The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-06-13
MAJOR BOLLES HERE.
His Visit Recalls That the Whining
ton Light Infantry Laid the FOun-
Was the Engineer and the First
Battery Was Named for Him.

Major q. r. BOlleS, or the nydTo-
graphic office, Washington, d. c., is here
on a visit to his family. His numerous
friends are glad to see him and are
gratified to learn that he is recovering
from a o which he suffered from
a bicyclist.
Major Bolles has been ~forty-four
years in the service of the United
States government, n his visit recalls
the fact that he was the engineer who
laid off and supervised the first fortifi-
cation at Fort Fisher. He was a na-
tive of Charleston, S. c., and came to
Wilmington in 1851, to make a survey
of the Cape Fear river for the United
States coast and geodetic survey. When
the civil war broke out he e%spoused the
cause of his native land and was ap-
pointed major of engineers on the staff
of General ~Theophilus Holmes who was
sent here to take command of the
Wilmington district. The lamented
Major General w. H. c. Whiting was
made General Holmes Chief of staff,
and subsequently distinguished himself
and was a major general when he re-
ceived his death wound at Fort Fisher.
General Holmes was ordered To have
batteries built along the Cape Fear and
to occupy them, and under his orders
Major Bolles laid off and supervised
the construction of the first battery at
New Inlet. The Wilmington Light In
fantry was detached from Colonel John
J.. CantWelIS regiment at Fort Cas-
we'll to take chage of the battery. The
veterans of that historic old company
built the battery and in doing so I'M
Willingly laid the corner stone of his
toric Fort Fisher.
Major Bolles says before he knew
what the soldiers were about they COM
pleted the battery, fired a salute, hoist
ed the confederate colors and called the
place Battery Bolles. He was proud Of
the honor conferred upon him, and say
afterwards during the war he had the
satisfaction of seeing thousands Of
boxes floating in the Cape Fear ad-
dressed Battery Bolles. That title fol-
lowed the battery throughout the
e%ventful history of Fort Fisher and the
ruins are yet called Battery Bolles.
Major Bolles served in the United
States coast and geodetic survey six
teen years prior to the war, and in
1878 re-entered the government service
and for many years las been connected
with the photographic office. He hopes
while here to spend some time at THE
Rocks" where he will be right at Bat
terry Bolles.
By the way, Genera N. 3. Curtis. the
New York congressman, who led the
land attack for the federals at the fall
of Fort Fisher, is writing a history Of
the battle and the fort, and learning
that Major Bolles laid off the first bat
terry there, called upon him at Wash
ington and got him to write a sketch Of
the battery and its history for his &C
count Of the battle.
Major Bolles complied with General
Curtis request but old him all the
glory he wanted out of it was TO give
the Wilmington Light Infantry the
credit Of laying the foundation of Fort
Fisher.
In the battle CT Fort Fisher in jan
uary 1865, Genera Curtis was terribly
over the left eye, the frontal
bone having been carried away. He
fingered a long time between life and
death but finally recovered. He, how
ever, lost his eye. and a terrible scar is
left as evidence Of his heroism.