Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-06-23
THE BoMBARDMENT AT CHARLESTON
FIFTY UNION OFFICERS IN THE CITY.

Headquarters Dept. South Carolina Georgia, and Flo
rida, Charleston, Is. C. J June 13, 1864
GENERAL: Five Generals and forty-fve Field Officers
ofthe United States Army all Of them prisoners of war,
have been sent to this city for safe keeping They have
been turned over to Brig. Gen Ripley, commanding the
first military district of this department who viii see that
they provided with commodious quarters in part Of
the city occupied by non-combaants the majority of
whom are women aud children. 1t is proper however,
that should inform you that it is part the city which
has been or many months exposed day and night the
fire of your guns.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant.
SAM JONES'
Maj. Gen Commanding.
Maj Gen. j. Foster, commanding U. 8. forces on
coast of South Carolina
Headquarters Department of the South.
Hilton Head, (S c Jsne is, 1864
ha. GeR. SAM JONES, commanding Confederate forces
Department of South Carolina Georgia aud Florida.
GENERAL: have to acknowledge the receipt this day
of your communication Of the 18th Instant inormng
that Ave Generals and fory-fvs Field Officers of the
United States Army prisoners of war; have been turned
by you to Brig Gen. Ripley with instructions to see
that they provided with quarters in part of the city
occupied by noncombatants the majority Of which latter
you state, and children You add that you
deem proper TO inform that it part of the city
which has been many months exposed 10 the hre OF our
guns
Many months since Maj Gen Gilmore, u 8. Army,
notified Gen Reauregard then commanding at Charleston,
that the city would be bombarded This notice gigen
that non-combatans might be removed and thus women
and children be spared from harm. Gen. Beauregard, in
a communication to Gen. Gilmore, dated August % 1868,
informed him that the population Of Charles
ton would be removed with all possible CELEBRITY. That
and children have been since retained by you in
part of the city which has been for many months exposed
to FIRE is matter decided BY your of humanity
must. however, protest against your action in thus
placing defenceess prisoners of in position exposed
constant bombardment 1t 10 indefensbe act Of
city and be designed only to prevent the continuance
of FIRE upon Charleston That city ia depot for mill
tary supplies 1t contains not merely asepas buf also
foundre and factories for the manufacture of munitions
of In its shipyards several armed roncsis have
been already completed, Wills others still upon the
stocks in the OF construction Its wharves and the
banks Of the river both sides Of the city are lined with
batteries To destroy these means Of continuing the war
s therefore, object and duty You seek to defeat this
effort, not by known to honorable warfare but by
placing unsrmed and helpless prisoners under fire.
have forwarded your communication to the Presi-
dent with tia request that he will place my custody an
equal number Of prisoners of like grades to be kept by
10 positions exposed to the FIRE Of your guns long
you continue the stated in your communication
have the honor to be- very respectfully your obedent
servant, j. G.. FOSTER
Mai Gen Commanding