Fort Wagner, Morris Island, SC

[The Storming of Fort Wagner by Kurz and Allison - Courtesy of Wikipedia]

Date(s): July 18-September 7, 1863

Location: Battlefield Unavailable - Lost Integrity

Campaign(s): Operations against Defenses of Charleston [1863]

Battles in Campaign:

• Charleston Harbor, SC I- April 7, 1863 C

• Fort Wagner, Morris Island, SC - July 18-September 7, 1863 B

• Fort Wagner, SC - July 10-11, 1863 D¹

• Grimball's Landing, SC - July 16, 1863 D¹

• Fort Sumter, SC II - August 17-December 31, 1863 D

• Charleston Harbor, SC II - September 7-8, 1863 B

Situation:

• Fort Wagner (also called Battery Wagner) was a fortification on Morris Island, South Carolina, that covered the southern approach to Charleston harbor.

• On July 10, Union artillery on Folly Island together with Rear Adm. John Dahlgren’s fleet of ironclads opened fire on Confederate defenses of Morris Island.

• The bombardment provided cover for Brig. Gen. George C. Strong’s brigade, which crossed Light House Inlet and landed by boats on the southern tip of the island.

• Strong’s troops advanced, capturing several batteries, to within range of Confederate Fort Wagner.

• At dawn, July 11th, Strong attacked the fort.

• Soldiers of the 7th Connecticut reached the parapet but, were thrown back.

Commanders:

• Union: Maj. Gen. Quincy Gillmore

• Confederate: Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard

Principal Forces:

• Union: 5,000

• Confederate: 1,800

Description:

• After the July 11th assault on Fort Wagner failed, Major General Quincy Gillmore reinforced his beachhead on Morris Island.

• At dusk July 18, Gillmore launched an attack spearheaded by the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, a black regiment.

• The unit’s colonel, Robert Gould Shaw, was killed.

• Members of the brigade scaled the parapet but after brutal hand-to-hand combat were driven out with heavy casualties.

• The Federals resorted to siege operations to reduce the fort.

• This was the fourth time in the war that black troops played a crucial combat role, proving to skeptics that they would fight bravely if only given the chance.

Slide Presentation: None [Battlefield Lost Integrity- See Save Morris Island]

Classification²: B

Casualties³:

• Union: 1,515

• Confederate: 174

Results: Confederate Victory

Battlefield Websites:

• Save Morris Island - Join CWPT in helping to save Morris Island - Links to Information about the battle

• The Battle of Fort Wagner/Morris Island - Wikipedia

• Perry's Saints - Generalatomic.com

Recommended Resources:

¹ Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

² Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.

Revised 01/28/2011