commanding, the construction of Battery Brown, for two 8-inch Parrott rifles, intended to be employed in the demolition of Sumter. Sergt. Walter Smith, New York Volunteer Engineers, had charge of this work. About two thousand two hundred days' work* have already been expended in advance of the first parallel. Col. J. W. Turner, chief of staff, Department of the South, was to-day announced as chief of artillery also. Monday, July 27.-Continued work in second parallel day and night, strengthening parapets of approaches, revetting breast heights, building splinter-proof shelters, and constructing breaching battery. Only a small detachment of engineers work during the day, the heavy work being all done at night. This arrangement is made necessary by the enemy's sharpshooters, who during this period give us more trouble by day than his heavy guns. The least exposure above the crest of the parapet will draw the fire of his telescopic Whitworths, which cannot be dodged. Several of our men were wounded by these rifles at a distance of 1,300 yards from Wagner, where prisoners informed us the riflemen were stationed. Tuesday, July 28.-The parapet and epaulement of Battery Brown are finished. Began laying the platforms to-day; it will be ready for its armament to-morrow morning. This battery is to be served from the large magazine already built. Commenced an emplacement for a Requa battery on the extreme left of the line for the defense of the boom; in charge of Corpl. P. Berry, New York Volunteer Engineers. Also began a lookoutt of sand-bags on top of the large magazine, and a splinter-proof latrine,t found to be necessary, on its west side. About 10 p. m. I received at the front, through Lieut. Henry M. Bragg, aide-de-camp, an order from the general commanding, "to make my arrangements for five 100-pounder Parrott rifles in the second parallel." At this time some work had been done with a view to putting these guns in position on the left. I had recommended that they be changed to the right, and expected the order. To receive them, a battery for three and one for two guns, afterward named Rosecrans and Meade, respectively, were laid out, en échelon, near the center of the second parallel, and work was commenced on them before midnight. Battery Rosecrans is distant from Fort Sumter 3,500 yards; Battery Meade, 3,475 yards. In order to accommodate the heavy transportation to these batteries, a road was located from them, which struck the beach about 160 yards in rear of the second parallel. Its construction was begun this night. Wednesday, July 29.-The destructive effect of the wind on our works greatly increases the labor of the siege. Strong parapets, built of fine sand, the only available material, are half destroyed in a week, and the trenches are correspondingly filled up; hence a force must be constantly kept on repairs. This same difficulty was experienced at the siege of Fort Pulaski. Any other than the temporary work of a siege should be covered with mud or sods; and I am not sure but it would pay to expend the great amount of labor which would be required in thus covering important siege works. Guide-boards, containing the names of parallels, batteries, &c., were erected on the right to-day. Began to-night a bomb-proof magazine, for service of all the 100 *See Note 18, p. 326. +See Note 10, p. 318. + See Note 20, pounder Parrott rifles in the second parallel, so located as to form the left epaulements of Battery Rosecrans. Great difficulty is experienced at the second parallel, which has been the case elsewhere on this coast, in making a permanent obstacle across the beach, to prevent an advance of the enemy at low water. Our wire entanglement in front of the defensive line has been carried away by the spring tides, which caused to float against it timbers which had been used by the enemy for the obstruction of Charleston Harbor. To remedy this, as well as to increase the development of the second parallel, consequently its amount of fire, I proposed to extend the line seaward below high tide, by a defensive barricade, * supported on piles. The general commanding gave his approval, and the work was begun this night, under the direction of Captain Suess, who arranged the details of the plan. He completed, at this low tide, emplacements for three Requa batteries. The pieces are in embrasure, protected by a splinter-proof parapet of timber and sand-bags. The fire of these batteries enfilades the beach perfectly. During the latter part of last night, Col. Edward W. Serrell, New York Volunteer Engineers, assistant engineer, Department of the South, by order of the general commanding, undertook to extend the obstacle in front of the second parallel seaward by means of abatis, thus to replace the lost wire entanglement. His operations drew a fire of grape and canister from the enemy, which caused the withdrawal of his fatigue party without accomplishing anything, and with the loss of Sergt. Theodore Mandeville, New York Volunteer Engineers. This, so far, is the only engineering operation attempted in advance of the first parallel which has not been under my direction. The abatis provided for this use was deposited at various points along the beach, to the rear of the second parallel, and was afterward used as a part of the obstacle in front of it. Thursday, July 30.-To-day began to put down heavy gun platforms in Batteries Rosecrans and Meade; also continued sand-bag revetting in same. This work was in charge of Sergeants [Joseph C.] Howell and [Charles H.] Dutcher, New York Volunteer Engineers. These platforms for the Parrott rifles are more easily laid than any other heavy gun platforms that have been used in this department. At night, as usual, those portions of the work which require the men to expose themselves above the crest of the parapets, such as epaulements, magazines, splinter-proof shelters, and seaward barricade, were progressed. Built a splinter-proof shelter for the headquarters of the general officer of the trenches, and used also as a telegraph office on the east side of the large magazine. Heavy firing from both sides during these twenty-four hours. Friday, July 31.-Continued the work which was in progress yesterday. The timber required for the piling and cribbing of the seaward work on the right of the second parallel has to be cut on Folly Island (there being but two trees on Morris Island), then hauled to LightHouse Inlet, rafted across, again loaded in wagons and hauled at night and at low tide nearly 3 miles to the work. I sought some plan to avoid this labor and delay. Having observed that brush caused the accumulation of sand, which was moved either by wind or water, I thought piers built of filled sand-bags, and resting on a foundation of brush, which would prevent their being undermined, would an+See Note 20, p. 381. *See Note 4, p. 308. swer to support the banquette tread of the barricade. Experiments tried this day, on the south end of Morris Island, did not warrant the application of this method in practice. Had the bags been of a closer texture, and more firmly bound together with ropes, I think they would have stood. A coating of pitch or tar would have been advantageous. Saturday, August 1.-To-day was laid the last heavy gun platform in the second parallel, making seven in all-two 8-inch Parrott rifles in Battery Brown and five 100-pounder Parrott rifles in Battery Rosecrans and Meade. All these batteries can now receive their armament, although the earthwork is not entirely finished. The engineering operations in the second parallel are out of the way of the ordnance and artillery, but the progress is very slow. One important cause of delay and of increased labor, which affects all the work on the right, is a lack of ground. This want, whether it be expressed by surface or volume, is constantly felt. For want of sufficient space, all the defensive and offensive works of the second parallel are crowded into an area of less than 9 acres, having a square development of 225 yards. Consequently, the heavy breaching guns have to fire over defensive ones, and they over each other. There is not room enough, nor earth enough, to make suitable traverses, epaulements, and bomb-proof shelters for the protection of guns, ammunition, and garrison. From lack of depth (the earth does not average over 3 feet), our trenches have to be sunk so low that they are flooded at spring tides. A very unpleasant feature connected with this lack of earth arose from the number of dead bodies found in all our advanced works on the right, particularly in the second parallel, and immediately in front of Wagner. Ten have been exhumed in one night. Handling these bodies was very disagreeable. They were generally in coffins, but many soldiers, friend and foe, were wrapped in blankets only, and others not that. At first we endeavored to re-bury the bodies in places away from the works where they would not be disturbed. But as the siege progressed, the scarcity of earth compelled a second, and, in one case, a third disinterment of the same corpse. After this experience in the second parallel, all bodies that had to be moved were buried in the parapets of the works, where they lie undisturbed. On an old map, Morris Island is called "Coffin Land." It was used, I am informed, as a quarantine burying-ground for the port of Charleston. For the protection of the artillerists serving the defensive guns in the second parallel from sharpshooters, the construction of circular rope mantlets, to be attached to the guns, was commenced to-day, at the request of Colonel Turner, chief of artillery. But little use was made of them, as these guns were seldom used by daylight. Lieutenant Wilcken, who, up to this time, has superintended the construction of splinter-proof shelters, was for this night relieved by Capt. Joseph Walker, New York Volunteer Engineers. Sunday, August 2.-Not having succeeded in fastening the hides which are used in lining the sand-bag embrasures of the defensive guns so but that the blast of the piece soon destroyed them, I to-day sent a small squad of men to obtain plates of sheet or boiler iron from the wreck of the steamer Ruby, a blockade-runner, to be used for this purpose." * *See Note 12, p. 322. This night the return in the obstacle in front of the second parallel was extended back to the left of the howitzer battery; thence along its front to the defensive barricade, from which point, with an intermediate link of abatis, the barricade continues the obstacle to low water. Began, by order of the general commanding, a breaching battery, about 130 yards in front of the second parallel, just inside the northeast salient of the obstacle; also an approach to it from the parallel. Captain Walker superintended the work. This battery was afterward abandoned, and converted into a defensive splinterproof shelter for the use of reserves of the grand guard. To-night Lieutenant Farrand, who has had the superintendence of the musketry and defensive gun arrangements of the second parallel, and of a portion of its heavy batteries, was relieved temporarily by Lieut. E. N. K. Talcott, New York Volunteer Engineers. Being convinced, from constant observation, that the enemy's sharpshooters are doing better service, and our own becoming less efficient every day, I reported the facts to the general commanding to-day, and suggested a remedy.* An 8-inch Parrott rifle was mounted in Battery Brown to-night, being the first heavy breaching gun placed in position on the right. Monday, August 3.-A 10-inch Parrott rifle has been received by the ordnance department for use in the siege, and the question of its position is under consideration. I to-day submitted to the general commanding the following memoranda, setting forth the advantages (as they appeared to me) of a position 225 yards in advance of the first parallel, and midway between the beach and the lumber-yard, over a position on the left: 1. The distance to Sumter is 550 yards (about one-seventh) less. 2. Greater isolation is obtained from the James Island fire, which has given us most annoyance. 3. Much less cost, in labor and time, is required for the transportation of guns and projectiles. 4. The position on the right gives the best fire on the channel, to be used in case our land batteries had to defend themselves from the enemy's iron-clads, in the contingency, which is now considered possible, that the navy may be driven to the open sea by a storm. On the other hand, the left position gives 10 degrees more favorable fire for breaching the gorge wall and enfilading the sea face of Sumter, and masks all of its guns which are on the southeast face. The left position does not require the gun to fire over other batteries, which the right does. I received the order from the general commanding to lay out and begin the construction of an emplacement for this 10-inch Parrott rifle, on the right, in the position above designated. This order was countermanded before the work was commenced, and the gun put in Battery Strong, on the left. Twenty-five hundred nights' work were expended in hauling the gun to its place, nine-tenths of the work being after it had left the beach. In its transportation, the wheels of the two sling-carts sank into the sand on the beach 2 inches, and on a dry sand road 12 inches.t This night began, under the superintendence of Lieutenant Wilcken, the construction of a bomb-proof surgery in the second parallel, using lumber obtained during the day from the Beacon House. Built a road to proposed Battery Kearny on left of second parallel, being a continuation of the road to Battery Meade. Lieutenant Talcott reports: "My infantry detail for this work were blacks. I found that they did at least one-fourth more than the whites who were with me on the preceding night."* Similar reports in favor of the black troops for work were frequently made. Tuesday, August 4.-To-day began the construction, at the engineer depot, of iron-plate linings for embrasures from material obtained from the wreck of the Ruby. This night commenced work on Battery Kearny, a half-sunken siege battery for three 30-pounder Parrott rifles in embrasure. The material for its bomb-proof magazine and platforms was gotten out at the lumber-yard during the day. Captain Walker superintended the work. He reports that the prisoners employed by him do not work satisfactorily; that he would much prefer to have soldiers. This was a general complaint. Prisoners cannot be depended on for night work under fire. Sometimes more than one-half the detail would escape the guard and go back to camp. Lieutenant Farrand reports that all the heavy breaching batteries and their magazines in the second parallel are completed and receiving their armament and ammunition. On the Next to the want of earth, which could not be remedied, our work on the right is delayed at this period from lack of men. 31st July, the general commanding reduced my infantry detail to about 125 effective men per day. This force, with the engineer troops, is only sufficient for repairs and to keep the work now commenced slowly progressing. Large details, I am informed, are being employed on the Marsh Battery. Wednesday, August 5.-This night we continued the obstruction westward by abatis across an arm of the marsh to Battery Kearny, thence along its front by inclined palisading, and thence by wire entanglement to the booms which cross the creek. This is the last work excepting repairs done on the obstacle in front of the second parallel. The general commanding has given me more instructions concerning it than for all other portions of the work together. I have accordingly always personally superintended its construction. The Fourth New Hampshire Volunteers have furnished all the fatigue details employed in setting the palisading and abatis. Sergeant [William W. Walters and Corporal [Martin C.] Bennett, New York Volunteer Engineers, have put in the wire entanglement. The palisadings was made in panels, at the engineer depot, chiefly from rough bridge material brought from Hilton Head. It, with all engineering material, was transported to the works in the night by means of wagons drawn by 4 horses. To-night also began to thoroughly repair and revet with sand-bags || the lines of approach between the first and second parallels. This will increase the protection afforded by their parapets, and fit them for splinter-proof shelters, which are rapidly being extended through them, and it is hoped will to some extent lessen the destructive effects of the wind, and the "rat hole" operations of the infantry guard of the trenches, who constantly occupy and destroy them. Boards, instead of sand-bags, for revetting these trenches, would cost *See Note 19, p. 328. t See Note 12, p. 322. See Note 18, p. 326. See Note 10, p. 318. See Note 21, p. 381. |