Well, I had never heard of a dynamite gun, so, of course, had to do some research. I'll write a little bit of what I found here, but will go into more detail on my history blog since this was post-Civil War.
A site called battery Dynamite was nearby to the old Confederate fort and in service from 1897 to 1902. In 1897, Congress appropriated money to purchase four experimental compressed air dynamite guns to be emplaced at four coastal installations. One was at Hilton Head.
A concrete battery was built outside of Fort Walker and from 1901 to 1902, the gun was inspected and tested before the whole program was discontinued.
I was unable to find out if any part of the battery remains.
Hurling Dynamite. Now, That's Nasty. --Old B-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
Showing posts with label Fort Walker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fort Walker. Show all posts
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Port Royal's Confederate Fort Walker-- Part 3
On November 8, 1861, the name of the fort was changed by General Thomas W. Sherman's General Order #28 to Fort Welles, named for Union Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles.
Bu 1888, Fort Walker was abandoned, falling apart with parts washed away by the sea. The Federal government retained possession of the 902 acres of Coggins Point. It was reactivated during the Spanish-American War and World War I.
I was looking for the fort's armament when captured and having difficulty until I came across an article in the Nov. 30, 1861, Harper's Weekly which said the fort had thirteen 32-pdrs, two siege 12-inch guns, 2 rifled 8-inch Columbiads, one 10-inch Columbiad, two carronades and an 8-inch Columbiad. The article also reported that plenty of ammunition was found.
This would refute another source that said the Confederates withdrew with all but three guns out of service and ammunition about gone.
Now, I Know Something About the Fort. --Old B-Runner
Bu 1888, Fort Walker was abandoned, falling apart with parts washed away by the sea. The Federal government retained possession of the 902 acres of Coggins Point. It was reactivated during the Spanish-American War and World War I.
I was looking for the fort's armament when captured and having difficulty until I came across an article in the Nov. 30, 1861, Harper's Weekly which said the fort had thirteen 32-pdrs, two siege 12-inch guns, 2 rifled 8-inch Columbiads, one 10-inch Columbiad, two carronades and an 8-inch Columbiad. The article also reported that plenty of ammunition was found.
This would refute another source that said the Confederates withdrew with all but three guns out of service and ammunition about gone.
Now, I Know Something About the Fort. --Old B-Runner
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Port Royal's Confederate Fort Walker-- Part 2
Major Francis D. Lee (no relation to R.E. Lee) was in charge of planning and construction of the fort. A big problem was that there were not enough cannons and not enough of the calibre to sufficiently arm the fort.
Other fortifications in the area were begun at Braddock's Point, Seabrook Landing on Skull Creek as well as earthworks to the south of Fort Walker.
Work had just barely started by the attack November 7, 1961.
By October 17th, there were just 362 soldiers at the fort before reinforcements arrived bringing the total to 622.
General Drayton made his headquarters at the Pope House on Coggins Point and at his own local home at Fish Haul. "If anyone knew how to defend the island, he would. Thomas Drayton knew every road, every woodland trail; knew where the offshore waters were deep enough for a landing. But without the necessary guns to do it."
Defending the Fort. --Old B-Runner
Other fortifications in the area were begun at Braddock's Point, Seabrook Landing on Skull Creek as well as earthworks to the south of Fort Walker.
Work had just barely started by the attack November 7, 1961.
By October 17th, there were just 362 soldiers at the fort before reinforcements arrived bringing the total to 622.
General Drayton made his headquarters at the Pope House on Coggins Point and at his own local home at Fish Haul. "If anyone knew how to defend the island, he would. Thomas Drayton knew every road, every woodland trail; knew where the offshore waters were deep enough for a landing. But without the necessary guns to do it."
Defending the Fort. --Old B-Runner
Monday, November 14, 2011
Port Royal's Confederate Fort Walker-- Part 1
From the Heritage Library Foundation, Hilton Head Island.
As I said before, there is not a lot of information that I could find about the fort, which today apparently is on private property at Port Royal Plantation. We found a lot of Hilton Head to be private and way more expensive than us po' folk could afford. We visited once and it is not likely we'll be back.
This site had quite a bit of good information.
Fort Walker was ordered built by General P.G.T. Beauregard on Coggins Point Plantation. It was named after Confederate Secretary of War L.P. Walker and commanded by Col. William c. Hayward of the 11th South Carolina. Overall command of the Port Royal Sound defenses was Gen. Thomas F. Drayton, a famous family in the state.
Work on the fort began in July 1861 and island plantation owners furnished slave labor to bring in palmetto logs. Trenches, gun emplacements and a powder magazine were built.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
As I said before, there is not a lot of information that I could find about the fort, which today apparently is on private property at Port Royal Plantation. We found a lot of Hilton Head to be private and way more expensive than us po' folk could afford. We visited once and it is not likely we'll be back.
This site had quite a bit of good information.
Fort Walker was ordered built by General P.G.T. Beauregard on Coggins Point Plantation. It was named after Confederate Secretary of War L.P. Walker and commanded by Col. William c. Hayward of the 11th South Carolina. Overall command of the Port Royal Sound defenses was Gen. Thomas F. Drayton, a famous family in the state.
Work on the fort began in July 1861 and island plantation owners furnished slave labor to bring in palmetto logs. Trenches, gun emplacements and a powder magazine were built.
More to Come. --Old B-Runner
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Port Royal's Fort Walker
Surprisingly, there is not a lot of information on one of the two Confederate forts to surrender to Union forces 150 years ago yesterday, Fort Walker.
The site of the fort is still there by Port Royal Sound at the end Hilton Head Island on the shore of Port Royal Sound. It is off Fort Walker Road near the Hilton Head Airport. Now, whether you can get to the actual site is questionable since so much of Hilton Head Island is privately owned by rich folks who don't want regular folks traipsing over their property.
After a four and a half hour bombardment, about out of ammunition and with all but three cannons our of service, General Thomas F. Drayton gave his men the order to withdraw. His brother, Percival Drayton was on the USS Pocahontas standing offshore and bombarding Fort Walker.
In addition, some 13,000 Union troops under the command of General Thomas W. Sherman had been landed and were approaching the fort, vastly outnumbering the fort's defenders.
After the battle, the fort was rebuilt and named Fort Welles, after Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles.
ROBBERS ROW
Fort Welles defending a large Union base used throughout the war. A civilian town, named Robbers Row (very likely by troops stationed there for its penchant to take their money) grew up to serve the needs of the garrison. At its peak, it had a hotel, theater, 2 newspapers mostly located along a street called Suttlers Row. I do not believe any part remains today, but there is a marker for it at the site.
From the Historical Data Markers organization.
Sure Wish There Was Some More on Fort Walker. --Old B-R'er
The site of the fort is still there by Port Royal Sound at the end Hilton Head Island on the shore of Port Royal Sound. It is off Fort Walker Road near the Hilton Head Airport. Now, whether you can get to the actual site is questionable since so much of Hilton Head Island is privately owned by rich folks who don't want regular folks traipsing over their property.
After a four and a half hour bombardment, about out of ammunition and with all but three cannons our of service, General Thomas F. Drayton gave his men the order to withdraw. His brother, Percival Drayton was on the USS Pocahontas standing offshore and bombarding Fort Walker.
In addition, some 13,000 Union troops under the command of General Thomas W. Sherman had been landed and were approaching the fort, vastly outnumbering the fort's defenders.
After the battle, the fort was rebuilt and named Fort Welles, after Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles.
ROBBERS ROW
Fort Welles defending a large Union base used throughout the war. A civilian town, named Robbers Row (very likely by troops stationed there for its penchant to take their money) grew up to serve the needs of the garrison. At its peak, it had a hotel, theater, 2 newspapers mostly located along a street called Suttlers Row. I do not believe any part remains today, but there is a marker for it at the site.
From the Historical Data Markers organization.
Sure Wish There Was Some More on Fort Walker. --Old B-R'er
Monday, February 14, 2011
Two Brothers, Two Flags, One Battle-- Part 2
Continuing with the story about the Drayton brothers at the Battle of Port Royal.
The prevailing military opinion at the time was that naval forces could not beat land forces and absolutely no one expected that the two forts would be attacked simultaneously. Admiral DuPont believed that by using a large fleet with the flexibility of steam power could take the forts.
The original attack was supposed to be November 1, 1861, but bad weather stopped it. A Cape Hatteras storm scattered the fleet and sank several transport ships. Cape Hatteras had been taken three months earlier.
Commencing on the morning of November 7th, from 9:30 to 1:15, the forts were bombarded. Then, Confederate forces were spied retreating from Fort Walker (upon occupying the fort it was discovered that only three of the cannons capable of firing at the fleet were still operational). Union losses were 31 killed and wounded. Confederate losses were 66.
Shortly later, Fort Beauregard was abandoned and the Union had a secure coaling and supply station located between Charleston and Savannah. Both forts were low on ammunition as well.
The Drayton Connection Next. --Old B-Runner
The prevailing military opinion at the time was that naval forces could not beat land forces and absolutely no one expected that the two forts would be attacked simultaneously. Admiral DuPont believed that by using a large fleet with the flexibility of steam power could take the forts.
The original attack was supposed to be November 1, 1861, but bad weather stopped it. A Cape Hatteras storm scattered the fleet and sank several transport ships. Cape Hatteras had been taken three months earlier.
Commencing on the morning of November 7th, from 9:30 to 1:15, the forts were bombarded. Then, Confederate forces were spied retreating from Fort Walker (upon occupying the fort it was discovered that only three of the cannons capable of firing at the fleet were still operational). Union losses were 31 killed and wounded. Confederate losses were 66.
Shortly later, Fort Beauregard was abandoned and the Union had a secure coaling and supply station located between Charleston and Savannah. Both forts were low on ammunition as well.
The Drayton Connection Next. --Old B-Runner
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