W. M. Porcher Miles to John L. Manning, April 15, 1861
Sir: We have the honor to submit the following report of our visit to Fort Sumter on the 13th instant for the information of the brigadier-general commanding : ;
After reporting to the general the execution of the orders with which we were charged for Morris Island, and in company with Colonel Wigfall reporting the surrender of Fort Sumter, and also its dangerous condition from the fire occasioned by the hot shot from Fort Moultrie, we proceeded, by order of the brigadier-general commanding, immediately to Southern warf, where we embarked on board the steamer Osiris for Fort Sumter, accompanied by the chief of the city fire department, Mr. Nathan, with a fire engine and its company. On our arrival at Fort Sumter we were met by Dr. Crawford, surgeon of the fort, who directed us to avoid the wharf, as it was in danger of blowing up at any moment from its mines. The doctor conducted us into the presence of Major Anderson, on the opposite side of the fort from the wharf, we entering — the fort through an embrasure. We found the barracks totally destroyed by fire, occasioned by our shells and hot shot. We stated to Major Anderson that we had been sent to Fort Sumter by General Beauregard with a fire engine, to offer assistance to extinguish his fire and to render any other assistance he might require, and also Surgeon-General Gibbes, of South Carolina, and assistants were present to administer to any wounded he might have. The major replied that he thanked the general for his kindness, but that his fire was almost burned out, and that he had but one man wounded, and he not seriously. We asked him if the magazine was safe. He replied he thought the lower magazine safe, though it was amid the burning ruins, and that he had thrown about one hundred barrels of powder intothe water from the upper magazine during the action, for the safety of his command. We again asked him if he did not think it best to use the engine which accompanied us on the steamer, which lay out in the stream. He replied no—that he thought everything had been consumed that would burn.
Major Anderson expressed great satisfaction when we told him that we had no casualties on our side, and again asked us to thank General Beauregard for his kindness; and, on leaving, the major accompanied us himself as far as our small boat. ” We returned to the city and reported — the result of our visit to General Beauregard about 7 p. m.
All of which is submitted for the information of the brigadier-general
commanding. JAMES CHESNUT, Jr., JOHN L. MANNING, Aides-de-Camp.
Tieutenant-Colonel and Aide-de-Camp.
Maj. D. R. JONES, Assistant Adjutant-General Provisional Forces, 0. 8. A.
HEADQUARTERS PROVISIONAL FORCES, C. 8. A., “af
Charleston, S. 0., April 15, 1861. _ Masor: On Friday, April 12,’ we received orders from G iy Beauregard to carry dispatches to General Dunovant, commanding on Sullivan’s Island. We were directed to communicate the purport of the dispatches, which were open, to Captain Martin, in command of the floating battery and the Dahlgren-gun battery; to Captain Hallonq
Omar. 1 OPERATIONS IN CHARLESTON HARBOR, 8. C.
in command of the enfilade battery and a masked mortar battery near the same spot; and to Colonel Ripley, in command of Fort Moultrie—all of them posts on Sullivan’s Island. We set out on our mission at 9 o’clock a. m. and proceeded in a boat to Mount Pleasant. After communicating with Captain Martin we rowed over to and landed on the floating Iron battery. We found Lieutenant Yates actively engaged in returning the fire from Fort Sumter, which was then specially directed against his battery. The latter had been repeatedly hit, but had successfully resisted all the shot (32-pounders) which had struck it, with the exception of one, which had passed through the narrow, angular slope just below the roof.
After spending some time in this battery we proceeded to the Dahlgren-gun battery, where Captain Hamilton was commanding in person. Both the floating battery and the Dahlgren gun were directing their special attention to the dismounting of such of the guns en barbette upon Fort Sumter as the batteries could be brought to bear upon. The fire from both batteries was effective and well sustained. We next visited Captain Hallonquist’s enfilading battery, which was doing some. admirable shooting. After remaining here a short time we proceeded to Captain Hallonquist’s mortar battery, and from thence to Fort Moultrie. Here we found an active, regular, well-sustained, and well-directed firing going on, which was being most vigorously returned by Fort Sumter. The quarters were pretty well riddled, and the furnace for hot shot twice struck, but not materially injured.
After carefully watching the firing for some time we visited Captain Butler’s mortar battery, where we found General Dunovant and delivered our dispatches. We then returned to Fort Moultrie, and after spending about an hour there proceeded back to the cove, where our boat was awaiting us, and touching at the floating battery for a communication for headquarters we rowed over once more to Mount Pleasant, for the purpose of delivering a message from Lieutenant-Colonel Ripley (by request) to Captain Martin. We then returned to the city, which we reached about half-past 4 p. m., and immediately reported verbally at headquarters to the brigadier-general commanding.
We cannot conclude our report without expressing the extreme pleasure and gratification which we felt at the coolness, spirit, skill, and alacrity which we witnessed at all points among the officers and men.
Very respectfully,