August 17, 1863 (Wednesday): A Hard Day's Work In Charleston Harbor

Image by Cook, purportedly of shell exploding inside Fort Sumter from September 1863. (civilwarphotography.org)

MORRIS ISLAND, August 17, 1863-1.15 p.m.
Admiral DAHLGREN:
     What do you think of the morning's work?


GILLMORE,
General.

OFF MORRIS ISLAND, August 17, 1863-1.40 p.m.
General GILLMORE:
     Sumter seems greatly damaged. What do you think?


     DAHLGREN,
     Admiral.

MORRIS ISLAND, August 17, 1863-2 p.m.
Admiral DAHLGREN:
    Are your monitors out of action for the day, or will they go in again soon?


    GILLMORE,
    General.


OFF MORRIS ISLAND, August 17, 1863-2.15 p.m.
General GILLMORE:
    If Wagner opens and disturbs you, the monitors will run up and silence her again, as that is what I understand you wish.


     DAHLGREN,
     Admiral.

MORRIS ISLAND, August 17, 1863-2.30 p.m.
Admiral DAHLGREN:
    One of my officers reports the enemy mounting a heavy gun on the sea face of Fort Wagner.


     GILLMORE,
     General.

MORRIS ISLAND, August 17, 1863-2.50 p.m.
Admiral DAHLGREN:
     I am satisfied with the firing thus far. The gorge wall is covered with shot holes.


     GILLMORE,
     General.

MORRIS ISLAND, August 17, 1863-10.50 p.m.
Admiral DAHLGREN:
     If the enemy expect to save Sumter, they will try a sortie from Wagner in the morning. Can you get any monitors in quite early for general operations? I propose the same programme for to-morrow that we had to-day.


     GILLMORE,
     General.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 28, Part 2, Page 45.

Batteries were put in place on the 17th on Morris Island which bombarded Fort Sumter for six straight days to no avail.  Badly battered, the scene of the war's opening shots held out against massive naval and land shelling.