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Chapter 43: military operations at Charleston.
The defence of
Charleston against a demonstration by land and sea was the most noteworthy event of the summer of 1863.
Foiled in their naval attack in April, the next effort was to occupy
Morris Island and reduce
Fort Sumter.
Owing to the lack of diligence on the part of
General Beauregard,
General Gilmore secretly placed in battery 47 pieces of artillery in close vicinity to the
Confederate pickets.
On July 10th, an assaulting column 2,500 strong crept up
Folly River; the iron-clad fleet occupied the main ship channel off
Morris Island.
Axemen felled the interposing trees, and the concealed battery opened fire on the
Confederate lines.
The garrison was on the alert.
Just at break of day on the IIth, the Seventh Connecticut regiment charged the works, and went over the outer line, through a terrible fire from the
Confederate rifles.
The fort opened on them with three howitzers, and they were routed.
Although this assault on
Fort Wagner was
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repulsed, the neglect to make reconnoissances in time to prevent the battery on
Folly Island from being established, compelled the evacuation of
Morris Island, except
Forts Wagner and Gregg.
General Beauregard subsequently used all his engineering skill, and for two months maintained a gallant struggle and kept the enemy at bay.
On July 18th, the Federal fleet poured a terrific fire into
Fort Wagner, but without reducing it.
As the curtain of smoke, which had enveloped
Wagner all day, slowly lifted, the enemy were seen debouching from their first parallel, and advancing over the narrow approach between it and the fort.
The garrison of
Wagner sallied forth from the bomb-proof and sand hills in the rear, to take their positions on the ramparts.
Colonel Robert G. Shaw, with his colored troops, led the attack.
“They went forward at a ‘ double quick’ with great energy and resolution, but on approaching the ditch they broke; the greater part of them followed their
Colonel, mounted the parapet, and planted their flag upon the rampart, where
Shaw was shot dead; while the rest were seized with a furious panic, and acted like wild beasts let loose from a menagerie.”
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“They ran away like deer, some crawling on their hands and knees.”
1 By this time the enemy was in full retreat, and the conflict was virtually ended.
The demoralization of the negro troops at the supreme moment threw the ranks of the
Federals into disorder.
The converging fire of artillery and infantry on the narrow approach prevented a rally.
Few could move within the fatal area and live.
After the second successful defence of
Wagner, the remainder of the month of July and the early part of August were employed in establishing batteries to bombard
Sumter.
At 1.30 P. M. on September 6th, an attempt was made to carry Battery Gregg.
In five minutes the conflict was ended.
Fort Wagner had now been held under a furious cannonade by land and sea, night and day, for fifty-seven days, and General Beauregard, who had been for some time considering the case, and to save the brave men forming the garrison of Wagner from the desperate chances of an assault, gave orders for its evacuation.
2
On the night of September 6th the island was evacuated.
The enemy had now undisputed
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possession of the entire island, including the works at
Cumming's Point.
But over
Sumter the
Confederate flag floated, and the demand for its surrender was still rejected.
3
Another effort to capture the fort was made by the
Federals on the evening of September 8th, and they were again repulsed.
After this repulse little more was done by the enemy for the rest of the year.
The forts and the city were constantly bombarded, but the people ceased to be alarmed.
The activity of men of all classes was untiring.
Under all this deadly hail they worked with indomitable spirit.
The gun-boat,
Ashley was built, finished, and launched under fire at
Charleston.
A small earth-work near
Sabine Pass, a place of great strategical importance, a few miles above the entrance to the
Sabine River, was attacked by a fleet of twenty-three vessels.
The Confederate force was 42 men and 2 lieutenants, and it drove the whole Federal fleet out of the
Pass, captured two gun-boats, crippled a third, took 18 guns, killed 50, and took 150 prisoners. t
