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| John A. Dahlgren. |
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| Gillmore's Headquarters on Folly Island. |
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quietly to Philadelphia, and there exhibited for awhile for the benefit of the fund of the Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon.1 It is said that the cost of the Atlanta was defrayed entirely by the proceeds of the voluntary sale of their jewelry by the misguided women of the Confederate States.
The example was followed at Charleston, where the building of a gun-boat was begun, with the expectation of money from similar sources, to carry it on.
Although the attack on Sumter in April was a failure, the Government was determined to renew the attempt in connection with a land force.
Dupont's views were so decidedly in opposition to the measure, because he could anticipate no other result than failure again, that soon after the capture of the Atlanta, when Gillmore was preparing to move vigorously in a siege of Charleston, Dupont was relieved, and Commodore Foote2 was appointed his successor.
The latter died in New York while on his way to his new post of duty, and Admiral Dahlgren was ordered to the command of the squadron.
That officer reached Port Royal on the 6th of July, and heartily sympathizing with Gillmore in his plans, entered vigorously upon the duties assigned him.
Gillmore found Folly Island well occupied by National troops under General Vogdes, who had employed them in preparations for future work.
Through its almost impenetrable jungles3 he had cut roads, and it was thoroughly picketed in every part.
He constructed a strong work on the southern end of it, to command the approaches down
the Stono River.
Another was erected on Folly River that commanded Secessionville; and at a narrow part of the island, a mile from its northern end, a line of intrenchments was cast up, with a redoubt at each end. Such was the situation on that island, soon to be made famous in history, when Gillmore arrived there, and, with the practiced eye of a skillful engineer, after traversing it, selected positions for batteries to bear upon the fortifications on Morris Island.
His plan of campaign was quickly conceived.
It was to approach Charleston by Folly and Morris Islands.
To do this, he must overcome
Fort Wagner, on the latter island, a very strong work, lying within twelve hundred yards of Fort Sumter, heavily
1 See page 578, volume I.
2 See page 202, volume II.
3 Folly Island is about seven miles in length, and not over one in width at its broadest part. On the west it is separated from James's Island by marshes traversed by Folly River, a narrow but deep stream. The eastern side borders on the ocean. Light-House inlet, which separates it from Morris Island, is five or six hundred yards wide. At the time we are considering, the e island was covered with pine timber throughout nearly its whole extent, with an almost impenetrable tangled undergrowth. “I have never seen such a mass of briers and thorns anywhere else,” wrote a conspicuons actor in the military events there. “There was not a road of any description, and the only way to pass from one end of the island to the other, was along the beach, which was not always practicable at high tides.” --History of the One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment, by its communder, Brevet Brigadier-General W. W. H. Davis, page 218.
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