The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-05-01
A PEACEFUL PROJECT.
The Old Arsenal at Charleston, 6. c., De-
sired for an Academy.

The United States troops which have
been stationed at the Citadel and Arsenal
in Charleston, S. c., are to be removed to
Atlanta, Ga, and those buildings left
tenantless. The former is the property
Of the State, and the latter is owned by
the United States. The Rev. A. Toomer
Porter is endeavoring to secure the arse.
nal and grounds for the Holy Commun-
ion Academy for nominal rental, and
Senators Butler and Blaine, Mr.. Corcor-
an, the philanthropist, and Gen. Sherman
are said 10 favor the project. Action of
Congress is necessary to the bargain.
The Charleston Is. C.) News and Courier
describes the buildings and grounds. and
gives their history, as follows:
The arsenal grounds, rs is we'll known,
occupy the square in the extreme north.
western section of the city, bounded by
Ashley and President streets on the east
and west, and by Bee and Doughty streets
on the north and south. The entire
square contains about eleven acres of
ground, upon which there are from cigh
teen to twenty buildings, including the
arsenal proper. The situation is one of
the healthiest in the city, and since its
occupation by the troops the buildings
have been repaired and the entire place
kept in splendid condition. The grounds
, are inclosed with a substantial fence of
open woodwork, and are cool and shady,
with fine grove aud large vegetable
garden, which has always furnished the
mess tables Of the boys in blue with an
abundance of early vegetables. During
the past year very many improvements
have been made, the most noticeable be-
ing the erection of a handsome two story
frame building on the south side of the
campus. This was intended to be used
rs hospital. 1t is about 100 feet long
and about thirty feet wide, and has wide
double piazzas extending entirely around
the building. 1t will make a fine dor
m:tory, and can be easily converted into 8
school room. The arsenal proper is a
quadrangular brick inclosure, situate
near the western end of the grounds.
The main entrance faces eest, and is un-
der two story brick building, which is
now used as storerocm for arms, ammu-
milton, and other ordnance stores. The
four angles of the quadilateral are guard
| ed by four enfilading towers. On the
north and south sides are two brick
dwellings, now used rs officers quarters.
On the west low wall suparates the
court from the street. The inner court
of tho inclosure is laid off as q flower
garden, in the center of which stands an
octagonal summer house. The work
shops Mt the northwestern angle of the
grounds have been converted into comfort
able barracks ard will probably be used for
dormitories. The ground in the southern
| half of the campus is somewhat lower
than that in the northern half but it has
been graded and is thoroughly drained.
Leading up from the Ashley street en-
trance is broad sheilroad shaded by g.
grove of luxuriant water oaks. All in eli
| it is rs pretty and as delightful situation
as could be desired for academic pur-
poses.
The ground on which the arsenal
stands was purchased by the government
in 1885, when it was part of what was
known as Potter's Field. In 1886 O
number of wooden barracks were put up,
and It was here that the volunteers for
the Seminole war were mustered in be-
fore leaving for the everglades of Florida.
The arsenal building was not erected TN
til some six years later, when depot for
war material was established there. The
times as they were required.
When the news reached Charleston on
the morning ofthe 28th of ofDecember, 1860.
that Major Anderson had evacuated Fort
| Moultrie and fortified himself within the
| historic walls of Fort Sumter, there was
| quite commoton in the city. The
| calling out of the old 18th Regiment and
the LIST Regiment OF Rifles will not soon
i be forgotten by the people of Charleston.
lie four artillery companies were sent at
once to Fort Moultrie, and on the same day
detail of two companies, the Cadet
Rifiemen and the Palmetto Guard, were
sent to take possession of the arsenal.
The capture was effected without blood
shed. Col. John Cunningham had COM
mand uf the battalion. He proceeded to
the arsenal, marched the men in and
took possession, nobody being on the
premises but the keeper. The Palmetto
Guard were placed in charge Of the
buildings and ground. They were under
the command Of Capt. Thos. Middleton,
and on that occasion turned out 100 men,
rank and file. On Monday, the 3lst of
December, they had procured blue silk
palmetto flag, and its folds were thrown
ID the breeze on that day for the first
time from the flagstaff near the main en-
trance to the arsenal. TIE battalion
was subsequently relieved by the Union
Light Infantry, Commanded by Capt.
David Ramsay. After the organization of
tue COnieueracy tue arsenal was turned
over to the General Government, and was
fitted up for the manufacture of cartridges
and other war material. During the four
long years of bloody strife that followed,
the workshops were kept running, afford
ing employment to large number of
women and children in the manufacture
of cartridges. During the year 1868 a
| fire occurred in long wooden building
near the south wall Of the grounds, used
as a workshop for the loading of car
tridges, and several persons were injured
and the building destroyed. This was
the only mishap that occurred in the
arsenal during the entire war. At the
surrender the arsenal fell into the hands
Of the Federal government. 1t has been
used as n depot for Quartermaster aud
ordnance stores, and as barracks tor
the troops. From time to time improve
ments have been made, new buildings
added, and the grounds leveled. Should
Mr.. Porter succeed in securing lease of
the premises, and there seems to be no
reasonable doubt of his doing so, ne will
convert the arsenal into one of the finest
and most extensive academies in the
country, and will add to the many ad-
vantages which Charleston now offers for
the education OF the youth OF the South.
WARTS ON ANIMALs.-Inquiries are
made for "cure for warts' of different