This day in Charleston

September 8

2 entries · 1863–1864

1863Fort Sumter
Site of the Night Attack, September 8, 1863
Site of the Night Attack, September 8, 1863Library of Congress

The boat attack on Fort Sumter

Believing Fort Sumter a heap of rubble held by a caretaker’s guard, the navy sent some four hundred sailors and marines in boats to storm it after dark. The garrison — Charleston infantry under Major Stephen Elliott — was waiting, with the batteries on Sullivan’s Island and James Island ranged on the fort’s own base. The attack was broken in twenty minutes; more than a hundred Federals were captured, along with five boats and three colors.

Official Records, Series I, Vol. 28, Pt. 1

1864Fort Sumter

Working on the palisades

“Twenty-eight Parrott shells fired at fort, 8 missed. No casualties. Working party on left of Gregg.” The Federals were extending the palisades between the middle battery and Battery Wagner — building against an assault that was never going to come.

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.