No. 21.
Reports of Capt. G. B. Cuthbert, Palmetto
Guard, South Carolina Infantry.
PALMETTO GUARD ENCAMPMENT,
Morris Island, April 17, 1861.
DEAR SIR: In the
report which I now make I propose to give an account of the most prominent
incidents connected with the batteries manned by the Palmetto Guard, and which
transpired during the engagement which took place on the 12th and 13th instant.
I will also take occasion to mention the names of those who particularly
distinguished themselves by their courage and efficiency. In conclusion I shall
render you a statement of the number of shells and solid shot fired from the
above-mentioned batteries.
The mortar battery
at Cummings Point opened fire on Fort Sumter in its turn, after the signal
shell from Fort Johnson, having been preceded by the mortar batteries on
Sullivan's Island and the mortar battery of the Marion Artillery.
At the dawn of day
the Iron battery commenced its work of demolition. The first shell from
columbiad No. 1, fired by the venerable Edmund Ruffin, of Virginia, burst
directly upon the parapet of the southwest angle of the fort. After the first
round the Iron battery continued firing at regular intervals of fifteen
minutes, in accordance with the orders of General Beauregard. The mortar
battery continued during the day in the order prescribed.
At 7 o'clock a.m.
Major Anderson fired his first shot. This was directed at the Iron battery. The
ball passed a few feet above the upper bolts of the shed. The enemy continued
firing at too great an elevation until the sixth shot, which fell harmlessly
upon the upper portion of the shed, between the embrasures No. 2 and No. 3. At
9 o'clock a.m. columbiad No 1 became disabled by the recoil of the piece, which
broke the bolts connecting the chains with the epaulement. This damage was
repaired, however, after the expiration of an hour. At 10 o'clock a.m.
columbiad No. 2, being aimed at the 10-inch columbiad bearing upon the Iron
battery from the parapet of the southwest angle, was fired with such precision
as to dismount the grim monster. A few minutes afterwards the window of
columbiad No. 2 was struck near the center by a 42-pounder shot, which shattered
the bolts and scattered the fragments between the cannoneers. The proper
working of this window, however, was not interfered with by this occurrence,
but in a half hour after this columbiad recoiled with such violence as to break
the lever-bar by which the window was lifted. This casualty prevented the use
of this gun until the following morning, several engineers being engaged for
the purpose of repairing it. After the second shot from the same piece on the
following morning the bar became fractured again in the same place, and, until
the surrender, columbiad No. 2 was fought with its shutter opened permanently.
The fire of the Iron battery was directed during the first day at the guns in
barbette and those in the casemates. Major Anderson directed his fire for four
consecutive hours from 7 to 11 o'clock a.m., at the Iron battery, striking it
seven times. He then pointed his guns at the mortar battery of Cummings Point,
and making no impression upon the unbroken wall of sand he turned his attention
to the 42-pounders, thrusting at successive intervals their muzzles along the
sides of their palmetto embrasures. At 4 o'clock p.m. the gunners at Fort
Sumter ceased firing towards Morris Island, the batteries pointing in that
direction being completely silenced. The rifled cannon did great execution, two
of its balls passing entirely through the walls of Fort Sumter.
On the morning of
the 13th we attempted to breach with our columbiads by concentrating our fire
upon a point to the right of the sally-port, intending thus to effect another
object at the same time, viz., by the ricochet of the ball to beat away the
traverse of granite, which had been built up for the purpose of protecting the
doorway from an enfilading fire. We had fired but a few shots when a shell from
the mortar battery at Cummings Point fell upon the northwestern portion of the
roof of the fort. After the lapse of some minutes we perceived the smoke
issuing from that quarter. Soon flames burst upward. From that moment until the
flagstaff was shot down seven-second shells were fired rapidly from the Iron
battery, aimed in such a manner as to scatter the flame and to increase the
fury of the conflagration. I refer you, dear sir, to the marks of shot and
shell upon the outer and interior walls of the fort to enable you to form an
adequate idea of the accuracy with which the columbiads, the mortars, the
rifled cannon, and the 42-pounders of the Cummings Point batteries were aimed
and fired.
The posts of the
officers of the Palmetto Guard were as' follows: Captain Cuthbert commanded and
directed the fire of the Iron battery; First Lieutenant Holmes, assisted by
Lieutenant Armstrong, of the Citadel Academy, commanded the mortar battery;
Second Lieutenant Brownfield commanded and directed the fire of the
42-pounders; Captain Thomas, of the Citadel Academy, with a squad of the
Palmetto Guard, had charge of the rifled cannon; to Major Stevens was assigned
the post of superintending the working of all these batteries, and he was so
recognized; Lieutenant Buist acted as gunner to No. 3 columbiad during the
greater part of the engagement, aiming many of his shots very accurately.
Lieutenants Holmes,
Brownfield, and Buist behaved throughout the conflict with distinguished
courage and gallantry. Major Stevens, Captain Thomas, and Lieutenant Armstrong,
by their coolness, bravery, and skill, gave the highest evidence of their long
military training. Lieutenant Brownfield's 42-pounders were fired with great
precision, and to his industry and pride in his battery is attributable the
fine working condition of his guns. To Mr. Phillips and Mr. Campbell much
praise is due for their untiring devotion to their particular department of the
magazine stores. In the Iron battery, Orderly Sergeant Bissell aimed many a
capital shot at the casemates, and the two Sergeants Webb at the parapet.
Bissell crippled the gun of the left casemate, bearing directly upon the Iron
battery, and Serg. L. S. Webb dismounted the 10-inch columbiad upon the
parapet. Second Sergeant Bissell and Mr. Farelly also made some good shots. At
the 42-pounders Sergeant Brownfield, Corporals Rhett, Wright, and Dwyer
distinguished themselves as gunners. At the mortar battery Sergeant Gaillard,
Corporals Robinson, Zalam, Brailijon, and Rhett did good service as gunners.
Capt. Stephen Elliott, of the Beaufort Artillery, was present during the action
on the 12th instant, and aimed several good shots.
On the same day when
columbiad No. 2 was silenced in consequence of the serious accident referred to
above, to repair the damage it became necessary to send forthwith to Charleston
to procure the proper materials and implements. Privates Trouche, Craskeys, and
Alrains volunteered to go in an open boat, under heavy fire from Fort Sumter
and Fort Johnson. They went, and succeeded in accomplishing their errand. A
sand bag on the first day of the engagement seriously interfered with the
working of the window of columbiad No. 1. Private Allison volunteered to
extricate the troublesome impediment. While engaged in the performance of this
important service a ball from one of the casemates of Fort Sumter passed
directly over him, striking the iron shed. He removed the bag and returned to
his post.
The sang-froid of
Mr. Lining, the judge-advocate of the Seventeenth Regiment, who served as a
private during the engagement, has already received ample commendation in the
public prints. I can vouch for the truth of the incident, having been an eye
witness. (Please incorporate the report of the Courier in relation to the circumstance.)
The appointment of
the Palmetto Guard to the occupation of Fort Sumter for one night was the
highest compliment ever bestowed upon any volunteer corps in the history of our
State, and that event will always be held by them in grateful remembrance. Upon
reaching the stronghold, however, their labors were not yet finished. I wish to
take no laurels from the brows of the members of the fire-engine companies of
Charleston, but truth requires that I should state that, from the moment of
their being disbanded within the walls of the fort, the Palmetto Guard worked
incessantly at the engines until after midnight.
A proper respect for
the memory of the dead, as well as the desire to put on record a noble act,
induces me recount the following fact: Immediately before the departure of the
Palmetto Guard for Fort Sumter, Sergeant Webb, Corporal Robinson, and Private
Mackay placed a neat and appropriate head-piece over the grave of the
unfortunate Howe, the first victim of the sad explosion which took place while
Major Anderson was engaged in saluting his flag. The performance of this sacred
duty did credit to their generous hearts, and proved that Carolina chivalry
exists only in combination with a spirit of reverence and magnanimity. I am
proud of the opportunity of stating that all of the members of the company
conducted themselves nobly and bravely in the fight. Nor will those whose names
have not been mentioned in this report object to the particular honorable
notice of their gallant comrades.
Statement of ammunition
expended upon Fort Sumter from the Iron battery: Shell, 60; solid shot, 183.
Ammunition expended
from the other batteries of Cummings Point: Mortars, 197 shell; 42-pounders,
333 solid-shot, 3 grape-shot; rifled cannon, 11 shot, 19 shell.
With increased
admiration for your own individual courage and efficiency on these two eventful
days, I remain, dear sir, your obedient servant,
G. B. CUTHBERT,
Captain Palmetto Guard.
W. G. DE SAUSSURE,
Colonel,
Commanding Battalion of Artillery.
_______________
PALMETTO GUARD ENCAMPMENT,
Morris Island, April 20, 1861.
DEAR SIR: I write to
make an addition to the report which you received yesterday. Please incorporate
the following:
Private Gourdin
Young volunteered to accompany Colonel Wigfall in a small boat when the latter
gentleman was instructed to proceed to Fort Sumter on the fall of the United
States flag, for the purpose of inquiring into the cause of that circumstance
and to propose a surrender of the fortification. During the passage from Morris
Island, amid an incessant fire of shell and grape, he displayed that coolness
and determination characteristic of a true South Carolinian. Upon his return he
was borne upon the shoulders of his fellow-comrades to the Iron battery.
With great respect, I remain yours, very
truly,
G. B. CUTHBERT.
Col. W. G. DE
SAUSSURE.
SOURCES: The
War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate
Armies, Series I, Volume 1 (Serial No. 1), p. 54-7; This report is quoted
in Samuel Wylie Crawford’s The Genesis of the Civil War: The Story of
Sumter, 1860-1861, p. 430.
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