Alfred Roman, The military operations of General Beauregard in the war between the states, 1861 to 1865

[509] western magazine has been traversed to a thickness of ten feet, and in height equal to first story. The second floor of eastern magazine has been covered with four feet of sand, and the same floor of the western with eighteen inches. One 32-pounder had trunnions shot away on northwest face, two 10-inch columbiads, one 9-inch Dahlgren, one 8-inch columbiad, and two 42-pounders were disabled; the two latter guns were taken to the parade to be shipped. The casualties for the day were one killed and seventeen wounded.

Alfred Rhett, Col. Comdg.

Sumter, August 18th: 9 P. M.

The enemy again opened fire heavily at daylight. All the guns on the gorge have been disabled, except two 32-pounders, rifled, and one 24-pounder. Both guns on west face have been disabled. All the guns on northwest face unserviceable. Two 10-inch guns, Captain Harleston's battery, disabled. Brooke gun, southwest angle, carriage disabled. The enemy ceased fire at about 7 P. M.; 785 shells have been fired: 317 inside, 189 over. Casualties: Stewart, coxswain, seriously; Corporal Bennett, Company B, slightly. The wall of northwest face I think more seriously damaged, perhaps, than gorge-wall. The gorge-wall seriously damaged; will probably be breached to-morrow.

Alfred Rhett, Col. Comdg.

Sumter, August 19th: 12.10 P. M.

The width of twenty feet of the gorge-wall has fallen, and two-thirds will probably be down to-morrow, and light is showing through three or four of the casemates of gorge-wall. One mortar dismounted, and bed torn and broken. Seven casemates on west face are shattered, three pieces [piers] shot away, and three more shattered on second tier; the same for first tier. A good part of terre-plein has fallen in. One killed and four wounded; 762 shots to-day: 398 struck outside, 236 inside, and 128 over.

Alfred Rhett, Col. Comdg.

Sumter, August 19th: 9.50.

We need all the garrison we have to hold the fort, and are short of officers. The firing this morning is the heaviest, and the walls are seriously damaged. One killed and four wounded this morning. All gorge guns useless. Middleton went to town last night.

Alfred Rhett, Col. Comdg.

Sumter, August 20th.

Extract from Journal Kept at Post.

The enemy kept up to-day on Fort Sumter a heavy and continuous fire, increasing perceptibly towards the afternoon; 879 projectiles were thrown: 408 struck outside, 296 inside, and 175 over. The greater portion of the gorgewall has fallen, the debris from the upper revetting, in a manner, the lower rooms. The northwest terre-plein has also in a great degree fallen in, and the wall has been breached in several places. Some large holes have been made in the northwest scarp-wall by reverse firing to-day; six upper and three lower