"An account of matters & things in and about Charleston,
&c" (137 years ago)
By John Hamilton Cornish
written January 12, 1861 Part of Civil War at Charleston Website
"An account of matters & things in and about Charleston,
&c" (137 years ago)
The Steamer Star of the West was fired on by Cadets at Fort Morris
January 9,1861
Well my dear brother, "The war is begun"
So the news is headed for the city today
The first battle fought & victory won,
Or at least the enemy has run away.
This year began with clouds, dark and dreary,
On the political horizon there was little to cheer us.
News most exciting by every rail train,
Commissioners returning - Troops by Harriret Lane
Troops passing down for the defense of the State
Crowds at the depot for every train wait. His home in Aiken SC
Conductor, most important man in the nation on the SC railroad
Retelling the news from his favoured station Conductor brings the news
With eloquence often most thrilling & loud
Mid the wild huzzas of the eager crowd
Federal troops are coming - on the way
Let them come on ! I say
Will they get to Fort Sumter? - Well let them try
Morris & Moultrie will let the shot fly.
True to the mark, boys - But if with a fleet
They rain shot and shell on the forts like sleet
On the Battery, boys, we'll then take our stand
With a hundred huge guns all mounted & manned,
While man, woman or child in the city is found
They shall never set foot on Belle City's ground
Let them come, if they conquer they shall find naught there
But ashes - flesh - & bones - blood - & hair!
To Charleston I went to releave my suspense
And see what is doing for the City's defense,
To the Arsenal first I directed my way
Where the Palmetto flag now welcomes the day.
Of muskets here, 20,00 or more
And 2000 Rifles are kept in store.
Tho' in this wet weather the duty is hard,
Citizen soldiers there cheerfully guard.
Next to the docks & shipping I fly
Soon a Commissary's Boat I spy,
And leap on board, by polite invitation
Of the Captain, accepted without hesitation.
Puff goes the steam, and away she flies,
Laden with munitions & welcome supplies
For Forts Johnson & Morris Sumter looked down
On our little craft with an awful frown
As we rounded to Johnson - how cruel -
For the troops who are carefully guarding the forts
Some hundreds of tons of coal and provisions
Placed there before these unhappy divisions.
Anderson's men covit these, as they stoop
Through a port hole, & long for a hot bowl of soup.
Poor fellows! in a strong fortress they are,
But sadly are grieved those comforts to spare
The Rifles will guard them with consideration
And all due respect from any molestation.
Puff went the steam again, loose from the pier
And around Fort Sumter we cautiously steer
The guards look down from parapet & tower
And big mouthed guns from the port holes lower
The star spangled banner - till lately our pride
The gallant Palmetto now proudly defied.
O, woe is the hour & wo is the day
They meet on the field in hostile array.
Let the man hide his face, & the black pall of night
Screen the deeds of that day from humanity's sight
Blood will flow freely - & life for life
When Brother 'gainst brother lifts the arm in the strife
Each for their country, but some in that hour
Will strike for their homes with a terrible power
Now we head up the creek, and presently reach
Off Morris Island the low sandy beach.
All quiet & thriftless the loose piled sand
On our right, as we walk the tide beaten strand.
Past sentinels stationed in martial array
And soldier boys sporting along the way.
On a war horse two came galloping by
One from Aiken, & has me in his eye -
"What news from the city" - is the first greeting
"We've been at work without sleeping or eating,
The rain in showers not seldom nor light
Slacked not our labor, nor watch at night
Till the guns were in place, our greatest need,
To food , rain or rest we gave little heed"
The cannon are in charge of the Citadel Cadets
The gallant Maj. Stevens & the State pets. &
The Zouave Cadets are quarted nearby
A company of boys whose spirits run high.
The German rifles - a gallant band
And the Vigilant Rifles guard the strand.
Three cheers for the boys who guard our coast
Invincible in heart gainst any host.
With stout-hearted men, munitions and armes
Fort Moultrie is guarded 'gainst any alarms
But to it's strength they may yet add a roof
Of bristling Palmetto & sand, bomb proof.
And bridge over the Creek 'tween the Island & main,
Over which they can march with a heavy train.
And here the strength of the South is displayed
This causeway by our peculiar Institution is made
And the Negroes work with a will & a jest
Their masters are fain to compel them to rest.
Castle Pinkney is bristling with cannon and steel
All ready to join in the last dread appeal.
But Anderson at will, with his 90 men
Could make this post like a slaughter-pen.
In the shops of the City you miss the smirk
And graceful bow of the obliging clerk
The youth of all classes, with armour bedight
Are out on the ramparts, panting to fight
Lint and bandage, while their hearts are quaking
Mothers and Sisters are diligently making
Vigilant by caring with womanly pride
That every want of the soldier's supplied
God bless the matrons who dwell by the waters
And all Carolina's noble hearted daughters.
.
On April 12, 1861 "the Conductor reports that the firing of Cannon in Charleston harbor had begun this morning at 4 A.M. and was still going on when he left"
From Diary of John Hamilton Cornish original and typed
copy now in Southern Historical Collection at University of North
Carolina He married Martha Jenkins of Brick House on
Edisto Island see ruins and Edisto Island Museum on Edisto
This is submitted by his great grandson
John Hamilton Cornish was rector of St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church
of Aiken SC
1846-1869 (reference St. Thaddeus of Aiken by H.
Addison McClearen
& Silas Owen Sheetz, The Reprint Company Publishers, Spartanburg
SC 1994)
and his diary above