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

More on Morris Island

LIGHTHOUSE

Associated Press on Aug. 4th reports that work has begun on the Morris Island Lighthouse, which now sits 300 yards offshore, even though it was originally built on land.

A cofferdam has been built around the base so that repairs on the foundation can begin. It was built in 1876 and taken out of service in 1962. Worms have been eating at the base, and there is fear that it might collapse in a hurricane.

The Save the Light organization has raised $4,500,000 from federal,state, and local sources for the job.

Let's Hope They Can Save It and Not Have a Repeat of the Loss of Fort Wagner. --Old B-R'er