Posted inUS Civil War

May 25, 1861 – Effects of the Blockade

The Niagara, which gave notice of the blockade of Charleston, has not been all the while at that port. In her absence, several vessels have come in, landed with merchandize, etc. The “old government” will have to do better than this, or raise the blockade. We are satisfied that Great Britain and other commercial countries will not permit a “paper blockade” of our ports.

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April 25, 1861 – Editorial Correspondence

Sullivans’ Island, Tuesday Evening, April 23rd.

There is some little talk in camp to-day, of our regiment being divided; part to stay here and part to go to Virginia. No official sanction, however, has been given to this expectation. If it should prove true, the Jasper Light Infantry is likely to be one of the companies that will go. We are living as well as heart could wish, and all on that account, simply, would prefer to remain here. But we all dislike the idea of lying idle during the summer, while others may be fighting, and of being an expense to the government without returning something of blood, or hardships, or danger, or all of these combined, to repay. It is thought too, that the Old Dominion, or any region farther North, will be healthier during the hot season. All of these considerations, together with the promptings of patriotism and valor, will, in all likelihood, determine the Jasper Light Infantry to a Northern field whenever called upon.

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April 13, 1861 – Bombardment of Fort Sumter

Map of Charleston harbor

Civil war has begun! General Beauregard, in accordance with instructions received on Wednesday, from the Secretary of War of the Southern confederacy, opened fire upon Fort Sumter yesterday morning, at twenty-seven minutes after four o’clock. Forts Johnson and Moultrie, the iron battery at Cummings’ Point, and the Stevens Floating Battery, kept up an active cannonade during the entire day, and probably during the past night. The damage done to Fort Sumter had been, up to the last accounts, considerable. Guns had been dismounted, and a part of the parapet swept away.

Major Anderson had replied vigorously to the fire which had been opened upon him, but our despatches represent the injury inflicted by him to have been but small. The utmost bravery had been exhibited on both sides, and a large portion of the Charleston population, including five thousand ladies, were assembled upon the Battery to witness the conflict.

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April 6, 1861 – Charleston Affairs

The South Carolinians are evidently tiring of the vascillating policy of the Administration, and we expect to hear of some determined action on their part in a few days, if we are to judge from the following paragraphs, taken from the papers of Charleston of Thursday:

It is said now that the last mortar is in its place, and that the ammunition and supplies are all in our possession, so that every means for the speedy reduction of Fort Sumter may be said to be entirely accomplished. There is no possibility of supplies or reinforcements being thrown in from the sea, for there is not the power in the United Stales Navy to do it, and of course the reduction of Fort Sumter is only a matter of time.