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February 25, 1861 - Captain John Foster to General Joseph Totten

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Union Correspondence, etc.

FORT SUMTER, S.C., February 25, 1861.

General JOS. G. TOTTEN,
Chief Engineer U.S. Army, Washington, D. C.:

GENERAL:

* * * * *

The sudden change from the warm temperature of yesterday to the cold and wind of to-day seems to have a chilling effect upon the negro laborers employed on the parapet of the new battery at Cummings Point, and they have been mostly withdrawn and placed at work in the ditch of the curtain connecting the iron bomb-proof battery and the three-gun battery in the field work to the east. The high wind of last night blew down the storehouse and quarters that I mentioned yesterday and the day before.

At the mortar battery south of Fort Johnson a party commenced work soon after dinner yesterday [Sunday] and worked until night, throwing up a mass of muck in front of and against the parapet, apparently to protect it from the wash of the surf, and also to increase its thickness.

On Fort Moultrie they are still at work at the glaces. It appears now that it is not so nearly parallel to the face that fronts us as I drew it in my letter two days since, but rather inclines to be parallel with the beach. It is already extended so as to cross "Fort street." It is evident that this may be used as a shelter for a line of mortars, but I hardly believe it will be so used, as there is already built a battery for mortars lower down the island.

The South Carolinians had only three or four mortars, and I have heard of the arrival of but three since the commencement of hostile preparations.

The health of the command is very good, with no sickness among the officers or men of sufficient importance to take them from a single day's duty. Major Anderson is and has been well, and there was no foundation for the report of his illness.

I received yesterday a note from Captain Wright, containing some interesting private information, and take this means of acknowledging it, so that he may know that it was received.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, &c.,

J.G. FOSTER,
Captain of Engineers.

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