Battle Of Fort Analysis

Gillmore's plan consists of using the navy and land soldiers to capture Morris island to put heavy guns on the island and to eliminate nearby Fort Sumter and then capturing Charleston, the birthplace of the war. Gilmore's plan did not go very well. He tried his plan and only got half the island. Then he tried the next morning to capture the confederate fort, made of sand, earth, and palmetto logs, and was driven back with heavy losses. Then, after two tries, he tried again with a better plan including land and sea bombings, followed by 5000 soldiers to attack the fort. But, because we knew it was coming, we set up 14 heavy guns, mortars, and carronades and had 1620 soldiers to defend the fort. First the attack went up the beach. Then, when the attack got to our fort, the 54th Massachusetts dark regiment engaged in hand-to-hand combat and, with all their courage, were defeated. In the attack the 54th’s colonel, Robert Gould Shaw, was shot and killed in battle. Sadly, we gave up the fort two months later.
Particularly the battle of Fort Waner was the worst for this regiment because not only did their colonel get killed, but they lost 42% of their regiment which is about 300 people. This regiment was founded in 1863 and was in command of Robert Gould Shaw before the attack. This regiment were all volunteers. They also impacted the U.S. because nobody thought that African Americans were no good at fighting, and, as a matter of fact, nothing except pulling cotton and working in the fields. After that the people started to think that they could do other things like fight and work in factories. Fort Wagner is the 4th battle of the 54th massachusetts and isn't the last. They have also been in Boston Common, assault on James Island, the battle of Olustee, the battle of Honey Hill, and the battle of Boykin’s