At the outbreak of the war, Charles Woods was a 1st Lieutenant in the 9th United States Regular Infantry
These dispatches were compiled with primary source materials from The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (Chapter 1)
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CONTENTS
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(US LTC) Henry Scott
- At the outbreak of the war, Henry Scott was a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Adjutant-General's Office
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| January 12, 1861 - 1st Lieutenant Charles Woods to Colonel Henry Scott
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 Click for full-sized scanned image Reports of Lieutenant Charles R. Woods, Ninth U.S. Infantry, of first expedition for relief of Fort Sumter.
NEW YORK HARBOR,
January 12, 1861.
COLONEL: I have the honor to report that I reached this post at 8 1/2 o'clock this morning with my command, having been unable to reach Fort Sumter. I will make a detailed report without delay.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
CHARLES R. WOODS,
First Lieutenant, Ninth Infantry.
Colonel H.L. SCOTT,
A.D.C.
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(US AAG) Lorenzo Thomas
- At the outbreak of the war, Lorenzo Thomas was a United States Assistant Adjutant-General
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| January 13, 1861 - 1st Lieutenant Charles Woods to Assistant Adjutant-General Lorenzo Thomas
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Click for full-sized scanned image  Click for full-sized scanned image Reports of Lieutenant Charles R. Woods, Ninth U.S. Infantry, of first expedition for relief of Fort Sumter.
FORT COLUMBUS, N.Y.H.,
January 13, 1861.
COLONEL: Pursuant to instructions, dated Headquarters of the Army, January 5, 1861, I embarked on the evening of Saturday, 5th instant, from Governor's Island, at 6 o'clock p.m., on a steam-tug, which transferred us to the steamer Star of the West.
My command consisted of two hundred men, recruits from the depot, fifty of whom were of the permanent party. My officers were First Lieutenant W.A. Webb, Fifth Infantry; Second Lieutenant C.W. Thomas, First Infantry, and Assist. Surg. P.G.S. Ten Broeck, Medical Department.
On Tuesday afternoon, 8th instant, arms and ammunition were issued to all the men. About midnight same evening we arrived off Charleston Harbor, and remained groping in the dark until nearly day, when we discovered the light on Fort Sumter, which told us where we were. The other coast light marking the approaches to the harbor had been extinguished, and the outer buoy marking the channel across the bar gone.
During the night we saw what we supposed to be the light of a steamer cruising off the harbor, but she did not discover us, as our lights were all out. Just before day we discovered a steamer lying off the main ship channel. As soon as they made us out they burned one blue light and two red lights, and, receiving no response from us, immediately steamed up the channel. As soon as we had light enough we crossed the bar, and steamed up the main ship channel. This was on the first of the ebb tide, the steamer ahead of us firing rockets and burning lights as she went up. We proceeded without interruption until we arrived within one and three-quarter miles of Forts Sumter and Moultrie-they being apparently equidistant-when we were opened on by a masked battery near the north end of Morris Island. This battery was about five-eighths of a mile distant from us, and we were keeping as near into it as we could, to avoid the fire of Fort Moultrie. Before we were fired upon we had discovered a red palmetto flag flying, but could see nothing to indicate that there was a battery there.
We went into the harbor with the American ensign hoisted on the flag-staff, and as soon as the first shot was fired a full-sized garrison flag was displayed at our fore, but the one was no more respected than the other. We kept on, still under the fire of the battery, most of the balls passing over us, one just missing the machinery, another striking but a few feet from the rudder, while a ricochet shot struck us in the force-chains, about two feet above the water line, and just below where the man was throwing the lead. The American flag was flying at Fort Sumter, but we saw no flag at Fort Moultrie, and there were no guns fired from either of these fortifications.
Finding it impossible to take my command to Fort Sumter, I was obliged most reluctantly to turn about, and try to make my way out of the harbor before my retreat should be cut off by vessels then in sight, supposed to be the cutter Aiken, coming down the channel in tow of a steamer, with the evident purpose of cutting us off. A brisk fire was kept up on us by the battery as long as we remained within range, but, fortunately, without damage to us, and we succeeded in recrossing the bar in safety, the steamer touching two or three times. Our course was now laid for New York Harbor, and we were followed for some hours by a steamer from Charleston for the purpose of watching us.
During the whole trip downward the troops were kept out of sight whenever a vessel came near enough to us to distinguish them, and the morning we entered the harbor of Charleston they were sent down before daylight, and kept there until after we got out of the harbor again. From the preparations that had been made for us I have every reason to believe the Charlestonians were perfectly aware of our coming.
We arrived in New York Harbor on the morning of the 12th instant, and disembarked at 8 o'clock this morning, the 13th, by orders from Headquarters of the Army.
The conduct of the officers and men under my command during the whole trip, and particularly while under fire, was unexceptionable.
Captain John McGowan, commanding the steamer Star of the West, deserves the highest praise for the energy, perseverance, and ability displayed in trying to carry out his orders to put the troops in Fort Sumter. He was ably assisted by Mr. Walter Brewer, the New York pilot taken from this place.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
CHAS. R. WOODS,
First Lieutenant, Ninth Infantry, Commanding.
Colonel L. THOMAS,
Assistant Adjutant-General, U.S.A., Washington, D.C.
(To view this page in its Source Category, click HERE for Part 1 and HERE for Part 2)
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| January 5, 1861 - Assistant Adjutant-General Lorenzo Thomas to 1st Lieutenant Charles Woods
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 Click for full-sized scanned image  Click for full-sized scanned image Union Correspondence, etc.
HEADQUARTERS, January 5, 1861.
First Lieutenant CHARLES R. WOODS,
Ninth Infantry, Fort Columbus:
SIR: The steamship Star of the West has been chartered to take two hundred recruits from Fort Columbus to Fort Sumter, South Carolina, to re-enforce the garrison at that post. You are placed in command of the detachment, assisted by Lieuts. W.A. Webb, Fifth Infantry, C.W. Thomas, First Infantry, and Asst. Surg. P.G.S. Ten Broeck, Medical Department. Arms and ammunition for your men will be placed don the steamer and three months' supply of subsistence.
The duty upon which you are now placed by direction of the General-in-Chief will require great care and energy on your part to execute it successfully, for it is important that all your movements be kept as secret as possible. Accordingly on approaching the Charleston bar, you will place below decks your entire force, in order that only the ordinary crew may be seen by persons from the shore or on boarding the vessel. Every precaution must be resorted to prevent being fired upon by batteries erected on either Sullivan's or James Island.
Yours,
L. THOMAS.
(To view this page in its Source Category, click HERE for Part 1 and HERE for Part 2)
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(US LtG) Winfield Scott
- At the outbreak of the war, Winfield Scott was a Lieutenant General in the United States Regular Army
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| January 7, 1861 - Lieutenant-General Winfield Scott to 1st Lieutenant Charles Woods
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 Click for full-sized scanned image Union Correspondence, etc.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY
Washington, January 7, 1861
COMMANDING OFFICER, DETACHMENT U.S. ARMY,
On board steamship Star of the West,
Supposed to be near Charleston, S.C.:
SIR: This communication is sent through the commander of the U.S. steam sloop-of-war Brooklyn.
His mission is twofold: First, to afford aid and succor in case your ship be shattered or injured; second, to convey this order of recall for your detachment in case it cannot land at Fort Sumter, to proceed to Fort Monroe, Hampton Roads, and there await further orders.
In case of your return to Hampton Roads, send a telegraphic message here at once from Norfolk.
Yours, very respectfully,
W. SCOTT.
P.S. - On arrival at Fort Monroe, land your troops and discharge the ship.
W. SCOTT.
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