Daniel Ammen, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 7.2, The Atlantic Coast
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[133] with its extended line of earthworks, opened fire with many large guns and struck the monitors frequently with heavy shot. The Weehawken, upon which the admiral was, received two blows on the pilot-house ‘more forcible than any he had seen.’ Notwithstanding the difficulties of manoeuvring during the night, and in a channel edged with shoals, only one monitor got aground. At six it was blowing from the southeast and the vessels were withdrawn. The Department was informed that the gorge of Sumter was completely ruined by the severe fire of the batteries of General Gillmore, aided by four rifled cannon of the navy in battery on shore under Commander F. A. Parker. The intention was expressed of ‘passing Sumter into the harbor if the obstacles are not of such a nature as to prevent it, as soon as the weather moderated.’

On the 25th of August an exchange of prisoners took place by agreement. It was either happily arranged or fortuitous for the defenders of Fort Wagner. General Ripley says: ‘The enemy opened about daylight both from the fleet and land batteries. Wagner was sorely pressed, and the flag of truce boat was literally a godsend. The firing continued until 10 A. M., and for a portion of the time was equal in intensity to the bombardment of the 18th. One of the more advanced land batteries of Parrott guns did serious damage; the remaining X-inch columbiad on the sea-face was dismounted, and the magazines so much exposed that it became necessary to remove the ammunition. The commanding officer, anticipating a renewal of the bombardment upon the completion of the exchange of prisoners, requested that all necessary arrangements should be made for the transfer of the troops from the island in case of necessity. Four hours were consumed in effecting the delivery of 105 wounded prisoners and in receiving 39. The bombardment was not renewed, ’