This day in Charleston

September 2

2 entries · 1863–1864

1863Fort Sumter

Sandbags on the monitors’ decks

The ironclads withdrew at quarter past four in the morning after 185 shots, having been seen to be struck many times. In the last twenty-four hours the Confederate batteries had fired 983 rounds and the Federals 691. The rest of the day the fleet was quiet, its crews laying sandbags on the monitors’ decks — the fort was dropping mortar shells on them from above.

Journal of Operations in Charleston Harbor, OR I, 28, Pt. 1

1864Fort Sumter

Thirty-three shells overnight

“Thirty-three Parrott shells fired at fort last night, 11 missed. No casualties. Working party at Gregg.” The third year of the siege had settled into a rhythm neither side expected to break.

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.