Alan J. Pitts
Re: Fort Gaines
Mon May 28 08:58:09 2001


Exactly right. The Official Records (XXXIX 1:410) contain a description by Capt. Miles D. McAlester, a Federal engineer, who reported the following:

On the 8th, at 10 a.m., Fort Gaines surrendered to our combined land and naval forces unconditionally. The garrison consisted of 818 officers and men. The armament was four 10-inch columbiads, two 7-inch Brooke rifles, twelve or fifteen smooth-bores (24s and 32s), and five or six flank casemate howitzers. There was an abundant supply of ammunition and rations for two months. Two 10-inch guns and six 24s bore upon the land approach.

The total should be twenty-three guns. Jefferson Davis described the surrendere of the fort as "deeply humiliating".