No. 20.
Report of Lieut. Jacob Valentine, commanding
enfilading battery.
DEAR SIR: According to General Orders No. 20 I send a report
of the firing from and against the enfilade battery and the conduct of the
officers and men under my command. Number of shots fired from battery, 611. The
object of our firing was to sweep the crest of the parapet, the roofs of the
quarters within Fort Sumter, to dismount the barbette guns, if practicable, and
to drive the enemy from the parapet. The latter object was accomplished. At
this distance it is impossible to discern accurately the result of the firing.
The firing from Fort Sumter against our battery was heavy, but, I am happy to
say, ineffectual, and resulted in neither injury to the battery or to the men.
I take great pleasure in bringing to your notice Lieut. B.
S. Burner, who, from the commencement to the last, was steady at his post,
giving all necessary orders, and by his example gave double courage to the men
under my command. I would also mention First Sergeant P. Cummings, Fourth
Corporal G. Kay; also Privates Tracy, Stewart, Grant, Rawlins, Wheelis, Keen,
Cody, Dwyer, and, indeed, the whole company, with but few exceptions, performed
their duty to my entire satisfaction.
I cannot close my report without favorable mention of a
volunteer (Charles Farelly), who in the working of the guns rendered us
material service.
I am, colonel, your
very obedient servant,
JACOB VALENTINE,
Lieutenant,
Commanding Enfilade Battery.
Col. R. S. RIPLEY.
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. 53-4; This report is quoted in Samuel Wylie Crawford’s The
Genesis of the Civil War: The Story of Sumter, 1860-1861, p. 429.
