character, since the memorable attack on Fort Sumter, in 1861, and
require a new description from that furnished in the first volume of
this work. The chief works of the enemy for the defence of Charleston at
this time may be thus briefly described: On the upper or north end of
Sullivan’s Island a powerful sand battery guarding Maffit’s Channel;
another large sand battery, called Fort Beauregard, between this and the
Moultrie House; Fort Moultrie, which had been greatly strengthened since
the commencement of the war; Fort Sumter, built upon an artificial
island in the middle to the channel, near the entrance of the inner
harbor, and about one and a half miles west of Fort Moultrie; Battery B,
adjoining Fort Moultrie, on the western extremity of Sullivan’s Island;
the Mount Pleasant battery on the mainland between Sullivan’s Island and
Cooper river; Castle Pinckney, built on an island about a mile distant
from Charleston; all, with the exception of Sumter, being on the right
or northerly side of the harbor. On the other side of the harbor, in the
immediate vicinity of the city, was the Wappoo battery on James island,
commanding the embouchure of Ashley river; next to which was Fort
Johnson, and between it and Castle Pinckney, Fort Ripley, a work erected
on an artificial island in what was known as the “Middle Ground.” On
Cummings’ Point, Morris Island, opposite Fort Moultrie, was Battery
Gregg, and a mile south of this Fort Wagner, an extensive sand battery
of the most powerful construction. Finally, at Light-house Inlet, which
divides Morris Island from Folly Island, was another fortification
covering the landing at that place. Within a few days of the attack the
enemy also erected a new sand work between the two last mentioned. The
number of guns mounted on these works was estimated at several hundred,
comprising the heaviest smooth bore ordnance, and many rifled pieces of
English manufacture; and as an additional means of protection, the
channel between Fort Sumter and Sullivan’s Island was obstructed by rows
of floating casks supporting torpedoes and other submarine obstacles,
and in that between Sumter and Cummings’ Point were no less than four
rows of piles extending nearly up to Charleston.
Upon the 6th of April the whole National fleet crossed the Charleston
Harbor bar, intending to reduce Fort Sumter at once, and proceed thence
direct to the city; but the day turned out to be particularly foggy, and
the attack was necessarily deferred until the following day. About noon,
upon the 7th, the signal was given by Admiral Dupont from his flagship
for the vessels to weigh anchor. According to the plan of attack the
vessels were to form in the following order ahead, at intervals of one
cable’s length: 1. Weehawken, Captain John Rogers; 2. Passaic, Captain
Percival Drayton; 3. Montauk, Commander John L. Worden; 4. Patapsco,
Commander Daniel Ammen; 5. New Ironsides, Commodore Thomas Turner; 6.
Catskill, Commander George W. Rodgers; 7. Nantucket, Commander Donald
McN. Fairfax; 8. Nahant, Commander John Downes; 9. Keokuk,
Lieutenant-Commander Alexander C. Rhind. The squadron was then to pass
up the main ship channel without returning the fire of the batteries on
Morris Island, unless signalized to do so, and was to take up a position
to the northward and westward of Fort Sumter, and engage its northwest
face at a distance of from one thousand to eight hundred yards. A
squadron of reserve, consisting of the Canandaigua, Unadilla,
Housatonic, Wissahickon, and Huron, under the command of Captain Joseph
H. Green, of the Canandaigua, was ordered to remain outside the bar, and
be in readiness to support the iron-clads, when they should attack the
batteries on Morris Island, which would be subsequent to the reduction
of Fort Sumter.
At half past twelve the whole fleet was in motion; but almost
immediately a raft attached to the Weehawken became disarranged, and
nearly an hour was consumed in putting it to rights. The fleet then
moved forward again, and passed the works on Morris Island which
remained perfectly silent. In stately majesty the fleet moved on, till
within range of the fire of Fort Sumter and the batteries upon
Sullivan’s Island, but still the same ominous silence continued; not a
sound broke the stillness of the listening air, and the unbroken quiet
was growing into suspense that was painful. But scarcely had that
feeling of suspense time to manifest itself, when all around was clamor,
and a noise that equalled the loudest thunder, burst with a deafening
uproar on the ear. At precisely four minutes past three o’clock, a
terrific fire burst from Fort Sumter upon the Union fleet. The
Weehawken, being the leading vessel, was of course the first to receive
the enemy’s fire, but instead of moving forward as the rest of the fleet
moved up toward her, she was seen to come to a dead halt, just between
Sumter and Moultrie! It was impossible to those who were eagerly,
anxiously looking on, to assign any reason for such a halt. But very
soon the cause became startlingly apparent. The enemy had thrown a
strong hawser, floating on beer casks, across the river; upon this
hawser, nets, lines, and catlets, strung with torpedoes, were hung, and
should the vessel run into it, she would immediately become entangled,
be deprived of her motive power, and so be left at the mercy of the
current, to drift straight into the hands of the rebels. To attempt this
danger was not to be thought of, and all attention was turned toward the
left hand channel, to see what could be done between Sumter and
Cummings’ Point. But this was found to be still more impassable. A row
of piles, rising ten feet above the water, and extending the whole
distance across the channel, blockaded the passage; and on further
observation, it was discovered that another row of piles stretched
across the middle ground between Forts Ripley and Johnson. This did not
compass the whole passage, but left an opening for the fleet, which was
the most dangerous of all the entanglements for its destruction. Beneath
the water in that passage was a torpedo of enormous size, containing
five thousand pounds of gunpowder. Beyond this the three rebel
iron-clads were drawn up in line of battle. Thus again did the enemy
display his wonderful tact and ability in protecting the northwest face
of Sumter, which they well knew to be its weakest point. It was
impossible to carry out the first intentions with regard to the action
of the National fleet; and it only remained to put the vessels in the
most advantageous positions which circumstances would admit. To add to
all the other embarrassments attending the movements of the Union
iron-clads, the flagship caught in the tideway, and became, for the
moment, unmanageable; while the steamers Catskill and Nantucket, who
kept in the Ironsides’ wake, fell a-foul of her. Accordingly, Admiral
Dupont was obliged to signal to the rest of the fleet to disregard the
movements of the flagship; and shortly before four o’clock the remaining
eight vessels were ranged opposite the northeast front of Sumter, at
distances varying from five hundred and fifty to eight hundred yards.
The enemy during this time had not been idle, and from Forts Beauregard,
Moultrie and Sumter, Battery Bee and Fort Wagner, the concentrated fire
of three hundred guns was poured upon the devoted fleet, exceeding
probably in rapidity and power any cannonade previously known in
warfare. To this the eight iron-clads could oppose but sixteen guns.
During the climax of the fire one hundred and sixty shots were counted
in a single minute; and projectiles struck the vessels at every moment.
It has been estimated that during that brief engagement the enemy fired
three thousand five hundred round of ammunition.
The whole fury of the fight was comprised within the space of thirty
minutes, during which time it is impossible by the use of words to give
even a faint idea of the perpetual roar of the guns, and the unceasing
glare and flash of the fire. During this terrible fight it is not to be
supposed that the Union vessels were merely receiving the enemy’s fire.
At the order to disregard the movements of the Ironsides, Captain Rhind
ran the Keokuk up through the others, and laid it, apparently, under the
very walls of Fort Sumter, and scarcely more than five hundred yards
distant from it. Close behind the Keokuk came the Catskill, and close
upon this vessel the Montauk, the Passaic, the Patapsco, the Nahant, the
Nantucket, the Weehawken, and the Ironsides. The last named vessel
poured forth its whole strength upon Fort Moultrie, while the remainder
of the fleet directed all its fire against Fort Sumter. The face of
Sumter soon began to show the marks of the severe treatment it was
receiving from the heavy projectiles; and the brave men on board the
Union iron-clads were eagerly and hopefully looking forward to the
breach they expected to make, if their vessels could but remain under
the storm of rebel fire long enough to effect it. But on this occasion
the National cause was doomed to disappointment, and the bombardment of
Fort Sumter was a crushing failure. Already the Keokuk was utterly
disabled, and twelve of her men wounded; among whom was her gallant
commander, Captain Rhind. The Nahant received thirty gaping wounds; six
of her men were wounded, and the Quartermaster, Edward Cobb of
Massachusetts, received his death blow. The Passaic was struck in
twenty-five places: the Nantucket was badly injured; and the Catskill
and Ironsides slightly damaged. The remainder of the vessels, though
often struck, received no serious injury; but in the opinion of Admiral
Dupont another half hour would have placed them, also, _hors du combat_,
and accordingly, at five o’clock the signal was given to retire.
During the night following this disastrous fight it was confidently
expected that the attack would be renewed in the morning; but when the
morrow came Admiral Dupont had decided that, for the time, the
bombardment of Fort Sumter was at an end.
On the 12th of April, then, the whole fleet—with the exception of the
Keokuk, which had sunk, and the Ironsides, which was left outside of
Charleston Harbor Bay—returned to Port Royal.
CAPTURE OF THE REBEL IRONCLAD ATLANTA.
JUNE 17.
About the middle of June, Admiral Dupont, learning that the Atlanta and
other rebel vessels at Savannah, meditated an attack upon the blockading
vessels in Warsaw Sound, despatched the Weehawken (Capt. Rogers) and the
Nahant (Commander J. Downes), to prevent any disaster to the fleet. The
Atlanta, originally a swift and powerful British steamer called the
Fingal, had early in the war run the blockade of Savannah, and been
converted by the enemy into an iron-clad at a great expense. She was one
hundred and ninety-one feet in length, and forty feet beam, somewhat
over one thousand tons in measurement, and had a low deck with a
casement or covered iron-plated house in the centre, with sloping sides
and ends, in which was her battery, consisting of two six-inch and two
eight-inch rifled guns. Of these the former were broadside guns, and the
latter worked on a pivot, either as broadside or bow or stern guns. She
was further armed with a powerful ram, and had attached to her bow a
submarine torpedo, charged with about fifty pounds of powder. No efforts
had been spared to render her formidable, and it was believed by the
enemy that her speed, her heavy armament, and her ram, would render her
more than a match for any two vessels of the monitor type. Accordingly
at dawn of June 17th, she steamed down the sound; followed by several
small steamers containing pleasure parties who were to be the witnesses
of the confidently expected triumph of the rebel vessel.
At 4 A. M. she was perceived by the Union iron-clads,—lying at anchor
near the north of the Wilmington river—and they at once prepared for
action. The Weehawken was nearest to the enemy, and getting under way
stood up the sound, the Nahant following in her wake. The Atlanta lay
across the channel and quietly awaited the attack from the National
vessels; but at five o’clock she took the initiative and fired a single
shot at the Nahant, which, however, failed to have any effect. The
Weehawken steamed toward the Atlanta; and when within three hundred
yards opened upon her with a fifteen-inch gun. She then approached still
nearer, and when within two hundred yards she suddenly poured in upon
the rebel vessel the full contents of her two guns. The effect was
disastrous to the Atlanta, who immediately hauled down her colors, and
ran up the white flag in token of surrender. Another discharge from the
Union iron-clad was poured in upon her before the signal was understood,
after which all firing ceased, and the Weehawken, having done all the
fighting, took possession of her prize after a contest that lasted
barely fifteen minutes. In this engagement one hundred and forty-five
prisoners were captured.
SIEGE OF CHARLESTON.
COMMENCED JULY 3, 1863.
It was felt by the U. S. Government that the attack on Fort Sumter, of
April 7th, was a somewhat humiliating failure; but, notwithstanding
this, the original intention of redeeming Charleston was not abandoned.
It was understood, from the tone of Admiral Porter’s letters, that he
was opposed to a renewal of the attack on Charleston; and he was,
accordingly, relieved of command, and Rear-Admiral Foote was appointed
in his place. Before the period fixed for taking command of his squadron
had expired, Admiral Foote died in New York, and a second appointment
was made in the person of Admiral Dahlgreen, who entered upon his duties
on July 6th. About this time General Gilmore was constituted
commander-in-chief of the military department of the south, and
arrangements were entered into for combined operations by land and sea.
THE ATTACK ON MORRIS ISLAND.
On July 10th, an attack was made upon Morris island by the land forces
under General Gilmore, and the iron-clads Catskill, Montauk, Nahant, and
Weehawken, under command of Admiral Dahlgren. On Morris island, on the
opposite side of Light-house Inlet, the rebels had erected, after the
naval attack upon Fort Sumter, several batteries, in all mounting nine
heavy columbiads, and three 10-inch mortars, all bearing upon Folly
island, and the mouth of Light-house inlet, and the approach to the
island by way of Folly river.
At five A. M. the Union fire opened upon the batteries on Morris Island,
being directed from the entire line of works recently erected on Folly
Island. The rebels were taken by surprise, and as the fire from the
Union ranks poured in upon them, they sprang to the tops of the
sand-hills, eagerly looking whence it came, but speedily dropped back
again, and remained concealed till they were taken prisoners by the
Union troops. The fleet, with Admiral Dahlgren on board the Catskill,
had, at an early hour in the morning, crossed the southern channel, and
had drawn up in line of battle along the southern end of Morris island,
in order to deliver an enfilading fire and harass the enemy on his left
and rear.
A vigorous fire was also kept up, during the greater part of the day,
upon Fort Wagner. For three hours the cannonading continued against the
Morris island works, and when at length it began to slacken, General
Gilmore signalled to General Strong, who with his little boat fleet lay
concealed in Folly river, to land his forces, and assault and carry the
batteries at the point of the bayonet. The order was no sooner given
than executed. With shouts and cheers the troops sprang ashore, formed
in line of battle, with the Sixth and Seventh Connecticut on the right,
the Ninth Maine and Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania in the centre, and the
Third New Hampshire and the Forty-eighth New York on the left. In less
than ten minutes the right and centre had carried all the batteries, and
left all the rifle-pits—capturing ten Columbiads, two 10-inch mortars,
one Whitworth gun, together with nearly the entire garrison, consisting
of the First South Carolina Artillery, and ten companies of the
Twenty-first South Carolina Volunteers, in all numbering one hundred and
eighty-five men.
This unexpectedly quick and brilliant success in capturing these strong
works, and obtaining so important a footing upon the island, filled the
troops with the greatest enthusiasm. Cheer after cheer rent the air.
In a few moments General Gillmore and staff crossed to the island, and,
under a burning sun, examined the works, and ascertained the extent of
the victory. The batteries had been in command of Captain Mitchell, son
of the Irish orator, John Mitchell.
With the exception of Fort Wagner and Cummings’ point, all the works on
Morris island had been taken by this time; and during the whole
afternoon the monitors continued to throw shell into the fort. It was
determined that at daylight on the following morning, an attempt should
be made to carry Fort Wagner at the point of the bayonet.
THE ASSAULT ON FORT WAGNER.
JULY 11, 1863.
At three o’clock, A. M. the attack was made. General Strong led the
Seventh Connecticut, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Rodman; the
Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania, Major Henks, and the Ninth Maine, Colonel
Eng, boldly to the attack, drove in the first line of the enemy’s
pickets, thrown out about half a mile from the fort, received a vigorous
fire from three platoons of infantry in rifle-pits, advanced upon and
drove all not brought down by the Union rifles up to and through the
gates of the fort, while the Seventh Connecticut pushed aside the
abattis, waded through the ditch, took the southeast bastion, bayoneted
all who offered any resistance, and ran their first line all along the
parapet facing the sea, and in five minutes more would have had
possession of the whole fort if the Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania and the
Ninth Maine had supported them as gallantly as the Seventh Connecticut
led.
The garrison of the fort, which was about seven hundred strong, now
belched forth from their howitzers both grape and canister, against an
advancing force of only one hundred and eighty men; for the
Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania and Ninth Maine regiments were so completely
demoralized by the heavy fire of the enemy, that they instantly fell on
their faces, and rose only to retire beyond range.
Slowly the gallant little detachment from the Seventh Connecticut were
compelled to fall back, but not until they had left two-thirds of their
number in the ditches, on the parapet, and within the walls of the fort.
Lieutenant-Colonel Rodman and nearly all his captains were wounded.
Colonel Rodman behaved with the greatest gallantry, and received two
severe wounds.
During the rest of the day, nothing more was done by the land force; but
the monitors kept up a constant fire against Fort Wagner and Cummings’
point. The enemy made strong efforts to reinforce the garrison at Fort
Wagner, but without success.
* * * * *
From this time nothing of importance transpired as regarded the taking
of Charleston, for upwards of a month. General Gillmore was engaged in
pushing his intrenchments toward Fort Wagner, and the navy was
comparatively inactive until such time as the land forces would be ready
to cooperate. Almost every day two or three of the iron-clads bombarded
Fort Wagner and Battery Gregg on Cummings’ point, without receiving any
injury in return, while at the same time the firing served to divert the
enemy’s attention from the siege works in progress.
BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER.
AUGUST 17–23, 1863.
At early morning on the 17th August, General Gillmore opened all his
batteries on Fort Sumter, firing directly over Fort Wagner. Admiral
Dahlgren, during the same time, was making good use of the five
iron-clads, Ironsides, Weehawken, Nahant, Montauk and Catskill; he
brought these vessels abreast of Fort Wagner, and effectually silenced
that troublesome work for the remainder of the day. About two thousand
yards from Fort Sumter, the Passaic and Patapsco had taken up position,
and cooperated with the batteries on shore in the attack upon it. No
material injury was done to any of the vessels, but the service lost a
valuable officer in the person of General Dahlgren’s chief-of-staff,
Captain George W. Rodgers. Captain Rodgers was in the pilot house when
he met his death by a flying piece of fractured plating, which killed
him instantly. Paymaster Woodbury was also killed at the same time.
Within the city of Charleston, during this long siege, much fear and
dread troubled the hearts of the inhabitants. The future loomed up dark
and terrible before their affrighted minds, although the chroniclers of
the time declared that there was no panic, nor any prospect of one.
Business of all kinds was, however, almost entirely suspended; and the
cannonading without Fort Sumter, the storm of shot and shell continually
hurled against its walls, brought anxiety to every mind, and a deathlike
pallor to very many cheeks.
At about 2 o’clock in the afternoon all the fleet had retired, with the
exception of the Weehawken and the Nahant, which remained to keep Fort
Wagner silent, and to prevent the remounting of her guns. During the
whole afternoon and night the shore batteries continued firing upon Fort
Sumter with such effect that the shore damage done to it was visible to
the Union men without the aid of a glass. The enemy had erected a false
wall outside of Sumter, which was completely battered and crushed to
pieces; the inner wall was perforated in many places; and the northwest
corner hacked and cracked down almost to the edge of the water. Upon the
next morning the batteries were all briskly at work at an early hour,
the siege guns hurling shell at Sumter at the rate of five shells to the
minute. The masonry of the fort was gradually but surely crumbling to
pieces; but still the rebel flag floated above it, although it had been
twice shot away. Often as it was riddled and torn, a fresh one was run
up, while the determined band within seemed little inclined to
surrender. Since the previous day a severe storm was raging with a high
wind, which prevented the monitors from being of any marked assistance;
but during its utmost violence the land batteries continued to pour in a
deliberate and destructive fire, doing great damage to the gorge wall,
which had been strengthened in every possible way. Before the close of
the day the parapet was utterly demolished, and great breaches were to
be seen in the main wall, through which the projectiles hurled against
it entered, and struck the wall upon the other side, killing any that
came within their deadly path.
During the day a new flagship, the Philadelphia, arrived from Hampton
Roads, having been refitted for the use of Admiral Dahlgren, who
transferred his flag to her, as she was a much more roomy vessel than
the one he had been occupying.
During the long day’s engagement, the cannonading from the National guns
was terrific; and the shriek and scream of shells made the very air
alive with turmoil, while the enemy’s fire was very feeble; Wagner,
owing to the close watch kept upon her, being unable to get even an
occasional shot at the Unionists, and Sumter being too thoroughly
disarmed to attempt a full-voiced return to the countless thundering
defiances sent to her. By way of proving that life was not entirely
extinct within her, she did, however, at long intervals, hurl forth an
occasional shell.
* * * * *
THE “SWAMP ANGEL.”—On the evening of the 18th, the enemy discovered that
a battery was being constructed on the Union left, in a marsh which lay
in that direction, and they immediately, from their guns on James
Island, began firing upon the men who were at work there. The erection
of that battery was of considerable importance, for it was nearer to
Charleston than any of the others. The men stood boldly against the
enemy’s fire, and bravely continued their work. One man was killed, and
two wounded. From the time that the enemy first discovered this battery
until the evening of the 20th, they devoted most particular attention to
the work, and within that time one hundred and sixteen shells were
hurled at it from the James Island batteries. Only one struck it, and
there were no farther casualties than those named above. The men
christened the battery in the marsh “The Swamp Angel,” from the great
service it did in concentrating the enemy’s attention upon itself.
* * * * *
CONTINUATION OF THE BOMBARDMENT.—Upon the morning of the 20th, Fort
Sumter still stood, notwithstanding its fall had been confidently and
speedily anticipated on the night of the 18th; but it was an obstinate
and very strong work, and from every flagstaff visible upon it, the
blood-red battle-flag of the “Confederate States Army” still floated
proudly and defiantly on the breeze. The gorge wall still stood
obstinately upright, notwithstanding the fearful fire directed against
it from end to end of the Union lines; although the effect of the
projectiles was plainly visible. Fort Wagner, too, in defiance of the
severe treatment it had received, remained as strong as ever, although
its walls showed the bruises of the many and formidable blows which had
been levelled against it; and it had now the farther advantage of having
been strongly reinforced. Before Sumter could be occupied by the Union
troops, it was absolutely necessary to reduce Forts Gregg and Wagner;
and active operations to this end were constantly going forward.
The storm, which still continued, and at times raged with great
violence, rendered it impossible for the monitors to be of any immediate
service, although the whole fleet moved up abreast of Fort Sumter on the
evening of the 19th, but were obliged to retire without firing a single
shot. When the port-holes were opened the heavy ocean swell washed in,
and effectually prevented the accurate elevation of the guns.