my inability to prevent it without a constant bombardment and an enormous expenditure of guns and ammunition. I can discern no guns on Sumter from my batteries, and none have been fired for the last five days, according to the reports of my lookouts. The party controlling the waters of Charleston Harbor of course control the communication to and from Fort Sumter, and can come and go when they please, if favored by darkness. Fort Sumter was thoroughly silenced on the 24th instant, and can be again. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Q. A. GILLMORE, Brigadier-General, Commanding. General-in-Chief, Washington, D. C. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, SIR: I have the honor to report that at the request of Rear-Admiral Dahlgren, I have again opened fire on Fort Sumter with such guns as I have available for that purpose. Six Parrott guns (viz, five 8-inch and one 100-pounder) and two Whitworth guns have been entirely expended. I have borrowed from the fleet for my breaching batteries, three 8-inch and three 100-pounder Parrott guns. Some of them are already in position; the others will be by to-morrow night. I am to-day operating against Sumter with one 10-inch and four 8-inch Parrott guns, and had four guns working all day yesterday. Sumter fired one gun on the 26th ultimo at my advanced trenches. She has not fired since.except occasionally a sunset gun, apparently not shotted. The arches of the casemates of the southeast face are beginning to show themselves. I inclose herewith copies of certain correspondence between RearAdmiral Dahlgren and myself, forming a part of the official record of operations here.* Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Q. A. GILLMORE, Brigadier-General, Commanding. General-in-Chief, Washington, D. C. P. S.-I must add that, in my judgment, the bombardment of Sumter, now in progress, is entirely unnecessary. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, In the Field, Folly Island, S. C., October 27, 1863. GENERAL: I have the honor to report that, on the strength of certain reports from refugees and deserters that the enemy have recently been at work remounting some guns on the northeast front * See correspondence August 21 to 31, 1863, Part II. APPEARANCE OF FORT SUMTER ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON, NOV. 10th, 1863. SEA FACE of Fort Sumter, I opened fire upon that work yesterday, with the guns from Wagner and Gregg. The firing is progressing to-day with satisfactory effect. I inclose a Charleston newspaper of the 24th instant. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Q. A. GILLMORE, Major-General, Commanding. General-in-Chief, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, In the Field, Folly Island, S. C., October 30, 1863-1 p. m. GENERAL: I have the honor to report that the operation of our breaching guns in Wagner and Gregg (Fort Strong and Fort Putnam), against the southeast face of Fort Sumter, has been as successful as I could desire. That face is now more completely a ruin than the gorge wall. Most of its arches have already tumbled in. The others are rapidly crumbling away, and the ruined terre-pleins of the channel fronts are plainly visible. No guns have been disclosed upon either of those faces, and the reports that some pieces had been remounted there are doubtless incorrect. Sumter replies with harmless musketry fire only. I shall continue the firing for at least twenty-four hours longer, and probably shall then make an assault, although I have not yet fully determined upon it. Some of the monitors have taken part in the bombardment and have done good execution. The enemy's batteries on James and Sullivan's Islands reply but slowly, and have done us no harm as yet. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Q. A. GILLMORE, Major-General, Commanding. General-in-Chief, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, In the Field, Folly Island, S. C., November 12, 1863. GENERAL: I have to report no essential change in the condition of things here since my letter of October 30. I keep up a slow fire on the ruins of Fort Sumter night and day. During the daytime, I fire mostly from mortars at low angles, in order to search the casemates on the channel front. During the night, a few light rifle guns play upon the breaches to prevent any defensive measures being taken by the enemy. Some of the monitors occasionally engage in the bombardment. The enemy do not reply, except sometimes with smallarms. Of the practicability of carrying the place by assault, I entertain but little doubt, but I have never seen any necessity for doing so, while its sole power of doing harm consists in the protection which its infantry garrison affords to the channel obstructions. I am convinced that those obstructions can be removed while Sumter is occupied by the enemy with less sacrifice of life than we would have to make to occupy and hold the place. Should anything occur to convince me that there would be any advantage in holding the place, I shall not hesitate to make the attempt. I had an interview with Rear-Admiral Dahlgren yesterday. He has recently received dispatches from the Navy Department, embracing its "views" on affairs here, but I have not yet seen the dispatches. I am acting without "instructions," and have been ever since I assumed command of this department. I do not shrink from responsibility, but I am convinced that the best interests of the service require that I should be intrusted with the views of the War Department in reference to matters here. Otherwise I might take some step involving the Government in embarrassment. I inclose a correct sketch of Fort Sumter, taken on the 10th instant.* Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Q. A. GILLMORE, Major-General, Commanding. General-in-Chief, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, In the Field, Folly Island, S. C., November 20, 1863. SIR: Nothing of special interest has transpired here since my letter of the 12th instant. I keep up a slow shell fire on the ruins of Sumter, to prevent any work being done inside. I ordered a reconnaissance of the place last night, of the nature of a simulated attack, with a view to compel the garrison to show its strength. The inclosed dispatch, just received from Brigadier-General Terry, commanding on Morris Island, gives all I yet know of the result. The Charleston papers inform us that traverses and bomb-proofs were constructed in the work during the interval between the first and second bombardments. This was while we were besieging Fort Wagner and establishing guns on Cumming's Point. I inclose a slip from the Charleston Courier, of the 11th instant, containing this statement. † The new monitors are expected here about the middle of December. I have always entertained serious doubts that we would become relatively stronger by waiting for these new vessels. For every gun they will bring into action, the enemy will have had time to establish a dozen. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Q. A. GILLMORE, Major-General, Commanding. General-in-Chief, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Folly Island, S. C., November 26, 1863. SIR: I have nothing of special importance to report. I fire but slowly at Sumter, and that simply to prevent work being done inside *See p. 603. +See inclosures to report of November 26, p. 606. while the navy are getting ready. I fire into Charleston at irregular intervals day and night. From the Charleston papers, I judge that nine-tenths of all the missiles thrown enter the city. Most of the business offices are being removed beyond range. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Q. A. GILLMORE, Major-General, Commanding. General-in-Chief, Washington, D. C. P. S.-The inclosed dispatch and newspaper slip were inadvertently omitted from my letter of the 20th. I judge that there are at least 200 men in Sumter. [Inclosure No. 1.] MORRIS ISLAND, S. C., General GILLMORE: The reconnaissance was as ordered. The boats met a heavy fire. Major Cunningham, who commanded, and Colonel Davis, who was at Gregg, estimate the fire at 200 muskets. We had 2 men wounded. I shall send a full report as soon as I can get it. A. H. TERRY, [Inclosure No. 2.] NEWSPAPER SLIP. Captain Champneys, engineer's department, who has just been relieved from duty at Fort Sumter, is a fellow-townsman, who, after a severe tour of duty at Fort Wagner, applied for duty at Sumter, and was among those fired into on the steamer Sumter, while en route from Morris Island to the fort, since which time he has been constantly at work upon the old ruins. Under his supervision, during the fifty days' interval between the first and second bombardments, the traverses and bomb-proofs have been put up, to which the garrison owes its protection during the assault on the 8th September. Captain Champneys was on the parapet, and was among the first to see the advancing boats, and, at the request of Major Elliott, took charge of an important means of defense, in an exposed position of the gorge wall. The two months constant labor at the fort has somewhat affected the health of this officer, and he has been temporarily relieved, to recuperate, under medical advice. |