Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-05-18


To Major Stevens of the Citadel Academy,
in charge of the Cummings Point batteries,
| feel much indebted for his valuable and sci
cptfc assistance, and the efficient working of
the batteries under his immediate charge. The
Cummings Point batteries (iron--42 pound
ers and mortars-wcre manned by the Palmct-
to Guard, Captain Cuthbert, and take pleas.
ure IN expressing my admiration of tho service
of the gallant captain and his distinguished
company during the action. I would also
mention III terms of praise the following COM
manders of batteries ut the Point, viz: Lieu
tenants Armstrong, of the Citadel Acadcn,y,
and Brownfeld, of the Palmetto Guard also,
Captain Thomas, of the Citadel Academy,
who had charge Of the rifle cannon, and had
the honor of using this valuable wcapon--a
gift Of one of South Carolina's distant sons to
his native State-wth peculiar effect. Capt
j. G. King, with his company, the Marion
Artillery, commanded the Mortar battery in
rear of the Cummings Point batteries, and
the accuracy of his shell practice was the
theme of general admiration, Capt George
S. James, commanding at Fort johnson, had
the honor Of firing the first shell at Fort Sum
ter, and his conduct, and those under him,
was conmcndable during the action. Capt.
Pleasant mortar battery, and with his assist
ants did good service. For more detailed
account of the gallantry of officers and men,
and of the various incidents of the attack on
Sumter, / would respectfully invite your at
tcntion to the copies of the reports of the
different officers under my command, here
with enclosed. cannot close my report with
out reference to the following gentlemen TO
his Excellcncy Governor Pickcns and staff
especially Coils. Lamar and Dcaring, who were
so active and efficient in the construction of
the Channel batteries; Coils. Lucas and Moore,
for assistance on various occasions; and Col.
Duryea and Mr.. Nathan-chicf of the fire dc
partmcnt-for their gallant assistance in put
ting out the fire ut Fort Sumter, when the
magazine OF the latter was in imminent danger
of explosion. General Jamison, Secretary Of
War, and General S. II. Gist, Adjutant Gen
cral, for their valuable assistance in obtaining
and dcspatching the troops for the attack on
Sumter and the defence of the batteries
Quartcrmaster's and Commissary- Generals
Department. Hatch aud Col Walker,
and the Ordnance Board, especially Colonel
Manigault, Chief of Ordnance, whose zeal and
activity were untiring. The Medical Depart
mcnt, whose preparations had been judiciousy
and amply made, but which kind Providence
rendered unnecessary. The Enginccrs-Ma-
jors Whiting and Gwynn, Captains Trapicr
and Lee, and Licutenants McCrady, Earle
and Gregorie, on whom too much praise can
not be bestowed for their untiring zeal, cner-
gy and gallantry and to whose labois is great
ly due the unprecedented example of taking
such an important work, after thirty three
hours firing, without having to report the loss
Of single life, and but four Slightly wounded
From Maj. W. II. G. Whiting derived also
much assistance, not only as un engineer in
selecting the sites and laying out the Channel
Batteries on Morris Island, but rs actnr AS.
sistant jutant and Inspector General, in
arranging and stationing the troops on said
Island. The Naval Department, especially
Capt llartStcine, one of my volunteer Aids,
who was perfectly indcfatigable in guarding
the entrance into the harbor, and in transmit
ting my orders.
Lieut.. II. B. Huger was also Of much ser
vice, first as inspecting ordnance officer of
batteries, then in charge of the batteries of
the south end Of Morris Island. Lieutenant
Marley, who commanded the Dahlgrocn Chan
mel Battery, also tho school ship, which was
kindly offered by the Board of Directors, and
WAS of .nuch service. Lieut.. Ruticdge was
acting inspector general Of ordnance Of all the
batteries, in which capacity, assisted by I.iout
Williams, G. S. A., on Morris Island, he was
of much service in organizing and distributing
the ammunition. Captains Childs and Jones,
assistant com,uondants of batteries to Lieutcn-
ant-Cooncl DeSaussure Captains Winder
and Allston, acting assistant Adjutant and
Inspector Generals to Gen. Smons' brigade
Captain Manigault, of my staff, attached to
General Simons' staff, did efficient and gallant
services on Morris Island during the fight
Professor Lewis r. Gibbcs. Of the Charleston
College, and his aids, for their valuable ser
vices in operating Tie Drummond Lights cs-
tablishcd at the extension of Sullivan's and
Morris Islands, The venerable and gallant
Edmund Ruff, of Virginia, was at the Iron
Battery, and firc,l many guns, undergoing ev-
cry fatigue and sharing the hardships at tho
battery with the youngest of the Palmettocs
10 my regular staff, Major y. r. Jones. g.
S. A., Captains Lee and Ferguson, S. G. A.,
aud Lieutenant Legare, S. G. a., md volun-
tccf staff, Ncssrs. Chisom, Wigtall, Chestnut,
Manning, Miles, Gonzales and Pryor, am
much indebted for their indefat gable and
valuable assistance, night and day, during the
attack on Sumter, transmitting in open boats,
my orders when called upon, with alacrity
and 'chccrfulness, to the different batteries,
amidst falling balls and bursting shells, Capt
Wigmll being the first in Sumter to receive
its surrender.
n ] AM, sir, very respectfully; your obcdient
servant, q. T.. BEAUREdARD,
Brigadicr-Gencral Commanding.