 Click for full-sized scanned image  Click for full-sized scanned image Union Correspondence, etc.
FORT SUMTER, S.C., February 20, 1861.
General JOS. G. TOTTEN,
Chief Engineer U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.:
GENERAL: Not having yet been able to obtain my papers from the office in the city, although I have made arrangements by which I shall soon get them, I thought it best to send off at once the monthly papers, and then to make out and send the cash statements and quarterly returns as soon as I obtain my vouchers from town. I therefore inclose to-day the following, viz:
Report of operations for Fort Sumter for December, 1860.
Report of operations for preservation of site of Fort Moultrie for December, 1860.
Report of operations for Castle Pinckney for December, 1860.
* * * * *
The operations of the South Carolinians around us are principally confined to their line of works on Cummings Point, westward towards the extreme point of the land. The negroes that were brought down day before yesterday are still at work upon the embankment of the parapet of this extension. It is probably their intention to form either a mortar battery or another breaching battery. The work, however, does not advance very rapidly. This is partly due to the weather, which, with the exception of some few pleasant days, has been excessively unfavorable to field operations, almost from the very day we came from Fort Moultrie. In addition, it strikes me that there is no great vigor exhibited in hurrying forward the work at present.
The arrangement that I spoke of above for getting my vouchers and the records of the office is this: General Jamison, Secretary of War of South Carolina, in reply to a request from me either to allow my former clerk to collect and send down my papers, &c., or to permit my present clerk to go town for this purpose, has informed me that he has directed my former clerk [now Lieutenant Jos. J. Legare, South Carolina Engineer Corps] to collect and send to me all the property in my office in town, belonging to me or the Government of the United States, that I might want. I have accordingly written to send all the vouchers, papers, records, and maps.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J.G. FOSTER,
Captain of Engineers.
[Inclosures.]
| January 1, 1861 - Extract from Report of Operations
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Click for full-sized scanned image Union Correspondence, etc.
JANUARY 1, 1861.
Extract from report of operations at Fort Sumter, S.C., for the month of December, 1860.
* * * * *
The operations of the month were steadily increased from the 1st to the 26th. The casemate arches were completed; the bluestone flagging of the first tier inside of the outer traverse circles was laid on the two faces and a part of the right flank; all of the traverse stones of the first tier were reset; the granite flagging of the second tier on the right face was laid; the construction of the embrasures of the second tier was commenced, and the finishing of the east barrack was also commenced.
On the night of the 26th Major Anderson transferred his command from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, and assumed command of the fort. The Engineer force broke up on the morning of the 28th, and the majority of the men left the fort. The regular work was then stopped, and all the remaining force was at once put at work mounting guns, under charge of Lieutenant Snyder, and otherwise preparing to meet and repulse any attack that the forces of the State might make upon us.
The few remaining days of the month were thus employed. A considerable quantity of material remaining on hand was of great value in making the preparations, and everything was freely used for this purpose.
J.G. FOSTER,
Captain, Engineers.
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| January 1, 1861 - Extract from Report of Operations
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Click for full-sized scanned image Union Correspondence, etc.
FORT SUMTER, S.C., January 1, 1861.
Extract from report of operations at preservation of the site of Fort Moultrie, for the month of December, 1860.
* * * * *
The operations of the month were brought to a sudden close by the evacuation of the fort by Major Anderson's command, on the night of the 26th of December, and its occupation by the troops of South Carolina on the following evening. My letters previous to that time gave so full an account of the work being done that it is unnecessary to repeat it here, especially as the report is delayed much beyond the usual time.
Respectfully submitted.
J.G. FOSTER,
Captain of Engineers.
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