The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-08-11
THE CAMP FIRE.
Adam Badeau Tells of the Surrender Of
Fort Pulaski More Of Aunt Becky,
the Soldier Nurse, etc.
rhe surrenaer or Fort rulashI.

the harbor Of Hilton Head, and then
Sherman landed his troops. The
country Is network Of creeks and
islands, and no footing was for
while obtained on the mainland, but
after some weeks spent in exploring
and accommodating in a region of
swamps and marshes and rice and cot
ton fields, Sherman determined 10 in
vest Fort Pulaski, permanent work
at the mouth Of the Savannah river,
and commanding the river approach
ing 10 the city Of Savannah itself. Tie
fort stands on Cockspur Island, in
Tybee sound, eight or ten miles from
the sea. with Tybee Island one or two
miles 10 the southeast; and on Tybee
IL was determined TO establish the re-
.ducing batteries. For this purpose
the engineering skill of Gilmore was
called into play, ond 1t was at this
time that he received his anomalous
appointment OF brigadier general.
Gilmore built the batteries, and Hor-
race Porter, who was an ordinance
officer. had charge of what pertained
to the armament.
Wilson was sent TO demand the sur
render Of the fort, but the commander
replied that he was there 10 defend,
not 20 surrender, and the lombard
ment began. The firing was heavy,
but the exposure of our men was not
very great. The troops could see the
flash Of every rebel gun, and easily
run TO cover before the explosion OF
the shell which usually followed. Our
earthworks offered but little of tar
get, while the solid masonry OF Pulaski
stood up before the national gunners
like stupendous mark. i was once
carrying a message from Gilmore TO
some battery commander and found
myself obliged TO dismount There
was no tree or shrub In the sand and
/ fastened my horse the best could
10 pile Of shells while / went fur
Their on my errand. When returned
/ found the poor horse had been
struck and killed, but not one Of our
own shells had been exploded. Porter,
with his intense love of raillery, has
never ceased 10 poke fun at me since
for tying my horse TO shell. but
couldn't see the joke. There was no
other tying stone, and the horse was
not killed by our own shells But
Porter must have his joke, as diners
at public tables know.
In two days great hole was knock
ed into the walls of Pulaski, and pre-
parations were ordered for preaching
party, but the white flag was raised
toward evening of the second day.
Firing ceased ut once on both sides,
and Gilmore sent me forward To ascer-
tain what the besieged had to say.
There was long and narrow cause
way extending across the swamps and
current between Tybee and the fort.
and along this / proceeded afoot, with
a handkerchief tied TO my sword for a
flag Of truce. About halfway across
the causeway, and in full sight of the
fort and our own batteries, I met
rebel officer also bearing flag of
truce. / told him had been sent 10
inquire the meaning Of the white flag
over the fort, and he replied that his
commander was willing TO surrender.
returned at once and reported this
to Gilmore, who proceeded himself
with several officers TO the fort. We
were met at the entrance by the com
mander and taken TO one OF the case
ments, where he and each of his ofli-
GERS formally surrendered their swords.
Each, as he laid his weapon on the
table, made some remark rather grand
Eloquent. IL seemed to me, but perhaps
not unnatural under the circumstances.
One declared he had not dreamed
when he put on his sword that he
should ever be called upon 20 yield IL;
another that the blade had never been
sullied: another that his weapon had
been drawn in a righteous cause, and
he hoped yet TO regain IL, and so on.
j did not chance ever again during the
war 10 witness On absolute surrender
of swords, and l doubt IL the ceremo-
ny often occurred In so elaborate
fashion, but these officers seemed de-
termined 20 90 through all the forms.
Gilmore was shown over the fort; he
examined the damage his guns had
done, bade his prisoners good. bye, and
i was left alone with them in the fort.
There was no need TO lock them up.
They could not get away. They were
on an island. Our guns either on Ty-
bee or the neighboring islands, or on
the naval vessels, commanded every
avenue OF approach or egress. The
fort had been invested for months be-
fore the bombardment began, and the
garrison reduced TO half rations long
before. No other union officer or man
remained in Fort Pulaski that night.
But the prisoners fraternized with me.
They asked me TO supper, and gave