Rare Confederate Enlistment at Castle Pickney Days Before the Attack on Sumter

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008

Exceedingly rare Confederate partly-printed Document Signed, “H.O. Wills” and countersigned by “Jno. B. Holmes” as Examining Surgeon, and “F.L. Childs [Childs Light Artillery] Capt. C.S.A” as Wills recruiting officer, 1p. quarto, Castle Pinckney, South Carolina, April 6, 1861, and reads in part: “...I, H.O. Wills born in Washington in the District of Colubmia aged twenty five years, and by occupation a Book Keeper Do herby Acknowledge to have voluntarily enlisted this sixth day of April 1861 as a Soldier in the ARMY of the CONFEDERATE STATES of AMERICA, to serve for the period of 3 years...And I, H.O. Wills do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Confederate States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whomsoever: and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the Confederate States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according tot he Rules and Articles of War...” Fine.Castle Pinckney was a small masonry fortification constructed by the United States government in the 1790s in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. By the Civil War, Castle Pinckney was part of a network of defensive positions in the harbor, which included the larger and more strategically placed Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie, and other smaller earthworks and fortifications. Castle Pinckney's armament in 1860 consisted of fourteen 24-pounders, four 42-pounders, four 8-inch howitzers, one 10-inch and one 8-inch mortar and four light fieldpieces to protect its flanks. On December 27, 1860, one week after South Carolina seceded from the Union, the fort was surrendered to South Carolina militia by its small garrison, which retired to Fort Sumter to join Major Robert Anderson. Castle Pinckney became the first Federal military position seized by a Southern state government. Three days later, the Charleston Arsenal joined Castle Pinckney in falling to the militia. After the subsequent attack on Fort Sumter, the Charleston Zouave Cadets manned Castle Pinckney. The first Union Army prisoners of war arrived in Charleston following the First Battle of Manassas and were held in Castle Pinckney in the lower casements. After the prisoners were removed, the fort was strengthened with earthen embankments and additional mortars and Columbiads on the barbette tier.

Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).