Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-29
TITLES and EADEB gf the UYl WAR2Al|
THE CONFEDERATE DEFENSE OF FORT SUMTER
Is 81

eastern wall became reduced i'm height
and the monitors could look into the
arches of the western classmates.
Before Gillmore's guns opened on the
fort, on the 18th of August, 1855 his OPP
erations on Morris Island (where he
planted his leading batteries) caused the
upper magazines to be abandoned and
partly filled with sand to protect the low
er ones. Only the eastern magazines then
became endangered by his fire. and that
so gradually as to allow ample time for
the removal of its contents
1t was my duty to examine and report
the condition of these magazines almost
hourly, and | well remember how. by the
aid of a little bull s-eye lantern hanging
from my finger. and casting fantastic
shadows on the piled-up kegs of cannon
powder, | would enter the chamber APP
ply my ear close to the surface of the
massive wall, and await the coming of
the next rifle shell to hear how much
more it shook the fort than the last. and
to estimate its gain of penetration. Then.
at night when the firing Slackened /
would take a rod and tape-line and in
Spect the damage from the outside. The
time came at length when ii appeared
prudent to remove the IL 900 pounds of
powder from the eastern lower magazine.
but it was never preached, and was even
used as stororoom to the last
The western magazine was less exposed
TO the direct fire from Morris Island; and
on only two occasions was il in any great
danger from the fleet. >
The fort had been nearly silenced by
the land batteries when there occurred
two night attacks on the part of the
ironclad squadron. in command OF Rear
Admiral Dahlgren. and shells We're
thrown over the sea wall into the vicinity
of the only remaining magazine. One
unl 1ad CT hy
bags in the gallery opening on the pa
rade: one exploded near the closed cop
per doors OF the outer chamber; another
sent its smoke down the ventilator. and
one set fire to some combuStibleS IN the
adjacent room used for charging shells
After that night of the LIST and ID of
September 1869. the magazine was emp
tied of all but small-armS ammunition,
the last of some 10000 pounds of cannon
powder being removed from the fort
under fire. without accident.
But the morning of the 11th of De-
cember 1863 this small-arms magazine
was blown up with disastrous effects.
There had been quite a lull in the bonn
bardment and no firing on the fort for
several days. The cause of the explosion
was never discovered
A lower casemate on Ihe western or
Charleston front. near the southwestern
angle. where the magazine lay, was oc-
cupied by Lieut.. Col Stephen Elliott twho
had succeeded Col. Rhett in commandb
and myself. AS duty required night to
be turned into day. we had not long
turned day into night, but We're fast
asleep, when we We're ACCUSED by the
noise of a great explosion, the dull sound
of heavy falling masses, and the rush
of sulphurous smoke into our quarters.
l jun d out of bed and made for the
closed in wintry weather with
a heavy oaken shutter. The classmates
We're so dark in winter mornings as to
require lighting: and now every light had
been extinguished by the explosion. We
were well nigh suffocated. but. quickly
raising and propping up the heavy shut
ter. jumped out through the opening upon
the rocky foundation of the fort. all
bare feet.
the city front near the northwestern
angle we found the smoke decreasing.
but as no entrance into the magazine
those classmates could yet be
effected we We're obliged to work our
way around the outside of the fort
nearly half of its entire circuit. and
enter by r~ther embrasure on the
front. opposite sullivans Island
Fastening into the parade of the fort,
we found that the Smelling had been
resumed by the enemy soon as they
perceived the explosion. and in crossing
the parade diagonally to the point
where the magazine gallery had it's
entrance the commander was slightly
wounded on the head.
Entering the narrow gallery. which
grew darker as We penetrated into it,