Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-08-28
FROM CHARLESTON,
OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL GILMORE.
FORT SUMTER DEMOLISHED.
ITS DESTRUCTION COMPLETE.
SHELLS THROWN 5000 YARDS.
She'll Feachthe Heart of Charleston

Oh.
| quarters OF the Army to-day
| HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE
| SOUTH, MORRIS ISLAND, S. g., August u
| le63.-AQjOr Cen l III. ". Hdtleck, Geaerog-in
| chef e. S. Army, Washington, d. C.-Sir have
| the honor TO report the practical demolition of
! Fcrt Sumter as the result of our seven DAYS
| bcmbardmentof that work, inc luding two DAYS
! of which powerful northeasterIy storm most
! seriously diminished the accuracy of our fire
-, Fort SumtPris to-day shapeIess and harmless
| mass Of ruins. .a.s ....
! My Chiefof Artillery, Col. ]. W. Turner, re
ports its destruction far complete, that it is
no longer OF any "ayail in the defence of
Charleston" He also says that by longer
fire it could tie made more completely ruin
and a mass of broken masonry, but could
scarcely be made more powerless for the de.
fence OF the harbor."
My preaching batteries were located at dis.
tances ranging between $3.50 and 1910 yards
from the works, and now remain as effectuai
| as ever. l deem 1t unnecessary at present TO
continue the fire upon the ruins Of Sumter.
have also at great labor aud under q heavy
fire from James Island established batteries on
my left within effective range of the heart of
Charleston City, and have opened with them
after giving Gen. Eeauregard due notice of nv
intention to do so.
My notification to Gen. Beauregard, his re.
ply thereto, with the threat of retaliation. and
my rejoinder, have been transmitted to ARMY
Headquarters. The projecnIes from my bat
teries entered the city, and Gen Beauregard
himself designates them as s'the most destruc-
tive missiles ever used in war"
The report of my chief of artillery, and an
accurate sketch OF the ruins of Fort Sumter,
taken at ~ m. yesterday, six hours before we
ceased firing, are herewith transmitted
Very respectfully, your obedeEt servant,
Q. A. GILMORE, Brig Gen. Comd'g.
REPORT OF COL. TURNER.
OFFICE OF CHIEF OF ARTILLERY Drporf
ment Of the South, Norris Island, s. c., Aug u
IS63-General: I have the honor to report the
effect that our preaching batteries have had
upon Fort Sumter, and the condition of that
work tonight at the close of the seventeenth
days bombardment.
The gorge wall of the Fort is almost q COM
plete mass OF ruins, for the distance of several
Classmates about midway on this face the ram.
parts are removed nearly, and in places quite
to the arches, and but for the sand bags with
which the classmates are filled and which has
served to sustain the broken arches and masses
OF masonry, it would have long since have
been entirely cut away, and with the arches
to the floor OF the second tier of classmates
The debris on this front now forms a rarnn
reaching as high as the floor of these classmates.
The parapet wall of the two northeasterly
faces is completely carried away small nor.
ton only being left in the angle made with the
gorge walls, and the ramparts of these faces
are also a total ruin.
Quite one-half of our projectiles seem to
have struck the parade and parapet of these
two faces, and Judging from the effect they
nave had upon the gorge wall within orr OH
servation, the destruction of masonry on tbase
two sides must be very great, and am of the
opinion that nearly every arch in these forts
must De oroKen In but one gun remains in po-
siuon on THESE TWO fronts, this is in the angle of
the gorge, and think unserviceabie
The ruin extends around, ia king in the north
easterly face as far as can be seen. portion
OF this face adjoining The angle it makes with
the southeasterly face is concealed, but from
the great nu Der of missiles which have struck
in this angle during the last two days, it can
not be otherwise than greatly damaged, and
do not think any guns can be left on this face
i'll Il seTyiceable condition.
The ramparts on this angle as we'll as in the
southeasterly face mast be plowed up and
greatly shattered. the parapet on this latter
face being torn off in many Places as we can
see, and hardly TANK the platforms Of the
three remaining guns On this face could have
escaped.
With the assistance OF a powerful glass, l
cannot determine that more than one Of their
guns can be used, the carriages OF the others
are evidently more or less shattered and such
is tie ruin Of the parapet and parade in the
immediate vicinity of this gun, that it prob
ably could not be served for any length oftime
In fine, the destruction of the fort is 80 far
complete that 1t is to-day OF no avail in the |
defence of the harbor of Charleston By a
longer fire it can be made more completely q
ruin and a mass Of broken masonry, but could
scarcely be more powerIess for the defence of
the harbor.
1 therefore respectfully submit my opinion
that continuance of our fire is no longer |
necessary, as giving us no ends ADEQUATE for
the consumption Of our resources.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN w. TURNER,
Col. and Chief of Artillery.
Brig Gen. Q. A. GILMORE, commanding De- |
partment of the South, Morris Island = q