am happy to learn that you are still willing to retain the command of the torpedo ram, for I know no one to whose skill and experience I would sooner trust the boat on so bold and gallant an undertaking. I feel convinced that another trial under more favorable circum. stances will surely meet with success, notwithstanding the known defects of the vessel. Respectfully, your obedient servant, Capt. JAMES CARLIN, G. T. BEAUREGARD, Commanding Torpedo Ram, Charleston, S. C. AUGUST 21-DECEMBER 31, 1863.-Bombardment of Charleston, S. C. REPORTS.* No. 1.-Maj. Henry Bryan, Assistant Inspector-General, C. S. Army. No. 1. Report of Maj. Henry Bryan, Assistant Inspector-General, C. S. Army. CHARLESTON, January 6, 1864. COLONEL: In compliance with inclosed order, I have the honor to make the following report on the bombardment of Charleston by the Abolition army up to this date: The general result has been the injury of a large number of dwellings and stores, and many banks, public halls, churches, &c., by the percussion and explosion of the shells thrown; the burning of six buildings and a cotton press December 25, 1863, by a fire originating from the explosion of a shell, and the destruction of some medical stores, August 21, 1863, by a shell bursting in the medical purveyor's office and setting fire to it. It has further caused considerable social distress by obliging thousands of persons in the lower part of the city, in order to avoid danger, to leave their homes and close their hotels, and seek refuge in the upper portion of the city or in the interior of the State. This will expose valuable property to theft, and to injury from the elements. The effect upon military operations here has been comparatively unimportant, and has occasioned no loss of matériel, excepting the medical stores, worth about $1,500. As a matter of prudence, all military headquarters, offices, and hospitals have been moved out of range to the upper portions of the city, the signal corps remaining at its post, which is out of the line of fire. As equally good buildings have been found in the upper part of the city for these offices, hospitals, &c., their removal cannot be considered an injury to the army. The movements of harbor transportation have been much inconvenienced, but not practically impeded by this bombardment. The casualties have been remarkably few, and fallen almost entirely upon the civilians who clung to their homes. The whole result *See also reports of Gillmore and Beauregard, pp. 3, 55, and Gillmore to Halleck, August 24, in "Correspondence, etc.," Part II, p. 57. has so far been utterly inadequate to the labors and boasts of the besieging forces. That they should attempt to intimidate the people of Charleston into a surrender of their city is not to be wondered at; but having plainly seen that the destruction of property did not shake their determination, it is difficult to imagine what usage of civilization would justify them in continuing it. Damage to property. This will be large, owing to the impracticability of repairs and consequent action of the elements on buildings laid open to it. The immediate damage from the shells cannot be considered large in proportion to the area within the enemy's range. From Saint Michael's steeple, which commands a full view, there is but a small appearance of destruction visible. By a rough inspection of the city yesterday with an intelligent local editor, who had already been taking accounts of the effects of the shelling, I learned that 126 buildings (including kitchens) had been struck by shells, about 85 being much injured and 41 only slightly. I presume that three-fourths of the houses struck can be repaired without pulling down any main wall; but a portion have rafters, joists, or corners very badly shattered the South Carolina Hall (near Saint Michael's Church), for instance, having been struck three times through the roof. Damage to life.-Five deaths have resulted from the bombardment, viz, Mrs. Hawthorne, No. 70 Church street, wounded by shell in right side, and died six weeks after; Miss Plane, corner Meeting and Market, left foot crushed by shell, and died in six days; Mr. William Knighton, corner Meeting and Market, right leg taken off, and died in four days; Mr. John Doscher, of German Fire Company, wounded at fire of December 25, and since died; Rebecca, slave of Mr. Lindsay, No. 5 Beaufain street, killed instantly by shell. At the fire of December 25, there were 1 fireman, 1 policeman, and 4 soldiers slightly wounded.* Number of shots.-The number fired at the city from August 21, 1863, to January 5, 1864, as noted by the observer in Saint Michael's, is 472. Of these, 27 were thrown on August 21, 22, and 24, and 3 on October 27. The regular bombardment may be said to have begun on November 17, from which date to January 5, 1864, 442 are reported. Out of the 472 shells thrown at the city, 28 are reported to have fallen short, making about 444 which struck in the city; but in my inspection and inquiry, I could only learn of some 225, viz: Shells striking houses Shells striking yards Shells striking in the streets and on the edge of burned district. Total.... 145 19 61 225 There were certainly a considerable number which had struck in the burned district, and probably in deserted yards, of which I could get no account. I hand with this a map of Charleston (drawn by that skillful artist, Lieutenant [George E.] Walker, C. S. Engineers), in which I have designated roughly by specks of red paint the locality where each shell fell, the extreme points where shells struck being connected by straight red-ink lines. Average number of shots per day.-During the three shellings in August (21st to 24th), four days, about 7 per day. None in September. In October only 3 shells were thrown, all in one day. From *See Journal of Operations in Charleston Harbor. + Not found. November 17, 1863, to January 5, 1864, fifty days, about 9 shells per day. Proportion of shells which burst.—The records of this are very imperfect, and the general opinion seems to be that only one-third of the shells thrown at the city have burst. The observer's records for December are 316 shells thrown, of which 20 fell short. Of these, 123 are reported as not exploded, equal to about 39 per cent. of the number thrown, or 42 per cent. of the number which struck the city. On January 2, 1864, 12 shells were thrown, of which one-half failed to explode. What part of the city most frequently struck.—I have indicated this on the accompanying map* by a dotted red-ink line. It is nearly bounded north by Market street from East Bay to Meeting, down Meeting to Horlbeck's alley, and along Horlbeck's alley to King street; west by King street from Horlbeck's alley to Tradd street; south by Tradd street from corner of King to Church street; down Church street to Longitude lane, and along that lane to East Bay, and east by East Bay street. Mr. [T. S.] Hale, the observer at Saint Michael's, reports that "the enemy's principal line of fire upon the city has been Saint Michael's Church steeple, radiating to the northeastward as far as Saint Philip's Church," and generally limited westwardly in its range to Archdale street. "Since January 1 the enemy appears to have made Saint Philip's Church steeple their line of fire, hence the shells striking higher up in the city." On the map accompanying, the wards are marked in separate colors, and the district burned in 1861 by a dark-brown tint. The shells first thrown at the city were 200-pounder Parrotts, but afterward the 100-pounder Parrotts. People are occasionally found living in the lower part of the city apparently indifferent to the danger of the enemy's fire. I think there are a good many west of Meeting street. The Blakely gun battery appears to be the only one in the line of fire. Respectfully submitted. Lieut. Col. A. ROMAN, HENRY BRYAN, Major, and Assistant Inspector-General. Assist. Insp. Gen., Dept. of S. C., Ga., and Fla. No. 2. Reports of Col. Alfred Rhett, First South Carolina Artillery. HDQRS. 5TH MIL. DIST., DEPT. OF S. C., GA., AND FLA., GENERAL: I have the honor to make the following report: On the morning of the 25th instant [ultimo], at 12.30 a. m., the enemy commenced to shell the city, firing briskly. This shelling continued up to 1 p. m. of the same date, the enemy having fired 150 shells, 134 of which struck in the city and 16 fell short. About 1.10 a. m. a fire, supposed to be occasioned by the enemy's shells, broke out in a building on the north side of Broad street, near *Not found. Church street. This house, together with the one adjoining, were consumed. The sparks ignited the house at south corner of Church street and Saint Michael's alley. This house, three adjoining, and the cotton press in Church street were consumed. The sparks also ignited a house in Tradd street, which fire was soon suppressed. The regular members of the fire department were rather tardy in their attendance, owing to some mistake in ringing the bell, but on their appearance rendered good service. I immediately ordered out 200 men, First Regiment State Troops, who afterward appeared accompanied by Col. T. B. Roberts. The fire still gaining ground, a detachment from Company A, Lucas' battalion, Captain [E. B.] Colhoun, and Company D, First Regiment South Carolina Artillery, Capt. McMillan King, were ordered out. These men promptly appeared and rendered material aid in supressing the fire. The correct range was gained by one gun of the enemy, which threw several shells in proximity to the engines and the fire. I beg leave to call your attention to the coolness displayed by the men working the Etna and Marion fire-engines, especially those on the former. A shell burst very near the engine, but the men continued working and rendered good service. Casualties occasioned by the enemy's shells: Mr. Knighton, a man eighty-three years old, right leg shot off below the knee by a shell; Miss Plane, wounded on foot by shell, both residing in house at the corner Meeting and Market streets; Jerry Murray, a member of Charleston Fire Engine Company, wounded in leg by a brick; Sergt. H. P. McClemons, Company H, First State Troops, contusion on left arm by a fragment of stone; Thomas R. Brown, private, Company H, First Regiment State Troops, painfully wounded on right hip and on neck by a fragment of stone; E. Ballinger, private, Company H, First Regiment State Troops, arm and thigh flesh wound; W. Meadows, Company H, First Regiment State Troops, contusion, thigh. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. THOMAS JORDAN, Colonel, Commanding. Chief of Staff. [Indorsements.] JANUARY 2, 1864. If the men referred to by Colonel Rhett belong to the service, have the act mentioned in orders. G. T. BEAUREGARD, It seems that, from the letter of Colonel Rhett, the men who worked the engine Etna were firemen. Does the general desire these to be mentioned in orders? JNO. M. OTEY, Assistant Adjutant-General. No; but request Colonel Rhett to address a note on the subject to the mayor of the city. G. T. BEAUREGARD, General, Commanding HDQRS. 5TH MIL. DIST., DEPT. OF S. C., Ga., and Fla., [March 4, 1864.] GENERAL: I have the honor to report herewith the total number of shots fired at this city since November 16. Some few (say 30) were fired previous to this date. I here take occasion to call to your attention the conduct of the fire department since the commencement of the siege. Since November 16, fires have frequently (almost daily) occurred, and the promptitude and the alacrity with which the fire department has responded cannot be too much praised. The enemy has always shelled rapidly whenever a fire has occurred; but this has not deterred the firemen from the discharge of their duties. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. THOMAS JORDAN. ALFRED RHETT, Colonel, Commanding. [Inclosure.] Report of the number of shots fired at the city from the enemy's batteries on Morris Island up to date. |