S.C. Preserves Part of Fort Johnson Site-- Part 3: Before and After the War

By 1829, the Fort Johnson property had become a depot for the construction of Fort Sumter.  In 1860, engineers were scrambling to finish Fort Sumter as war clouds gathered.  On December 20, 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union.

On December 26, 1861, Major Robert Anderson of the U.S. First Artillery ordered the families and troops at Fort Moultrie to shift  from Sullivan's Island to Fort Johnson, but the schooner carrying them stopped just short of the point, anchoring in the harbor.

When S.C. Governor Francis W. Pickens, learned that the forts, except Sumter, were essentially unoccupied, he ordered them seized.  General Pierre G.T. Beauregard decided a mortar to be fired from Fort Johnson would serve as a signal  for all batteries tom open fire on Sumter.

At the time, there were two batteries at Fort Johnson, one on the beach and one on the hill.

During the war, Fort Johnson and at Union-held Battery Gregg on Morris Island often exchanged artillery fire.  On July 3, 1864, Union troops attempted an amphibious landing at Fort Johnson, but failed.

In early 1865, with General Sherman's Army marching through the state, Confederates evacuated Fort Johnson and the rest of the massive Charleston defenses on February 17.

Troops with the 54th Massachusetts, a black regiment famous for he attack on Fort Wagner in Charleston Harbor and the 52nd Pennsylvania, a white regiment, rowed form Morris Island to Fort Johnson, taking control of 26 abandoned cannons.

--Old B-Runner

Where Was This Photo Taken?-- Part 1

Did anyone guess where this place next to this entry was located?

But, here are some clues.  

**  It shows a dock leading up to a masonry brick fort with water and a city in the background on what appears to be an island perhaps.

**  The commander of the Confederates was P.G.T. Beauregard and my favorite Confederate general, W.H.C. Whiting, was also here at the battle.

**  It is in a former Confederate state (Sorry BLM).

**  Action here is regarded as the start of the Civil War.

**  There was a huge bombardment here in 1861, but no Union soldiers were killed until after the surrender, when a cannon blew up when they were firing a salute.

**  Major Robert Anderson was in charge of the Union force.

**  It was bombarded into ruins by Union ships later in the war.

You probably have the right answer by now.  

--Old B-Runner

Confederates Report the Battle

APRIL 13, 1861:  Beauregard to L.P. Walker, Confederate Secretary of War:  "Officers' quarters in Sumter burning.  Part of the roof supposed to have fallen in.  Sumter firing at long intervals.  Ours regular and effective.  Six vessels outside in signals with Sumter (referring to Fox's fleet)."

Later, a telegraph to Walker: from Rhett.

"Anderson has hauled down the United States flag on Sumter and run up a white flag.  Fort has been burning for several hours from effect of shells.  two explosions have been produced by shells.  he has ceased firing some time, and fire of all the batteries has been continuous until now-- 3 o'clock.  Aides have been sent by Beauregard to Sumter.

R.B. Rhett, Jr.

--Old B-R'er

155 Years Ago: Fort Sumter Surrenders

APRIL 13TH, 1861:  Fort Sumter surrendered by Major Robert Anderson.  Trrops were evacuated the next day by Fox's expedition.  (How handy they were on the scene.)

**  USS Sabine, Captain Adams, blockade Pensacola harbor.

**  Lieutenant Worden was seized near Mobile, Alabama, and placed in prison, but his Pensacola mission had been accomplished.

The War Is On!  --Old B-Runner

Beauregard's April 11th Ultimatum to Anderson About Fort Sumter's Evacuation

I was able to find the letter written from Beauregard to Anderson regarding the fort's immediate evacuation.

APRIL 11TH, 1861:  Gen. Beauregard wrote to Major Anderson that his government had been patiently awaiting word from the U.S. government that the fort would be evacuated, but it hadn't come:  "But the Confederate States can no longer delay assuming actual possession of a fortification commanding the entrance to one of our harbors, and necessary to its defense and security.

"I am ordered by the Government of the Confederate States to demand the evacuation of Fort Sumter."

Beauregard was sending his aides Col. James Chesnut and Capt. Stephen D. Lee to formally make the demand.  They will assist in the removal of yourself and command with arms and property and all private property to any post in the U.S. you want.  Furthermore, Anderson would be allowed to salute the flag when taking it down.

The Refusal of This Demand Was the Final Straw, Especially With the Arrival of the Harriet Lane Later That Day.  The Expected Reinforcements Were Arriving.  --Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: The War Is On!!-- Part 1

All of these are coming from "The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Vol. 1."

APRIL 12TH, 1861:

CSA Secretary of War L.P. Walker to Beauregard:  "What was Major Anderson's reply to the proposition contained in my dispatch of last night?"

Gen. Beauregard, Charleston, S.C. to L.P. Walker:  "He would not consent.  I write to-day."

HEADQUARTERS PROVISIONAL FORCES,  Charleston, S.C., April 12, 1861.

Hon. L.P. Walker, Secretary of War:

"SIR:  I have the honor to transmit the inclosed copy of a correspondence with Major Anderson, in consequence of which our fire was opened upon Fort Sumter at 4:30 o'clock this morning, as already communicated to you by telegraph.

"The pilots reported to me last evening that a steamer, supposed to be the Harriet Lane, had appeared off the harbor."

G.T. BEAUREGARD, Brigadier-General Commanding.

So, It's War, Then.  --Old B-R'er

155 Years Ago: Anderson's Reply to Beauregard's Demand for Surrender

G.T. Beauregard to Confederate Secretary of War L.P.  Walker, April 11, 1861.

"Major Anderson replies" 'I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication demanding the evacuation of this fort, and to say in reply thereto that it is a demand with which I regret that my sense of honor and of my obligations to my Government prevent my compliance.'

"He says verbally"  'I will await the first shot, and if you do not batter us to pieces we will be starved out in a few days.'

"Answer."

In Other Words, "NUTS!!"  But In an Oh So Polite Way.  --Old B-Runner

Walker replied to him not to "needlessly... bombard Fort Sumter" if Anderson says he will have to leave because of being starved out.

155 Years Ago: Union Major Robert Anderson Refuses to Evacuate Fort Sumter

APRIL 11TH, 1861:  General Beauregard's demand for the evacuation of Fort Sumter is refused by Major Robert Anderson.  The die is cast.

**  Commander James Alden was ordered to report to Captain McCauley to take command of the Merrimack.  The following day Chief Engineer Benjamin Isherwood was sent to Norfolk to put the ship's engines in working order as soon as possible.

**  U.S. steamship Coatzacoalcos arrived in New York, returning Union troops from Texas.

--Old B-Runner

155 Years Ago: Confederates Strengthening Fortifications Around Sumter

APRIL 10TH, 1861:  Robert Anderson to Col. L. Thomas, Adjutant General, U.S. Army.

Reported about the cessation of mail and that their last mail bag had been returned from Fort Johnson.

The South Carolinians had been hard at work strengthening fortifications and "that the parapets and traverses have been both heightened and strengthened.

"Last the night the guard-boats, of which we saw eight on duty, were very diligent guarding all the channels, and we see signal vessels very far out beyond the bar. The garrisons of Castle Pinckney and Fort Johnson, and the batteries on Morris Island, have been strengthened yesterday and this morning."

A fourth gun has been mounted in a new battery on Sullivan's Island which can stop any boat landing on the left side of the fort and can drive the Sumter garrison from the guns en barbette.  "All we can do after that will be to use the guns of the lower tier."

Anderson and his men are doing all they can to prepare for an attack.

--Old B-R'er

155 Years Ago: Beauregard Cuts Off Mail To and From Fort Sumter

APRIL 8TH, 1861:  G.T. Beauregard to Major Robert Anderson:

"Sir, I have the honor to inform you that from and after this day no mails will be allowed to go to or come from Fort Sumter until further instructions from the Confederate Government at Montgomery."

APRIL 9TH, 1861:  Robert Anderson to G.T. Beauregard:

"He had received the notice of the 8th about the cessation of mail to and from Fort Sumter.  he "respectively request that you would be pleased to have the mail or mails which were forwarded prior to the receipt of your notification returned to this post.

"Confidently hoping that you will comply with the request."

--Old B-Runner

Beauregard Notifies That There Will Be No Further Communications for Supply of Fort Sumter

APRIL 7TH, 1861:  G.T. Beauregard, Brigadier-General, Commanding, wrote Major Robert Anderson:  "In compliance with orders from the Confederate Government in Montgomery, I have the honor to inform you that, in consequence of the delays and apparent vacillations of the United States Government at Washington relative to the evacuation of Fort Sumter, no further communications for the purposes of supply with this city from the fort and with the fort from this city will be permitted from and after this day.

"The mails, however, will continue to be transmitted as heretofore, until further instructions from the Confederate Government."

I'm taking this to mean Fort Sumter will receive no further supply from Charleston, but mails will continue.

--Old B-R'er

Major Anderson Reports the Firing on the U.S.Schooner Rhoda H. Shannon on April 3, 1861

APRIL 4TH, 1861:  Report to Col. L. Thomas, Adj. Gen. U.S. Army.

Reporting "circumstances attending a firing, yesterday afternoon by the batteries on Morris Island at a schooner bearing our flag, bound from Boston to Savannah, which erroneously mistaking the light-house off this harbor for that of Tybee, and having failed to get a pilot, was entering the harbor"

"When the firing commenced some of my heaviest guns were concealed from their view by planking, and by the time the battery was ready the firing had ceased."

He decided not to fire back at the Confederate batteries "to resent this insult thus offered to the flag of my beloved country."

Major Anderson further wants all U.S. merchant vessels to be made aware of the situtaion in Charleston harbor.  Further, he believed the Confederate authorities were "certainly blamable for not having constantly vessels off to communicate instructions to those seeking entrance to this harbor."

--Old B-Runner

The Secretary of War Tells Major Anderson An Attempt to Provision and Reinforce Fort Sumter Will Be Made

From the War Department, April 4, 1861.

"SIR:  Your letter of the 1st instant occasions some anxiety to the President.

"On the information of Captain Fox he had supposed you could hold out till the 15th instant without any great inconvenience; and had prepared an expedition to relieve you before that period.

"Hoping still that you will be able to sustain yourself till the 11th or 12th instant, the expedition will go forward; and, finding your flag flying, will attempt to provision you, and, in case the  effort is resisted, will endeavor also to re-enforce you.

"You will therefore hold out, if possible, till the arrival of the expedition."

Secretary of War Simon Cameron went on to say that the President expected Anderson to do his duty to the best of his ability, but, "in your judgement, to save yourself and command, a capitulation becomes a necessity, you are authorized to make it."

Getting tense Out There in Charleston Harbor.  --  Old B-R'er

Dec. 27 and 28, 1860: The Army Hasn't Heard From Anderson and Scott Is Ill

As South Carolina seceded, things were looking bleak for the Union's forts in that state as well as elsewhere.

Making matters worse, the head U.S. Army commander, Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott  was in ill health.

  Lt.Col. G.W. Lay, delivered a message to the President of the U.S. about 3:30 p.m. on December 27, 1860, saying that no orders had been sent to Major Anderson at Fort Moultrie, nor had they received any reports from him.

The next day Col. Lay delivered another message to the secretary of War saying:

"Lieutenant-General Scott, who has had a bad night, and can scarcely hold his head up this morning."

--Old B-Runner

Newport, Rhode Island's Fort Adams-- Part 5: Site of Newport Folk Festival

In 1953, the Army transferred Fort Adams to the Navy and in 1965, the fort and surrounding land was given to the state of Rhode island.  President Dwight Eisenhower laved at the former commandants' house (now called the Eisenhower House) during his summer vacations while in office in 1958 and 1960.

Since 1981, the grounds have been the site and host to the Newport Jazz Festival and Newport Folk Festival.

Notable Persons Associated with Fort Adams:

Robert Anderson, commander of Fort Sumter

John G. Bernard--  Civil War general and Superintendent of West Point

Alexander Dallas Bache--  Army Engineer and Superintendent of West Point.  Erected coastal fortifications and led survey of the U.S. coast.

--Old B-Runner

U.S. Flag Raised Over Fort Sumter

APRIL 14TH, 1865: In accordance with a previous directive of President Lincoln, Major General Anderson, commander of the Union forces at Fort Sumter on 14 April 1861, raised above the Sumter ruins "the same United States flag which floated over the battlements of the fort during the rebel assault, and which was lowered and saluted by him and the small force of his command when the works were evacuated on the 14th of April, 1861."

The USS Pawnee had witnessed that event four years before, and was now with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and participated in the ceremony.

--Old B-Runner