The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-03
The DEFENSE OF CHARLESTON.
Review of an Interesting Work Written
by Participant.

"
,..c.,,,,,. s,o,os
''' ''''0 va '"o yin
| Charleston. =. I. alkcf, Evans n togs-
wei Co.. Publishers lNJo.
The defense OF Charleston was one Of the
most stirring episodes of the war between
The states. las moving story only second
i'm interest ID that of fine calnpaicns Of The
|roat armies i'm iho field. is told i'm the work
ano,e cited bv orc who bore % greater part
LIN il fbau his modeety pcrlait, him 10 re-
cord.
so one can read Major JohnsOn's first
chaptors without recognizing the spirit OF a
soldier and the literary art which reveals
ihourlf and culture. So one can finish tine
hook without feeling thc thrill which al
,,ylvs rs.ponds 10 fine, simple. rapid. and in
It,u.o narration Of Great events hv a writer
who. .. eyewitness and actor. took part i'm
lth.n, la i,nmigrc almost ms complcicly
...frinrod barre or every ycstuye Of oma-
mont ,e "a 'front.' orator described Caesars
i.t,ln N,ior Johnson rlocoe his reader at
lonca M the Yer, centre of the action. and
.oon Iin,,p. hi. interest to fho white heat
lof the surrounding battle.
After "a brief sketch of the events
preceding the lth Of Aprll. 1863, the
detailed history opens with the az
tack. 0f the ron-clad fleet on Fort sumter,
which ~ignaliZcd that day. The authors
fine dt scriptiNc powers are here first dis
rlavfd. and fine reader who. i'm spite Of
/ Major Johnson's grave and scientific atti-
/ uac. has perhaps already become parti-
san of the fort. is relieved 10 find that the
/ ulCt was rCpuised with four vessels dis
/ 8hlDd and on. the keOkuk, sunk. The
Kookuk went to the bottom of Morris
/ Island, not far from the station Of the fleet.
/ fhe story of the removal OF the guns from
| this wrecked monitor by night, under all
sorts Of difficulties and perlls. ana almost
within hearing Of the Federal sailors. Is
/ tOld with spirit and effect. lhen follows
an account of the Federal descent on Nor
/ ris Island: Of the two assaults on The Con-
/ ledprate battery Wagner hlOOdily repulsed.
aud of that which marks the next attack on
| Fort sumter as tine beginning Of new era
iu Wharf.-The preaching Of the walls Of
/ rarulgr fertilization bv riiled Guns on Nor
| pr, Island. g. 400 90 300 wards distant. Thi,
/ vn. tha first Great h0mbardment Of Fort
/ sumter bv General Gilmore. Beginning
on the 18th Of August. 1868. il was main
lincd uuiuterrupiedly for seven days. and
was continued afterwards al intervals till
/ the n Of september. By that time the guns
/ Of sumter were siienccd; its offensive power
wa, gone. But. recognizing II as the citadel
/ his combined delenscs. General Beaurc-
| gard determined. on the advice OF his hrn
and able engineers. That ii should
be held % extremity. Out Of
/ This vigorous resolution grew
mastery and unparalleled defense, ~ ih'
| course Of which me fort suffered TWO oiher
/ Great aad eight minor bomhafdnenls' ana
| was Transformed from heap oi ruins lhi'
/ 'snapcly and powerful eafthWork armed
( win hNe h-afy guns anu pIoieclcu "s''H9'
: assault H.,
III - Il populo, eiI0i ~ 9"i, "7' 'n"t '',
I lUmnIh. I'D ul me Walls was HseIl Pi InOI'
!
/ These RUNS were lnlIcl! part Ut lnc ILL.,
| ierialS WIN Whlch TIE genius 90
/ the engineer patiently ana shhiulii
/ wrought Bul Tor inc intelligent ana coast
less laooIs Whlch D'l''e the hIs' ''',l'".u,
In'"l H'N '"' '''u 'l0 ~" e GUY
gorge WIN 'u '"9''u9 ~. e.'lD ~ W - l,'i
"'" ''t',' 1lI nD,''" 49,.
/ 0ccuii,u lol l,'. ""' .l'. I,',i
! Nn'cA i'ilo" ga 'HD D'S,' Nv ~ ~
h'i ioi'' D"e nu''''tv'' , anu :,Lts If '.r,
ana more IMAM one HuH'lt" Ni-"t9 w wv"
/ unu'us we ON f"il Snli'tt ui7u vu''"
"FrI IN. '' =; .,. i.,.,,J
""fdhenI'' 'Hr e'"t"'li'1 VI 7i i
ana j. ice "l;acN ud una" ',,'',"'
followed upon bc"ui c1"iu "', 'l'" ~
cls.on not 20 give up ms 'l,tuc.' - 'uV"
/ mfe-i ul shoi ana ahci \" as tnc NV 81 '''-
| uln ol lhe eh&'h- AT 'o t'-c l'9 i'90 '''
/ the runs ol sumter,
% wv N''i'H''.trt N''' i.t-@
strain under which ilis WofN was done' ihg
.yl day. daring winch the ioit wa, uhuei
tire. the Losses ny ihe cnemy's missiles ana
the explosion Of magazines. The iH'noiohy ol
the passive defense. the herce "h-inl.ci
II the aiiach,, and the accuinlia''n-
and porieniou' dangers coN"ii I"i''"eou7'.
! plt--,H- ON the COhlcdefalcs g." "lnci
Oh atre- ~ VAL vc cannot IAN To- auil'
/ that this defense was worthy o. careful ana
& circIm-tanlial narration. purins every
. nigAl and many days 81 lals lohS ''"
the labols o. some one hundi' I'd ana '"' nis
men. on an average, without counting tn'
/ garis0n were directed nN lhe en- nicer ID
charge b.! ioit SUMTER Mil'f lthtn up
tainj johnson. Jusu3 4nq lA'i' SHY 'oJ5 ne
declare, "t' le7ignt CONF s''. ~ VI, n'.u
work executed the plans 81 'ti a.-t ~"
equal justice, we must ada 'N'l "'.Hll, -
courage and oYermasielihe '".i.' .ic " ,.,i
qualities which the mlufr historian VIII
ascrbe 90 the engineer ihnlyu ...l, ~
! slOnsiN'e lof 'h'l eltD''i" """ i''''"7'"
resistance.
We have no room lcn 20 a'cnii.n Ia fel"H
/ lho unsuccessful boat attack Oh Fort sumter
ar the operations ON James i7IanG-ihe H.!
] l0 Charleston WIKI iue ua'h al J oi. ".".-