Washington County Georgia Military Letters - James K. Kinman Company B, 12th Battalion Georgia Light Artillery James Island near Charleston, South Carolina 1863 File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Ash Pollette apollette@gtcom.net Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Visit Ash's page http://www.pollette.com/default.htm for more information. His pages contain history, photos, and battle information. James K. Kinman James Island Letter Lieutenant James K. Kinman Company B, 12th Battalion Georgia Light Artillery James Island near Charleston, South Carolina 1863 Note: The following appears to be two different letters written by James K. Kinman to his sister. The letters are almost impossible to transcribe, due to the condition of the copies and the fact that the pages have been torn in half. It appears that two pages are missing. These two letters still provide much information. RAP James Island near Charleston, S.C. August 18, 1863 Dear Sister Yours of the 14th inst. Was received yesterday and a day or two before I wrote you a letter but will not wait for you to answer that, so I will answer your last immediately. Things are assuming gloomy appearances here now for the enemy have begin (2 days ago) the bombardment (Part of the letter is missing here) and the last two lines are very appropriate. I don't want you to trouble yourself to get me any brandy though I need it. Fruit and vegetables are needed more than anything else for such things cannot be bought easily. Write soon Your Brother Second letter (May be part of letter above) on Morris Island (distance 2 miles). There fire is directed as to breach the fort at one of her long magazines. So far the fort has sustain no great injury, but it is a brick fort and you know that 200 pound solid shot must eventually break through by knocking off a little every time they strike. None of the balls as yet have broken the walls more than 5 feet, but they are only 15 or 20 feet thick and at this rate I think they will reduce the fort in less time than 3 days from date. By referencing to the map of the Islands 9 defenses which I sent you, you will see that Batteries Wagner and Gregg lie between the enemies Batteries on Morris Island and Ft. Sumter in the channel and that they have shoot by and over them to reach Sumter. This they do with ease, although at a distance of more than two miles so the land batteries with long range overlook Wagner and direct their fire at Sumter. The fleet however which has been silent for some time, has kept up a regular fire on Wagner and Gregg for two days with 15 inch guns. We have full possessions of James Island and there is nothing going on here, though from their position on Morris Island the enemy might shall us away from Ft. Johnson and the sand Batteries along the beach, but their whole attention is directed to the reduction of Fort Sumter, they then think they can send their Iron fleet up the channel to Charleston and take possession without opposition. But when Sumter falls (and it must) they will find hard work to ________ _______ ________ city. on each side of the channel are heavy forts on James and Sullivans Island. On one is Fort Moultree and strong sand batteries and on the other is Ft. Johnson and batteries likewise, besides between Sumter and Charleston we have two Iron Clad boats & small Forts all of which must be reduced before the city falls, But my fears are that they will do all this with apparent ease for they have 6 Iron clad boats and 20 wooden gun boats all with the heaviest guns on them ever used. So you will soon hear of Sumter's fall and I shortly afterwards. You need not be surprised to hear that the city falls, my health has improved some since my last and will not ________ long as I stay here. Your ___________ JKK Map of the Charleston Defenses Click on map for enlargement KINMAN, James K., enlisted Company E, 1st Georgia regiment June 30, 1861, private; mustered out at Augusta, Georgia March 18, 1862; enlisted and appointed 1st Sergeant in 3rd Company B, 12th Battalion Georgia Light Artillery (Rudisill's Artillery) May 1, 1862; elected 2nd Lieutenant; captured at Winchester, Virginia September 19, 1864. Released at Fort Delaware, Delaware June 17, 1865. Family History Submitter Copyright © 1998 William M. Lockwood. All rights reserved Back to letter Index Look-ups Queries Archived Queries Surnames Washington Neighbors Cemeteries County Records Census Records Boundary Maps Local History Washington Co. Links Ga. 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