Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/181

 The Wee Nee Volunteers of Williamsburg District. 175

lieved from duty at that fort. Major Stephen Elliott (afterwards promoted to be brigadier-general) was placed in command, with a garrison made up of details from different regiments. No entire regiment or battalion was sent, because it was not the purpose of General Beauregard to send any officer there who would rank Major Elliott. The honor of commanding that post was to be left to him. For a considerable period of time details were made from the Twenty- filth by companies to form a part of the garrison. Every company in the regiment had the honor of being at least once at this post of danger. Neither day nor night passed without the enemy sending their compliments to Major Elliott and his brave garrison in the shape of shot and shell. The Twenty-fifth South Carolina volunteers gave its share to the roll of the noble dead who gave their lives to their country on the spot where her flag first waved over captured works. Thirteen men, one Georgian and twelve of the Washington Light Infantry (Company A), were one night relieved from a tour of duty on the parapet (or rather where the parapet had been, for Sumter was now a shapeless mass of ruins) and allowed to take a little rest. They spread their blankets on the floor of one of the casemates towards the city; all, except one, were soon sleeping, and probably dreaming of loved ones at home. " Children in their low trundle bed," were no doubt in the visions of some. This restless one', find- ing that "Nature's sweet restorer" had departed his eyelids, got up and went out to the parade ground of the fort. A shot came ricochetting over the sea face, struck the key-stone of the arch which supported the roof of the casemate, and the whole structure fell. Twelve brave men answered to their names on

" Fame's eternal camping ground."

When the ruins were removed the next day, they were found exactly in the position in which they went to sleep. I did not hear the name of the Georgian. The men of Company A were, Sergeants W. L. Owens and J. Adger Stevens; Privates S. W. Anderson, O. J. Burn, S. L. Burrows, F. M. Burrows, James Calder, W. S. Gibson, J. W. Jones, L. S. Lee, and W. N. Patterson.

The regiment remained at Secessionville all of the winter. For a long time we had daily artillery duels with the enemy. Whenever their steamers passed in reach of our guns we indulged in artillery practice. Our attentions were promptly returned with interest. In one of these fights Private Hugh M. Pressley, of Company C, had one of the bones of his hand broken by a piece of shell, and suffered