The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-04-26
Gen. Stephen Elliott.

life and military caree. OF my lrlenu auu
comrade, Gen. Stephen Elliott, who was
born in this town October 26, 1880, and
at the outbreak of the war was in COM
mand of the Beaufort Light Artillery
Company, which took the field early.
This company, being stationed at Po-
cataligo, had repulsed a bold expedition
from Port Royal to destroy the railroad.
In this engagement Elliott displayed
most excellent judgment and great gal
laptry, as did all the men of his company.
Col. Alfred Rhett and his superb ar
tillery regiment had defended Fort Sum.
ter until all it's armament of heavy guns
were dismounted, and being artillerists it
was deemed best by Gen. Beauregard to
change the garrison. He asked me if ]
was acquainted with Major Stephen FL
liott, and what sort of commanding
officer thought he would make for Fort
Sumter, that he intended to hold the fort
even if be had to do 80 himself with his
staff. My reply was: General, know
him we'll, and I believe that if you place
him In command of Fort Sumter that be
will never leave 1t alive unless you order
him elsewhere, or he is taken prisoner. y
This occurred August %, 1863, late at
night in Mr.. Mills's house, in Meeting
street, after private letter had been
brought to the General written by the
commanding officer of the fort to bis
brother in the city, intimatiDg that the
fort was untenable.
I was ordered to write to Major Elliott
to report In person to the General. Some
days we're consumed in quietly changing
the garrison from artillerists to infantry.
One hundred and fifty men with foui
officers of Gen. Colquitt's brigade were
the first of the new garrison. September
4, 1869 Stephen Elliott succeeded to the
command of the fort Gen. Beauregard
asked him if he was willing TO assume
the responsibility on the assurance that
the Federal flag should never be seen
floating over the spot while he (Beaure-
gard) commanded in South Carolina"
His reply was: II am anxious to have
the position, and will carry out your or
ders or die in the attempt"
September Z Admiral Dah]gren de-
manded the surrender of the fort Ell
liott replied: "Inform Admiral Dahl
gren that he may have Fort Sumter
when he can take and hold it."
Brave words were those when, be 1t
known, there was not single cannon OF
that once great armament which could
be pointed against the feet Of ironcladl
and the numerous army ofthe enemy.
Elliott brought with him his violin,
which he used to great advantage in
keeping up the spirits of the garrison.
Often when I visited the fort officers
would say to me Major Elliott seems
never to sleep, for be is about the fort at
all hours of the day and night.
One hour after midnight, September
9, Admiral Dahlgren's formidable naval
barge attack approached the fort; El,
liott, himself on tho watch, saw their ap'
prosch. He coolly ordered his men to
reserve their fire until he ordered it,
when the leading boats were about to
land. Then the word was given. when
with rifles and hand grenades the attack
WAS repulsed, there being no cannon
with which to defend the grim old ruin
Five launches were captured with ten
officers and ninety-two men, the enemy'a
total loss in killed and wounded and
missing being one hundred and twenty
four men. This proved that Elliott was
the right man to command the tort and
resssured the army and the people OF
Charleston that Fort Sumter was not to
fall into the hands of the Federals. On
| the night of November 19 and 20 an
other boat attack approached the tort,
but the wstchful commander opened such
a hot fire upon them that they abandoned
the attack.
Elliott was promoted to be Lieutenant
Colonel, and soon afterwards the 22nd
South Carolina regiment elected him to
be their Colonel. 1t Vas not long after
this, May 4th, 1864, that he was promot-
ed to be Brigadier General.
We next find him under Gen. Beaure-
gard at Petersburg, Va, in command OF
that portion of the lines in which the
mine was exploded. This great e1plo-
sion blew up two of Pegram's guns, to-
gether with abont 200 men from that
battery, the 18th and 22nd South Caro-
lima regiments. In the short paulc
followed the explosion, before the dawn
of day, Elliott retained his self posses
sion, and within ten minutes of the ex'
plosion formed his regiments on the brow
of the hill and commenced to charge the
enemy, when he fell severely wounded
and the command devolVed on Col. F.
w. McMaster.
Mahone's division now came to our as
sistauce, when the Federals were driven
from our lines. Elliott's brigade lost
672 men, our total loss being about ], 800
Gen. Meade reported the Federal loss at
4,646 men, two guns and two stands Of
colors. After the fight Gems. Lee and
Beauregard visited Gen. Elliott in the
field hospital The latter was much
affected, but consoIed himself somewhat
when he found that the wound VAS not
necessarily fatal, for it passed through
the shoulder, cutting the tendons, paral'
zYing one arm in the same way that Gen.
Longstreet was wounded. Recovering
from his wound be was ordered to South
Carolina, and finally commanded q
brigade in the battles of Averysboro and