Lieutenant Colonel Charles C. Jones Jr., a Confederate artillery officer serving at Savannah, wrote to his parents about the Union bombardment of Fort McAllister, which guarded the entrance to the Ogeechee River south of the city. Contrary to Jones’s expectation, the Union attack on the fort was not renewed on the following day. It had been ordered by Rear Admiral Samuel F. Du Pont, who was planning an assault on Charleston Harbor, as a test of the ability of his ironclads to damage earthwork fortifications.
Savannah, Tuesday, March 3rd, 1863
My very dear Father and Mother,
The abolitionists, with three ironclads, four gunboats, and several mortar boats, attacked Fort McAllister this morning. They opened fire about half-past eight, and the engagement continued without intermission until near half-past four o’clock P.M. The last dispatch, which left the fort after the firing had ceased, reports that only two of our men were wounded during the whole of this protracted bombardment, and they only slightly. The carriage of the eight-inch columbiad was disabled by a shot from the enemy. A new one has been sent out; and the gun itself, which was not injured, will be remounted during the night and be all ready for action in the morning. The injury to the parapet of the fort is slight, and will be repaired during the night. The garrison is in fine spirits, and are determined to hold the fort to the last extremity. It is truly wonderful how mercifully and abundantly the good and great God of Battles has encircled our brave men with the protection of His all-powerful arm, shielding them from harm amid dangers imminent and protracted. To Him our hearts ascend in humble, fervent gratitude for the past; from Him we earnestly implore like favor in the future. If the Lord is on our side, as we honestly trust and believe He is, we will not fear what our enemies, with all their boasted strength, can do unto us.
The enemy seems determined to reduce this fort if practicable, probably with a view to the destruction of the railroad bridge. That little fort has thus far so successfully and so bravely resisted every effort on their part for its reduction that they will doubtless use every endeavor, as a matter of pride, to compass its destruction. There is no question of the fact that it is a remarkably well-constructed earthwork—well traversed. The lessons of the past and of the present so demonstrate. It is almost a miniature edition of Vicksburg. In like manner must all our defenses be conducted.
The dispatch to which I alluded above states further that the ironclads, etc., retired, apparently with a view to obtaining an additional supply of ammunition. They dropped down the river only a little way, and a store ship soon joined them and appeared to be serving out ammunition. The attack will doubtless be renewed in the morning; in fact, while I write from my office in the barracks at this 9½ P.M., I hear guns in the direction of Genesis Point. The enemy will probably continue the bombardment at intervals during the night, with a view to wearying our men and preventing the necessary repairs to the fort; and when the morning light again cleverly dawns, the attack will be renewed with vigor. We are supplying the deficiencies in ammunition caused by the expenditures of the day. It is thought that one ironclad was seriously injured. This may be, however, only conjecture; we hope such is the fact.
The land force on our side, now in the vicinity of the fort and prepared to resist any effort of the enemy to land, consists of the 29th Georgia Regiment, the sharpshooter battalion, two companies in the fort, our light battery, and some seven or more cavalry companies. With the natural advantages of the country these men, if they do their duty, ought to accomplish a great deal.
We have been reinforced at this point by the arrival of the brave General Walker. General Clingman reached the city today with his brigade of three regiments, and General Taliaferro is expected with his brigade. General Beauregard announces himself prepared to come over at any moment that his services are needed. I trust and confidently believe that we will, with the blessing of Heaven, be able successfully to defend the city from the expected attack, and to teach the enemy a fearful lesson which will not be speedily forgotten.
I am getting my light artillery in capital condition, and hope, when the opportunity presents itself, to render efficient service.
The Doctor came in this afternoon and is staying with us. Mr. Ward also returned by the Charleston train. Many, many thanks, my very dear mother, for your kind and most acceptable remembrance of us.
I am very much pained, my dear father, to hear that you are still so weak. All I can do is to hope and pray that you may soon be better, and that it would please God in tender mercy to us all to prolong your days, so precious to us all. . . . Do, my dear parents, let me know if I can do anything for you at any time, or for my dear little daughter. I wish very much to see you all, but at present it is impossible for me to leave the post of duty, for it is emphatically the fact that we know not what an hour may bring forth. . . . With warmest love to you both, my dear father and mother, and many tender kisses for my dear little daughter, I am ever
Your affectionate son,
Charles C. Jones, Jr.