Calendar of Events in the Defense of Charleston, South Carolina

The transport-steamer Star of the West, carrying troops and stores to relieve the garrison of Fort Sumter, was stopped and turned back by the firing of a small battery on Morris Island, manned by the cadets of the South Carolina Military Academy, under command of Major P. F. Stevens.

Brigadier-General G. T. Beauregard assumes command in Charleston.

Bombardment of Fort Sumter, with surrender of the post by Major Robert Anderson, commanding, to the Confederate troops under Brigadier-General Beauregard.

Blockade of harbor begun by steam-frigate Niagara.

Brigadier-General R. S. Ripley assigned to command of Department of South Carolina.

Messrs. Mason and Slidell run the blockade, escaping to Cuba.

Confederate steamer Nashville escapes from the harbor.

General R. E. Lee assigned to command Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida.

Bombardment and capture of the forts at Port Royal Entrance by Union fleet of seventeen sail under Flag-Officer S. F. DuPont. Confederates, under Brigadier-General T. F. Drayton, effect retreat to the mainland.

General Lee assumes command of department.

Captain Duncan N. Ingraham assigned to duty as flag-officer naval forces in Charleston harbor.

Capture of Confederate picket-guard (6) on Chisholm's Island, Coosaw River. Evacuation of Rockville, Wadmalaw Island.

The first "Stone Fleet" sunk by the Federals on the bar of Charleston, off Maffitt's Channel.

Engagements at Page's Point, Port Royal Ferry, Coosaw River, between land and naval forces.

Second "Stone Fleet" sunk on Charleston bar.

Expedition to Edisto Island under Colonel P. F. Stevens, Holcombe Legion.

Skirmish on Barnwell Island.

Edisto Island partly occupied by Union forces.

General Lee called to Richmond, Va.

Major-General J. C. Pemberton assumes command of the Confederate troops of the Department of South Carolina and Georgia.

Major-General D. Hunter assigned to command of Union forces in Department of the South.

Reconnoissance on May River, S. C.

Operations near Bluffton, S. C.

Affair on Edisto Island. Major F. G. Palmer of Holcombe Legion, with Major A. C. Garlington, captures 19 of the Union force.

Complete occupation of Edisto Island by Union forces.

Reconnoissance of Seabrook's Island by Union forces covered by a gunboat.

Skirmish on Edisto Island.

Engagements at Pineberry, Willtown, and White Point, between Union gunboats and land forces.

Martial law proclaimed in Charleston.

Disarmament of Cole's Island.

Abduction of steamer Planter from the wharf at Charleston.

Federal gunboats occupy the Stono above Cole's Island and Battery Island, shelling them, and capturing a picket-guard on the latter.

Floating battery, Captain F. N. Bonneau, stationed near Dixon's Island, engaged and drove off a gunboat in Stono.

Brigadier-General R. S. Ripley transferred to Virginia.

Demonstration of Union troops, under Colonel B. C. Christ, being a full regiment, with artillery, on the Charleston and Savannah Railroad; met near Pocotaligo and prevented from striking the railroad by a small Confederate force (186 cavalry) under Colonel W. S. Walker, after a skirmish of two hours: Union loss, 11; Confederate, 9.

Gunboat in Folly River shelled Legaré's Point and Secessionville, head-quarters of Brigadier-General S. R. Gist, commanding James Island. Fire returned by Confederate batteries. Enemy landed in force and drove in pickets from southern extremity of James Island. Union force under Brigadier-General I. I. Stevens.

Skirmish at Sol. Legaré's place below Secessionville, James Island. Three guns of Confederate light battery mired and captured; 22 Union prisoners made by a charge under Lieutenant-Colonel E. Capers. The movement, a reconnoissance in force made by a brigade supported by gunboats in Stono, was thwarted.

Brigadier-General William Duncan Smith assumed command of James Island.

Skirmish on John's Island.

Skirmish with rifle-pits in advance at Secessionville. Capture of a small Confederate picket. Union force retired under fire of field-gun and floating battery.

Confederates reconnoitre in force on James Island, with loss to Forty-seventh Georgia volunteers of 60 to 70 men.

Skirmishing continued. Fire also opened upon the post of Secessionville by a battery of Parrott guns in advance of the Union position. Brigadier-General N. G. Evans assumes command of James Island.

Battle of Secessionville. Union troops under Brigadier-General H. W. Benham, commanding three divisions, to the number of 7000 men; one division assaulted the work, garrisoned by 750 men, under command of Colonel T. G. Lamar, and met with a disastrous repulse, losing nearly 700 men; Confederate loss, 204, of which 32 were in the advance movement under Brigadier-General Hagood.

Engagement at Simmons's Bluff; two gunboats shelling rifle-pits and light battery (Marion).

Union gunboats in South Santee; skirmish at Blake's place.

Union troops evacuate James Island.

Martial law in Charleston suspended.

Boat-expedition under Captain Stephen Elliott of Beaufort Artillery and Captain J. H. Mickler, Eleventh South Carolina volunteers, captured a company of the Third New Hampshire regiment, picketing on Pinckney Island.

Major-General Pemberton superseded by General Beauregard.

Expedition of Union force against Bluffton.

Brigadier-General R. S. Ripley resumes command of First Military District, South Carolina.

Second action, Frampton Place, near Pocotaligo. A Union force of 4500 men, under Brigadier-General J. M. Brannan, supported by gunboats on the tributaries of Broad River, advanced with skirmishing from Mackay's Point toward Old Pocotaligo. Here they were met and driven back to their gunboats by Brigadier-General W. S. Walker. Union loss, 340; Confederate loss, 163. Near Coosawhatchie the railroad was struck by the enemy, but with trifling damage, and his force was pressed back by Colonel C. J. Colcock, commanding cavalry.

The iron-clad rams Palmetto State and Chicora were at the end of this year completed and put on duty in Charleston harbor, each mounting four guns.

Capture of Federal steamer Isaac Smith (eleven guns) in Stono River by combination of light artillery and infantry in ambuscade, but without parapets, on James and John's Islands, the expedition being under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph A. Yates, First South Carolina Artillery. Prisoners, 11 officers and 108 men, among whom were 24 casualties.

Attack before daylight on blockading squadron, off the Charleston bar, by Flag-Officer D. N. Ingraham, commanding the iron-clad gunboats Chicora and Palmetto State. Two of the blockaders were temporarily disabled — casualties 47 — and surrendered, but afterward escaped in the darkness. The Union ships were driven off during several hours from four to five miles outside the bar, but no raising of the blockade occurred.

Skirmish on Bull's Island between a small body of Confederate troops (50), commanded by Captain Charles T. Haskell, Jr., First South Carolina (regular) Infantry, and a force of twice the number from the blockading gunboat Flambeau.

Three steamers with cotton run the blockade, and one enters from Nassau on this night.

Gunboat Flambeau bearing flag of truce fired on from Fort Moultrie.

Capture of a Confederate lieutenant and six men on the wreck of a blockade-runner at North Santee Entrance.

Fortification of southern end of Morris Island begun by the Confederates.

Dash across Skull Creek, Broad River, by Confederates, capturing an officer and some men of the Signal Corps.

Occupation of Cole's and Folly Islands by Union forces under Major-General D. Hunter.

The Confederate transport Marion sunk by torpedoes while placing them in Ashley River. — Added by Johnson in the preface to the second edition, to supply an omission in the Calendar.

Attack on Fort Sumter by Rear-Admiral DuPont, commanding the iron-clad squadron of nine vessels; engagement lasted two hours and thirty minutes, but five out of the eight vessels in action were disabled in from forty-five to sixty minutes; one sank next morning. The fort, with garrison of 550 men, commanded by Colonel Rhett, First South Carolina Artillery, was seriously damaged in a few places, but made ready to renew the fight next day. The casualties on both sides were slight: Union, 23; Confederate, 6.

Destruction of the armed steamer George Washington in Coosaw River by Confederate light batteries.

Night scouting-expedition to Folly Island, with capture of a picket by Confederates, the island under command of Brigadier-General I. Vogdes.

Schooner burnt by Union expedition to Murray's Inlet.

Expedition by Union gunboats to Murray's Inlet: Union casualties, 4.

Unsuccessful expedition with Confederate spar-torpedo boats against monitors in North Edisto.

Union reconnoissance of James Island by small land force, supported by gunboats in Stono.

Night scouting-expedition to Long Island in front of Secessionville; Lieutenant Samuel Dibble, Twenty-fifth South Carolina volunteers, taken prisoner by the Union picket.

The wreck of blockade-runner Ruby shelled by light guns on Folly Island; replied to by Captain J. C. Mitchel, commanding works at south end of Morris Island.

Major-General Hunter relieved by Brigadier-General Gillmore in command of Department of the South.

Rear-Admiral DuPont relieved of command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron by Rear-Admiral Dahlgren.

Night scouting-expedition to Folly Island, from Morris Island, by Captain C. T. Haskell, discovering flotilla moored and ready for crossing.

Demonstrations on James Island and the Charleston and Savannah Railroad. Descent on Morris Island by Union troops (3000) and capture of works at the southern end; four monitors assisting largely in the attack. Confederate loss, 294; Union, 106.

Assault of Battery Wagner by Union troops under Brigadier-General Strong, met and repulsed by garrison under Colonel Graham. Confederate loss, 12; Union loss, 339. Four monitors engaged Wagner for several hours after the assault.

Union working-parties on first parallel, 1350 yards, in front of Wagner, shelled by guns and mortars of Battery Gregg and Fort Sumter. Construction of flanking Confederate works begun on Shell Point, James Island (Battery Simkins).

Colonel Graham relieved in command of Wagner by Brigadier-General Taliaferro. Sally from Battery Wagner under Major Rion, Seventh South Carolina battalion, driving the enemy's pickets out of their rifle-pits.

Brigadier-General Hagood's reconnoissance of Union position on James Island.

Confederates attack the enemy on James Island, obliging them to fall back to the cover of the gunboats in Stono: losses small. The Pawnee and Marblehead forced to change positions by well-placed field-guns.

Union forces, land and naval, withdraw from Stono. All communication by daylight between Morris Island and Charleston intercepted henceforth by Union batteries firing upon Cumming's Point.

Bombardment of Wagner by the combined forces, land and naval, from noon to dusk, with 42 siege- and field-guns and mortars, 6 iron-clads and 4 gunboats, carrying 46 guns more: in action about 70 guns, throwing heaviest weight of metal up to this date of operations: estimated firing, 14 shots per minute. Brigadier-General Gillmore moved three brigades forward to the assault of Wagner: the first and second, being engaged, were repulsed with loss of 1500 to 2000 men. Confederate loss by bombardment and assault was 174 killed and wounded. The garrison of Wagner (1000) commanded by Brigadier-General W. B. Taliaferro.

Flag of truce sent to Wagner from the fleet declined.

Combined fire upon Wagner resumed: its only 10-inch gun dismounted. Fort Sumter fired upon by long-range 30-pounder rifles from land-battery on Morris Island (3500 yards), a few shells doing no damage, but wounding a drummer-boy. This was the first fire received from Morris Island. Work of filling up the officers' quarters on gorge with wet cotton-bales laid in sand was begun to-day; also building of new wharf and cutting new sally-port on western front.

Flag of truce from General Gillmore to Battery Wagner received by General Hagood, commanding, but interrupted by firing from the fleet; resumed on 22d; new works erected by General Gillmore.

Brigadier-General Hagood relieved by Brigadier-General Taliaferro. Second parallel established — 870 yards from Wagner.

Six iron-clads and four gunboats combine fire with batteries five hours upon Wagner; interrupted by exchange of prisoners. Colonel Harris, chief engineer, reports Wagner not materially injured. Partial disarmament of Fort Sumter begins at this date, the fort firing slowly every day and night upon enemy's works in front of Wagner.

Another monitor joins the squadron, making six monitors, together with the New Ironsides. Light Parrott rifles again fired upon Fort Sumter. The flanking batteries of James Island, together with sharpshooters in Wagner, annoy the Union working-parties on Morris Island.

Heavy combined firing upon Wagner, the New Ironsides taking part; the batteries also firing at night; General Gillmore constructing works for heavy long-range Parrott rifles, intended to breach Fort Sumter; working force there, numbering 323, engaged night and day strengthening the fort.

Wagner received a daily fire, chiefly naval, and maintained annoying fire of sharpshooters with Whitworth rifles and telescopic sights. Construction of the Marsh Battery, afterward known as "Swamp Angel," begun by General Gillmore. The besiegers reinforced by 3000 troops.

Capture of picket in Vincent's Creek by Confederate navy and army boats. At Fort Sumter mortar platforms completed in the parade for night-firing on Morris Island; the filling of upper and lower rooms of gorge (total, seventeen) completed; construction of traverses and merlons on parapet of sea-face and gorge begun; also building up of sandbag work, to reinforce exterior of gorge, begun with material brought from the city. Wagner armed on sea-face with three heavy guns. Confederate steamer Juno, Lieutenant Phil. Porcher commanding, ran down and captured a launch with officer and 10 men off Fort Sumter (night 5th–6th).

Third parallel opened — 540 yards from Wagner; narrow front for operations increases difficulty. Calcium light used to discover Confederate communication at Cumming's Point.

Before daylight Wagner, together with Sumter and the James Island batteries, opened so heavily on trenches as to stop entirely the working-parties for the first time in the siege. Heavy fire on Wagner during day. Calcium light again thrown on Cumming's Point prevented landing of supplies. The James Island lines ordered by General Beauregard to be abandoned in favor of an advanced line one half shorter, extending from Secessionville to Dill's house on the Stono (Battery Pringle).

Fort Sumter received the first firing of heavy Parrott rifles, in practice to get the range, as they were mounted in the breaching-batteries of Morris Island. Effects on masonry in places very destructive. Small steamer Hibben, discharging at wharf, had her boiler exploded by a shell. Total firing, 18; total casualties, 11 wounded.

Land and naval practice on Fort Sumter. Total firing, 30; total casualties, 1 killed, 2 wounded.

Practice of breaching-batteries as before; 10 shots.

Practice of breaching-batteries as before; 48 shots. Engineers' working-force of laborers and mechanics, 350 to 450, engaged day and night for six weeks, has converted the two faces of Fort Sumter nearest Morris Island into a compact, massive redan of sand, encased with brick, having a height of 40 feet and a general thickness of 25 feet, with a portion of the gorge 35 to 40 feet thick. Upward of twenty guns have been removed from the armament since July, leaving but thirty-eight for the present service of the fort. Garrison numbers 550 officers and men, under Colonel Alfred Rhett, commanding.

First day of first great bombardment of Fort Sumter, first period. Total shots discharged at the fort from breaching-batteries (11 guns) and the fleet, 948; total casualties, 1 killed, 18 wounded. Firing suspended at nightfall or only desultory. Battery Wagner and Battery Gregg under fire also from the batteries (siege) and the fleet (7 iron-clads, 7 gunboats). Wagner fought the fleet with three guns for more than an hour. Fleet-Captain G. W. Rodgers killed on the Weehawken; Captain J. M. Wampler of the Engineers killed in Wagner.

Second day, heavy firing (14 guns) continued on Fort Sumter; casualties, 3. Wagner received fire of 3 iron-clads and 5 gunboats, besides the siege-batteries; from the New Ironsides in these two days 805 shells discharged.

Third day, 15 guns from breaching-batteries fired heavily on the fort; desultory firing during the night; casualties, 5. Approaches upon Wagner checked by sharpshooting from the "ridge" picket-line and by flanking batteries of James Island. The New Ironsides alone shelled Wagner this day.

Fourth day for Sumter; three new guns, one being a 10-inch Parrott rifle (300-pounder), added to the breaching-batteries, made a total of 18 guns; range, from 3447 to 4290 yards. Casualties, 3 wounded. 25,000 pounds of powder removed by night. Wagner shelled by New Ironsides and four gunboats. The Marsh Battery, designed to fire upon the city at 7900 yards, completed to-day.

Fifth day for Sumter; more powder (9700 pounds) removed to-night; casualties, 6. General Gillmore demands the surrender of Fort Sumter, with the immediate evacuation of Morris Island. Some unavoidable delay occurring, fire was opened on the city from the Marsh Battery before daylight of the 22d. The "ridge" in front of Wagner was assaulted without success. Captain Robert Pringle killed at Wagner to-day.

Sixth day for Sumter; only four guns left in serviceable condition; main flagstaff falling, colors were flown from the crest of the gorge; a night-attack by five monitors, firing about 50 shells in the direction of the western magazine, was serious. The fort replied with two guns, firing six shots, being the last fired from its walls. The monitors drew a heavy fire on themselves from Fort Moultrie. Casualties, 5 wounded.

Seventh day; the fort soon reduced to one gun (Keokuk's) in good condition and two guns partly serviceable. Work pressed to secure magazine from danger of another attack by monitors firing in reverse. Flagstaff twice shot away; more powder shipped; casualties, 6 wounded. The fort, breached and demolished by seven days' firing (total 5009 rounds), closed the first period of the first great bombardment.

Council of defense held by the chief engineers and colonel commanding. The second period opens with only one-fourth of the daily rate of firing hitherto received. General Gillmore urges upon the rear-admiral the scheme of cutting off communications from Morris Island by picket-boats off Cumming's Point. Second failure to carry the "ridge" in front of Wagner (25th).

Capture of "the ridge" and pickets of Morris Island by Union charge (26th). Three days of nearly suspended firing on Sumter.

Heavy shelling on Fort Sumter from the breaching-batteries; casualties, 5; damages caused by the 10-inch rifle (300-pounder) very severe. Recovery of guns by night from the ruins, and shipment to city by gang under Assistant Engineer J. Fraser Mathewes. This night transport-steamer Sumter, with troops, fired upon in mistake and sunk by Fort Moultrie.

Fort Sumter received only 56 shots. Fort Moultrie engaged with four monitors for four hours, suffering no damage. Major-General J. F. Gilmer announced as second in command at Charleston.

Mortar-firing on Wagner disables four guns. Fort Sumter suffers again from the heavy Parrotts, 382 shots, and in the night from the iron-clad squadron, 245 shots, crumbling the walls and threatening the magazine as before; casualties, 4: the fort had not a gun to reply. This attack of the iron-clads ends the second period of the first great bombardment. The work of saving guns from the ruins and removing them to the inner harbor began on the night of August 27th, and proceeded regularly from this date forward.

Desultory fire on Fort Sumter. The sap approaches within eighty yards of Wagner.

Wagner under fire and returning it, assisted by Gregg and the James Island guns. On the night of the 4th–5th, Major Elliott relieved Colonel Rhett in command of Fort Sumter. Failure, same night, in plan to assault Cumming's Point (Battery Gregg).

Slow fire from batteries and New Ironsides on Wagner. The assault on Battery Gregg, Cumming's Point, made and repulsed on the night of 5th–6th. Head of sap opposite the ditch of Wagner.

New Ironsides with six monitors and all the siege-batteries combine in heavy bombardment of Wagner. Preparations made for both its assault and its evacuation. Confederate troops under Colonel L. M. Keitt, commanding, withdrawn successfully from Morris Island between 9 p.m. (6th) and 2 a.m. (7th) after a siege of 58 days.

Rear-Admiral Dahlgren demands surrender of Fort Sumter. Monitor Weehawken runs aground between Sumter and Cumming's Point. Other monitors engage Fort Moultrie.

Preparations in the fleet all day to assault Sumter. The same going on ashore under General Gillmore. To cover the Weehawken, 5 monitors and the New Ironsides engage the forts and works of Sullivan's Island, firing very heavily for three hours, with no damage to the works, this being the severest action hitherto between armored vessels and fortifications.

The assault on Fort Sumter by two columns of boats from the fleet repulsed, with capture of 115 prisoners, four boats, and three colors: 6 killed, 19 wounded; total, 124; Confederate loss, none. Flag of truce sent in from the fleet to Sumter and receiving the dead.

Fort Sumter enjoys 19 days of perfect rest. On Morris Island the working-parties busily occupied turning the captured batteries upon the harbor and building others, all armed with heavy rifle cannon and mortars.

Capture of a Union telegraph-party on the banks of the Combahee River.

Explosion of a magazine at Battery Cheves, James Island; a lieutenant and five men killed.

The first minor bombardment of Sumter begins; 100 shots fired and 1 man killed.

Close of bombardment, lasting six days; 560 shots. Batteries of James and Sullivan's Islands fire irregularly upon Morris Island.

Lieutenant Glassell, of the Confederate Navy, attacks the New Ironsides with small torpedo-boat.

Fort Sumter mounts three heavy guns in channel casemates on north-eastern front.

Union boat-expedition to Murrell's Inlet. Union loss, 1 killed, 10 captured, by detachment from Twenty-first battalion of Georgia Cavalry under Lieutenant E. Kennedy.

Rear-Admiral Dahlgren holds a council of war in regard to entering the harbor. Six senior captains oppose and four juniors favor the attempt, the admiral's views being sustained by the majority.

The second great bombardment of Sumter, land and naval, opens to-day with 188 shots and 1 wounded; continued day and night with guns and mortars.

Firing becomes heavier — 626 and 679 shots per day.

These three days the fort received the severest fire of any in its whole experience, amounting to 2961 rounds and attended with 33 casualties: of these, 13 killed by falling of ruins before daylight on the 31st. Flagstaff gallantly replaced under fire by Captain Carson, Twenty-fifth South Carolina volunteers, and four others assisting him, on the 29th. Replaced again by Graham, Hitt, and Swain of Twelfth Georgia battalion on the 30th.

786 rounds, 1 wounded; 793 rounds, 1 killed.

Three scouts from the fleet attempt to land by night at the south-eastern angle, and are fired on. 661 rounds, 7 wounded.

Flagstaff replaced by Sergeant Currie and Corporal Montgomery of Twenty-fifth South Carolina volunteers. Casualties, 2 killed, 12 wounded, all of Twenty-seventh Georgia.

Confederate raid on Bull Island, Port Royal; the Union dock burned.

Fort received 1753 rounds; 9 men wounded.

219; 1 wounded. Flag replaced by Sergeant G. H. Mayo and Private Robert Antry, Twenty-eighth Georgia volunteers.

2326; 2 killed, 5 wounded.

Demonstration of Union troops on John's Island met by Major Jenkins with artillery. 602; monitor Lehigh, aground under fire, much damaged by Confederate batteries before getting off.

959; 1 killed.

694; 1 wounded. Boats from the army (200 men) attempt assault on Sumter, but, being discovered before landing and fired on, withdraw on night of 19th–20th.

1344; 3 killed, 11 wounded.

270; 3 killed, 2 wounded. Death of Captain F. H. Harleston at Fort Sumter. Skirmish near Cunningham's Bluff, South Carolina.

517.

380. Flag replaced by Privates James Tupper, Foster, Buckheister, and Bluett of Charleston battalion.

1307; 1 killed, 1 wounded.

61. Last day of second great bombardment (41 days and nights). Third expedition to Murrell's Inlet. Union boat-party, 3 officers and 12 seamen, captured by two companies of Georgia cavalry (Twenty-first battalion) under Captain Harrison.

Monitor Weehawken foundered at her anchorage off Morris Island.

Explosion of magazine, with destructive fire; 11 killed, 41 wounded. Fort received 220 rounds, this being the second minor bombardment.

No firing upon the fort. The garrison much tried by labor and hardships of crowded quarters.

Attack by field- and siege-guns on gunboats in Stono. The Marblehead much cut up by Confederate fire, but escaped with loss of 3 killed and 4 wounded.

Confederate works abandoned near Legareville, John's Island, and two 8-inch siege-guns carried off by expedition from gunboats.

Desultory firing (8 days) on Fort Sumter.

Affair on Waccamaw Neck; capture of a naval party of 25 by a lieutenant and a private of the Twenty-first Georgia Cavalry battalion.

Third minor bombardment (683 rounds) begins and ends. New Confederate iron-clad Charleston added to defense.

Flag replaced under fire by Acting Adjutant B. Middleton, together with Shafer, Banks, and Brassingham of Lucas's battalion (Fort Sumter).

Desultory firing (16 days) on Fort Sumter.

Union reconnoissance in force (2000) on John's Island met by Major Jenkins with 150 men, and afterward with larger force (2000) under Brigadier-General H. A. Wise; after skirmishing for two days the Union troops withdrew in haste to their boats. Confederate loss, 17; Union, 34.

Western casemates, Fort Sumter, armed with 3 heavy guns.

Destruction of gunboat Housatonic, off Charleston bar, by Lieutenant George E. Dixon, Company E, Twenty-first Alabama volunteers, who with his crew and torpedo-boat also perished.

Capture of Union boat, with officer and 5 men, by Confederate navy-picket, off Fort Sumter.

Desultory firing (10 days) on Fort Sumter.

United States steamer Memphis attacked by a torpedo-boat in North Edisto River; a failure.

Fourth minor bombardment (143 rounds). 5 wounded.

Desultory firing (12 days) on Fort Sumter.

Brisk mortar-shelling of fort's wharf at night.

Demonstration of barges by night upon eastern shore of James Island; no action.

Night-firing of Fort Moultrie on United States tug Geranium.

General Beauregard relieved by Major-General Sam. Jones.

Fifth minor bombardment (Fort Sumter), 7 days, 510 rounds.

Major-General Gillmore relieved by Brigadier-General Hatch.

Lieutenant-Colonel Elliott, commanding Fort Sumter, relieved by Captain J. C. Mitchel.

Second council held by Rear-Admiral Dahlgren. The question of attacking Sumter negatived by seven out of nine.

A Confederate picket (5 men) captured at southern end of James Island.

Sixth minor bombardment (Fort Sumter), 4 days, 1140 rounds; casualties, 6.

Boats discovered reconnoitring off south-eastern angle, and fired on from Fort Sumter with field-howitzer on parapet.

Major-General Foster assumes command of Union forces in the department. Demonstration of gunboats up the Ashepoo and South Edisto Rivers. Union transport Boston grounding in Ashepoo, near Chapman's Fort, and being shelled by Earle's light battery, was set on fire by the enemy and destroyed, with 60 horses.

Seventh minor bombardment (Fort Sumter), 8 days, 319 rounds; 4 casualties.

The New Ironsides left station for the North.

Confederate transport-steamer Etiwan grounded off Fort Johnson, and destroyed by enemy's fire from Morris Island.

Desultory firing (17 days) on Fort Sumter, attended by 2 casualties.

The flagstaff of Fort Sumter gallantly replaced under brisk fire by Lieutenant C. H. Claibourne, assisted by Sergeant N. Devereux and Corporal B. Brannon of the Engineers.

Flag replaced under fire.

Flag replaced under fire by Privates Walter Steele and D. E. Badger.

Flag replaced under fire. Preparations in Union army and fleet for striking another blow on Charleston.

Brigadier-General Schimmelfennig lands a column on James Island; advancing by Rivers's Causeway, it was checked by Confederates, who lost two guns and fell back to stronger position.

Fort Johnson and its advanced work, Battery Simkins, assaulted at daylight of 3d by an expedition in barges from Morris Island, nearly a thousand strong. Feebly supported, the assault failed, and 140 prisoners, including the commander, Colonel Hoyt, and five officers, were taken. The Confederates were commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Yates, First South Carolina (regular) Artillery.

John's Island invaded by converging columns (5000 strong), and occupied, after stubborn resistance of small force under Majors Jenkins and Wayne, supported by Parker's Light Battery. Union troops on James Island driven back to the Stono, where monitors and gunboats cover them and shell the Confederate works very heavily.

After two days' skirmishing at Grimball's Waterloo Place, the Union intrenched position on John's Island was attacked and carried by Confederate troops under Brigadier-General Robertson; and that night the Union force left John's Island, and the squadron withdrew from the Stono next day. In these operations, July 2d–11th, Union loss reported, 330; Confederate, 163, only 17 having been killed.

Fort Sumter's third great bombardment begins. Flag shot away four times on 7th, twice on 8th; 784 rounds.

The commander, Captain J. C. Mitchel, mortally wounded. Up to this (14th day) 29 casualties; 4890 rounds. In this first period the fort much damaged; the boom off the sea-face cut away; boats sunk at the wharf, etc. Captain Mitchel succeeded by Captain T. A. Huguenin same night.

General Foster's powder-raft, to be exploded near the fort, was prepared for service, but not taken up as intended for this night.

Captain Johnson, engineer in charge of Fort Sumter, severely wounded (twenty-second day), and succeeded by Lieutenant E. J. White.

Flag of truce, exchanging 50 Union and Confederate officers, in the channel off Fort Sumter.

Firing on Sumter continual, but slackened. Rear-Admiral Dahlgren lends General Foster guns from the fleet to supply the batteries on Morris Island, weakened by expenditure of many heavy rifle cannon.

General Foster's powder-raft exploded harmlessly off south-western angle of Fort Sumter.

Another attempt of the same kind failed.

Flag exchange of surgeons and chaplains off the harbor.

End of third great bombardment: 60 days; total, 81 casualties; 14,666 rounds fired at the fort.

Eighth minor bombardment (the last), 9 days; 7 casualties; 573 rounds.

Desultory firing, often brisk, on the fort, 6 days; 200 rounds.

Desultory, at times brisk, firing on the fort, 18 days; 494 rounds.

Desultory, at times brisk, firing on the fort, 13 days; 221 rounds.

Blockading gunboat Pontiac receives a rifle-shell from Battery Marshall, Sullivan's Island, killing 6, wounding 7.

Battle of Honey Hill, near Grahamville, C. and S. Railroad. Union repulse with loss of 754 men, Major-General G. W. Smith commanding Confederates, Brigadier-General J. P. Hatch commanding the Union force, 5000 strong. Confederate loss, 4 killed, 40 wounded.

Fort Sumter received only seven shots one day this month.

Brisk engagements near Coosawhatchie to break C. and S. Railroad; failed to do so.

Truce, with exchanges, off the harbor.

City of Savannah evacuated by Confederate forces under Lieutenant-General Hardee.

Two naval launches captured by Confederates off Fort Sumter.

Desultory firing on Fort Sumter; 64 shots in two days.

Monitor Patapsco destroyed by torpedo off Fort Sumter; 62 lives lost.

Gunboat Dai-Ching destroyed by battery at Burnet's, Combahee River.

General Sherman's army, 70,000 strong, enters South Carolina from Savannah, Georgia.

Confederates resist at Rivers's Bridge, Barnwell county.

Union demonstration on James Island stubbornly resisted by force in rifle-pits at Grimball's, commanded by Major E. Manigault.

Skirmish at Aiken with Union cavalry.

Union expedition of land and naval force to Bull's Bay checked four days by Captain E. L. Parker's light battery and a small force of cavalry.

Skirmish at Congaree Creek, near Columbia.

Charleston harbor and city evacuated by night, after 567 days of continuous military operations against them. Columbia, the capital of the State, occupied by General Sherman's army.