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SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCECHARLESTON, S. C„ LETTER.Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial,A Recent Visit to Fort Sumter.Charleston, S. C., March, 1867.My impression is that none but loyal people,ankees, visit Fort Sumter. Less than six years »go, when it fell into the hands of the rebels, it became a place of great interest to the people of F hnrleston and of the whole South. But things have changed since then, and the relation it now (sustains to the thrilliDg events of these six years has divested it of that interest to the Southern heart which it had when that heart was fired, as Bone other could have been, by the bombardment of a feeble garrison, cut off from all supplies and reduced to an extremity for want of provisions. For a time, since the surrender of Charleston, a small steamboat plied between the city and the fort, but it has gone into some other trade, most • likely lor want of a support, as there was no local patronage. Excursionists must now depend upon hiring sail or row boats at the most favorable terms, the price ranging from four to fifteen dollars for a party of half a dozen persons. It will be found safest to make a bargain before starting, for Already some of these boatmen have become as tricky as a city hackman or a Niagara guide. I -was in a party of six that had the service of a boatman and his boat half a day for four dollars, while another party of five paid nearly three dollars each for another boat and like service, on the same day. We were favored with a bright, calm morning a great desideratum to those who make the trip in an open boat, for when the sea is rough, the waves Burge a sound the fort, so as to make it unpleasant, if not perilous, to be in a small craft. Our boat •was driven over by four pair of stout colored arms,•while one of the party guided the helm, and we -were oDe hour making the four mites from the city to the fort. You will hardly experience so warm ami pleasant a day on one of your Northern rivers or lakes before Juno; the sweat stood in great Leads upon the foreheads of our oarsmen, and the party all returned with sun-burnt faces.We had started without passes. They had been gent for the afternoon before, but the messenger failed to see tho commandant in Charleston—-and as all the officers had been up at the Washington jBirth-day Ahniversary Ball in tho evening, it was not probable that any of them could bo seen so early in the morning as wo wished to start—so we concluded to go without passes and risk obtaining admittance. When we approached, no sentry, with gleaming bayonet, was to be scon pacing bis monotonous beat, nevertheless we expected to find them on the parapet. A flight of wooden steps led from the quay on the southwestern side 4f the fort, to the top of the wall. The party ascended these, and still no soldier or other person could be seen. Fort Sumter has been abandoned as a point of military defense. A frame light-house has been erected on the eastern wall, and the keeper of this light, his wife, and two colored assistants, are the sole occupants of this place, around which clusters such historic irf^^st. The three men had gone to the city tho morning wo were there, so that we found the place held by the lan alone. -land-battery, as she was trying to carry provisions to the garrison before the fort fell into our hands. The remnants of the rebel harbor obstructions can also be seen from the fort. As we look at the objects of interest on every hand, we feel that though neglected, this is historic ground.THE FIRST GUN OF THE WAR.Cummings Point is a place of almost as much historic interest as Fort Sumter, from which it is distant three-fourths of a mile to the southeast. It is a low and narrow ridge of sand stretching away in a southeastern direction, washed on one side by the ocean and bounded on the other by bayous and marshes. Fort Gregg, an irregular earth-work, more properly speaking, sand-work, located upon the point, faces Fort Sumter. I do not know how much it may have been changed, enlarged and strengthened since 1861, but we know that here, from behind these or similar delenses, early in April of that year, tho first gun of the war was turned upon yonder dismounted fort and against the starry flag that then waved above it. I could but recall that critical moment. The whole American people were looking with in-tensest interest toward tbat fort and this battery. Hourly dispatches were speeding along the telegraphic wires throughout the land. In the North few could believe that the flag which had been honored on every ocean and in every harbor abroad, and had waved in beauty and glory over every State at home, would be fired upon by Americans. In the South there was a sullen desperation, both a hope and a fear that the overt act would be committed. While these were the diverse, yet intense, feelings of the millions in the North and South, a single hand, in obedience to the single word of command, lifted the burning match, touched the ready fuse, and in an instant the irrevocable deed was done. Scarcely had the well-aimed ball struck the doomed fort until the message was speeding to the North and South, and ere the echoes of that fatal peal had died along the sighing shore of the ocean, the voice of the people was heard, swelling louder as the news sped on, until all over the land it was as the murmuring of many and troubled waters. That first gun, which was designed to fire the Southern heart, while it may have thrilled the chivalry, touched the silent chords in the great loyal heart,'and quickened into a stern and powerful impulse the patriotism of a people destined to maintain the right by an incalculable sacrifice.Southen disconso ing ovei and bee affairs.thoughtfaith the there is earth gi‘‘Etliereing coug rheumat if this iplease; lt;If this t!vision ol the lastThe C.officers iwoFORT SUMTER AS IT NOW IS.I think tho visit can be mado most interesting by first ascending to the balcony of the light-house, so as to take in a general view of this fort and the other points with which it is historically connected. There to the west, four miles distant, rising out of the water, like tho Bride of the Sea, is Charleston; one mile this side, in the bay, is Castle Pinckney; to the north, across the bay, is Mount Pleasant, a great summer resort for the people of the city when the hot and sultry season oomes; to the northeast is Fort Moultrie, to be singled out ot a long line of earth-works, by its greater hight and the flag staff planted in its center; to the west of this may be seen tho remnants of a bridge that formerly connected the island on which FortMoultrie stands with the main land, but was destroyed during the progress of the war; to the southwest, on a lino with Fort Moultrie and FortSumter, is Fort Johnson, an earth-work among the first built by the rebels; far to the south, betweon seven and eight miles from the city, and just visible from whero we stand, is the place in which the Swamp Angel was located; and that tongue of sand to the southeast, which approaches nearest to oter, is Cummings Point; the earth-work uponFORT WAGNER—IT8 LESSON.Would you know how utterly broken is the military power of the rebellion, then visit their former strong-holds—stand in tho places which they peopled with soldiery and persistently defended for four long years, and behold them abandoned and rapidly falling into decay. But for a squad of men engaged in removing tho last of the heavy guns, I would have found Fort Gregg bereft of every sign of life. I walked some distance, perhaps a mile, watching for the first time the waves of the ocean playing upon the sandy beach, and listening to the deep, solemn, and ever-varying notes, when I came to the northern angle of another earth-work. Ascending the embankment, I followed it to the southern wall which had been the highest and strongest portion of the fort, and which, when held by the rebels, faced the position occupied by the Union forces. Here I met a soldier, the only one I had seen during tho day, and in reply to my inquiry, he told me that we were standing on Fort Wagner, Before me was the scene of one of the most desperate conflicts of the war—the place where the colored soldiers from Massachusetts, by their inflexible courage, their coolness and daring, demonstrated to the country and the world that manhood and heroism belong to their race. For a hundred yards they had to charge across a low, level, sandy plain, from part of which the tide had receded, leaving it wet and slippery. Upon every part of the plain tke rebels could turn their concentrated fire, while closer to the fort were the abatis and a deep ditch to impede the progress of the assailants. That plain was dyed with the blood of black men—but were they not heroic? The stars and stripes were over them and inspiring them, when they made the desperate onslaught, only as they wave above and inspire the loyal. What, then, if Massachusetts has recognized their patriotism and their manhood by removing all civil disabilities from their race and giving them a voice and a place in her halls of leg- * ialation? - v-’IV■*' ■ idier tic! Macaule dy Fost (one-arcversaw fceptin t with an Grand A and Fial and its Colonel Irison, wMajor C for Mars nominat The nlt; though i Grand i for the conciudi fat thin* vices of formed t loyal spe ing aro the cai contribu renderee battles, sions, anflag take persistei a deaf (demonst talk, anThis org eventua its powe bearing, party.The re rise to a woundei ble thai tho fall friends ception lt;any of tl a gallan months’ation unFred. ] as a Mar puzzling the thinartists (gambolling, Freinow he i diploma hit him ing bon mass, an against$40,000.Goverlate Leg appropring esta forbiddi than fill for thro corporalnations The latt it is saic man lies able am to than! jSvery b to petit! that in 1 tered o\plank rlt;slack-w allowin, manuta' able, ar chargestered rii has matGoveigoverni House f and he notch.Suit is Fort Gregg, and that rising still higher, perhaps a mile beyond, is Fort Wagner. With all these names Americans have become familiar; he who stands where ho can slowly pass his eye from one of these historic points to another until he sweeps the whole circle, will never forgot thatboar, 'ihAfter this general view, by which I obtained an idea of the relative location of the sevoral fortifications, I examined the fort in detail. As wo approached it in tho boat. I had a good view of the sides and angles toward the city, which were least damaged by the cannonading to which it has been exlosed. This enabled me to judge more correctly of the destruction wrought by shot and shell. I first sought that side of the fort fronting Cum-Point to the southeast, against which thoMillmingsfirst shot of the rebellion was hurled. The face of the wall was destroyed—the brick of which it was composed pounded into fragments by the iron hail that was poured upon it. This fort, built at an ense expense by the Government in the days of peace, was an octagonal brick shell, behind which were bomb-proofs and subterranean passages, and chambers covered with sand, marl, c. Whatever was the design, the brick wall only served to hold the sand and marl in its place, pre-genting but a feeble resistance to the heavy missiles of modern warfare; and there is no doubt that, broken as it now appears, tho wall of sand is a better defense than was that of brick, when itae well-paid contractor’s hand.was taken from sonThe tide was down so that I could, walk along the outer base and see where the brick and stone had been broken by the shot. Three or four large broken cannon are lying here washed by the surge, perhaps ever since they were dismounted by the enemy, in April, 1861. It appears that the wall was broken away, and the bomb-proofs exposed to the severe fire that Beauregard concentrated on this southern side, but the breach Cas repaired while tho rebels held it in their pos-geg8lfop. Now I had some strange feelings and solemn reflections as I walked about and examined this particular part of the old fort bearing the first marks ot a *on anlt;^ bloody war, and so will every person who u^ad3 tiie 8ame ePot* but 1 neednot record them hero.The shot from Fort Moultl'** but Httle or nodamage, perhaps did not strike object againstwhich they were aimed, so that tho northern halfof theffort is mUch as it was years ago. The descent to the interior is made by wooden steps, in the center of the open space is the flag-staff on which the flag that was first lowered in the opening of the struggle, was raised again by General Anderson when victory turned upon the side of the nation. Standing here, there rises around you a wall of sand from twenty to twenty-five feet high,except for a hundred feet on the eastern side, where there is a large open boom proof, the covering of which is supported by rows of square wooden posts. Here were the soldiers’ quarters when the fort was occupied, hut now it is neglected and falling into decay. From this space to the right and left runs a subterranean passage connecting the several chambers in which the cannon are mounted. The passage and the chambers on the northern side are in good condition. Here we see the huge dogs of war looking grimly forth from the port-holes, but becoming tarnished and rusty from disuse and want of care. Shot and shell are at hand, and bags of powder are stored away in the magazines adjacent to the chambers. One is glad to emerge from these gloomy and cavern-like places, and stand once more where he can breathe the fresh air and behold the land and sky and sea. A short distance from the fort, toward the city, is the wreck of arebel steamer that was sunk by the fire of a UnionLIEUTENANT REED, OF OHIO.A strange disinterment took place while I was in Charleston, After it was found that Gen. Gilmore could plant his shot and shell in the very heart of the city, the residents in the lower half of the place fled. Even the best residences were abandoned or left in the charge of a slave or two, where these could be compelled or induced to remain. Some time before the evacuation, the Union prisoners in the hospitals were ordered to be removed to some point in the interior. Lieutenant Reed, of the Third Ohio Regiment, supposed to have lived near Cardingfon, Ohio, escaped from the hospital the evening that they were to be sent away, and was wandering along one of the narrow streets, or alleys, when he was found by a colored man and taken into his small and humble home. Ho was afterward taken to another house where there was more room, and here he was supplied with every necessary that the colored man and his friends could procure, and seemed to be rapidly recovering. But one day the house was approached by the patrol, and to avoid discovery he was hastily carried to the attic. It was a critical moment— recapture and a loathsome confinement was before the Lieutenant, and summary death before the colored man if detected in concealing him. After carrying the officer up stairs, for he was too weak to ascend himself, the colored man hastened to the gate where the patrol were knocking for admittance. He must have answered their inquiries with adroitness, for they went away and did not again visit the house. But the excitement overcame the Lieutenant, a relapse ensued, and in a few days he died, watched only by the dusky-hued friends into whose hands he had fallen. At midnight he was wrapped in his blanket and bnried under one of the deserted rebel mansions. Soon after the occupancy of Charleston this incident became known to Rev. Mr. Corry, then a delegate of the Christian Commission, and now a Baptist Missionary in Charleston. lie brought the facts before the Commandant, and an order was issued for the disinterment and proper burial of the remains of the Lieutenant, but it was not executed at the time, and for nearly two years the rebel family has unwittingly lived above the Union soldier’s grave. Since I came here Mr. Corry called the attention of General Scott to the matter, and he at once instituted an investigation. Far under the house named, just where the colored man had indicated the spot, the remains were found, and they were taken and buried in the National Cemetery, with appropriate military honors. Should this paragraph bo read by any of the kindred of Lieutenant Reed, it may gratify them to learn that they can ascertain, by writing to Rev. Wm.Corry, Charleston, more of the sad circumstancesattending the death of their kinsman, and more of the kindness and devotion of the colored people who ministered to him in his last days, than I dare mention here and now. QUINCY.Thecanal v additioi what m sation. the can man sk tion the the trolt; uncomt paid of]ously di appear soldiers their hlt; bones, i the remtrifle of A dntion. a I Asylun two ofself unc to be ai room, g formedtook a 1a large escapee tryman give wa The far the ne was bri and ser disfranThe ion Satioffices Iconclusother 1 are det rederai boys in Gene is too v introdi recordumverf as a msrity. rciates fnee for His nc list ofsentimIfth.low thlt; of the iseveralbe no i A judilt; by the “floatiwho arspirit lt;INDIANAPOLIS LETTERSCorrespondence Cincinnati Commercial.Invocation to Gentle Spring—The CityConvention—A Crazy Gambolier—TheGovernor’s Exercise of the Veto PowerThe Economy of His AdministrationMiscellaneous Items,• IIndianapolis. March 17.Come gentle Spring, etherial mildness, cornel” I look ruefully out of my window upon whitened roofs, while a cold, raw west wind drives the snow flakes hither and thither, and infernal fringes in sundry joints, not quite so supple as they were twenty or thirty years ago, bring disagreeable recollections of colchicum and nauseous alkaline salts. The kine shiver on the lee side of garden fences; the reckless blue bird skulks inthe martin’s oozy box, regretting the foolish bravado whioh brought him in midwinter from hitGovlt;aot all peopletion ol vetoespreacrithanfreightand to to, rail tion cc the Se tions action reason fusing are to such a party, id stn design at lari lativeIt isistratcdentelt;his pialone lerved
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Cincinnati Commercial
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Thu, Mar 21, 1867
Page 2
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FL, USA 01 Jun 2022
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