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Fort Wagner

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Fort Wagner
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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

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