This day in Charleston

March 7

2 entries · 1861–1864

1861Fort Sumter

Beauregard sights the enfilading battery

Six days into his command Beauregard was writing engineering orders in detail: build the enfilading battery and the mortar battery beyond Moultrie first, move two 32-pounders to the mortar battery instead of the five-gun battery, and warn Captain Tupper that his traverses and pintles were on the wrong level and his chassis would break unless propped when the gun fired. Charleston’s ring of fire was being assembled by a professional.

Official Records, Series I, Vol. 1

1864Fort Sumter

Nothing doing on Morris Island

A full count of the fleet — four monitors, thirteen sailing vessels, six tugs inside; seven blockaders and a schooner near Breach Inlet; a derrick and schooner at the wreck. “No activity apparent on Morris Island.” The fort's business was to watch, and to report what it saw every 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.