October 25, 1863 (Monday): A day In Charleston

Battery Gregg (Library of Congress)

October 25, 1863.-There is no change reported in the fleet this morning.
Monitor [No.] 2 rejoined the fleet to-day, and Monitor No. 6 departed-it is supposed for repairs.
Now inside the bar-Monitors [Nos.] 2,3,4, and 5, while Nos.1, 6, and 7 are absent.
Only 8 shots were fired by us to-day, and those from Battery Simkins. The enemy still silent.
Four guns are now observed in position at Battery Gregg-three Parrotts and one 10-inch columbiad. The Parrott gun on the northeast angle still has the breech toward Sumter and the muzzle in the sand. One Parrott and the columbiad is mounted on the north face, and one Parrott on southwest angle, bearing on the city.
   At the midway battery [between Gregg and Wagner] the embrasure toward Sumter is masked with sand-bags. The southeast angle off this work appears to be intended for mortars bearing in the direction of Sullivan's Island. All the guns seem to be removed from the Gadberry Hill batteries.
An extensive work has been completed south of Gregg's Hill; also the batteries on each side of Light-House Inlet and near the observatory on Folly Island. At the former battery three naval guns are in position, but none are observed in the latter.
    Four heavy guns are thought to be in position at Battery Wagner.
    A large increase of tents is reported on Cole's and Folly Islands.


Official Records, Series I., Vol. 25, Part 1, Pages 149-150.

One of the more interesting items in the Official Records is the Confederate day book from Charleston which gives precise accounts of the comings and goings of the Union fleet, the activity at batteries around Charleston, and Confederate troop movements, including accounts of shells fired and damage done.  This is the account for October 25.  The numbers listed for the US monitors reflect the practice of affixing a number to the ship, often on its stack.