This day in Charleston

April 23

2 entries · 1863–1864

1863Command

“Not prudent to look upon enemy’s attempt on Charleston at end”

Beauregard protested to Richmond that the naval officers sent to Charleston to board monitors had been ordered back to Virginia, and that he needed them: “It is not prudent to look upon enemy’s attempt on Charleston at end for season.” He also regretted the state of the Chicora’s boilers. He was right about the season; the next attempt came in July.

Official Records, Series I, Vol. 14

1864Fort Sumter

A relief twenty-eight men short

“The relief sent from the Twentieth to-night was 25 men and 3 officers short. In the absence of orders I have consequently detained a company of the Twenty-second, which was to have been relieved.” Charleston's manpower shortage reached all the way down to who could go home in the morning.

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.