This day in Charleston

August 18

2 entries · 1863–1864

1863Morris Island

A spring tide and a northeaster fill the trenches

Firing on Sumter continued. That afternoon the spring tide, driven by a northeast storm, put water from a few inches to three feet deep down nearly the whole Federal trench line; a third of the surf battery’s parapet went, and its two guns had to be taken out. That night Gillmore ordered the full sap started from the third parallel anyway.

Major Brooks’ journal, OR I, 28, Pt. 1

1864Fort Sumter

A missing 200-pounder

Sixteen Parrott shells at the fort, eleven of them missing, and fifty-six mortar shells. “Two hundred-pounder Parrott on the right of Wagner cannot be seen; suppose it has been brought to Gregg.” The fort's officers kept a running inventory of the guns pointed at them.

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.