After the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect in January 1863, the northern states began recruiting African American regiments for military service. The first northern regiment of African American soldiers to head south was the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, the unit featured in the 1989 film Glory. Although the enlisted men in these regiments were black, the [...]
150 Years Ago in the Civil War With the arrival of Spring, the actions and movements of the opposing forces increased, both on land and afloat. The Union Navy was in action at Charleston, South Carolina in the first significant fighting of April . On the 7th of the month, a fleet of nine ironclads [...]
Continue reading about Naval Attack on Charleston; Fleet Passes Vicksburg; Cavalry Raids: April 1863
In July 1863, Union forces Major General Quincy Gillmore’s Army of the South landed on Morris Island outside Charleston, South Carolina. Gillmore’s objective was to take control of Charleston Harbor and eventually, Charleston itself. Charleston and vicinity was heavily defended, including Battery Wagner on Morris Island, artillery emplacements on James and Sullivan’s Islands, and Fort [...]
Continue reading about The Swamp Angel at Charleston, South Carolina 1863
