sullivan's Island, S. C, December 22, 1860.
Col. R E. De Russy,
Commanding Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, Washington D.C.:
Colonel: I
feel it my duty to inform you that on the last two nights steamers from town
have remained in the close vicinity of Fort Sumter, apparently with the object
of maintaining guard over the fort. On the first night, that of the 20th, only
one came. She approached from the direction of town, as though running for the
wharf, and her movements attracting the attention of the watchman, he awoke
Lieutenant Snyder, who, when he went upon the ramparts, found her close under
the west flank, apparently sounding. She afterwards moved off to a second
position about six hundred yards from the fort, and remained during the night.
She showed no lights. On the same night this or another steamer reconnoitred
and remained around Castle Pinckney for some time, and when hailed by the
night-watch on the Castle as to what she wanted, some one replied, “You will
know in a week.” Last night two steamers kept watch around Fort Sumter.
These steamers are the small harbor or coast steamers, and
one of them was named the Nina. Judging it best not to incur any risk of
an unpleasant occurrence, I have not taken any steps to ascertain the object of
this surveillance, nor of those in command of the steamers. The recent orders
emanating from the War Department have given me the assurance that every cause
that might irritate these people must be avoided. However mortifying it may be
to know that there are no means for defense in Fort Sumter, and that the
military men of the city have their eyes fixed upon it as the prize to obtain,
I feel bound to carry out this idea in my every act.
I do not even feel authorized to vary my present plan of
operations, either by a reduction or an increase of force, although my expenses
are very heavy, and my present liabilities barely covered by my requisitions
just made. Whenever the Department desires that I may make a change of
operations, I beg that it may soon be communicated to me.
At Fort Moultrie I am still exerting myself to the utmost to
make it so defensible as to discourage any attempts to take it . The wet ditch
is now completed. The whole of the east front is now raised by solid merlons,
two barrels high, and in three positions to a greater height, to serve for
cavaliers. The guns are provided with good siege-battery embrasures, faced with
green hides, and two of them 8-inch howitzers, one in addition furnished with
musket-proof shutters working on an axis, elevated over the throat of the
embrasure by supports on each side, and manœuvred by double bars extending back over the gun.
A field howitzer has been put in position on the parapet at
the northeast salient by means of a palmetto stockade, so as to sweep the
vicinity of that angle better than it was before. Traverses to intercept shot
from the sand-hills have been placed on the parapet and upon the terrepleins.
The bridge connecting the barracks and guard-house is
completed, the doors arranged with fastenings, doors cut through the partition
walls of the barracks, trap-doors cut in the floors, and ladders made. The
howitzers in the finished caponiere are put in good working order. The second
caponiere was commenced yesterday morning, with a full force of masons, and by
to-night was over six feet in height, with both embrasures completed. Major
Anderson wanted me to adopt some more temporary construction, but I showed him that
this would be far more valuable in the defense, and having the materials and
masons ready, I could construct it just as quickly and cheaply. On Monday I
shall erect a lookout tower, or sharpshooter stand, on top of the guard-house,
at Major Anderson's request. I have stopped for the present the work upon the
glacis in front of the sea front, and put all my force upon the above works.
The glacis has, however, assumed fine proportions, and is in fact nearly
completed. One-half of the interior slope is well sodded, and half of the
glacis slope covered with muck six inches thick.
It will take very little work to complete the whole of it,
as soon as the present pressing work is finished.
Very truly yours,
J. G. Foster,
Captain Engineers
[Endorsement No. I.]
Engineer Department, December 24, 1860.
Respectfully submitted to the honorable Secretary of War for
his information, and with the earnest request that the instructions solicited
by Captain Foster may be promptly given.
H. G. Wright,
Captain of
Engineers, in charge.
[Endorsement No. 2.]
Engineer Department, December 26, 1860.
Respectfully referred to the honorable Secretary of War, and
his attention urgently called to the within report as one of great importance.
H. G. Wright,
Captain of
Engineers, in charge.
[Endorsement No. 3.]
engineer Office, December 26, i860.
Have just seen the Secretary of War, and read to him the
within letter. His only remarks in regard to it were that it was very
satisfactory, and that he hoped, or thought, I don't distinctly remember which,
that we should get over these troubles without bloodshed. He further said he
did not wish to retain the letter —this in answer to my question.
H. G. W.
SOURCE: Samuel Wylie Crawford, The Genesis of the
Civil War: The Story of Sumter, 1860-1861, p. 97-9
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