Evening star., 1938-04-24
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

CHARLESTON. 8. c., April 2s.-stir-
ring pages in history were reviewed for
the congressional party Of 200, visiting
the Fifth Annual Azalea Festival here,
by the Ambassador Of Good Will for
the Southland" Representative Thomas
s. Mcmillan. when the distinguished
guests visited Forts Moultrie and Sum-
ter and the Charleston Navy Yard to-
day. He pointed out that three different
forts have been erected on or near the
site Of the present Fort Moultrie. The
first was Fort Sullivan, ordered erected
IN January, 1776, constructed of pal
metto log cribbing filled with sand.
Here on June 49, l776, Col. William
Moultrie. with 81 cannon, repulsed an
attacking British fleet. carrying 27s guns,
under Sir Peter Parker. At the same
time. Sir Henry Clinton. attempting to
cross Breach Inlet. on the eastern end
OF sullivans Island. with 2.200 regulars,
was defeated by Col. William Thompson.
commanding 78O mintiamen. News of
this victory. upon reaching Philadelphia,
where the Continental Congress was in
session. resulted in the actual signing
OF the Declaration of independence,
which until then had carried only two
signatures. The fort capitulated on
April 9. l7so. to the combined sea and
land forces Of Admiral Arbuthnot and
Sir Henry Clinton in the siege of
Charleston.
Evacuated by Maj. Robert Anderson,
U. s. A.. on December 26, 1860, when he
occupied Fort Sumter in the harbor.
Fort Moultrie again played a prominent
part throughout the War Between the
States. as follows: Took part in the
reduction OF Fort Sumter, April IL and
Is, 1851; participated in the defeat of
Federal 1ronclads under Admiral Du-
pont, U. 8. N April 7, 1858; engaged in
long-range defense of Morris Island
from June 10, 1863, until the evacuation
OF that island on September 6; again
neavlly engaged with ironclads on Sep
temoer =. exchanging intermittent shots
With the besieging monitors until Feb
ruary 4, 1865, its last shot sinking the
v. 3. 3. Canonicus. During that month
tho confederate troops evacuated and
the fort again came under Federal con-
trol. Fort Moultrie is now the head
Quarters Of the 9Th Infantry and the
haroor defenses; Of district /, C. C.. C..
~ Is concentration camp for casuals
Tor overseas service. It is a popular
summer training camp for r. o. T. C.
ana G. M. T. C. units for North and
south Carolina and personnel from the
Reserve Oncers' Corps.
Fort Sumter, In the harbor, was
planned in 1927 as q easement battery
but was not completed until $780, when
it mounted 81 guns. 1t was bombarded
by South Carolina troops on April II,
1861. and was finally surrendered by
Maj. Robert Anderson. U. S. A. A
salute was given to the United States
Nag as the Federal troops embarked on
northbound vessels. While occupied by
the South Carolina troops. Fort Sumter
assisted in repulsing the Federal IRON
clads under Admiral Dupont on April
Z, 1853; Federal sea and land forces
took the southern end of Morris Island
on July 10, 1863, and placed in danger
Batteries Gregg and Wagner, located in
the northern end as outposts, while Fort
Sumter participated in their defense
until April II, 1868, when the Federal
forces after q week of intensive bonn
bardment dismantled the fort, although
1t was not silenced until September /.
Fresh Confederate troops relieved the
besleged garrison on September and
the following night repulSed landing
party Of more than 400 Federal seamen,
who left 102 prisoners. Federal land
and sea forces heavily bombarded the
fort during q siege which lasted from
October 20 until December 6. 1863. On
December II an accidental explosion
resulted in heavy casualties among the
defenders. Fort Sumter was again
bombarded from July 7, 1854, until Sep
tember, followed by desultory fire until
the night Of February II, 1855, when
the fort was evacuated.
Representative Mcmillan, who with
Admiral William H. Allen, entertained
the Washington party at the Charleston
Navy Yard, emphasized that this yard
Is nearer the Panama Canal than any
other such base on any coast and has
the only suitable harbor for repairs and
refuge, south of the. fateful Hatteras,
800 miles away. Congress authorized
purchase of the site in 1901 and the
Government now has 4 $4,000, 900 plant
which Is being further improved by
100 w. p. A. workers. The congress
sional party participated in the cere-
mony Of laying the keel Of the 1,500-ton
destroyer Roe.