This Month in the Civil War-- Part 2

Continuedfrom July 1.

From the American Battlefield Trust 2022 calendat.

JULY 11, 1864

**  Battle of Fort Stevens.  Confederates fail to capture Washington, D.C.

JULY 13, 1863

**  Riots erupt in New York City in protest of the draft.

JULY 18,1863

**  The 54th Massachusetts attacks Fort Wagner near Charleston, South Carolina.

JULY 18, 1864

**  Battle of Cool Spring, Virginia.

JULY  21, 1861

**  First Battle of Manassas, Virginia.

JULY  22, 1862

**  President Lincoln presents to Emancipation Proclamation to his Cabinet.

JULY 22, 1864

**  Battle of Atlanta, Georgia.

JULY 24, 1864

**  Second Battle of Kernstown, Virginia.

JULY  28, 1864

**  Battle of Ezra Church, Georgia.

JULY 30, 1864

Battle of the Crater at Petersburg, Virginia.

--Old Secesh

Civil War Events in July: Draft Riot in New York City, First Manassas, Emancipation Proclamation and the Crater

JULY 11, 1864

Battle of  Fort Stevens.  Confederates fail to capture Washington, D.C.

JULY 13, 1863

Riots erupt in New York City in protest of the draft

JULY 18, 1863

the 54th Massachusetts attacks Fort Wagner near Charleston, S.C.

JULY 21, 1861

First Battle of Manassas, Virginia (or do you say First Battle of Bull Run?)

JULY 22, 1862

President Lincoln presents the Emancipation Proclamation to his Cabinet

JULY 24, 1864

Second Battle of Kernstown, Virginia

JULY 28, 1864

Battle of Ezra Church, Georgia

JULY 30, 1864

Battle if the Crater at Petersburg, Virginia

--Old Secesh

Black Service in the Civil War-- Part 3: White Officers and Battles

However, all officers were whites.  Blacks could become non commissioned officers like corporals and sergeants.  Many white officers took command of the regiments as a way to rise in the ranks.

USCT did a lot of guard duty, but also took part in engagements.  I have been writing about the nine USCT regiments involved with the engagement at the Confederate Sugar Loaf Line south of Wilmington, N.C.,  in my Running the Blockade blog the last two weeks.

USCT regiments served valiantly at the Battle of the Crater (Virginia), Battle of Chaffin;'s Farm (Virginia)  and Battle of Nashville (Tennessee).  The 54th Massachusetts gained glory at the Battle of Fort Wagner (South Carolina).

Other USCT regiments were present when Lee's Army surrendered at Appomattox.

Seven black sailors received the Medal of Honor during the war.  I wrote about one of them, Robert Blake in my January entries in my Running the Blockade:  Civil War Navy blog.

--Old Secesh

Meanwhile in My Civil War Naval Blog, Running the Blockade: Shaw's Sword and the Junior Reserves and Confederate Conscription

The last week I have been writing about the discovery of Col. Robert Gould Shaw's sword in my Naval blog.  He, of course, was the commander of the famous 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, the Union Army's first black regiment who performed so honorably at Fort Wagner in Charleston Harbor in 1863.

He was killed leading his men and his sword taken and later returned  to his family and then "lost" for many years until being found in a family member's attic.

Even though he was leading an Army regiment, I am writing about his sword in my naval blog because it involved a coastal fortification.

Yesterday, I also posted about the North Carolina Junior Reserves and Confederate conscription in the naval blog.  Even though this is primarily an army thing, since the Junior reserves were at Fort Fisher, I am writing about it there.

--Old Secesh

I'd Much Rather Be Doing This One On the Discovery of Col. Shaw's Sword, 54th Massachusetts

I would much rather be doing entries on the Civil War, the original Civil War, not the new one. I call Civil War II.  As long as these horrible attacks continue on my heritage, I will continue to defend.

From the July 13, 2017, CBS News, Boston  "Civil War Colonel Robert Gould Shaw's long-lost sword found in attic."

He was the commanding officer of the Union's first all-black regiment, the 54th Massachusetts, and his sword has been given by his descendants to the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston.  There is a famous statue of Shaw and the 54th in front of the Massachusetts State House.

In 1863, he led the 54th in a valiant, but futile, attack on the Confederate Fort Wagner guarding Charleston, South Carolina in an exploit made famous by the 1989 critically acclaimed movie "Glory."  He was killed in action and his sword stolen.

It was recently discovered in a Boston North Shore family attic by Mary Minturn Wood and her brother, descendants of Shaw's sister Susannah.  When they saw the initials "RGS" engraved on the sword, they knew it was his and they decided to gift it  to the historical society even though they could have made a lot of money at auction.

The sword went on display at the Massachusetts Historical Society on  Tuesday, the 18th of July.

More Power to the Family for Gifting It Instead of Selling It At Auction.  --Old Secesh

The New York Times Reports Fort Wagner Casualties of the 48th NY-- Part 3

For the rest of the companies I just did officers and NCOs.

COMPANY D

Wounded  Captain Jas. O. Paxton, dangerously
1st Sgt. Patterson
Sgt.  J.G. Abbott

COMPANY E

Killed--  Lt. Joseph Taylor in the fort.

COMPANY H

Wounded--  Captain William S. Lockwood-- arm and shoulder
Lt. James A. Barrett-- thigh

COMPANY K

Killed--  Captain Fred Hurst--  large shot through his beast
Wounded--  Lt. A.F. Miller--  bullet and bayonet wound in leg
1st Sgt. Umbleby--  badly.

With all these officer and sergeant casualties, they were in a real hard fight.

--Old Secesh

The New York Times Reports Fort Wagner Casualties-- Part 2

The known casualties for the rest of the 48th New York.

COMPANY A

Killed--  none
10 privates missing, one of whom, Frank Brady supposedly killed
Wounded or in camp or hospital--  Sgt. Robert McKellar and 12 privates

COMPANY B

Captain Nere Ellfering wound in leg
Missing--  1 sergt., 5 corps, 13 privates
Wounded, in camp or hospital--  1 serg., 1 corp, 9 privates

Of Course, since they lost the battle and the Confederates held the field, many of the missing no doubt were dead or captured.

--Old Secesh

Death of 1st Lt. Robert S, Edwards, 48th N.Y. at Fort Wagner

From Manuscripts of the American Civil War:  Robert S. Edwards Papers.

Taken from letters written by witnesses at Lt. Edwards' death on July 8, 1863, at Fort Wagner, S.C..

The letters showed the "heroic nature of Robert's death, and indicating that he gained Wagner's parapet and took up the fallen national flag after the regiment's color sergeant was wounded."

"Robert was shot in the chest after scaling the parapet, and immediately toppled back into the flooded ditch."

Another letter reported seeing "Robert's body lying near the top of the rampart, head-down on the slope, with his left side torn away (probably by a canister round).  The same witness reported that moments earlier, he had seen "Lieut. Edwards rushing up the slope of the fort near the parapet, wavering the glorious Stars and Stripes over his head -- speaking out in a cool & determined tone -- 'Come on Company C -- follow this Flag -- the Fort must be ours."

The Death of a Hero.  --Old secesh

48th New York Infantry Officers Killed or Mortally Wounded in Attack on Fort Wagner

The 48th New York Infantry assaulted Fort Wagner on July 18, 1863.

Besides Lt. Col. James M. Green:

Captain James Farrell, died July 18, 1863

Captain James O. Paxon, died July 31, 1863, of wounds received at Fort Wagner.

Captain Frederick Hurst, died July 31, 1863, of wounds received at Fort Wagner

1st Lieutenant Robert S. Edwards, died July 18, 1863

2nd Lieutenant Charles E. Fox, died August 11, 1861, of wounds received at Fort Wagner..

Also, since I am a Fort Fisher guy, Captain James W. Dunn was killed January 15, 1865, at the second Battle of Fort Fisher.

--Old Secesh

48th New York's Casualties at the Battle of Fort Wagner

From the July 28, 1863, New York Times "The Repulse at Fort Wagner, Partial Lists of Killd and Wounded in the New York and New England Regiments."

48th New York.

Colonel W.B. Barton, severely wounded in hip.

Lt. Col. James M. Green Killed.

COMPANY A

Missing:  Lt. Charles E. Fox, supposed to have been wounded and has since died.

Sergt. T.B. Carman, supposed killed, two corporals and ten more privates missing.  OneFrank Brady, supposed killed

Wounded, in camp or hospital --  Sergt. Robert McKellar and 12 privates.

Continued on the blog entry for December 12, 2016.

--Old Secesh

Lt.-Colonel James M. Green's Sword Comes to Long Island-- Part 2

James Green re-enlisted in the 48th New York Infantry and became the captain of Company F in August 1861.  Promoted to major in June 1861, when he was presented with the sword, and then later that year became the regiment's lieutenant-colonel.

On July 18, 1863, the 48th New York and 54th Massachusetts and other units assaulted Confederate defenses at Fort/Battery Wagner on Morris Island in which Lt.-Col. James M. Green was killed.

His remains were buried in a mass grave and never recovered.

In 1932, his niece Georgiana Ring green donated his possessions, including his shoulder straps, field saber and this presentation sword to the Smithsonian.  After they were taken off display the Long Island Museum asked for the sword's loan and received it.

--Old Secesh

48th New York Infantry-- Part 2: Coastal Operations and Fort Fisher

Continued from December 5, 2016.

The 48th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment was organized in Brooklyn, New York, on September 10, 1861 under Col. James H. Perry.

They were primarily engaged in coastal operations.

First, they were in the Port Royal, S.C., expedition and then in the siege of Fort Pulaski and capture of Tybee Island in Georgia.  In 1863, they took part in the attack on Fort Wagner on Morris Island and later were at the Battle of Olustee in Florida.

Then, the went inland and were at the Siege of Petersburg and Battle of Drewry's Bluff in Virginia.

Though they were not at Fort Fisher, N.C., during the first attack, they were in one the second one in January 1865.  They then took part in the Cape Fear River operations leading to the capture of Wilmington: Sugar Loaf on Feb 11, Fort Anderson Feb. 18-20, Fort Strong on Feb. 21 and capture of Wilmington on Feb. 22.

--Old Secesh

New York Times Reports Partial List of Fort Wagner Casualties of the 48th New York

From the July 28,1863, New York Times "REPULSE AT FORT WAGNER.; Partial Lists of Killed and Wounded in the New-York and New-England Regiments."

I will start with just Lieutenant Robert S. Edwards Company C of the 48th New York:

COMPANY C

Killed:  Captain James Farrell, Lt. Robert S. Edwards and Private Daniel Kane.

Missing:  11 privates.

Wounded: Sgt. F. Frankenburg, severely, Sgt. Schutz, Corp. J. O'Brien, Corp. Warner and 11 privates.

The Times gave the names of the privates.

--Old Secesh

48th New York Infantry-- Part 1: A Fort Fisher Connection

From Wikipedia.

Lt.-Col. James Martin Green was an officer in the 48th New York when he was killed in the assault on Fort/Battery Wagner on Morris Island, guarding South Carolina on July 18, 1863, an attack made famous by the 54th Massachusetts, an all-black regiment, in the movie "Glory!"

I have been writing about James Green and the fort named after him on Folly Island, so decided to do some research into his regiment.

I found out that this regiment primarily operated along the Southern coasts and was at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher.  At the war was ending, the regiment was in my hometown of Goldsboro, N.C..

I'll have to make mention of the 48th New York in my Civil War Naval Blog.

--Old Secesh

Folly Island, S.C., in the Civil War-- Part 8: Fort Green

The fort's name:  "By order of Gen. Gilmore, an important battery on Folly Island has been named Fort Green, in honor of the memory of the late Lieut.-Col. James M. Green, of this city (Troy, New York)."

Troy Daily Times, November 7, 1863.

James Martin Green of the 48th New York Infantry, was killed July 18, 1863 in the Union assault on Fort Wagner, guarding Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.  Lt.-Col Green was last seen alive astride a rebel cannon sabering the men who were serving it.  He had entered the service as a private.

--Old Secesh

Folly Island, S.C. in the Civil War-- Part 3: Battle of Morris Island and Fort Wagner

Continued from October 25, 2016.

Folly Island was a base for housing troops and equipment, but there was an artillery battery at the northern end of the island that served as a staging base for the Battle of Morris Island to the north from July to September 1863.  The famous Fort Wagner was on Morris Island.

Fort Wagner was shelled from the battery on Folly Island and troops deployed from it, including the 54th Massachusetts (movie "Glory"), for the unsuccessful attack.  When Fort Wagner was finally captured, artillery was moved to it and it was renamed Battery Meade.  They then began firing on Fort Sumter from there.

--Old Secesh

World War II's Battery Farley Named for Union General Joseph Pearson Farley

As I said, I was writing about the 1900s Fort MacArthur protecting Los Angeles Harbor in California in my World War II blog's previous post.  One of its Coastal Defense batteries mounted two 14-inch guns called Battery Osgood-Farley.  I have already written about Henry Brown Osgood, who eventually rose to the rank of brigadier general in the post Civil War Army.

Battery Farley was named for Brigadier General Joseph Pearson Farley (1839-1912).  He was USMA Class of 1861 and served as ordnance officer at the Watertown Arsenal from 1861-1863 and proved more than 600 guns.

He distinguished himself afterwards in operations at Charleston, S.C., Morris Island and the bombardment of Fort Wagner.

After the war, he served in the ordnance department at various arsenals, including Rock island, Springfield, Kennebec and Frankford.

He is buried at West Point.

--Old Secesh

Auction of 54th Massachusetts Collection-- Part 3

The collection was sold in two lots because of its size.  the first lot was expected to go for between $40,00-$60,000 and included commissions, discharges, diaries, photographs, maps and insignia.  Included was a diary from 1861-1866 and an original "Consent to the Enlightenment of a Minor."

SECOND LOT:  Estimated to bring between $80,000 and $120,000.  Consists of letters, most four pages or longer, mailed home during his military service, all in a trunk made in Spain in 1840 for his mother.

On July 30, 1863, after the attack on Fort Wagner, Luis Emilio wrote: "...it is real sad for me to receive letters to boys in my company that are dead and others missing and to have the painful duty to redirect them to their friends at home."

--Old Secesh

Auction of 54th Massachusetts Collection-- Part 2

By 1863, Luis Emilio was a captain in the 54th Massachusetts.  (Accepting commissions to command black troops was a fast was to become an officer for enlisted men.

He became acting commander of the 54th on July 18, 1863, after all ranking officers of the regiment were killed at Fort Wagner.

He retired from the Army in 1865, nit even yet age 21.  His career afterwards was in real estate and in 1891,he wrote "Brave Black regiment" about the 54th.  After a long illness, Emilio died in 1918 and is buried in his hometown of Salem, Massachusetts.

More to Come.  --

Morris Island Bought

The city of Charleston, SC has bought Morris Island for $3 million and will be preserving for all-time the site of the famous attack by the 54th Massachusetts, an all-black regiment on Fort Wagner.

This attack was shown in the movie "Glory."

The city bought it before the island could be given over to developers who were planning to build multimillion dollar mansions on it for the rich folk.

The city is now going to decide what they will be doing with it.

The Civil War Preservation Trust is involved with raising $100,000 to nhelp in the effort.

Unfortunately, the actual site of the fort is now under water as is the beach the 54th charged along to attack it.

Always Good to Hear About Stuff Like This. --B-Runner