battery Wagner stretched entirely +across the island from the sea on the left to Vincent's creek on the +right, the battery facing due south. It was an irregular work. On the +extreme left a heavy traverse and curtain protected the sally port and +gave a flanking fire down the beach to any force that might assail the +main work. Then came a salient, one face of which commanded the ship +channel, then a broken line, arranged for flanking fires, extending to +the marsh. The parapets were solid, and a broad, deep, dry moat added +boldness to their profile. Within the parade were bomb-proofs and +lightly constructed barracks for the small garrison that had +heretofore occupied the work. The armament consisted of one 10 inch +Columbiad and some 32-pounders in the sea face, and four or five +lighter guns, chiefly howitzers, on the land side. A short distance in +front of the right of the line an inward bend of Vincent's creek +narrowed the island in such manner as to render it obligatory upon an +attacking force to deliver its assault only against the left half of +the fort, and also affording scant opportunity for the deployment of +such a column. In point of fact this peculiar feature in the +topography proved of great service to us, and correspondingly +troublesome to the enemy in the operations that followed. The surface +of the island is but little raised above the level of the sea and +presents a glaring stretch of white sandy hillocks, which were +sparsely dotted with the coarse grasses of the coast, and which +changed their contour in every high wind. + +There is but to add that the main channel by which ships enter +Charleston harbor runs within easy gunshot of Morris Island from one +end of it to the other, then crosses to the northward and passes +between Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island, and Fort Sumter, built +upon a shoal about midway between the two islands. + +From this rapid sketch, reference being had to the map, it will be +readily appreciated that from the base held by the enemy, a _front_ +attack upon Charleston could begin here and nowhere else; and that, as +the defences of the inner harbor were at that time imperfect, the +immediate fall of Wagner would gravely impair the safety of Charleston +also. But that little mound of sand had its history to make, a story +that will ever bring a flush of honest pride to the face of every man +who participated in the long defence. + +As soon as we had reported to Colonel Graham, the troops were put into +position, the 18th Battalion in the salient, the 12th upon its right, +and the 1st Georgia on the left, occupying the flanking curtain and +the sea face, to which allusion has been made. The guns were all +manned by South Carolina artillery and the right and centre of the +fort were held by infantry from the same State. The men were cautioned +that an attack was expected at daylight, and then, tired out, they +slept on their arms upon the ramp, ready at a moment's call for +action. Captain C. Werner, of the German Volunteers, was appointed +officer of the night, and in a few minutes every sound was hushed save +the swash of the waves upon the beach, and the occasional challenge of +a sentinel from his post. + +My own resting place was upon the parapet, and looking up to the +cloudless heavens above the solemn glory of the night impressed itself +upon my last waking thoughts. + +At the first peep of dawn, on the 11th, we were wakened by a few +straggling shots in our front, followed by a ringing cheer and three +distinct volleys of musketry from our picket line. The anticipated +assault was upon us. In an instant, the garrison was aroused, and as +the men had slept in position they had only to spring to their feet, +and we were ready. Now we could see our pickets, their duty having +been faithfully performed, retiring rapidly towards our right, in +accordance with the instructions they had received, so as to uncover +the advancing columns of the enemy. And, then, through the dim, gray +light of the morning we could distinguish a dark, blue mass of men +moving up the beach towards us, at the double quick, cheering as they +came. + +Then came the thunder of our first gun (what old soldier is there who +does not recall _its_ startling effect), then another and another, +then the deafening rattle of small arms, mingled with yells and +cheers, and we were fairly in the midst of battle. The issue was never +doubtful for a moment. The attacking column attempted to deploy after +passing the narrow neck in front, but entirely failed to do so; while +the dense formation rendered it an easy mark for both infantry and +artillery. Still it pressed gallantly on, and some few of the foremost +men reached the scarp of the work, only to find themselves unsupported +by their comrades, and with no other alternative than to yield +themselves prisoners. One brave fellow I saw, however, who had not the +thought of yielding in him. Alone he reached the top of the parapet, +immediately in front of a 32-pounder, double charged with grape shot. +The officer in command (Lieutenant Gilchrist, of South Carolina, if +memory serves me,) struck by his bearing, called to him to come in +before the gun was fired. His only reply was to put his musket to his +shoulder, and a bullet whizzed by Gilchrist's head. The explosion of +the gun followed, and a blue and mangled body, all that remained of a +brave man and a good soldier, was hurled across the ditch. + +The engagement was of short duration; the attack had failed, and soon +the broken column was in full retreat, rapidly, and without any +semblance of order, leaving some hundreds of their number, stretched +dead and wounded on the sands, or prisoners in the fort. + +Our own loss was insignificant in numbers, but the 1st Regiment was +sorely bereaved in the death of Captain Werner. This gallant officer +was slain early in the fight. He died in the discharge of duty, nobly +battling for the land of his adoption. His voice, calling his +comrades to arms, had been the first to greet our ears as the morning +broke, and now it was hushed forever. Modest, simple, and unpretending +in his manners, he had won a warm place in the affections of the +command, while his perfect reliability under all circumstances +enforced the respect and admiration of all who knew him. Savannah was +called upon to mourn the loss of many sons in those terrible years, +but none of them had taken up arms in her defense sooner, none +suffered privation and imprisonment for her more patiently, and none +died more gallantly than Claus Werner. + +The loss in the 18th Georgia was heavier than in any other +organization, as it had occupied the salient, against which the +assault was principally directed. + +Lieutenant Frederick Tupper was severely wounded, and among the killed +was young Edward Postell, who now sleeps in Laurel Grove, side by side +with a noble brother, who, like himself, as the marble record +testifies, "died in battle." + +Immediately after the action, a singular instance of the ups and downs +and uncertainties of warfare, was brought to our attention. Among the +first troops to enter Fort Pulaski, at its capture in the previous +year, was the 7th Connecticut Regiment, then commanded by Colonel +Alfred H. Terry (subsequently Major-General). Both officers and men +had behaved towards us with great kindness during the few days that we +remained at the fort after its capture, and we had become personally +acquainted with quite a number of them. _Now_, we were the victors, +and among the prisoners brought in at our end of the line, were many +of our old friends of the 7th Connecticut, who recognized and called +us by name. + +The news of the attack created much excitement in Charleston, and +during the morning many visitors, both military and civilian, came to +the island, some to assure themselves of the continued strength of our +position; others to gratify a pardonable curiosity. Among the former +was Brig. Gen. Ripley, the district commander, who was much elated at +the successful issue of the fight, and who wished to examine, +personally, the ground in front of the fort. + +Now, at one point in our front, torpedoes had been planted the day +before, and to prevent any of the garrison from treading upon them, a +sentinel was placed to warn them off. At that time the man who held +this post was Private Donnolly, of Company G, 1st Georgia, a native of +the Emerald Isle, as his name would indicate, and a true son of his +mother. Of any knowledge of ordinary military manoeuvres he was +calmly innocent. On one occasion a Lieutenant of the company asked +him, impatiently: + +"Donnolly, why _don't_ you keep step? All the men are complaining +about you." And received the reply: + +"Faith, its divil a one of 'em can kape shtep wid me!" + +Past this hero General Ripley spurred his horse, and was riding +straight for the dangerous ground, when he was suddenly brought to a +halt by a loud "Shtop!" uttered in the most emphatic tone, and the +emphasis receiving additional point from Donnolly's attitude, as he +stood with his musket at full cock, at the shoulder, and squinted +along the barrel, taking dead aim at the General. For a moment there +was strong probability of a vacancy among the Brigadiers of the +Confederate army, but an officer rushed forward, struck up the gun, +and explained to General Ripley the reason for his being halted. + +Subsequently, our sentinel was asked: + +"Donnolly, what were you going to do?" + +"I was going to shot him." + +"And why?" + +"To kape him from being blown up with the saltpaters, to be sure." + +Donnolly's comrades, in view of his little infirmities of drill, had +always insisted upon his having a place in the rear rank, but on this +day he was heard to say, with much satisfaction: + +"There's moighty little throuble getting in the front rank now." + +Our experience for the next week was a trying one. Failing in the +direct attack, the enemy's endeavor seemed to be to make our berth +uncomfortably warm, and here the success was undoubted. Day after day +the monitors--some four or five in number--and that tremendous war +vessel, the "New Ironsides," would take their positions directly +opposite the fort, at a distance of six to eight hundred yards, the +wooden ships being at much longer range. Then would be poured in upon +us a steady stream of shot and shell, much more pleasant to dwell upon +as a memory than it was to endure, while upon the land side new +batteries were built by the enemy, and each day the weight of metal +thrown against us would seem to be heavier than the day before. I well +remember the approach of the first monitor. How deliberate its +movements; how insignificant its appearance; the deck almost level +with the water, and the little black turret giving small promise of +its hidden power for attack. My curiosity about the vessel was great, +but was soon to be satisfied without stint. There was a slow revolving +motion of the turret, a cloud of smoke, a deafening roar, and then, +with the rush and noise of an express train, the huge fifteen inch +shell, visible at every point of its trajectory, passed over head and +burst far in the rear. The next shell exploded in the parapet, +covering several of us with dirt. The introduction was complete. +Thenceforward we held these singular looking craft in wholesome +respect. The "Ironsides," however, was probably the most formidable +ship of the fleet. She is said to have carried at bow and stern two +hundred pound Parrott guns, and nine eleven-inch Dahlgrens on a side. +Her broadsides were not fired in volley, but gun after gun, in rapid +succession, the effect upon those who were at the wrong end of the +guns being exceedingly demoralizing. Whenever she commenced there was +a painful uncertainty as to what might happen before she got through. + +We had but one gun with which to fight the monitors--the ten-inch +Columbiad located just over the sally-port. True, the thirty-twos were +tried for a while, but they were so impotent to harm the heavy mail of +the ships that their use was soon discontinued. This Columbiad was +manned, I think, by the Matthew's Artillery, of South Carolina, and +the gunner, Frazer Matthews, was as noble a soldier as the siege +produced. In the midst of the hottest fire he would stand quietly on +the chassis directing the aiming of the gun with all the coolness and +precision of target practice. Never flurried, always intent upon the +work before him, and never giving the signal to fire until the aim was +taken to his entire satisfaction, the accuracy of his marksmanship was +great. Again and again I saw the solid ten-inch shot strike upon the +sides of the monitors, only to break into a thousand fragments, that +would splash into the sea like so much grape-shot. + +At first we thought that no harm was done by our fire, but we learned +afterwards that the concussion within the turret was tremendous, and +that, among others, one very prominent officer had been killed by it. + +Unfortunately, our Columbiad was soon dismounted, and although a new +carriage was supplied, that, too, was knocked to pieces in short +order. Indeed, this experience was repeated half a dozen times. + +Such continuous cannonading of course seriously impaired the integrity +of our parapets. But as at that stage of the siege the firing ceased +at nightfall, opportunity was given to repair damages, and all night +long the garrison would work, filling sand bags and painfully +endeavoring to make good the yawning chasms and ragged craters left by +the terrible missiles that had been hurled into the fort during the +day. There was a constant strain upon all the faculties, that gave +little time for anything save the stern duties of the hour, and yet +there were humorous incidents ever occurring that even now will bring +smiles to the lips of all who remember them. + +Who can forget "Aquarius," the water bearer, as he was dubbed--a +simple-hearted fellow, from the back woods of South Carolina, who +devoted his time to bringing water to the wounded. Both heels of his +shoes were carried away by a shell, and from that time he went +barefooted--there was "danger in shoes," he said. And, then, the +simple manner in which, on returning from one of his trips to the +well, he held up one full jug and only the handle of another, saying, +apologetically, "Oh, a shell took hit." + +I can see in my mind's eye, too, the brilliant engineering feat of a +member of the Oglethorpe Light Infantry, who, while cooking a little +dinner in the open parade, provided protection for himself by placing +an empty flour barrel alongside of the fire, and gravely sticking his +head into it whenever the scream of a shell warned him of approaching +trouble. + +During the week General Taliaferro, of Virginia, assumed command, and +on the night of the 17th fresh troops were sent to relieve us--and it +may be mentioned here, that this plan of changing commanders, and the +garrison (or at least a part of it), every few days, was continued +throughout the siege. In fact, the strain upon body and mind was so +unremitting, that a week's tour of duty was about as much as any men +could undergo at a time, as there was no rest day nor night. + +We were landed at Fort Johnson, on James Island, a little before dawn +on the 18th, and were just getting comfortably settled in the village +then existing at that point, when a tremendous cannonading began +against the fort we had just left. All day long it continued, +exceeding in fierceness and rapidity anything we had yet witnessed. +The noise was terrific, great clouds of smoke hung over the devoted +battery, and huge columns of sand rose high in the air, as shell after +shell rent the parapets, while only an occasional shot in return gave +any sign that there was life left in the garrison. With mingled +feelings we watched the bombardment, full of anxiety for the ultimate +result, and for the safety of our comrades in the fort, there was, +also, it must be confessed, a profound complacency at the thought that +we were well out of it ourselves. + +A little before dusk the firing suddenly ceased on the part of the +enemy, and almost instantaneously a rapid succession of guns from +Sumter, trained for the beach of Morris Island, gave notice that +another attempt was to be made to throw a column into Wagner by +escalade. + +It was even so. General Gillmore, fully alive to the difficulties +which the topographical features of the ground presented for regular +approaches, and counting with reason upon the damaging effect of the +awful bombardment, both upon the work itself and the "morale" of the +garrison, had determined to make one more effort to wrest the position +from the Confederates by storm. To this end he had organized a strong +column of two brigades (a third brigade being held in reserve), under +command of General Seymour, the formation being made behind the sand +hills. Its advance was supported by light batteries, and as the heavy +firing ceased, it swept forward with a rush. An officer, who was in +Wagner, told me on the following day that the assault came very near +meeting with perfect success, for, although it was anticipated, the +awful artillery fire had compelled the garrison to seek shelter in the +bomb-proofs. The exits from these places were narrow, and there was +much trouble in getting the men to the ramparts in time to repel the +onslaught. As it was, the result was long doubtful. A part of the +enemy's column effected a lodgment in the salient on the left, and not +until reinforcements were sent down from James Island to the +assistance of the garrison, were these assailants finally overpowered +and the entire fort once more in the hands of the Confederates. + +The attack was bloody and disastrous to the attacking force. Its +leader, General Seymour, was dangerously wounded, and General Strong, +with many of his best officers, and hundreds of the men, were killed, +while the total loss in killed, wounded and prisoners, has been +variously estimated at from 1,500 to 2,200 men. Nearly all of the +enemy's regiments were in a state of disorganization, and gloom and +dismay settled upon them. + +In this connection it will be of interest to state that, during the +siege, the Federal signal book was in our possession, having been +captured on the person of a signal officer, near Georgetown, South +Carolina. Its valuable secrets had been drawn from him by a +Confederate who shared his place of imprisonment in the garb of a +Federal prisoner. More than once the knowledge thus acquired proved of +essential service to us. On this occasion, the following dispatch from +General Gillmore to Admiral Dahlgren had been intercepted, and in +General Beauregard's possession hours before the assault: "Continue +the bombardment throughout the day; at sunset redouble it. The assault +will commence at seven." + +Notwithstanding this disaster, General Gillmore, with great tenacity +of purpose worthy of admiration, gave no evidence of having been +diverted from his objective point. Though apparently convinced of the +futility of all efforts at a _coup de main_, he at once settled down +into an endeavor to reduce Wagner by parallels and trenches. Time was +necessary to do this, however, and time was the salvation of +Charleston, for upon _our_ side the distinguished officer who +commanded the department, General Beauregard, was not idle, and +nothing was left undone for the defence, not only of the outworks, but +of the inner harbor, and of adjacent islands and inlets. The batteries +on Sullivan's Island were strengthened, heavy additions were made to +the armament of Sumter, new batteries were constructed within the city +limits and upon the shores of James Island; some to command the ship +channel, and others to deliver a flanking fire, though at a long +distance, upon the enemy's works on Morris Island, while every device +that the highest engineering skill could suggest, was gallantly acted +upon by the garrison of Wagner to prolong its defence and retard its +fall to the latest possible moment. Torpedoes and submarine batteries +were placed in the waters of the harbor also, and, although I did not +learn that one of them was ever exploded, there can be no doubt that +they exerted a great moral effect, and deterred the vessels of the +fleet from prowling around where we did not want them. + +On the night of the 22d of July our second tour of duty at Wagner +began. We found General Taliaferro still in command, and the garrison +increased to about 1,500 men--though changes were so constantly being +made that, without reference to statistical reports, I will not +pretend to accuracy on this point. On every hand could be seen +evidences of the severe trial through which the fort had already +passed and was daily called upon to endure. The barracks and store +houses were in ruins, and all of the slopes and inclines, upon which +the eye of the engineer had loved to rest, were ploughed up in huge +furrows, or pitted with cavernous holes that marked the bursting place +of shells. But sand has many advantages over masonry, and wherever +during the day the injuries done had impaired the defensive powers of +the fort, a thousand busy workers would bend their energies, and the +morning light would show guns remounted, parapets repaired and a +strong front still presented to the enemy. On the 24th of July the +bombardment was unusually severe. The iron-clads, having nothing in +Wagner to oppose them (for on that day our 10-inch gun was useless), +came in as close as the channel would permit, shortly after daylight, +and in conjunction with the land batteries poured in an awful fire +upon us for hours, while from our side, Moultrie, Sumter, Gregg, and +the batteries on James Island, Johnson, Haskell, and Cheves, joined in +the fray. It was certainly a sublime yet terrible sight, never to be +forgotten by any who witnessed it. The impact of tremendous missiles, +followed by the roar of their explosion, shook the solid earth, and +the loud thunder of the guns seemed to rival the artillery of the +heavens as its unceasing reverberations smote upon the ear. + +Grave doubts were entertained as to the ability of our fort to stand +much longer this dreadful storm, but help came. About noon the steamer +Alice (that had recently run the blockade), under command of Colonel +Edward C. Anderson, of this city, came rapidly down the harbor from +Charleston, bearing a white flag, and laden, as we learned, with a +large number of Federal wounded, who were to be exchanged for +Confederate wounded. She steered directly for a position between the +fleet and Wagner. One shot was fired over her, but in a moment the +cannonading ceased, and never was relief more welcome or more needed. + +Serious injury had been done to Wagner, injury, indeed, that a short +continuance of the firing might have rendered irremediable, as upon +inspection it was found that there remained but about eighteen inches +of sand as a covering for the logs, of which our main service magazine +was built. One shell had carried away the air-flue and the flame, as +it burst, had lit up the interior of the magazine, very much to the +dismay of the men who were serving there, and who came tumbling out +head over heels--evidently not standing on the order of their +coming--only desiring to come quickly. + +Colonel Anderson, in speaking of this occurrence, tells me that as he +came down the bay, the gravity of our position was fully realized by +him, and his determination formed to pursue the course he did in order +to bring the firing to an end as soon as possible. He was warned off +as he drew near the fleet, and a shell fired over him, but paid no +attention to the warning, and succeeded in what he aimed to do. It was +the right thing done at the right time, and, as a member of the +garrison, I beg to make here my acknowledgments of the service +performed. + +The bombardment was not renewed that day, and during the afternoon +General Taliaferro worked to such good purpose that nightfall found +the principal damages substantially repaired. + +On this occasion was brought to my attention a striking instance of +the fact that a lofty heroism and nobility of soul may exist where an +ordinary observer would never expect to find them. In the ranks of +Company K, of the 1st Georgia, was a man from Bulloch county. Before +his enlistment, a charcoal burner; he was of mean exterior, sickly +frame and complaining disposition. He had long been a butt for the +rough witticisms of his comrades, and more than once came to me for +redress. What troubled him most was that the men told him he had been +"dug-up," an implication upon the manner of his entry into the +world--that he resented bitterly. During the bombardment of this day +he had, in the performance of customary guard duty, been posted at the +rampart, near the flag staff, to watch for any movements of the enemy +that might indicate the formation of an assaulting column. At the end +of his tour, Lieutenant Cyrus Carter started from the guard quarters +to relieve him. Carter told me that as he crossed the parade, he did +so with the profound conviction that he would be struck down before +reaching the other side, so appalling was the storm of projectiles +that tore up the ground around him. What was his surprise, therefore, +to find the sentinel, not sheltered behind the parapet, as it was +intended he should be, but quietly walking back and forth upon its +very crest, for the expressed reason that he "couldn't see good down +thar." + +The flag staff had been shattered at his side, and with a strip torn +from his shirt, he had tied the colors to the stump and continued his +walk. As may be well supposed our charcoal burner escaped criticism +after that. + +From this time forward the works of the enemy were pushed forward +most assiduously. One parallel after another was opened and breaching +batteries established, armed with heavy sea coast mortars and rifle +guns of tremendous size and power. + +On our part, corresponding exertions were made. A heavy fire from our +howitzers and other guns was maintained; sharp-shooters, armed with +Whitworth rifles, kept unremitting watch upon the movements of the +enemy, and a well placed line of rifle-pits, two or three hundred +yards in our front, gave additional strength to our position and +seriously annoyed the besiegers. There were two sides to the matter of +sharp-shooting, however, and the loss of some brave officers and men, +killed by bullets fired at a thousand yards distance, or more, warned +us against anything like heedless exposure. + +The discomforts and privations to which the garrison was subjected +rapidly increased, and soon attained proportions that will be +remembered by those who endured them, like the details of some +horrible dream. To avoid an unnecessary loss of life, the men were +kept as much as possible within the bomb-proofs during the day time; +but the gun squads and riflemen, of course, were constantly exposed, +as well as numbers who could find no room in the shelters, or who +preferred taking the fresh air, with all its attendant hazards. From +these there were constant additions to the list of our losses. The +wounded (and the wounds were mostly of a terrible character), were all +brought in among the men, and the surgical operations were performed +in the midst of the crowd, by the light of candles, that dimly burned +in the heavy air from which all vitality had been drawn. The cries of +these poor sufferers, the unceasing roar of artillery above and +around, the loss of rest, the want of pure air, and the baking heat of +a Southern summer, all combined to render the position almost +unbearable. The enemy's dead from the two assaults had been buried +immediately in front of the moat; those from our garrison just back of +the fort. From the description of the island it will be understood +that shallow graves only could be given--graves from which a high wind +would blow the light, sandy soil, or which a bursting shell would +rend, exposing the bodies to the sunshine. The whole air was tainted +with corruption, and finally the little wells, from which our supply +of water was drawn, became so foul, from the same cause, that their +use was abandoned, and thenceforward drinking water was sent from the +city of Charleston. + +Now began a most remarkable feature of the siege, and one that has +marked a new era in the science of attack and imposed new and +startling problems upon the military engineer charged with the +construction of permanent fortifications. I allude, of course, to the +battering down of the walls of Fort Sumter from a distance of two and +a half miles. The power of rifled guns against masonry had been +conclusively demonstrated during the previous year at Fort Pulaski. +There, however, the breaching batteries were distant about one mile, +but there were few who could believe that at more than twice that +range Sumter was seriously endangered. It had been thought that the +grand old fort was safe so long as Wagner held out. But one morning a +new battery opened; the shot and shell went high above our heads, and +were hurled with irresistible power against the walls of Sumter. Great +masses of masonry from the outer wall fell as each shot struck, and +ere many days it seemed as though nought but a pile of ruins would +mark the spot. Here, however, General Beauregard gave splendid +evidence of his readiness to meet emergencies, and of his skill as an +engineer. + +As soon as it became evident that the fort must yield to the power of +the heavy artillery brought to bear upon it, he rapidly withdrew all +the guns that could be utilized for defensive purposes at other +points, and from the very ruins of Sumter, constructed, as it were, a +new fortification, fully adequate to the purpose of commanding the +ship channel to the city. But all other power of the fort was gone, +and in the subsequent events on Morris Island, Sumter took no part. +This bombardment lasted for seven days, and in that time a first class +masonry fort was reduced to a shapeless ruin from batteries located at +points far beyond the remotest distance at which any engineer had ever +dreamed of danger. The debris of the walls fell in a natural slope and +served as an impenetrable protection to the lower casemates of the +channel face, in which the new battery was placed. Some little time +elapsed, however, before these changes were completed, and I am unable +to understand why Admiral Dahlgren did not meanwhile avail himself of +the opening thus offered and push with his iron-clads for the inner +harbor. We certainly looked for such a dash, and General Gillmore was +evidently chagrined at the fact that it was not made. Whether or not +such a course would have been successful is problematical. There can +be no doubt, though, that it would have added grave complications to +the Confederate military position, to say the least of it. + +At such time as the 1st Regiment was not on duty at Wagner, it was +posted at Fort Johnson, the point of James Island nearest to Morris +Island. For a time our comrades of the 12th and 18th Battalions shared +this post with us, but as the season progressed, we were separated; +the 12th going to Sumter and other points, and the 18th to Fort +Moultrie, where it performed months of arduous and trying service. + +At Fort Johnson, which, up to that time had possessed no special +strength, very heavy works were constructed, having reference not only +to the inner harbor, but also to the operations of the enemy on Morris +Island. These batteries, as well as the others along the shores of +James Island, proved very annoying to the enemy, and the accuracy of +their fire is mentioned more than once in his reports. + +A most interesting feature in this summer's operations was the +development of the attacking power of movable torpedoes. Special +interest attaches to a boat that was brought from Mobile, by railroad, +and which was generally known, from its shape, as the "Cigar Boat." +Its history is linked with deeds of the loftiest heroism and devotion +of self to the service of country. The story is familiar to all of us, +yet I cannot refrain from repeating it. + +This boat was one day made fast to the wharf at Fort Johnson, +preparatory to an expedition against the fleet, and taking advantage +of the opportunity, I examined it critically. It was built of boiler +iron, about thirty feet in length, with a breadth of beam of four feet +by a vertical depth of six feet, the figures being approximate only. +Access to the interior was had by two man-holes in the upper part, +covered by hinged caps, into which were let bull's eyes of heavy +glass, and through these the steersman looked in guiding the motions +of the craft. The boat floated with these caps raised only a foot or +so above the level of the water. The motive power was a propeller, to +be worked by hand of the crew, cranks being provided in the shaft for +that purpose. Upon each side of the exterior were horizontal vanes, or +wings, that could be adjusted at any angle from the interior. When it +was intended that the boat should go on an even keel, whether on the +surface or under, these vanes were kept level. If it was desired to go +below the water, say, for instance, at an angle of ten degrees, the +vanes were fixed at that angle and the propeller worked. The +resistance of the water against the vanes would then carry the boat +under. A reversal of this method would bring it to the surface again. +A tube of mercury was arranged to mark the depth of descent. It had +been the design of the inventor to approach near to an enemy, then to +submerge the boat and pass under the ship to be attacked, towing a +floating torpedo to be exploded by means of electricity as soon as it +touched the keel. Insufficient depth of water in the harbor prevented +this manner of using the boat, however, and so she was rigged with a +long spar at the bow, to which a torpedo was attached, to be fired by +actual concussion with the object to be destroyed. This change +necessarily made the boat more unwieldy, and probably had something to +do with the tragic circumstances of her after history. + +It will be remembered that she was sunk at the wharf at Port Johnson +by the waves from a passing steamer, while a part of the crew were in +her. Days elapsed before she could be raised. The dead were removed, +and a second crew volunteered. They made repeated and successful +experiments in the harbor, but finally they, too, went down and, from +some unknown cause, failed to come up. Once more a long time passed +before the boat was raised, and then the poor remains of the devoted +crew were taken from her in an indescribable condition. Yet, still +another set of men came forward and volunteered for the duty. Surely +love of country and courage of the sublimest type never found better +exponents than these. The expedition started, but did not return. That +night the sloop-of-war, "Housatonic," was reported as having been sunk +by a torpedo in the lower harbor, but of the gallant men who had thus +accomplished what they aimed to do, nothing definite was ever known +until after the war, when divers, in endeavoring to raise the +Housatonic, discovered the cigar boat with the bleached bones of her +crew lying near the wreck of the noble ship that she had destroyed. + +The line of rifle pits in front of Wagner had been gallantly held by +our men during the siege, and had sorely troubled the besiegers. On +the 21st of August an infantry force attempted the capture of these +pits, without success. On the afternoon of the 26th, a heavy artillery +fire was brought to bear upon them without dislodging the holders, but +that night a dashing charge of the 24th Massachusetts Regiment gained +the position, capturing most of the Confederates who held it, about +seventy men. General Gillmore's fifth and last parallel was at once +established on the ground thus won, and before dawn on the 27th, under +cover of the flying sap, the trenches were pushed about one hundred +yards nearer to the fort. + +Notwithstanding this success, General Gillmore, in his report, speaks +of this period as "the dark and gloomy days of the siege," and of the +progress made as "discouragingly slow, and even painfully uncertain." + +The ground between his front and Wagner was thickly studded with +torpedoes, his left flank was searched by the unremitting fire from +our batteries on James Island. The head of the sap was slowly pushed +forward under the ceaseless fire of howitzers and sharp-shooters from +the entire front of the fort, while last, though not least, the +besiegers had now reached a point where every onward step compelled +them to dig through the bodies of their dead, who had been buried some +weeks before. + +"In the emergency," General Gillmore availed himself of his superior +resources in artillery, to keep down the active resistance of Wagner, +and to this end every gun ashore and afloat was turned upon it. The +final bombardment began at daybreak on the 5th of September and for +forty-two hours continued with a severity and awful terror beyond the +power of words to describe. That night, as witnessed from Fort +Johnson, where the 1st Regiment were stationed, the scene was grand in +the extreme. The lurid flushes of the guns, their unceasing roar, the +shells from every description of tremendous artillery, that could be +tracked through the air by flaming fuses; the mortar shell rising in +stately curve and steady sweep, the Parrott shell darting like +lightning in its mission of death, the missiles from the fleet booming +along the water and bursting in Wagner with cruel accuracy, the glare +of calcium lights, bringing out every detail of our works as in the +noonday--all these filled the souls of Confederate spectators with +awe, and found their painful antithesis in--_the silence of Wagner_. +The end had come. + +All through the 6th the bombardment continued, and that evening the +sap had reached the counter scarp of the work, and only the ditch and +parapet separated the combatants. The assault was ordered for nine +o'clock on the morning of the 7th, but by midnight on the 6th the +place was evacuated by the Confederates, the whole force being taken +off the island in row boats. Some few of these boats were intercepted, +but the garrison, as a garrison, was saved. The enemy at once occupied +both Wagner and Gregg, and Morris Island, in its entirety, was in +their possession. + +So ended the siege of Battery Wagner, after a defense of fifty-seven +days: a defense that may, without question, be said to have saved +Charleston. The outwork was taken, but the inner citadel still proudly +stood. Still from the ruins of Sumter, still from historic Moultrie, +still from the "City by the Sea," the Southern Cross fluttered in the +breezes of the bay and bade defiance to the foe. + +The evacuation so successfully accomplished, in the face of so many +difficulties, under so terrible a fire, and with the enemy in such +close proximity, has justly been considered a remarkable event and the +crowning glory of the defense. That had been protracted to the latest +moment, and when resistance was no longer possible, the brave garrison +was saved to add fresh lustre to the Southern arms on many another +field. + +On the afternoon of the 8th of September, notice was received by the +commanders of batteries within range of Sumter, that a boat attack +would be made upon that fortification during the night, and they were +ordered at a given signal to open with all their guns upon the point +where the boats were expected. The signals of the enemy had again been +interpreted, and upon our side there was perfect readiness. The +garrison of Sumter prepared to meet the enemy upon the slope with a +shower of musketry. The guns of our contiguous batteries were +carefully trained upon the right spot before dark, and as soon as +night had fallen, a Confederate ironclad moved into position to add +the fire of her powerful guns. Silently the night wore on; for hours +not a sound broke its stillness; the men sat drowsily by the guns, and +the belief gained ground that the proposed attack had been abandoned, +when suddenly there was a twinkle of a musket from Sumter, then a +rocket soared in the air, and then the bellowing thunder of the great +guns and the explosion of shells instantaneously and startlingly +contrasted with the sleepy quiet of our long hours of watching. The +assault was repulsed with considerable loss to the assailants, but +with no loss to the garrison. + +It is singular to note from General Gillmore's report, as an evidence +of a want of harmony between the land and naval forces, that two +independent expeditions were organized for this attack--one by Admiral +Dahlgren, the other by General Gillmore. The report says: "The only +arrangement for concert of action between the two parties, that were +finally made, were intended simply to prevent accident or collision +between them. Each party was deemed in itself sufficiently strong for +the object in view." + +The naval expedition, consisting of some twenty-five or thirty boats, +came directly from the ships, in tow of steam tugs, and, reaching +Sumter first, at once delivered its attack. The land forces, about 400 +strong, embarked in their boats in Vincent's creek. The windings of +the creek probably delayed them, and they had not quite reached the +fort when the naval assault was made and repulsed. All hope of a +surprise being at an end, the second force retired. + +From this time the active operations for the reduction of Charleston +upon this line virtually ceased, though an interchange of artillery +fire was continued with more or less activity for many months. Not +until Sherman's great army swept through South Carolina, and the dying +days of the Confederacy were at hand, did the proud city bow her head, +and yield to the inevitable. + +Mr. President, my story is told. It has been my endeavor to place +graphically before this audience a sketch of some of the scenes of +that eventful summer. They have passed into history, but history fails +to record a thousand little details which breathe life into the +picture. Some of these I have tried to present. + +Certainly no period of the war was more fruitful in dramatic incident, +and in no portion of the Confederacy was there a grander exhibition of +scientific warfare. The wonderful developments of engineering skill, +both in the attack and in the defense, will ever mark the siege as a +most memorable one, while the share of success attained by each side +robs the memory of the event of any sting of mortification for Federal +and Confederate alike. Sure am I that every member of the First +Georgia who participated in these stirring scenes will, to his latest +day, feel his heart throb with pride in saying, "I was at Charleston +in 1863." + + Savannah, March, 1879. + + +NOTE.--Referring to the action of Col. Anderson, related on page 10, +it is proper to state that the steamer Alice was sent out from +Charleston _in conformity to an explicit arrangement that had been +entered into by the commanding Generals for an exchange of wounded on +that day_. + +She carried a "hospital flag," as well as the ordinary flag of truce. +Soon after the firing ceased, she was met by the Federal steamer +Cosmopolitan, bearing the Confederate wounded, when the exchange was +effected. Both steamers then returned, and the truce ended. + + C. H. O. + + + + +Transcriber's Note + +Variable spelling, e.g. defense and defence, is preserved as printed. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Reminiscences of Service with the +First Volunteer Regiment of Georgia, Charleston Harbor, in 1863, by Charles H. 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