This day in Charleston

January 24

2 entries · 1861–1864

1861Secession winter

Charleston builds its batteries

Through late January 1861 the harbor was a construction site. Sand and palmetto-log batteries went up at Cummings Point, on Sullivan’s Island and at Fort Johnson; the floating battery was being framed at Marsh’s shipyard. Anderson’s engineers watched the work through glasses from Sumter’s parapet and reported it to Washington in careful detail.

Official Records, Series I, Vol. 1

1864Harbor defense

Referred to the chief engineer

A routine indorsement in Beauregard’s hand: referred to Colonel Harris for his views. The defense of Charleston generated an enormous paper trail, and the engineers were consulted on everything from harbor booms to the roofing of a magazine.

Official Records, Series I, Vol. 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.