American Historical Ephemera & Early Photography Online

RIVERS, C.H. Manuscript report in secretarial hand signed ("C.H. Rivers") as Captain Commanding, 1st Regiment South Carolina Infantry ("Butler's" or "1st Regulars"). Addressed to Lieutenant S.C. Boylston, A.A.A. General. "Hd Qr 2d Sub Division / November 29th 1864." 1p, approx. 7 x 9 in. (creasing at folds, light soil, adhesive repair on verso). Docketed on verso including the signatures of Col. William BUTLER, Col. Commanding, 1st S.C. Regulars, and S.C. BOYLSTON, AAAG.

Rivers reports, in full: "I have the honor to report that the parapet of Fort Moultrie was very much cut up by the fire of the enemy on yesterday. Some portions of the external slope has slided, and I would request that the Engineer be required to give it his immediate attention." Docketing indicates that on the orders of Col. Rhett, Boylston "Resp. referred [Rivers's request] to Mr. Tennent, Eng. in charge."

Fort Moultrie played an important role throughout the Civil War, starting with Union Major Robert Anderson's withdraw from Moultrie to to Fort Sumter at the opening of the conflict. The Confederacy held Fort Moultrie throughout the war until February 1865 and the approach of Union General William T. Sherman. In April 1863, Federal ironclads and shore batteries began the bombardment of Fort Moultrie which continued for roughly 22 months, during which time Confederates continued to man the fortification and see to repairs as needed. Confederate engineer "Mr. Tennant" references Captain J.A. (James Albert) Tennent, a Charleston, S.C. native and 1861 graduate of the South Carolina Military Academy (The Citadel). Tennent rose to serve as engineer in charge of the fortifications on the South Carolina coast lying to the east of Fort Sumter. Col. Rhett was Col. Albert Moore Rhett, a volatile Confederate officer who was the son of Robert Barnwell Rhett, a "Fire-Eater" and friend of John C. Calhoun.