This day in Charleston

September 16

2 entries · 1863–1864

1863Command

“The only way of retarding the enemy’s operations”

Answering Richmond’s complaints about ammunition, Beauregard asked that the President be assured of the utmost economy consistent with the safety of Charleston — and then stated the difficulty plainly: the only way of retarding the enemy’s operations was to fire on his working parties whenever they appeared. Charleston was defended, from this point on, mostly by interrupting other men’s shovels.

Official Records, Series I, Vol. 28, Pt. 2

1864Fort Sumter

Two killed, four wounded

“Thirty-seven shots fired at the fort, of which 7 missed… Private J. C. Ray, Company I, Second Georgia, wounded severely in leg. Two negroes killed and 3 wounded.” The proportions in this line are the proportions of the whole siege.

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.