Lower Seaboard Theater of The American Civil War - South Carolina

South Carolina

Operations in Charleston Harbor (April 1861)
  • Fort Sumter
Operations Against the Defenses of Charleston
  • 1st Charleston Harbor
  • 1st Fort Wagner
  • Grimball's Landing
  • 2nd Fort Wagner
  • 2nd Charleston Harbor
  • Fort Sumter

Much of the war along the South Carolina coast concentrated on capturing Charleston, due both to its role as a port for blockade runners and to its symbolic role as the starting place of the war. One of the earliest battles of the war was fought at Port Royal Sound, south of Charleston. The Union navy selected this location as a coaling station for the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

In attempting to capture Charleston, the Union military tried two approaches, by land over James or Morris Islands or through the harbor. However, the Confederates were able to drive back each Union attack. One of the most famous of the land attacks was the Second Battle of Fort Wagner, in which the 54th Massachusetts Infantry took part. The Federals suffered a serious defeat in this battle, losing 1,500 men while the Confederates lost only 175. During the night of February 23, 1864, the CSS Hunley made the first successful sinking of an enemy warship by a submarine, although the Hunley was also sunk shortly afterwards. The Confederates used other crafts such as the David but these were not as successful.

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