The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-05-10
From the N. Y. Tribune,


Slaughter of Rebels in Fort Mouitrie-Sdts-
ment BY Soldier Who pas there Bef1een
800 aud 400 kiiied-a large number Wound.
ed-Me dead carried off IN bores at Might
efforts in Charleston 10 disguise the truth.
A soldier who was drafted into the service
of the rebels in Charleston, and who served
at the guns in fort Moultrie, at the siege Of
Fort Sumter. has made to US the following
statement. 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 Havens, and went into fort Moutrie
the day Major Anderson left for Fort Sum.
ter. lie remained three or four days after
the fight. He belonged to the Artillery, and
served ut the guns most Of the time during
the siege. The guns Of fort Moultrie opened
about half.past four in the morning, but Ma
jor Anderson did not fire gun Tor near two
hours after. When he did open, his fire was
rapid and destructive. The balls from Sum-
ter struck the PORTFOLIOS Of Moultrie, and at
nearly every discharge somebody was
killed. Their places were supplied by 9TH
ors. There were in Moultrie more than one
thousand men, and between three and four
hundred were kept at the guns constantly.
Not more than that number could protect
themselves in the easements Of sand bags,
which, while they afforded excellent protec-
ton. 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 occur
red.
The barbette guns Of Fort Sumter were 81.
fenced early in the day, and the round shot
from these were most destructive to fort
AIoultrie, and caused the greatest loss OF life.
They were fred with great accuracy, and at
times the scene in the fort was terrible. Dur
ing the siege between three and four hun.
bred were killed. and large number were
wounded. The killed were collected togeth-
or in mass, and at night placed in boxes
brought down from Charleston, and taken
away to Potters field and inferred during
the night. Some Of the men were horribly
mangled and others were scarcely dead when
thrown into the boxes. Blood flowed in
streams from those receptacles, and the sight
was horrible. The surgeon at the fort sent
for help and others came down from Charles
ton. The wounded were removed to the
Hospital, where such as have not since died,
now remain.
In order that the truth should not DO
known in Charleston, the soldiers were charg-
ed to say that nobody was hurt, and were
threatened with certain death If they dis
closed the facts. There were q good many
killed in the dwellings outside the fort
The Moultrie House was very much damag-
ed, and large number Of buildings in the
neighborhood of the fort demolished. The
officers quarters in the fort were riddled, and
Il is the opinion of our informant that had
there been three hundred men in Sumter,
fort Moultrio would have been destroyed,
and the rebels driven out or killed almost to
A man. He left fort Moultrie three days al
ter the engagement and went TO Charleston.
The people there would not believe that no.
body had been killed, and made constant in
ouiry 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 Wig
lence.
Our informant was duly discharged from
the service, and with 1--we Others, embarked
on board the bark Smithsanin. Capt. Davis,
which reached New York on Friday morn.
ing last.
ONE uuSERED AND FIFrr KILLED AND WOUND.
ED ON MoRRIs ISLAND.
One of the Charleston volunteers who was
on Morris Island during the late lombard
ment of Fort Sumter, came here yesterday
by the schooner ID. u. Pitts. He says that
st least one hundred and fifty men were kill.
ed and wounded at the batteries on Morris
Island by the canister Of Major Anderson
He had occasion TO be at fort johnson also
lust before he left Charleston, and there he
learned that on Sullivan's Island thirty mine
men had been killed-that q mortar had been
blown from Fort Johnson bya shot from
Sumter. lie had to 90 to Charleston In
boat with some passengers, and when there
embraced the opportunity and slowed him-
self away in the schooner. and in that way
rot of. He says that the dead were all Ia
ken and boxed aud carried away in the night
and buried in Potter's field where the ne.
groes are buried. He says that thousands
Of negroes only want some Of their leaders
to give them the word and great will be the
slaughter.