Sumter Ironcladed?

[DaveBrt]

The San Antonio, Tex News, April 6, 1863 reprints an article from "a New York paper" which includes a letter from "Phil" to "H", dated Dec. 28, 1862, from the US Steamer Bibb. The letter recounts the writer's participation in a small boat reconn of Sumter on a night in the recent past. His major point was that the fort "has been clad in perpendicular bars of railroad iron, from the base to the upper line. The port holes were protected by massive protections of the same material, presenting acute angles at every side."

Can anyone confirm this ironclading? When was it emplaced and can you give any information on the railroad bars used?

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

I don't know about "ironclading" but I do know it and Castle Pickney were buried under layers upon layers of dirt.

Not saying it couldn't have happened, but one back then as now one can't believe everything in the news.

 

[Pollaco]

It would have taken alot of RailRoad Iron.How did it get transported to the fort? And the manpower to install it. How did they keep this "secret military project" so secretive?