The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-05-10

Were there any South CarOlinians
Killed during the Assault on Fort
Sumpter.

Were there any South Carolinians
Killed during the Assault on Fort
Sumpter.
To help settle this disputed question, we
quote the following extract from the
Charleston Courier, OF the 22d ult., showing
the effect the firing from Sumpter had upon
Fort Moultrie:
The raking fire from Fort Sumpter against
Fort Moultrie was terribly destructive, and
when viewed in connection with the fact that
no life was lost, is the most extraordinary case
ever recorded in history, As you enter, the
eye falls upon the battered walls of the arch
way, with openings in some places large
enough for windows. In other places may be
seen the hanging Splinters of the rafters, large
pieces OF ceiling, seemingly about to drop,
while the holes in the roof throw a clear light
over the scene of destruction which renders it
painfully impressive. 1t would be an almost
impossible task to count the number of balls
discharged at this devoted fortress. All of the
officers quarters were battered with seven,
eight or ten balls, which penetrated the whole
depth of the building. The western wall on
the upper balcony was entirely shot away.
The barracks were almost entirely destroyed.
The furnace for heating the shot was struck
four times, the flag of the Confederate st ties
received three shots, and the Palmetto flag four;
a rather singular and peculiar circumstance,
when viewed in connection with the seven
Confederate States. The merlons of sand.bags,
etc., remain unbroken.
On the outside walls we counted over one
hundred shots. LabOrers were engaged in
clearing away fall:n bricks, etc. 1t will be
necessary to pull down the old walls and re-
build anew. Even the beds and bedding in
the officers quarters and the mems barracks
were cut and torn into splinters and shreds.
Had it not been for the bomb-proOf shelter, the
loss of life would no doubt, have been appal-
ling. One shell entered the brick wall OF Maj
Ripley's bed room, ran down the wall, and
burst on the bureau, Immediately over the
head of the bed. Our limited time prevented
US from visiting the battery to the north of
Fort Moultrie. We learn, however, that
though many of the buildings around it had
been struck several times, and fences. trees
etc., cut away, the battery sustained no injury.
The Courier gives list of about twenty
houses which were almost or wholly ruined
by the shot, aud says that many more were
much damaged. Fences were also broken
down and the railroad track torn up. Is it
rot a little singular that only two persons
were wounded, by this destructive cannon.
aiding?
But the New York Tribune tells an
other story from the report of the Charles
tonians. We give it for what it is worth:
A soldier who was drafted into the service of
the Rebels at Charleston, and who served at the
guns in Fort Moutrie, at the siege of Fort
Sumpter, has made to US the following state.
ment. His reliability is vOuched for, and we
have every reason to believe that his statement
is every way worthy of belief:
Our informant states that he served under
Captain Ravens, and went into Fort Moultrie
the day after Major Anderson left for Fort
Sumpter. He remained three or four days after
the tight. He belonged to the Artillery, and
served at the guns most of the time during the
siege. The gnns of Fort Moultrie opened about
halt past four in the morning, but Major An.
dersOn did not fire gun for near two hours af-
ter. When he did open, his fire was rapid and
destructive. The balls from Sumpter struck
the PORTFOLIOS of MOultrie, and at nearly
every discharge somebody was killed. Their
places were supplied by others. There were in
MOuitrie more than one thousand men, and be.
tween three and four hundred were kept at the
guns constantly. Not more than that number
could protect themselves in the classmates of
sandbags, which, while they afforded excellent
protection, were much torn up and knocked
down. 1t was between nine and ten o'clock
on the first day that the greatest loss of life oc-
Cured.
The barbette guns of Fort Sumpter were 81.
fenced early in the day, and the round shot
from these were most destructive to Fort Moul
trie, and caused the greatest loss of life. They
were fired with great accuracy. and at times
the scene in the Fort was terrible. During the
siege bet,Oeen three and four hundred were killed,
and large number were wounded. The killed
were collected together in mass, and at night
placed in boxes brought down from Charleston,
and taken away to Potter's Field and inferred
during the night. Some of the men were hor.
ribly mangled, and others were scarcely dead
when thrown into boxes. Blood flowed in
streams from these receptacles, and the sight
was horrible. The surgeon at the Fort sent for
help, and others came down from Oh rlestOn.
The wounded were removed to the Hospital,
where such as have not since died, now remain.
In order that the truth should not be known
in Charleston, the soldiers were charged to say
that nobody was hurt, and were threatened
with certain death if they disclosed the facts.
There were good many killed in the dwell
lngs outside the fort. The Moultrie House
was very much damaged, and a large number
OF buildings in the neighbOrhoOd of the fort
demolished. The officers quarters in the fort
were riddled, and it is the opinion of our in
fOrmant that had there been three hundred
men in Sumpter, Fort MOultrie would have
been destroyed, and the rebels driven out or
killed almost to a man. He left Moultrie three
days after the engagement and went to Charles.
ton. The people there would not believe that
nobody had been killed, and made constant
inquiry for their friends, who. they were as
sured, were still on Sullivan's Island. Hun
dreds of families are yet to learn the truth,
which is kept from them by the greatest vigi-
lance.
Our informant was duly discharged from the
service, and, with five others, embarked on
board the bark Smithsonian, Captain Davis,
which reached New York on Friday. April rs.
Another discharged soldier informs the
Tribune that one hundred and fifty men
we're killed and wounded at Morris Island,
during the bombardment.
Judge Goodrich, Secretary OF Legation
ot L. locx