Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 4.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[454] small garrison could defend, with, probably, another smaller breach upon the opposite side; and I at once determined that, if the resistance was continued, it would be best, and entirely practicable, to storm the Fort successfully within thirty to forty hours. And I had given directions to Gen. Gilmore, to have suitable scaling-ladders prepared for the purpose, and was arranging for the proper forces, boats, etc., when, at about two P. M., we discovered a white flag thrown up, and the rebel flag, after telling, out to the wind for a few minutes at half-mast, came slowly to the ground.

I then directed my Assistant Adjutant-General, Capt. A. B. Ely, to leave for the Fort; but finding soon after your own Adjutant-General, Major Halpine, at the batteries, I commissioned him (accompanied by Capt. Ely) to proceed there with the terms I proposed — simply those of your own first note, demanding the surrender of the garrison, and all the armament and weapons; no other modification to be allowed than that they should have as favorable terms as are given by our Government in this war. General Gilmore reaching the upper batteries soon after, and appearing to desire it, and as his services most eminently merited that his wishes should be gratified, I authorized him to pass over to accept the surrender of the Fort; and the terms assented to by him, are essentially those dictated by me, excepting, perhaps, those relating to the disabled men, who would otherwise have been a burden to us. And by the return of these, I have endeavored to provide by a letter from Col. Olmstead, the rebel commander, for the receiving of a like number of men of the Forty-sixth New-York regiment, captured from Tybee about two weeks since.

I have now, in closing, but the pleasing duty of deporting upon the instances of individual merit that have come under my observation during that siege, which report must necessarily be brief, where so many have done so well.

And to the kind and cordial cooperation of the naval forces under Flag-Officer Du Pont, I feel that our highest thanks are due; for it was only by their assistance that we have been completely enabled to isolate the Fort from the hope of succor and relief; while the needy supply of ordnance stores and other material most needed by us, at the last moment, has been of great value. And the battery manned by their detachment, under Lieut. Irwin, I have the pleasure of stating, was one of the most efficiently served against the Fort during the action; a supervision being kept over it constantly by Capt. C. R. P. Rodgers in person — an officer who, an acquaintance of more than twenty years standing assures me, is without a superior in our own or any other service.

To Acting Brigadier-General D. A. Gilmore, (Captain of Engineers,) the highest praise is due, for the exercise of his great professional skill and judgment, and his laborious industry, in arranging and personally superintending all the general preparations, and all the details of the actual siege, which has resulted so successfully, showing him eminently worthy of the position and rank in which his previous Commander, Gen. Sherman, had placed him, as far as was in his power; and which rank I would respectfully ask — your interest for confirmation of by the President.

Capt. Pelouze, Acting Inspector-General of the Department; Capt. Turner, Chief Commissary of the Department; Lieut. Porter, of the United States Ordnance Department, and Lieut. Wilson, Topographical Engineers--all in charge of batteries — rendered most zealous and efficient service, which their previous military education has so well fitted them for. Lieut. P. H. O'Rourke, of the United States Engineers, acting as Assistant Engineer to Gen. Gilmore, was also most energetic and useful.

Of your own staff, I had the pleasure of noticing repeatedly under fire, most actively engaged, Major Halpine, Assistant Adjutant--General ; Lieut. Smith, Acting Assistant Adjutant--General; Major Hough, most especially zealous; Major Wright, Captains Thompson and Dole, Lieuts. Stockton, Hay, and Kinsie, your Aids — not only complying with your own directions, but ready to aid me at all times when needed.

Lieut.--Col. Hall, of the Volunteer Engineer regiment, deserves most especial commendation for his activity, zeal, and general usefulness at all times, by night and by day, by which he constantly rendered most valuable services, as did the battalion of his fine regiment during the siege and previously; and Captain McArthur, of the Eighth Maine regiment, being highly praised by different officers who witnessed his successful management of his men at the batteries, deserves my commendation.

The companies of the Third Rhode Island artillery, under Capt. Tourtelotte, served their guns most efficiently; and the Seventh Connecticut regiment, under Colonel Terry, very ably manned the batteries which they had most laboriously constructed; so that I designated them, as I was pleased to find had been (unknown to me) the previous selection of Gen. Gilmore, for the honor of being the first to garrison the surrendered Fort.

Of my personal staff, my senior Aid, Lieut. A. B. Ely, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, was constantly with me when not occupied otherwise by my direction; still showing most eminently every qualification, as he had done previously, for the responsible position for which I had selected him — and Lieut. S. U. Benham, my junior Aid, and S. H. Hawks, Acting Aid, were ready and prompt in the discharge of their duties. Col. Serrell, of the Volunteer Engineer regiment, (acting temporarily on my staff,) showed great zeal and activity throughout the action.

I would respectfully recommend in relation to the commander of the garrison of the Fort, Col. Chas. H. Olmstead, whose gallant conduct as an enemy, and whose courtesy as a gentleman are entitled to all consideration, that should you deem it proper, the courtesy of the return of his