This day in Charleston

September 30

2 entries · 1863

1863The city

Firing that stops the work

The Federals opened on Fort Sumter from Gadberry Hill at 11.40 and shelled Fort Johnson so vigorously through the afternoon that the working party — enslaved laborers, impressed for the defenses — had to be withdrawn. Work resumed at dusk and ran through the night to make up the lost time. Of 68 shots at Fort Sumter, 31 struck inside; one man was slightly wounded.

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

1863Command

Reply and counter-reply

Gillmore, from Folly Island, acknowledged Dahlgren’s letter of the day before in answer to his own of the 27th. Between them the general and the admiral had taken Morris Island and wrecked Fort Sumter, and neither could get into Charleston.

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

Entries are dated from the War of the Rebellion official records, the naval official records and contemporary Charleston sources. Browse the whole year.