Inside Sumter: Letters from a Federal Artillerist

INSIDE SUMTER: LETTERS FROM A FEDERAL ARTILLERIST Edited by Edith M. Johnston The firing on Fort Sumter marked the outbreak of the Civil War. As such, it was one of the most dramatic and cataclysmic events in American history. Even a casual study of the vast quantity of relevant material shows that the majority of the participants, both in the event itself and in the period of uncertainty which preceded it, realized this and stood appalled at what appeared to be an inevitable destruction which they were powerless to avert. Among these men was the Federal commander at Charleston harbor, the Southern-bom Major Robert Anderson. Until the first shot was actually fired, Anderson hoped for an honorable deliverance from the dilemma of having to choose between his belief in the indissolubility of the Union, to which his allegiance was pledged, and the sympathies which his background naturally engendered. Civü wars confuse men's loyalties and allow few the luxury of an undivided allegiance, and even fewer the prospect of avoiding the issue. John Thompson, the author of these letters, was among that fortunate minority , although he was fully aware of the dramatic situation in which he found himself. Private Thompson enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1856. His fifth year of service found him with Battery E, 1st U.S. Artillery, stationed in Fort Moultrie, Charleston harbor. On December 26, 1860, the garrison's commander, Major Anderson, ordered its withdrawal into Fort Sumter, and on April 12, 1861, the Confederate forces in Charleston fired on the fort, thus beginning the Civü War. There are many Confederate eyewitness accounts of theengagement but comparatively little is known of what transpired within the fortress itself. Thompson's letters are interesting for the light which they throw on this aspect of the bombardment . Intensive search, however, has revealed very little information about the author. The two letters reproduced here, which he wrote to his father, Robert Thompson of Articlave near Coleraine in Northern Edith M. Johnston, lecturer in modern and medieval history at the University of Sheffield in England, is currently a visiting professor of history at the University of Michigan. 417 418EDITH M.JOHNSTON Ireland, were discovered among the family papers of Mrs. Sadie Hawthorne of Maghercolton, Newtownstewart, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.1 Apart from a good literary style, John Thompson had quite a flair for accurate and detailed reporting, which he combined with a nonchalant appreciation for the dramatic. Considering the circumstances, his accuracy is surprising, for a comparison with the official records corroborates his factual information to an amazing degree. Nevertheless , he is certainly not an unbiased reporter, and his personal enthusiasm , reflecting the high morale of the ganison, is possibly one of his most attractive traits. Whether John Thompson ever made his projected trip home is doubtful, for he is reputed to have survived the war only to die in a railway disaster shortly afterwards. Fort Sumter So. Carolina February 14th 1861. My dear Father, Your letter dated January 11th has been duly received, and I am exceedingly glad to hear of your welfare. You are anxious you say in your letter to know all about the war, or properly speaking the rebellion of South Carolina. I shall endeavor to describe what has come under my notice. Ever since the election of [the] President in November last great dis[s]atisfaction has prevailed in the slave states, and during December this State formally seceded from the Union, and openly threatened to take forcible possession of the Forts, Arsenals and other public property in this harbor.2 This they were certain could be easily accomplished, as two of the three Forts in this harbor were without any Garrison, and the third, Fort Moultrie being ganisoned by only seventy five United States Artillerymen. Certain of success they vigorously set about warlike preparations, all the time keeping a very strict watch on the helpless little Garrison of which I formed a member. Steam boats were nightly set to watch us to prevent our moving to Sumter, a far more formidable, nay I may say almost impregnable work situated directly opposite us, and distant about a mile. Our Commander set about fortifying...