“Friendly
Fire,” the sinking of the
CSS
Sumter
John Barnes
23rd
Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Company B, "Choestoe Guards"
writing to his Mother in Union County, Georgia
written September 8, 1863
John Barnes'
letter was found behind a picture frame in Union County,
Georgia. He served in Co. B, "Choestoe Guard," 23rd Georgia
Volunteer Infantry Regiment, C.S.A. While at Charleston,
the 23rd fought at Battery Wagner, Fort Sumter and James
Island. David W. Payne,
also in the
23rd was “blown up by a shell” at Battery
Wagner. On James Island, the 23rd ran the famed 54th
Massachusetts U.S.C. T. from the field. See the
movie Glory for the
excellent battle scenes during the fight for Battery
Wagner. The following letter describes Battery Wagner
and the sinking of the sidewheel steamer transport
Sumter with the 23rd G.V.I.R. aboard including Union
County’s Company B, "Choestoe Guard" and Company
K, "Young Cane Volunteers. "
Charleston
Sc Sept the 8 1863
Dear Mother
It is with the greatest of pleasure that I seat myself to
transmit to you a few lines to inform you that I am in
tolerable good health at this time. Hoping that those few
lines may reach and and find you all in the same state of
health. We have just got back from Battery Wagner. There is
continual fighting although mostly shelling. We stayed
there six days and night. The yankees are continually
throwing shell in there. Their mortars throw shells that
vary from two to three hundred pounds. We were relieved
there last Sunday night at 12 o'clock and our Regiment and
the 20th South Carolina and two other companies got on the
boat [C.S. Steamer Sumter]. And about two or three
o'clock,
our Batteries fired on the boat and the second shot
from Fort Moultrie, they hit the boat and soon sunk
it. And some
threw their guns and everything else [away]. Some were
killed and some were drowned. Some waded and swam to Fort
Sumter and some swam to land. It was about a half of a mile
to Sumter and some stayed and hung to the boat till they
got news of the accident and brought small boats and all of
our Regiment made their escape. But I doubt now how they
all happened to, for it was the most distressing time that
ever was. Some of them threw off all of their clothes and
came to Fort Sumter with out a rag of clothes and some of
them just with their chest and drawers. So nothing more at
this time, only I want you to write soon and often. So I
remain yours, truly until death. John
Barnes
The Official
Records show only 2 deaths and one wounded from the
shelling. Those were in the 20th South Carolina. No deaths
occured in the 23rd Georga. According to the O.R., there
were no drownings from the sinking.
John
Barnes survived the war.
Also, see these additional letters and
records
on the sinking of the CSS Sumter.