Charleston Surrender

[Lubliner]

When Charleston was evacuated on February 17, 1865, was anyone of importance left behind to surrender the city officially, under a white flag on February 18? I have read reports of confederate damage, but virtually nothing on it's re-occupation by Federal Forces. Also, Fort Sumter out in the harbor remained a confederate hold-out until April, hearing the U. S. flag was raised exactly 4 years to the day from when it was lowered. Can anyone help clarify these points?
Lubliner.

 

[gary]

Mayor was there to surrender the city. Entire district was abandoned by the Confederate armed forces. Hardee was ordered by Johnston to save the men. So there was nobody present when the Union marched in. Sumter's new Confederate flag was eagerly hauled down about the same time Charleston surrendered. Milton Burby's book is one of the best I've read about Charleston.

 

[Lubliner]

Mayor was there to surrender the city. Entire district was abandoned by the Confederate armed forces. Hardee was ordered by Johnston to save the men. So there was nobody present when the Union marched in. Sumter's new Confederate flag was eagerly hauled down about the same time Charleston surrendered. Milton Burby's book is one of the best I've read about Charleston.

Thank you.
Lubliner.

 

[Lubliner]

Mayor was there to surrender the city. Entire district was abandoned by the Confederate armed forces. Hardee was ordered by Johnston to save the men. So there was nobody present when the Union marched in. Sumter's new Confederate flag was eagerly hauled down about the same time Charleston surrendered. Milton Burby's book is one of the best I've read about Charleston.

Would you know perchance the status of Northern prisoners during the surrender; were they moved ahead with the evacuation for future arbitration, or given up when the Mayor surrendered the city?

 

[gary]

Burby is silent but if Confederate practice was followed, they were evacuated in advance. I know from the 54th Mass. who were in housed at Castle Pickney were sent to Andersonville long before. Unfortunately some died there.

Correction: E. Milby Burton is the author of The Siege of Charleston and I had the name wrong in my original post.

 

[Lubliner]

Burby is silent but if Confederate practice was followed, they were evacuated in advance. I know from the 54th Mass. who were in housed at Castle Pickney were sent to Andersonville long before. Unfortunately some died there.

Correction: E. Milby Burton is the author of The Siege of Charleston and I had the name wrong in my original post.

I have read Arthur Manigault's Journal 'Siege Train' while he was stationed in Charleston. He documents the battle of Secessionville, one of them anyway, and describes work on fortifications, bomb practice with gunnery, fuse lengths, trajectories, and distances. Ut is a wonderful reference manual for understanding that sort of thing, but is not fluid in transcription, and does not read as a book would, generally.
I had started to wonder about those prisoners being used for a shield against bombardment, when the Yanks held a prison pen out on Morris Island, and 'eye for an eye' was being cast back and forth. They had been moved into the city as collateral to keep the bombs away. I cannot yet find when they were relocated, if at all. Maybe someone will beat me to it. Thanks,
Lubliner.

 

[Copperhead-mi]

I had started to wonder about those prisoners being used for a shield against bombardment, when the Yanks held a prison pen out on Morris Island, and 'eye for an eye' was being cast back and forth. They had been moved into the city as collateral to keep the bombs away. I cannot yet find when they were relocated, if at all. Maybe someone will beat me to it. Thanks,
Lubliner.

I'm confused (or maybe I'm just reading it wrong) as to which prisoners you are curious about. If you're referring to the Confederate prisoners on Morris Island then on October 20, 1864 Union General John G. Foster's aide, Lt. Robinson ordered Provost-Marshal, Capt. Appelton to transfer the Confederate prisoners to Ft. Pulaski, Georgia. (OR, Series I, Vol. 35, Part II, pg 314) and on January 8, 1865 General John G. Foster Foster informed General Halleck that 100 of the Confederate prisoners used for the Charleston retaliation have been exchanged and requested that the remainder be sent North to prisons which would then free up his troops from guard duty for field service. (OR Series I, Vol. 47, Part II, pp. 27 - 28)

If it are the Union prisoners that were held under fire in Charleston you are asking about then on October 13, 1864 General John G. Foster informed General Halleck that escaped Union prisoner Capt. D.W. Fox had given information that the "officers and men of our army recently prisoners of war in that city have all been removed, except the negro soldiers, to Columbia and other places in the northern part of the State." Foster continued that " I have made no change in the disposition of the rebel officers in my hands, for the reason that our officers were a long time under fire before these men placed in a corresponding position; that the negro soldiers are still under fire, and I am not officially informed of the removal of the white officers and soldiers." (OR, Series I, Vol. 35, Part II, pg 26)

 

[Lubliner]

I'm confused (or maybe I'm just reading it wrong) as to which prisoners you are curious about. If you're referring to the Confederate prisoners on Morris Island then on October 20, 1864 Union General John G. Foster's aide, Lt. Robinson ordered Provost-Marshal, Capt. Appelton to transfer the Confederate prisoners to Ft. Pulaski, Georgia. (OR, Series I, Vol. 35, Part II, pg 314) and on January 8, 1865 General John G. Foster Foster informed General Halleck that 100 of the Confederate prisoners used for the Charleston retaliation have been exchanged and requested that the remainder be sent North to prisons which would then free up his troops from guard duty for field service. (OR Series I, Vol. 47, Part II, pp. 27 - 28)

If it are the Union prisoners that were held under fire in Charleston you are asking about then on October 13, 1864 General John G. Foster informed General Halleck that escaped Union prisoner Capt. D.W. Fox had given information that the "officers and men of our army recently prisoners of war in that city have all been removed, except the negro soldiers, to Columbia and other places in the northern part of the State." Foster continued that " I have made no change in the disposition of the rebel officers in my hands, for the reason that our officers were a long time under fire before these men placed in a corresponding position; that the negro soldiers are still under fire, and I am not officially informed of the removal of the white officers and soldiers." (OR, Series I, Vol. 35, Part II, pg 26)

I referred to the latter, and you gave me a good lead for reference. Thank you.
Lubliner.

 

[Copperhead-mi]

I referred to the latter, and you gave me a good lead for reference. Thank you.
Lubliner.

You're welcome.

 

[WJC]

When Charleston was evacuated on February 17, 1865, was anyone of importance left behind to surrender the city officially, under a white flag on February 18?

Charleston was surrendered by Mayor Charles MacBeth (1805-1881).

 

[Lubliner]

You're welcome.

To return the favor and give a bit of depth for points on the capture of the city, I located this in Series 1, Volume 53, pages 60-61.
I corrected a copy of both pages and will attach it below. It is an interesting account, full of names and regiments and first-hand details, but alas, no pictures. Sorry for that, and its longevity. And @WJC, surely you would think I'd do my own homework!
Lubliner.



Report of Capt. Samuel Cuskaden, Fifty-second Pennsylvania Infantry, of occupation of Charleston, S. C., February 18.

OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT .RECRUITING, Charleston, S. C., March 6, 1865.



LIEUTENANT:

In compliance with the request of Major Hennessy, Fifty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, I have the honor to forward to you an account of the taking of Charleston and the batteries and forts around it.

: On the morning of the 18th ultimo I rode up to Fort Strong, Morris Island, to meet Lieutenant-Colonel Bennett, being assistant provost-marshal on his staff. On meeting him he ordered me to make a reconnaissance of Fort Sumter. I started immediately for Cummings Point and found my boat manned by men of the Third Rhode Island Artillery, under the command of a second lieutenant.

He informed me he had orders to proceed to Fort Moultrie to raise the flag there. I sent an orderly after a storm flag, which I had at my quarters, and ordered the men to pull for Fort Sumter. When within 100 yards of there we saw a boat load of deserters approaching.

We signaled for them to come on, and pulled to meet them. They informed us that the city was evacuated excepting a few cavalry left to destroy the city. Ordering the Third Rhode Island men to proceed to Fort Moultrie, I got in the boat with the deserters and tried to induce them to pull for Fort Sumter, but neither threats nor promises would make them do so. Thev assured me the place was thoroughly mined and that they would not risk it.

I then pulled for Cummings Point to inform Lieutenant-Colonel Bennett of the statements of the deserters. He was waiting on the beach. Taking in a new crew of the Twenty-first U. S. Colored Troops, and receiving Lieutenant-Colonel Bennett and Lieutenant Haviland, One hundred and twenty- seventh New York, acting assistant inspector- general, into my boat, we pulled out into the harbor.

We met Major Hennessy, Fifty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, in the Ripley boat and told him of the situation at Fort Sumter. He (Major Hennessy) started immediately for the fort, and at 9.04 a. m. by Lieutenant Haviland's watch the major with a few men, scaled the parapet and waved the regimental flag of the Fifty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers over the torn and battered walls of Fort Sumter. Lieutenant-Colonel Bennett then ordered the boat on to Fort Ripley.

While on our way there Major Hennessy overtook us, and Lieutenant-Colonel Bennett and Lieutenant Haviland went into his boat. Both boats then pushed for Fort Ripley, but seeing that the Ripley boat, commanded by Major Hennessy, would outstrip me 1 ordered my boat to pull for Castle Pinckney. We laid on our oars while Major Hennessy raised the flag on the fort. Then came a race for Castle Pinckney. My boat struck first and three men of the Third Rhode Island Artillery sprang on the bank and tore down the Confederate flag. By that time Major Hennessy's men reached the flag pole, when a struggle ensued between the two parties as to which flag should be raised. The major's flag being smaller and easily handled his men succeeded in carrying their point. We then had a race for the city. Major Hennessy s boat led mine about fifty yards. Lieutenant-Colonel Bennett, Major Hennessy, and part of the crew, composed of the Fifty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, landed immediately.

Upon landing I threw out a guard of three men at the first street, two men of the Fifty- second Pennsylvania Volunteers and one of the Third Rhode Island Artillery, with instructions to make prisoners of every man they saw. In a few moments, from the stories of the prisoners and by permission of the lieutenant colonel commanding, I advanced my guard another square. Horses were seized for the staff, in which business Private Haskell, Third Rhode Island Artillery, showed much activity and usefulness.

In a short time Company A, Fifty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, Lieutenant Gilchrist commanding, reported to me with the regimental flag. I ordered him to raise it on the old post-office. Orderly Sergeant Kilian, Company A, unfolded to the breeze the banner of the regiment, the first that had floated over the city for four years. This flag remained here for two days, until required to advance into the country.

Just at this time and place, too, a white flag was seen approaching. It proved to be in the hands of Mr. George Williams, who by order of the mayor of the city was on his way to meet the U. S. authorities and tender the surrender of Charleston, and to ask for assistance and protection against the disorder and destruction that threatened the city. The companies of the Fifty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers marched to the arsenal and posts assigned them by the lieutenant-colonel commanding. As soon as they landed I ordered my guards to go around the city and make the firemen and all other citizens work to put out the fires. I got in a buggy and rode around to the various fires, some twenty in number, and forced everybody to work.

On getting to the upper parts of the city I found four men chopping and destroying some ambulances, but was unable to secure them, having no guard with me. The flag brought with me from Morris Island was raised on the Citadel, and is there yet. The Twenty-first U. S. Colored Troops arrived in the city about 5 p. in. and were assigned to various posts as provost guard. 1 assisted Lieutenant-Colonel Bennett as acting assistant provost marshal until relieved by Brigadier-General Schimmelfennig, when I commenced recruiting U. S. colored troops per Special Orders, No. 32, headquarters, Department of the South. The above is correct to the best of my knowledge. In the hurry and excitement possibly some details may have been overlooked. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

SAMUEL CUSKADEN, Captain, Fifty-second Pennsylvania Vols. and Supt. Recruiting.
Lieut. H. A. MOTT, Adjutant Fifty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers.

Official Records, Series 1, Volume 53, page 60-61.