FORT SUMTER, February 2, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that the enemy fired four 30pounder Parrott shots at us yesterday, 1 of which missed, and 2 last night, which missed. Forty-two-pounder, cracked band, was placed on the berm ready for shipment to the city at 7.30 this morning. The enemy opened with two 30-pounders, and afterward with a 300pounder and four monitors and a 100-pounder Parrott from Wagner, at a blockade-runner ashore on Sullivan's Island. Several shells have exploded in her. Firing still continues. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieutenant Boylston, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. S. ELLIOTT, JR. FORT SUMTER, February 2, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that the enemy's fire was continued to-day all day upon the wreck. Several shells exploded with much effect within her. At 1 p. m., she was seen to be on fire; it afterward subsided. At 2 p. m., three tugs came up to the monitors. Soon after one of the monitors opened with three field guns from her deck. To this Sullivan's Island replied, exploding some shells so near the monitor that the fragments struck her and caused a very perceptible decrease in the activity of the field-gun detachments. The bombardment of the wreck is now slowly subsiding; her back appears to be broken. Nothing of immediate interest at this post to-day; fleet unchanged. Two of the monitors are protected from torpedo-boats by projecting beams. They did not approach nearer to Sullivan's Island than 2,000 yards. Their ricochet shots failed to reach the object, and that sort of firing was after awhile abandoned. The best practice was from the three 100-pounders. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. S. C. BOYLSTON, S. ELLIOTT, JR., Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. FORT SUMTER, February 3, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that 2 Parrott shots were fired at the fort yesterday which struck, and 1 last night which also struck. The firing on the wreck continued last night from 30-pounder Parrotts at Gregg, and was resumed slowly this morning by their guns and two monitors, one of which had field pieces again on her deck. Captain Mulvaney, 6 officers, and 100 men, from Twenty-seventh South Carolina Volunteers, relieved Captain Burgess' detachment from Twenty-fifth South Carolina Volunteers last night. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. S. C. BOYLSTON, S. ELLIOTT, JR., Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. FORT SUMTER, February 4, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that 3 shots were fired at the fort yesterday morning which struck, and 3 last night, which exploded over head. A rifled 42-pounder was mounted night before last in the northwest pan-coupe. One monitor is firing 11-inch and 15inch shells at the wreck this morning. The sea being smooth the ricochet fire is effective. The fleet consists of Ironsides, 4 monitors, 14 sailing vessels, 2 gunboats, 1 tug inside; 10 schooners, 5 steamers in Light-House Inlet ; 5 blockaders, 2 schooners, and 2 tugs outside. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. S. C. BOYLSTON, S. ELLIOTT, JR., Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. FORT SUMTER, February 5, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that there was no firing at the fort yesterday. No change visible in the fleet this morning. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. ELLIOTT, JR., Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Lieut. S. C. BOYLSTON, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. FORT SUMTER, February 6, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that the 42-pounder rifle, with cracked band, was removed to the city last night by Mr. Lacoste. All quiet yesterday and last night. Weather too thick for correct observations of fleet. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. S. C. BOYLSTON, S. ELLIOTT, JR., Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. FORT SUMTER, February 7, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that Capt. H. T. Kennon, 6 officers, and 100 men, from Colquitt's brigade, relieved Captain Culpepper's detachment last night. The fleet consists of the iron-clads, as usual, 5 tugs, and 15 sailing vessels inside; 5 blockaders and 2 schooners outside; 4 steamers, 8 schooners, and 3 steam derricks in Light-House Inlet. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. S. C. BOYLSTON, S. ELLIOTT, JR., Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. FORT SUMTER, February 9, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report the fleet the same as usual this morning; it is difficult to say whether there are four or five monitors. One shot fired at the fort yesterday. Lieutenant Kemper, 2 officers, and 60 men relieved Captain Colhoun last night. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. S. C. BOYLSTON, S. ELLIOTT, JR., Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. FORT SUMTER, February 12, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that there is only one steamer in Light-House Inlet this morning. Ten schooners remain and the rest of the fleet is unchanged. The flag-staff at the middle battery was shot away by our guns last night; it has been replaced this morning. Small working parties at Gregg and Wagner. Captain Carson, 2 officers, and 50 men from Twenty-Fifth South Carolina Volunteers, and Lieutenant McJunkin, 2 officers, and 50 men from Eighteenth South Carolina Volunteers, relieved Captain Morrison, of Colquitt's brigade, who was ordered to report to the brigade. General Colquitt on James Island. Forty-two-pounder rifle arrived. One shell fired yesterday; fragments struck. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. S. C. BOYLSTON, S. ELLIOTT, JR., Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. FORT SUMTER, February 13, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that two self-anchoring torpedoes were cut adrift last night between this post and Fort Moultrie on the ebb tide. I directed the navy guard-boat, under the command of Midshipman Wilkins, to accompany the torpedo-boat and locate operation. An 8-inch rifle was mounted last night in the casemate on the northwest face next southwest of the new sally-port. Weather too hazy for observation with the glass. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. S. C. BOYLSTON, S. ELLIOTT, JR., Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. FORT SUMTER, February 14, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that 3 shots were fired at the fort yesterday, all of which struck. As our flag was being lowered a single shot was fired which cut off the staff near the top; it was regarded generally as being a good shot. Steam water-boat arrived last night. Banded 32-pounder rifle shipped to the city. Weather foggy; no observation. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. S. C. BOYLSTON, S. ELLIOTT, JR., Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. FORT SUMTER, February 15, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report the Ironsides, 4 monitors, 4 tugs, and 15 sailing vessels inside this morning; the Wabash and 4 other blockaders outside; 3 steamers and 7 schooners in Light-House Inlet. Lieutenant Johnston, 2 officers, and 50 men came prematurely from Mount Pleasant and relieved one-half of the last detachment from Colquitt's brigade; the remainder will be relieved to-night. Please state this to General Jordan so that they may receive orders. No firing on this fort yesterday. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. S. C. BOYLSTON, S. ELLIOTT, JR., Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. FORT SUMTER, February 16, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that no change of importance has taken place in the fleet since the last report. Captain Reddy, 2 officers, and 50 men from the Twenty-first Regiment South Carolina Volunteers relieved the remainder of the detachment of Colquitt's brigade, under command of Captain Kennon. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. S. C. BOYLSTON, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. J. M. CARSON, Captain, Commanding. FORT SUMTER, February 17, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report the fleet unchanged in number this morning. A working party is engaged remodeling the embrasures at Gregg and lowering their soles, which were much disturbed by the blast from the heavy guns. Two ladies were seen on the parapet of Wagner yesterday; they were afterwards observed to visit the Ironsides. One shell fired at flag yesterday morning; three of the fragments took effect; also considered good shot. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. S. C. BOYLSTON, S. ELLIOTT, JR., Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. FORT SUMTER, February 20, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report the Ironsides, 4 monitors, 4 tugs, and 15 sailing vessels inside this morning; 5 blockaders outside, and 4 river steamers and 6 schooners in Light-House Inlet. No wooden gun-boats in sight except those of deep draught used as blockaders. A party working at the outworks of Gregg, cutting down the slopes to a lower level. A detachment of 3 officers and 50 men from Eighteenth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers relieved 50 men of the Twenty-seventh South Carolina Volunteers last night. The provisions of paragraph 3, Special Orders, No. 39, department headquarters, appear to have been misunderstood at the headquarters of Seventh Military District, as no relief came from that quarter last night. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. I. JONES, S. ELLIOTT, JR., Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. FORT SUMTER, February 21, 1864. I have the honor to report that there are two wooden gun-boats inside this morning; in other respects the fleet remains the same except that a three-masted propeller appears to be sunk outside in about 5 fathoms of water. She lies in the direction of the buoy formerly known as the Cumming's Point buoy; she is one of the heavy-draught blockaders. Six officers and 100 men from the Twenty-second South Carolina Volunteers and 3 officers and 54 men from the Holcombe Legion relieved 9 officers and 150 men from the Eighteenth South Carolina Volunteers. I must call attention to the fact that no order for nor notice of this change was extended to me. Two shots were fired at us yesterday, both of which struck. The soles of all the embrasures at Gregg have been lowered and their splay very much increased, affording greater facilities for the guns to assist in defense against an attack. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. I. JONES, S. ELLIOTT, JR., Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. FORT SUMTER, February 22, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report the fleet unchanged this morning; all colors flying; a national salute was fired at sunrise; from the rapidity of the firing and caliber of the guns, it is almost certain that the Ironsides participated. The practice of our mortar batteries on Sullivan's Island has been excellent this morning, silencing the 30pounder at Gregg. Four Parrott shots fired yesterday; 3 struck, 1 mortar shell missed. Captain Fleming with 60 men relieved Lieutenant Kemper last night. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. I. JONES, S. ELLIOTT, JR., Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. |