Second Attack on Fort Wagner

The Federals, not convinced by the failure of their attack a few days before, again attacked Fort Wagner, outside of Charleston, South Carolina 150 years ago today. The regiment chosen to spearhead the attack was the 54th Massachusetts, a regiment of United States Colored Troops commanded by Colonel Robert Shaw. They would be supported by two additional brigades. The ground over which they had to pass was narrow, and halfway to the fort became flat, giving a good field of fire.

Colonel Robert Shaw

To soften up the fort for capture, Union guns fired on them from land and sea throughout the day. The infantry stepped out about sunset and the guns fell silent. As the Confederates sighted them they opened a rapid fire with their artillery, and as the Federals rushed forward, closing the range, a heavy musketry fire was poured into them from the parapet. The 54th Massachusetts hesitated under the terrific fire, but Colonel Shaw shouted, "Forward, Fifty-Fourth, forward!"and led them towards the fort.

As the troops from the 54th fell back, they encountered the next regiments and disorientated their ranks. The next two brigades pressed forward, but they were confused in the darkness and most fled to the rear before they reached the parapet. A surviving officer of the 54th Massachusetts wrote in his report:

In this formation ... as the dusk of the evening came on, the regiment advanced at quick time, leading the column the enemy opened upon us a brisk fire; our pace now gradually increased till it became a run. Soon canister and musketry began to tell upon us. With Colonel Shaw leading, the assault was commenced. Exposed to the direct fire of canister and musketry, and, as the ramparts were mounted, to a like fire on our flanks, the havoc made in our ranks was very great. Upon leaving the ditch for the parapet, they obstinately contested with the bayonet our advance. Notwithstanding these difficulties, the men succeeded in driving the enemy from most of their guns, many following the enemy into the fort. It was here, upon the crest of the parapet, that Colonel Shaw fell; … here also were most of the officers wounded. The colors of the regiment reached the crest, and were there fought for by the enemy; the State flag then torn from its staff, but the staff remains with us. Hand-grenades were now added to the missiles directed against the men. The fight raged here for about an hour.

Although the colored troops demonstrated their valor, they were unable to break into the fort. Colonel Shaw fell, hit with seven Confederate bullets. Sargent William Carney of the 54th was awarded the Medal of Honor for planting the Union flag on the parapet of the fort and then carrying it back to Union lines. When he made it back from the assault, he reported to the other men, "Boys, I only did my duty; the old flag never touched the ground!" He was the first black recipient of the medal of honor. The good fight of the 54th improved the Union soldiers's views of the fighting qualities of their black comrades.

On one portion of the line the 6th Connecticut attack gained some success. The 31st North Carolina, which had been captured as a unit earlier in the war, fled from the parapet, and the Federals were able to climb up, set foot on the rampart, and seize control of a portion of the line. The Confederate tried to counterattack, but twice their charges were beaten back. But the Federals were receiving no reinforcements, and a fresh Confederate regiment, the 32nd Georgia, rushed forward and was able to secure the lines. The fight was over by 10 pm. Many of the high ranking Union commanders had fallen, along with more than 1,500 of their men. The Confederates lost 174. After this costly defeat, the Federals turned to a traditional siege of the fort.

Battle of Honey Springs

General James Blunt

While great battles were being fought at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, other smaller movements were happening in the Indian territories in what is now Oklahoma. At the beginning of the war five civilized tribes (the Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Chicksaw and Seminole) had sided with the Confederacy. But the Untied States attacked and captured the northern portions of the Indian territory, convincing many of the natives to join their side. The Confederates were planning a counter attack, so the aggressive Union commander, Major General James Blunt attacked them on July 17, 150 years ago today, at the important wagon road stopping point of Honey Springs. Blunt was very sick, but he knew that the Confederates would soon be reinforced by 3,000 more men from Fort Smith.

The Battlefield

Both sides would have about 3,000 soldiers engaged, but the Confederates had almost 3,000 more that did not make it into the fight. The Confederates were commanded by Brigadier General Douglas Cooper. Interestingly whites were a minority of both armies, most of the troops being Indians on both sides. The southerners were formed up under cover of trees with Elk Creek to their back. As Blunt began to position his 12 cannon on a ridge, the rebel guns opened on them. After an artillery duel the lines of blue infantry advanced, augmented by dismounted cavalry. Fierce fighting continued for two hours, the Union troops having been ordered to just put down as heavy a fire as they could on the Southerners.

The Confederates's powder was damaged by a rain shower just before the battle, but at first they appeared to be holding their own in the fierce fighting. At one point in the battle, one of the Union Indian units was ordered to fall back, as it had gotten in advance of the rest of the line. One Southern officer, believing this a signal for a general Federal retreat, ordered a charge. A portion of the Confederate line advanced, and at 25 paces was met with a deadly volley from the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers, a black unit, driving back the rebel surge.

Monuments at the battlefield

This proved to be a turning point in the battle, the Union forces continuing to gain the upper hand. Cooper ordered a retreat, which at some points degenerated into a rout. A good rear guard fight was put up by a reserve Indian regiment and some Texas cavalry. They put up enough of a fight to enable the Confederates to withdraw with their artillery and most of the stores. After this victory, Blunt decided not to pursue and fell back to Fort Gibson, but the way was opened for the Union forces to continue their advance. The Confederates reported 181 lost, and the Union 77, though both sides disagreed with the other's numbers. This was the largest battle fought in Indian territory during the Civil War, and paved the way for further Union successes. The southerners in the area resorted to guerrilla tactics to keep up the fight against the Federals.

Battle of Milliken's Bend

Map of the area

A few weeks ago Vicksburg, the last Confederate held point on the Mississippi River was surrounded by Federal forces. Two Union attacks were beat off with heavy casualties, but the city could still only last so long under siege. Jefferson Davis was desperate to break the siege. Davis ordered Kirby Smith, commander of the Trans-Mississippi Department, to strike Grant's supply line, which the Confederates believed was still on the western side of the Mississippi River. Richard Taylor, Smith's subordinate who had fought under Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign, objected to the attack. He pointed out that the ground was difficult for maneuver, New Orleans would be more lightly defended, and that it was not known whether the Union supply line was still there (it had in fact been moved.) But Smith overruled him, and the attack went forward.

Walker

The Confederate troops detailed for the attack was the Texas division of Major General John Walker. On June 6^th, as they moved toward Miliken's Bend, a former Union supply depot, they encountered small parties of Union skirmishers. The Federals guarding the area were the African Brigade under Colonel Hermann Lieb. Many of these troops were freed slaves recruited by the Union army. They had allowed them to join the army, but they didn't trust them for fighting. They were used for non-soldiering duties, like digging entrenchments. They were positioned at Miliken's Bend because the Union army was not expecting an attack there. Colonel Lieb's troops were untrusted, untested and inexperienced, but he didn't hesitate to put off a fight. Holding off the Confederate advanced, he retreated that night to Miliken's Bend and was reinforced by an Ohio regiment and two gunboats.

The Battle

The battle began in earnest at 3:00 am on June 7^th, 150 years ago today. Pushing back Union pickets, they headed to the Federal left flank. Coming upon the Federal lines, the Texans were ordered to charge. Undaunted by Yankee volleys, they closed to hand to hand combat. As the battle raged, some Confederates were able to work their way around the Union left. Their enfilading fire devastated the Union line and forced it into retreat. But as the victorious Confederates advanced, they were met with fire from the Union gunboats, the Choctaw and Lexington. Their further attempts to advance being repulsed, the Southerners fell back around noon.

United States Colored Troops

The Battle of Miliken's Bend ended this attempt to raise the siege of Vicksburg. In this fight the black troops had proved their bravery to the Union high command. They had fought well and bravely, and had demonstrated that they could fight just as well as the white troops.