Chatham County, Georgia - Military: Bombardment of Ft. Pulaski ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sharla Linex-Johnson February 27, 2002 ************************************************************************ BOMBARDMENT OF FT. PULASKI, April 10 - 11, 1862 By: BRIG. - GEN. ALEX R. LAWTON, C. S. A. Headquarters Dept. (District) Georgia Savannah, GA., April 14, 1862 I have the honor to report that the enemy opened fire on Fort Pulaski early on the morning of the 10th instant, as was evident from the rapid and continuous firing and bursting of shells, which could be seen from the city of Savannah and other accessible points of observation. As communication with the fort was cut off my knowledge of what occurred during the first day's bombardment was derived exclusively from distant views and the sound of guns. The firing continued during the entire day, and at intervals during the night. On the night of the 10th I attempted to communicate with the fort by a small boat, for the purpose of conveying to it a man detailed on signal service, who had recently arrived, under orders, from Richmond. He was carried there by Corporal Law, of the Phoenix Riflemen, stationed at Thunderbolt, who had successfully communicated with the fort more than once before since the steamers had been cut off. It was observed that the fire on both sides ceased about 2 P. M. on the 11th , and these two men returned to the battery at Thunderbolt about 8 o'clock that evening. The only detailed information I have is derived from the verbal statements of the two men. They represent that they reached the fort about 6 o'clock on the morning of the 11th, in the midst of a heavy fire, both from the fort and enemy; that soon after their arrival a breach was made in the wall at the southeast angle, nearest Tybee Island, and that before the fort surrendered this breach was wide enough to drive a four-horse team through; that the wall, which embraced seven casemates in succession, was nearly all knocked down, and that all the barbette guns which play on their batteries at Tybee Island had been disabled; that several shots had been fired into the magazine. They further state that the ships were not engaged at all, but that all the firing was from batteries on Tybee Island, chiefly from a battery of Parrott guns at King's Landing, the nearest point of Tybee Island to the fort. As these men constituted no part of the garrison, they were advised by Colonel Olmstead to make their escape, if possible. In reporting the statements of these two men I must express my belief that they gave an exaggerated account of the injury done to the fort, owing, perhaps, to the very exciting circumstances under which they must have entered and left it. It is truly painful to be left without any more difinite or reliable details, but it is quite certain that Pulaski has fallen, as the enemy's flag has been distinctly seen flying above the ramparts, and I consider it my duty to give you these statements as they were made to me. As there have been no returns received from Fort Pulaski for some time, I can not give you the precise strength of the garrison. It consisted, however, of five companies, numbering a little over 400 men, and commanded by Colonel C. H. Olmstead. The armament consisted of five 10 inch columbiads, nine 8 inch columbiads, three 42 pounder howitzers, two 12 pounder howitzers, twenty 32 pounders and two 4 1/4 inch(Blakely) rifle guns, with 130 rounds of ammunition per gun. A. R. LAWTON Brigader-General Commanding.