Pictorial history of the war for the Union, volume 2 (of 2) : $b A complete and reliable history of the war from its commencement to its close ... together with a complete chronological analysis of the warStephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia)
History
Pictorial history of the war for the Union, volume 2 (of 2) : $b A complete and reliable history of the war from its commencement to its close ... together with a complete chronological analysis of the war
Stephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
M., a demand for the surrender
of Fort Sumter was sent to General Beauregard, with a threat that, if
the demand was not complied with, the city of Charleston should be
shelled within four hours. The demand was refused, although the fort was
a ruin; and the paper containing the demand was returned at seven
o’clock on the morning of the 22d to General Gilmore. The flag of truce
which had been hoisted during the sending of and return of the demand,
was now lowered, and the firing recommenced in all its fury, passing
from end to end of the Union line, and continuing with unabated
fierceness for the remainder of the day. General Gilmore, (after
allowing time for the removal of the women and children,) gave orders to
Lieutenant Sellmer, commanding the “Swamp Angel,” to open with his heavy
rifled gun upon the city of Charleston; and accordingly, fifteen shells
(of Birney’s invention), were thrown across the James Island batteries
into the town. The arrival of these projectiles caused the utmost terror
and dismay to the inhabitants, who rushed blindly to and fro in
indescribable confusion, while the light of burning buildings and the
ringing of alarm bells, gave proof to the Unionists of the consternation
caused by the unexpected arrival of the messengers from the “Swamp
Angel.”
Fort Wagner now gathered up her whole strength to throw against the
Union forces, and her firing, directed exclusively against the right,
became really terrific. The Ironsides and two other monitors came up,
and for four hours poured a torrent of shells into the Confederate fort,
which finally silenced her.
Another flag of truce was hoisted during the day to receive a message
from General Beauregard, which turned out to be an indignant protest
against what he was pleased to call General Gilmore’s “unchristian and
uncivilized mode of warfare” in shelling the city of Charleston. The
dispatches were instantly replied to, and in a manner not calculated to
quiet Beauregard’s indignation. Again there was a suspension of
hostilities while the message was being carried, but the firing
recommenced as soon as the dispatch had been delivered.
During the night only a few shots were exchanged by the combatants; and
on the next morning such a dense fog hung over the bay that operations
were temporarily suspended. The “Swamp Angel” was again trained on
Charleston; and the shelling of the city continued with great violence
for a good part of the night, while the rebel batteries on James island
continued playing away on the “Swamp Angel,” but without doing it any
great damage.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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