Lieutenant Colonel Jones, a Confederate artillery officer, wrote to his mother in Georgia about the ongoing siege of Charleston. While Union artillery fire forced the evacuation of Fort Wagner on September 7 and demolished much of Fort Sumter, the siege would continue until February 1865.
James Island, Sunday, September 6th, 1863
It is Sabbath morning, my dear mother, but it is a very difficult matter to realize the fact. All day yesterday, all last night, and all day up to this hour, Battery Wagner has been subjected to a most terrific bombardment. Over one hundred were killed and wounded within its walls yesterday. No human being could have lived for one moment upon its walls or upon its parade. Against it were hurled the combined projectiles fired from the ironsides and the various mortar and Parrott batteries of the enemy located at different points on Morris Island. As their shells in numbers would explode in the parapet and within the fort, Wagner would seem converted into a volcano. Never was any battery called upon to resist such a bombardment, and I fear that it is now held more as a matter of military pride than anything else. It is very questionable whether this should be done.
In full view of everything on yesterday afternoon, from Battery Haskell, which was firing upon the enemy, I witnessed the progress of the siege. The gunnery of the Federals was wonderful. Wagner could not answer a single shot. The enemy last night assaulted Battery Gregg, which is located on the extreme north point of Morris Island, and were repulsed. God be praised for that; for had Gregg been carried, the entire garrison at Wagner would have been captured. I would not be surprised if the enemy assaulted Wagner tonight. That portion of the parapet looking towards the south of Morris Island has been knocked very much to pieces, and the sand crumbled into the ditch. In the very nature of things it cannot be held very much longer.
As a port of commercial ingress and egress Charleston is gone; but my impression at present is that the enemy will never be able to obtain possession of the city itself. It may be destroyed in whole or in part by the shells of the enemy, but it is questionable whether they can ever hold it as a site. The inner defenses are as yet intact, and the large Blakely gun is nearly mounted. Three ironclad gunboats are in the harbor, ready to attack the enemy in the event of their endeavoring to enter with their fleet.
We know not what a day may bring forth, but I trust that we may all be enabled, by God’s blessing, to do our heroic duty under any and every circumstance. This life is a terrible one, but must be endured. Do, my dear mother, kiss my precious little daughter for me. Assure all at home of my sincerest love. And believe me ever
Your affectionate son,
Charles C. Jones, Jr.
James Island, Wednesday, September 9th, 1863
My very dear Mother,
I write simply to assure you and my dear little daughter and all at home of my constant remembrance and truest love.
The enemy yesterday attacked, with the ironsides and four monitors, Fort Moultrie, and were repulsed after a severe and prolonged bombardment. Last night an assault was made by them in barges upon Fort Sumter. The assault was signally repelled. We captured nineteen commissioned officers, one hundred and two noncommissioned officers and privates, and six barges. It is supposed that we killed and wounded and drowned between two and three hundred of the rascals. Our ironclads performed signal service. We captured also the flag which floated from Sumter when that fort was surrendered by Anderson, and which the enemy had brought in the expectation of again planting it upon the walls of that fort.
Day before yesterday I proceeded to the Stono with three light batteries to engage the sloop of war Pawnee; but she would not come within range, and after firing a few random shots retired.
Through God’s great mercy I am still quite well. I think matters are assuming a rather more favorable aspect, and if the enemy will only delay a little longer any contemplated attack by the way of James Island, we will have completed a new and formidable line of defenses. The enemy will find it a very difficult matter to enter the harbor. What I most fear is the partial destruction of the city by the long-range Parrott batteries of the Federals located on Morris Island. The scoundrels are busy as bees placing them in position, and apparently are training them upon the city and our James Island batteries. Our batteries are always firing, night and day.
Do, my dear mother, kiss my precious little daughter for me. Give best love to all at home. And remember me ever as
Your affectionate son,
Charles C. Jones, Jr.
I have had no letter from home yet.