Lot 306

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Walter Gwynn Autograph Letters Signed dated: 18 February 1861, Engineer Bureau, State of South Carolina, Charleston
To General D. F. Jamison (1810-1864), Secretary of War, [State of South Carolina]. "I have the honor to report that the operations for the attack on Fort Sumter were confirmed on the 16th …. On the 17th, fifty eight hands were engaged in the construction of a battery on Point Cummings, and a volunteer force on a "sunken battery" near the head quarters of the officer…on Morris Island. The Planters on James' Island have reported thirty hands for service. I have requested them to send them to Fort Johnson tomorrow morning." Docketed on the verso "Report of Maj: Gwynne Feb. 18. 1861" An article in a South Carolina newspaper published on 21 February 1861 explained the context of Major Gwynn's comments about the "Planters on James' Island." The writer prefaced his comments with "active preparations continue to be made in Charleston harbor, for an assault upon Fort Sumter." He continued: "the Chief of the Engineer Corps of our State…has invited planters…who feel disposed, to offer the services of some of their slaves as laborers to the State."
One page, on laid paper with watermark, W7 3/4" L9 3/4"

dated: 5 February 1861, Fort Moultrie
To Lieut. Col. R. S. Ripley, Commanding Fort Moultrie. "I herewith lay before you a copy of a report pf Lieut. Earle's detailing the work done here yesterday." The report, however, is not present.
One page, on lined paper with blindstamp, W7 3/4" L9 3/4" (2dcs)

Provenance: Dr. & Mrs. C.G. Hopper, Jr. Collection

Other Notes: Walter Gwynn (1802-1882) Gwynn graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1822 and spent ten years in the army before resigning in 1832 and spending the next twenty-eight years working on engineering projects for railroads in Virginia, and North and South Carolina. In June of 1860, he was enumerated in the United States census in Pendleton, South Carolina, his headquarters while he acted as chief engineer of the Blue Ridge Railroad. By 1 January 1861, he was in Charleston where, as Major Gwynn, he was chief of the Engineer Bureau of South Carolina. On 9 January, he along with Edward B. White, J. H. Trapier and Edward Manigault, were directed by Governor Francis W. Pickens "to come together immediately. And consider and report the most feasible plan for operating upon Fort Sumter, so as to reduce that fortress by batteries, or other means in our possession…." The four officers produced a plan the next day which urged Governor Pickens to make "immediate preparation for attack with the means we now have."

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February 10, 2023 11:00 AM EST
West Columbia, SC, US

Charlton Hall

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