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


The Old Arsenal ut Charleston, s. 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 To favor the project Action of
Congress is necessary to the bargain.
The Charleston rs. C.) Ne,cs and Courier
describes the buildings and grounds, and
gives their history, as follows:
The arsenal grounds, as 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 eigh-
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 substantial fence Of
open woodwork, and are cool and shady,
with fine grove and 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 handsome two story
frame building on the south side of the
campus. This was intended to be used
as 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 fine dor
mitory, and can be easily converted into
school room. The arsenal proper is a
quadrangular brick inclosure, situate
near the western end of the grounds.
The main entrance faces east, and is un-
der two story brick building, which is
now used as storeroom for arms, ammu-
milton, and other ordnance stores. The
four angles of the quadilateral are guard
ed by four en6lading towers. On the
north and south sides are two brick
dwellings, now used as officers quarters.
On the west q low wall separates the
court from the street. The inner court
of the inclosure is laid off as flower
garden, in the center of which stands an
octagonal summer house. The work.
shops at the northwestern angle of the
grounds have beer converted into comfort
able barracks and 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 shellroad shaded by a
grove of luxuriant water oaks. All in all
It is as pretty and as delightful asituation
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
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 I'm
til some six years later, when depot for
war material was established there. The
other buildings were erected at various
times as they were required.
When the news reached Charleston on
the morning ofthe 18th ofDecember, 1860,
that Major Anderson had evacuated Fort
Moultrie and fortified himself within the
historic walls of Fort Sumter, there was
quite a commotion in the city. The
calling out of the old 18th Regiment and
the lst Regiment of Rifles will not soon
be forgotten by the people of Charleston.
The four artillery companies were sent at
once to Fort Moultrie, and on the same day
q detail Of two companies, the Cadet
Rifemen 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 of 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 31st Of
December, they had procured blue silk
palmetto flag, and its folds were thrown
to the breeze on that day for the first
time from the flagstaff near the main en-
trance to the arsenal. The battalion
was subsequently relieved by the Union
Light Infantry, Commanded by Capt.
David Ramsay. After the organization of
the Confederacy the 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 1863 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 depot for Quartermaster and
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, he 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.