An inked manuscript two page ‘General Order’ from Brigadier General Quincy Adams Gillmore, dated Sept. 15th, 1863 and addressed to Lieut. Benj. F. Whitten of Co. B, 9th Maine Infantry. A wonderful letter reading: ‘Department of the South, headquarters in the field Morris Island, S.C. September 15th 1863. General Orders It is with no ordinary feeling of gratification and pride, that the Brigadier General Commanding is enabled to congratulate this Army upon the signal success which has crowned the enterprise in which it has been engaged. Fort Sumter is destroyed. The scene where our Countries flag suffered its first dishonor, you have made the theatre of one of its proudest triumphs. The Fort has been in the possession of the Enemy for more than two years, has been his pride and boast, has been strengthened by every appliance known to Military science, and has defied the assaults of the Most powerful and gallant fleet the World ever saw. But it has yielded to your courage and patient labor. Its walls are now crumbled to ruins, its formidable batteries are silenced, and though a hostile flag still floats over it, the fort is a harmless and helpless wreck. Forts Wagner and Gregg: Works rendered memorable by their protracted resistance, and the sacrifice of life they have Cost; have also been wrested from the enemy by your persevering courage and skill, and the graves of your fallen comrades rescued from desecration and Contumely. You now hold in undisputed possession the whole of Morris Island, and the City and harbor of Charleston lie at the mercy of your Artillery from the very spot where the first shot was fired at your Countries flag, and the rebellion itself was inaugurated. To You; the Officers and Soldiers of this Command, and to the gallant Navy which has Co-operated with you, are due the thanks of your Commander and your Country. You were called upon to encounter untold privations and dangers; to undergo unremitting and exhausting labors; to sustain Fever and disheartening reverses. How Nobly your patriotism and Zeal have responded to the Call, the result of the Campaign will show, and your Commanding General gratefully bears Witness. (sd.) Q.A. Gillmore Brigadier General Commanding. Official J. Emery Shepard Adjutant Gen.’ A truly impressive letter of thanks from a commanding General to his troops and the navy. The Union Army and Navy sent over 50,000 projectiles into Fort Sumter over a period of two years and did reduce it to little more than a pile of rubble, and caused over 300 casualties to it defenders, but it was not until Sherman was about to capture the city of Charleston that the few remaining defenders left the fort and it was once again in Union hands on Feb. 22, 1865, 16 months and 7 days after the date of this letter. In some ways this letter is more about the final capture of Forts Wagner & Gregg which occurred when the Confederates realized that they were no longer defendable and withdrew with the few remaining serviceable cannon on the night of Sept. 7th, 1863, 8 days before this letter was written. Ft. Wagoner was the scene of the battle on July 18, 1863 in which the first African American Volunteer Regiment the 54th Massachusetts Infantry lead by Col. Robert Shaw was nearly completely destroyed in a gallant, if fruitless charge, supported by other Union Regiments, including the 9th Maine and naval gunboats. The 1989 Hollywood movie ‘Glory’ was made about this battle and the 54th.

Removed from album, else Fine.