The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-02-02
ENTERING CHARLESTON.
The Story Of the ssd Pa.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: On the 18th
day of February, 1865, | was detailed as Field
Officer of the Day at Morris Island, 5. C., and
went to the front with the guard about p. M;
left my horse at Fort Strong and went the
rounds of the Notifications to see that the guards
were properly posted. On my return to Fort
Strong in the evening Signal-Serg't Colben re-
marked that he believed the enemy were about
ready to move There had been heavy cannon
aiding during the night before, ceasing about 3.
a. NJ; and at that time fires could be seen at
different places in Charleston, and explosions
were heard, while vessels in the harbor could
be seen on fire.
Col. A. G. Bennett, who was in command on
Morris Island, came to Fort Strong early in
the next morning and | asked him to relieve
me from duty SO that | could return to my regI-
ment, as | felt fully confident that the enemy
was about to leave the Notifications about
Charleston, that we had been looking at in a
covetous way since July 10, 1863.
After little delay my request was granted,
and, returning to camp, l found Sergeant OF
one Of the outposts on the marsh nearest to
James Island was at headquarters of the regi-
ment, and reported the enemy falling back from
their outposts and that he had been trying to
call the regimental commander. l went into
headquarters and found Lieut.-Col. Hennessy
sound asleep, reused him up and told him that
the enemy was leaving his Notifications. He
biiGU gave OIu6Io lOI INC W SCG 1CetuJ
and march to the boats at the dock. One of the
boats was known as the Ripley" named after
Gen. Ripley of the Confederate army, who was
afterward captured by US. This boat was used
by Col. Hennessy, with a picked crew Uf 10
oar5men.
The SD Pa. at this time was doing duty as
boat infantry and had al or ~ boats of all kinds
and descriptions, and the camp was on the west
or harbor side of the island. There were no
boats on our side of the island except our own.
Col. Bennett says that the regiments were
under orders to be ready, but the first order
we received was after we were marching to the
boats When the men took their places we
were soon going toward the harbor, with Col.
Hennessy ahead. Coming out of a narrow
channel into the harbor at what was then
known as Paine's Dock, our course would
bring US to the north point of the island at
Fort Gregg, where we were ordered to report ;
but part of the boats did not report there
The last of the regiment was passing Paine's
Dock not later than $50 a. M, and Col.
Hennessy was then going directly past Fort
Gregg to Fort Sumter, ], 440 yards distant, and
his was the first boat to reach that fort and dis
| play The flag of the regiment on its parapet.
COrp'l Johnson, Co. g, was the first man to
| land, followed by Col. Hennessy and Lieut..
! Burr AS the boats passed Fort Gregg Col.
| Bennett was standing on the beach with so or Az
men. Col. Bennett asked Col. Hennessy where
he was going. The reply was, To Fort Sumter;
win you 90 along?" The answer came, - No. -
] Col. Hennessy and his men were IN the fort
| from 10 to 20 minutes, and then Col. Bennett
and Lieut.. Haviland started with boat
towards the city, and Col. Hennessy starting
! from Fort Sumter. At Fort Gregg the boats oil
the regiment that landed took in men of the
! Sd r. !. II. A., and Co. BIS boat took in some
men of the Sd, with orders from Capt. jerks
of Col. Benefits staff, to place them in Fort
! Sumter as garrison.
Col. Bennett and Col. Hennessy were then
going up the harbor toward the city. Col
Bennett called to Col. Hcnnessy to wait, and
he then got into Hennessy's boat, which landed
at Fort Ripley, Lieut.. Haviland's boat pulling
for Castle Pinckney Lieut.. Haviland and
Corp'l Johnson both ran for large Confederate
flag that was flying. Lieut.. Haviland pulled
down the flag, but Corpl Johnson with his
knife cut the rope and got away with the fal
to Hennessy's boat and then both boats pullcl
for the city, Hennessy's boat reaching the dock
first, and johnson being the first man ashore
in the city. Lieut.. Runyon, Co. q, command
ed the third boat that landed Corp'l Thoma
w. Evans, Co. b, was with Runyon, and wa
sent with some men after horses for use a
headquarters.
The boat-infantry flag was flying on the Post
office before IL a. IN. Co. b landing few mo
ments after found Lieut.. Burr, with orders t.
march to the Citadel.
Just as we landed several of the Confederat
ironclads in the harbor were blown up, witt
loud reports. The streets were crowded witt
the eontrabands, anxious to see the army. w
stayed at the Citadel but short time, ant
were then ordered to the Armory, which wa
reported on fire, but this proved to be falls
alarm. We saw no men in the city except Co
Bennett and staff, of the SD Pa, and detach
ments of the Sd r. l. In the afternoon the 21s
u. S. c. land other regiments began to arrive
coming by way of James Island, and ferrie
over to the city.
Lieut.. Gilchrist was early in the city, an
was sent TO take possession of a blockade run
ner that was near the wharf with valuabl
, cargo. She had been set on fire, but the iii
was put out. In the course of the afternoo
the city was under control, and guards wer
sent to the railroad depots and rice mills.
Admiral Dahlgren arrived at 3 p. IN. at tn
dock, and was met by Corp'l Evans with horse
and be was surprised that the Department con
, mander was not there. The British ConsI
came to the Citadel shortly after we arrived
and wanted to see the commanding officer; bU
. the boys did not seem to show him as much r,
spect as he thought he was entitled to- III
city was on fire at different places and I'll
, fremen were afraid TO come out and work III
5 I'll we protected them by patrols on the stree
I TO keep order. / notice Lieut.. Hayiland in Ii
statement says the firing On the city was dor
r from Luc swamp angel r battery ana trU
g riAed guns on Fort Putnam. The Swamp Al
! gel had been dismounted early in the sieg
. Fort Putnam, known as Battery Chatfel
. faced Sullivan's Island. Fort Gregg was ii
4 nearest point to the city, and did most Of IL
? firing on the city, principally from so pound
s Parrot, at about four miles range.
g Paine's Dock, which was in front of the mort
8 point of Morris Island, may be remembered
= the Confederate floating battery that was bui
a at the commencement of the war; and had bee
e abandoned, and the high tides had carried
d down on the marsh, where it made a static
I for our pcket-lines near the mouth of Lig
# House River. While we were going to the cit
- and some time after Col, Hennessy had left ii
!. fort, another boats crew landed and hosted
e flag Oh the parapet of Fort Sumter.-R. \
g BANNATYEE, Captain, SD Pa, Tunkhannoc
o Pa.
}. Consumptiyes obtain relief by using Aye
n Cherry Pectorai. No other cure is so efectiS
2 Hanged at Frederick City.