This day in Charleston

April 2

2 entries · 1861–1864

1861Fort Sumter

“No portion of the garrison must be permitted to leave”

Beauregard telegraphed Montgomery: Captain Foster asked permission to send the civilian mechanics and laborers out of Fort Sumter, and the general was inclined to object. Secretary Walker’s answer came back the same day — no portion of the garrison must be permitted to leave unless all go. The forty-odd workmen stayed, and were still there through the bombardment.

Official Records, Series I, Vol. 1

1864Fort Sumter

Three shots, all of them hits

“All quiet this morning. Three shots fired yesterday; all struck. The post returns have not been received.” The paperwork of a besieged fort was expected on time even when the fort was a ruin.

Fort Sumter post returns, OR I, 35, Pt. 1

Entries are dated from the War of the Rebellion official records, the naval official records and contemporary Charleston sources. Browse the whole year.