The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-11-01
CHARLEsToN,s HEROIsM.
Bow a Southern City withstood the Trials
of War.
Detroit Free Press.


one has told the full story of what
Charleston suffered and endured dur
ing the long years of strife, nor how
Sumter was held and defended in
manner to excite the admiration even
Of those most earnestly engaged in the
attempt to possess her.
When the war began the citizens of
Charleston divided with the Confed-
crate government. Within q year
they divided again. Before the war
was two years old silverware was being
melted up, church bells sent to the
cannon foundry, and every family
making sacrifices in some direction.
When the Confederate government
wanted lead the waterpipes of Char
lesion were torn out Of house and
street and contributed to the extent of
10000 pounds. When iron was want
ed the gaspipes were cheeefully parted
with. Every house was temporary
hospital, and every household felt it a
duty to divide it's provisions and bed
ding with the men who were fighting
for the Confederacy. The rich Of
Charleston did not speculate on the
misfortunes of the poor. Instead Of
buying in clothing and provisions to
sell again at an advance, they dubbed
together to fit out whole companies of
soldiers and batteries Of artillery.
Richmond took up the rails of her
street car lines and sent them to the
Confederate foundry, but Charleston
stripped herself Of everything and
gave it all to the cause she espoused.
One blockade-runner took 5000
worth of ladies jewelry to Nassau and
exchanged the lot for s23, 900 worth Of
shoes and clothing for Confederate
soldiers. Valuable watches, diamonds
and jewels Of all kinds came North by
secret agents and were exchanged for
drugs for sick soldiers. Bedding,
carpets and crockery we're taken from
the finest houses aud sent to equip
Confederate hospitals, and that with
out demand having been made for
even blanket.
|, The first shell from Gilmore S
"Swamp Angel" located FIVE miles
away, struck building near the post
office and exploded with crash which
turned 5 1000 people out Of bed. Those
who heard the horrible screaming Of
that great shell as it came over the
waters Of the bay will never forget the
sound. In FIVE minutes a second one
came, but this one failed. By the
time the third one arrived all Char
lesion was awake and full Of alarm and
horror. That was the beginning Of a
siege which has no parallel in Ameri-
can warfare. Day after day, week
after week, month after month, with
only intervals of few hours at time
for the guns to cool or some new move
to be made, the bombardment contin-
ued. Grant did not care to injure
Petersburg. Gilmore would have
wiped Charleston off the face of the
earth if he had been able.
That first nights experience was
enough to arouse the city to action.
Not building in the lower part Of the
city was safe from the big shells
loaded with Greek fire. Under the
advice of the chief Of the fire depart
ment every house kept ready supply
of water on hand, in barrels and other
vessels. In some districts bodies Of
minute-men were formed, who would
rush to the spot where shell fell and
quickly subdue the flames, in case q
fire was started. The business streets
were all paved with cobblestones.
These stones were all taken up and
dumped into the sea, and it was 8
wise precaution. Scores of shells fell
upon the streets and buried themselves
in the sand and exploded without
damage.
By and by the people became used
to the situation, and seemed to go te
bed without any more fear than would
have been shown in New York
While the street cars ceased to run,
all other business was transacted as
usual, and during the hottest fire Of
the whole siege men were loading YES
sells at the wharves, various factories
were running, and children were play.
ing in the public parks. Fedora,
history pictures Charleston in ruins
and filled with woe and desolatior
within thirty days after Gilmore open
ed fire. As matter of fact businest
was not suspended for single hour
| While few families left the city
others came in, and after the first
fortnight the shells we're looked upon
as a matter of course. Probably moi
more than thirty inhabitants were
killed by the missiles direct, and both
of the big fires had their origin in
other causes. As Charleston began
proud, naughty, imperious and defiant
so she remained to the last, and
when evacuated the Southern Con.
federacy was drawing it's last breath
of life.
American history will yet recognize
the defense of Fort Sumter as the
most gallant and determined actin the
history of this nation. Wrested from
Maj. Anderson in 1861, it did not
receive shot from the Federals until
April, 1868, and then occurred the
first trial .of the monitors. That
defeat seemed to place the Federal
government on its mettle, and prepa-
rations were at once entered into tc
attack Charleston from every side.
The programme included the occupa.
tion of Foley and Morris islands, and
the reduction of Sumter by gradual
approach and steady pounding.
Up to September 5 Fort Sumter had
been struck 1854 times by the
heaviest missiles known in warfare.
From the 18th to the Both of October,
| /, ,115 shots were fired by the ironclads.
From the 28th of October to the I'd Of
November there was fired a total Of
$3.50 shots. On the I'd the monitors
fired slowly at long range and every
one of the 140 shots struck the Fort.
At this time the Federals had gained
foothold on the lower end of Morris
Island and erected strong battery
from which shot reached the fort. AT
the close of the 122d day of the siege
there had been fired at Sumter:
Shots.
From land batteries. ............1 1903
| From monitors Al