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Nancy Bostick De Saussure (1837 - 1915) describes the evening she watched the bombardment of Fort Sumter from a roof top in Charleston on April 12, 1861. She was in her mid 20s.
It was an all-day journey with a drive of twenty miles to the railway. We reached Charleston about eight o’clock in the evening. My father-in-law met us, and after a warm greeting to the little stranger and ourselves, said, “You are just in time to see the fight at Fort Sumter, for it begins to-night.” I was terrified and begged to be taken home, but there was no train until morning and, therefore, we had to remain.
That night I was too frightened to sleep. Toward morning, about four o’clock, the first gun was fired, and it seemed to me as if it were in my room. I sprang up, as I suppose everyone else did in the city. I hurriedly dressed myself and went down to cousin Louis De Saussure’s house, which is still standing on the corner of South and East Battery.
From its numerous piazzas, which commanded a fine view of the harbor, we watched every gun fired from the two forts, Moultrie and Sumter. The house was crowded with excited mothers and wives, who had sons and husbands in the fight, and every hour added to their distress and excitement, as reports, which afterwards proved false, were brought to them of wounded dear ones. It was a day I can never forget.
That night we returned to Grandfather De Saussure’s and when morning came we spent another most anxious day following an anxious night, but when Fort Sumter took fire and the white flag was raised, our spirits rose over the Southern victory, to confidence and hope.
We little realized the long years of struggle that were to follow ending in defeat, and ruined homes and country. Later on I was in Charleston several times when it was under shot and shell and heard the explosions of the shells as they shrieked over our houses. Those were sad and exciting times, the awful memories of which are still active with me.
By Mrs. Nancy Bostick De Saussure (1837 - 1915), who lived just outside of Beaufort, South Carolina. This excerpt, and her war record is found in OLD PLANTATION DAYS : BEING RECOLLECTIONS OF SOUTHERN LIFE BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR. NEW YORK. DUFFIELD & COMPANY. 1909; which she wrote.
8th New York Heavy Artillery soldier, stationed at
Fort Federal Hill, Baltimore, Md
12 April 1863, letter reads in part:
Our Chaplain, De La Matyr is liked down here. If any one says to you that he ain’t much at Baltimore you just tell them for me that it is false, yes I know there are those in this regiment who do not like him, but they are composed of men who do not like any minister. I have not much patience to talk with those who stay at home, aloof from all dangers and trials incident to a soldier’s life, and criticize the actions of those who have left home and friends to serve their country. I received a letter to day from my brother, his regiment is in Va on picket duty. They have had several skirmishes with the Rebs. I heard one man killed one badly wounded. We still remain in this fort, or 8 companies of no. Co. C. We have gone to Fort McHenry two miles from here.
HEADQUARTERS U.S. FORCES,
Franklin, Tenn., April 12, 1863.
Maj. Gen. EARL VAN DORN,
Commanding Confederate Forces, Spring Hill, Tenn.
GENERAL: The commanding general of the Army of the Cumberland has just informed me that he has received information that our wounded men at Columbia are in a condition of great suffering, and he has authorized me to make arrangements if agreeable to you to have the men transferred here as soon as possible. I will give my receipt for them and will immediately return to you an equal number of your men now in our possession in exchange.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. GRANGER,
Major-General, Commanding.
—–
O.R.–SERIES II–VOLUME V [S# 118]
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, ETC., RELATING TO PRISONERS OF WAR AND STATE FROM DECEMBER 1, 1862, TO JUNE 10, 1863.–#19
page 472
HEADQUARTERS U.S. FORCES,
Franklin, Tenn., April 12, 1863.
Major-General VAN DORN,
Commanding Confederate Forces, Spring Hill, Tenn.
GENERAL: I am directed by the commanding general of the Army of the United States to forward to you under flag of truce the herewith inclosed General Orders, No. 49,(*) War Department, Washington, February 28, 1863, in reference to the rules and regulations in regard to paroles as established by the common law and usage of war, and which have been published for the guidance and instruction of said Army. These orders have just been received by me and I send them to you at this my earliest convenience.
I regret that I am compelled to inform you that some of your officers violated a well-recognized principle of war and an agreement lately entered into by representatives of the Government of the United States and the Government of the Confederate States in taking two of my medical officers prisoners at Brentwood, Tenn., on the 25th day of March last; and also as I am credibly informed that at the same time these officers so uncomfortably crowded some of my sick and wounded there taken prisoners into wagons and compelled them to undergo such hardships and exposure on the march that a large number of them died from the effects thereof.
Furthermore the horses, horse equipments and arms of four of my medical officers were then taken from them. I respectfully request that you have the same returned to me as soon as convenient.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. GRANGER,
Major-General, Commanding.
—–
O.R.–SERIES II–VOLUME V [S# 118]
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, ETC., RELATING TO PRISONERS OF WAR AND STATE FROM DECEMBER 1, 1862, TO JUNE 10, 1863.–#19
page 471
