Fort Wagner: Difference between revisions
ClueBot NG (talk | contribs) m Reverting possible vandalism by 162.127.218.90 to version by George 1861. False positive? Report it. Thanks, ClueBot NG. (620080) (Bot) |
→54th Massachusetts: fix red wl |
||
| Line 25: | Line 25: | ||
==54th Massachusetts== |
==54th Massachusetts== |
||
{{Main| |
{{Main|54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry}} |
||
The most famous regiment that fought for the Union in the battle of Fort Wagner was the 54th regiment, which was one of the first African-American regiments in the war. The 54th was controversial in the North, where many people supported the abolition of slavery, but still treated African-Americans as lesser or inferior to whites, and would do so well past World War II. Though some claimed blacks could not fight as well as whites, the actions of the 54th Massachusetts demonstrated once again the fallacy in that argument, as this was not the first time blacks ever fought in war or even for the United States. Many blacks had fought in the [[American Revolution]] on both sides and again in the War of 1812, as well as in over 250 slave revolts in the United States alone.<ref>Life, pg 113</ref> [[William Harvey Carney|William Carney]], an African-American and a sergeant with the 54th, is considered the first black recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions that day in recovering and returning the unit's U.S. Flag to Union lines.<ref name=54th/> |
The most famous regiment that fought for the Union in the battle of Fort Wagner was the 54th regiment, which was one of the first African-American regiments in the war. The 54th was controversial in the North, where many people supported the abolition of slavery, but still treated African-Americans as lesser or inferior to whites, and would do so well past World War II. Though some claimed blacks could not fight as well as whites, the actions of the 54th Massachusetts demonstrated once again the fallacy in that argument, as this was not the first time blacks ever fought in war or even for the United States. Many blacks had fought in the [[American Revolution]] on both sides and again in the War of 1812, as well as in over 250 slave revolts in the United States alone.<ref>Life, pg 113</ref> [[William Harvey Carney|William Carney]], an African-American and a sergeant with the 54th, is considered the first black recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions that day in recovering and returning the unit's U.S. Flag to Union lines.<ref name=54th/> |
||
Revision as of 21:35, 9 November 2011
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2011) |
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (December 2009) |
32°43′07″N 79°53′05″W / 32.71861°N 79.88472°W
Fort Wagner (also called Battery Wagner) was a beachhead fortification on Morris Island, South Carolina, that covered the southern approach to Charleston harbor. It was the site of two American Civil War battles in the campaign known as Operations Against the Defenses of Charleston in 1863, and is considered one of the toughest beachhead defenses constructed by the Confederate States Army.
Construction
Named for deceased Lt. Col. Thomas M. Wagner, Fort Wagner measured 250 by 100 yards (91 m), and spanned an area between the Atlantic on the east and an impassable swamp on the west. Its walls, composed of sand and earth, rose 30 feet (9.1 m) above the level beach and were supported by palmetto logs and sandbags. The fort's arsenal included fourteen cannons, the largest a 10-inch (250 mm) Columbiad that fired a 128-pound shell. A large structure capable of sheltering nearly 1,000 of the fort's 1,700-man garrison provided substantial protection against naval shelling. The fort's land face was protected by a water-filled trench, 10 feet (3.0 m) wide and 5 feet (1.5 m) deep, surrounded by buried land mines and sharpened palmetto stakes.[1]
History
The First Battle of Fort Wagner, occurred on July 11, 1863. Only 12 Confederate soldiers were killed, as opposed to the Union's 339 losses.[1]
The Second Battle of Fort Wagner, a week later, is better known. This was the Union attack on July 18, 1863, led by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first major American military units made up of black soldiers. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw led the 54th Massachusetts on foot while they charged and was killed in the assault.[1]
Although a tactical defeat, the battle of Fort Wagner saw action for black troops in the Civil War, and it spurred additional recruitment that gave the Union Army a further numerical advantage in troops over the South.[1]
The Union besieged the fort after the unsuccessful assault. By August 25th, Union entrenchments were close enough to attempt an assault on the Advanced Rifle Pits, 240 yards in front of the Battery, this attempt was defeated. A 2nd attempt,by the 24th Mass. Inf., on August 26 was sucsessfull. After enduring almost 60 days of heavy shelling, the Confederates abandoned it on the night of September 6-7, 1863. withdrawing all operable cannons & the Garrison.[1][2]
The main reason the fort was abandoned was fresh water. The bodies of the Union troops (54th Massachusetts and many white troops) were buried close to the fort and the decomposition of the bodies poisoned the fresh water well within the fort. Continuing bombardment and interception of food/water supplies by boat from Charleston made holding the fort difficult.[2]
When the fort was abandoned in September 1863, the CSA forces left behind a large amount of gunpowder in the bomb proof. Two drunken Union soldiers were exploring the bomb proofs and set off the gunpowder, killing and injuring another 300 Union Soldiers stationed within the fort.[2]
54th Massachusetts
The most famous regiment that fought for the Union in the battle of Fort Wagner was the 54th regiment, which was one of the first African-American regiments in the war. The 54th was controversial in the North, where many people supported the abolition of slavery, but still treated African-Americans as lesser or inferior to whites, and would do so well past World War II. Though some claimed blacks could not fight as well as whites, the actions of the 54th Massachusetts demonstrated once again the fallacy in that argument, as this was not the first time blacks ever fought in war or even for the United States. Many blacks had fought in the American Revolution on both sides and again in the War of 1812, as well as in over 250 slave revolts in the United States alone.[3] William Carney, an African-American and a sergeant with the 54th, is considered the first black recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions that day in recovering and returning the unit's U.S. Flag to Union lines.[1]
After the battle, the Southern soldiers buried the regiment's commanding officer, Colonel Shaw, in a mass grave with the African-American soldiers of his regiment, viewing this as an insult to him. Instead, his family thanked the Southern soldiers for burying Shaw with his men.[1]
The mass grave at Fort Wagner no longer exists; the site has eroded, and the remains of Colonel Shaw and his men have been washed out to sea by Atlantic hurricanes.[4]
Depictions in popular culture
This fort played a major part in the film Glory. The final scene portrays Colonel Shaw and the men of the 54th Massachusetts storming the fort unsuccessfully.[1]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h The 54th and Fort Wagner
- ^ a b c Twiggs, T. D. D., Hon. Lieut. Col. (CSA, retired, deceased), The Defense of Battery Wagner North & South - The Official Magazine of the Civil War Society, Issue 4, Page 46.
- ^ Life, pg 113
- ^ Robert Gould Shaw at Find A Grave
