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Highly Important Document Pertaining to the Ordnanc

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On April 12, 1861, at 4:30 a.m., Confederate batteries opened fire, firing for 33 straight hours, on the fort. Edmund Ruffin, noted Virginian agronomist and secessionist, claimed that he fired the first shot on Fort Sumter. His story has been widely believed, but Lieutenant Henry S. Farley, commanding a battery of two mortars on James Island fired the first shot at 4:30 A.M. The garrison returned fire, but it was ineffective, in part because Major Anderson did not use the guns mounted on the highest tier, the barbette tier, where the gun detachments would be more exposed to Confederate fire. On April 13, the fort was surrendered and evacuated. During the attack, the Union colors fell. Lt. Norman J. Hall risked life and limb to put them back up, burning off his eyebrows permanently. No Union soldiers died in the actual battle though a Confederate soldier bled to death having been wounded by a misfiring cannon. One Union soldier died and another was mortally wounded during the 27th shot of a 100 shot salute, allowed by the Confederacy. Afterwards the salute was shortened to 50 shots. Accounts, such as in the famous diary of Mary Chesnut, describe Charleston residents along what is now known as The Battery, sitting on balconies and drinking salutes to the start of the hostilities. Highly important Document Signed "Ed Manigautl Col. Ord pr. W.G. Eason aid" , 2p. quarto, being the retained copy of an "Invoice of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores, turned over by Ed. Manigault Col. Ordnance, State of South Carolina, to L.M. Hatch QMG So. Ca. for transportation to Lt. Col. R.S. Ripley Mortar Battery No. 2 Sullivans Isld." Charleston, South Carolina, March 25, 1861, with ANS by General R.S. Ripley "I certify that the Ordnance & Ordnane Stores included in the above invoice were issued and received at posts under my Command on the dates specified - Much was expended during the operations against Fort Sumter - What remained was taken up and continued on the regular Ordnance returns. R.S. Ripley B.G. Charleston S.C. Decr. 12, 1862" Fine.

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