This day in Charleston

April 20

2 entries · 1863–1864

1863Ordnance

Salvaging the Keokuk’s guns

Within days of the Keokuk’s sinking, Confederate crews under Adolphus LaCoste began working at her wreck by night, in shallow water and within sight of the blockading fleet, to cut out her two 11-inch Dahlgren guns. Both were recovered and mounted in the Charleston defenses. It remains one of the most audacious salvage operations of the war.

Official Records, Series I, Vol. 14

1864Fort Sumter

Eight shots in the night

“Everything remains quiet this morning. Eight shots were fired last night, 2 of which passed over.” By the spring of 1864 the Federals no longer expected to knock the fort down; they fired to stop it being repaired.

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.