The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-09-04
VOLUME 10, NUMBER 81.
Official Report of Col. Turner.
OrrrcE OF TIE CnIEr OF ARTILLERY, !
.DEpATNENT or TIE Souri,,
a. rOHn

IL VI TuE NOUTus
Norris Island, s. O., August 23d 1863.
General IL hayo tho honor TO report tho
effect that our preaching batteries have had
upon Fort Sumter, and the condition Of that
work tonight at the close Of tho seven days
bombardment. The gorge wall OF the fort Is
almost complete mass Of ruins for tho dis
tance of severnl cascmatcs. About midway
on this face the ramparts are removed nearly,
and in places quito, to tho arches, and but
for the sand bags with which tho cascmates
were filed. and which have served to sustain
the broken arches and masses OF masonry, IL
would long since have been entirely cut away.
and with Il tho arches to the floor Of tho
second tier OF casemates. Debris on this
front now forms rampant reaching rs high
as tho floor Of these casematcs. The parapet
wall OF the two north.eastcrly faces u COM
pletcly carried away, small portion only
being left on the anglo mado with the gorgc
wall. The ramparts Of these faces aro also
q total ruin. Quito one-half Of our project
lies seem to have struck the parade and pan-
pet of these faces, and judging from tho Of.
feet they have had upon tho gorge wall with
in our observation, the destruction OF mason
~ on these two sides must be very great, and
am of the opinion that nearly every arch
In these fronts must be broken in. But ono
gun remains in position on these fronts, and
this is in the angle Of tho gorge. aud | think
unseryiceable. Tho ruin extends around,
taking in the north.casterly face as lar as
can be seen. A portion Of this face adjoin-
ing the angle 1t makes with tho southeast
erly face, is concealed. but from tho great
number Of missiles which have struck in this
angle during the last two days, II cannot DO
otherwise than greatly damaged, and 1 do
not think any guns can be left in this fnce
in serviceable condition. The nmparts in
this angle 10 we'll rs in tho south.cesterly
face, must DO ploughed up and greatly shat.
tered. The parapct on this latter facc Is
torn of In many places, as can be seen, and
I think the platform Of tho remaining guns
on this face could not bavo escaped. With
tho assistance ofa powerful glass | cannot
determine that moro than ono OF these guns
can bo used, and it has been dismounted
once. The carriages of the Others arc evil
dently more or less shattered, and such Is tho
condition of tho parapet and parade in tho
vicinity Of this gun, that 1t probably could
not be served for any length Of time. In
fact, the destruction Of tho tort is 30 far COM
plete that 1t is of no avail In the defence Of
the harbor Of Charleston. BY longer fro
IL can be made moro completely ruin and
mass of broken masonry, but could scarccly
be moro powcrless for the defence Of the har-
Dor. therefore respectfully submit my
opinion that continuance Of our fro Is no
longer necessary, as giving us no ends ade-
quatc for tho consumption Of our resources.
Very rcsp'y your ob't servant,
JonN N. TURNER,
Colonel and Chief of Artillery.
To Brig. Gen. G. A. Gilmore, Command.
tho Department Of tho South.