MAPS
Battle of Fort Wagner
July 18 - September 7, 1863
Morris Island, South Carolina
Confederate Victory
Deivi Perez
period 4
Mr. Gulliet
Order of battle
First Division
Alfred H. Terry
Second Division
Truman Seymour
Third Division
Truman Seymour
Fourth Division
Alfred H. Terry
Col William W. H. Davis
Fifth Division
Alfred H. Terry
Israel Vogdes
George H. Gordon
Total: 6,800
Union Confederate
5,000 1,800
Execution of battle
The Battle of Fort Wagner started in july 18, 1863 and lasted through September 7. Fort Wagner with 14 heavy guns, mortars, and carronades, and field pieces situated amongst a well laid out fortress, designed to withstand modern rifled artillery fire. After the heavy land and sea bombardment subsided, Gillmore sent forward his Federal regiments. The assault was led by Col. Robert Gould Shaw. Despite the amount of men they were being lost, the remnants of the 54th Massachusetts reached and scaled the earthen walls of Fort Wagner. They kept fighting hard through hard situations. After breaching the fort, they engaged in hand-to-hand combat. When Col. Shaw order his men to go forward, they were quickly stopped by bullets fired from the Confederates.
“After this bloody repulse, Gillmore’s settled into their Morris Island positions for a lengthy and costly siege that finally led to the Confederate abandonment of Fort Wagner on September 7, 1863.”
Results
Total Estimated Casualties
1,689
Union
246 killed
880 wounded
389 missing or captured
1,515 total
Confederate
36 killed
133 wounded
5 missing or captured
174 total
The Union may have had more soldiers for battle, but it seemed that they weren't as battle ready and skilled