Gillmore’s report
Who did what before Charleston in 1863.
Gillmore’s report is a Federal document and names Federal officers. The Confederate defenders are here because their absence from the source is not the same thing as their absence from the campaign.
Corps of Engineers; first in the West Point class of 1849. Breached Fort Pulaski with rifled guns in April 1862, took the Department of the South on 12 June 1863 as a brigadier general of volunteers, and was commissioned major general of volunteers to date from 10 July 1863 — the day of the Morris Island landing. Author of the principal report.
Corresponded with Gillmore on the scope and object of the operation. His view that the reduction of Fort Sumter was the precondition of a practicable naval attack is printed in the appendices.
Commanded assault and field operations on Morris Island through the critical phases, including the attack of 18 July, in which he was wounded.
Led the assaulting brigade against Battery Wagner on 18 July with the 54th Massachusetts at its head. Mortally wounded; died in New York on 30 July 1863.
Commanded the leading regiment of Strong's brigade on 18 July and was killed on the parapet. The regiment lost about 270 of the roughly 600 men it took into the assault.
Led the supporting brigade into the work on 18 July and was killed.
Mortally wounded in the 18 July assault; died 9 August 1863.
Commanded the demonstration up the Stono River against James Island on 10 July that drew Confederate strength off the point of the real attack.
Held and fortified the northern end of Folly Island during the preparatory work, opened the road practicable for infantry and artillery, and concealed the communications.
Directed the artillery arm of the campaign. His report and supplementary report — Appendix A of the 1865 volume — are the authority on the organization, emplacement and service of the guns.
Took charge of the breaching batteries against Fort Sumter despite doubting they could be built under such fire. His journal of the siege operations, Appendix B, is one of the most detailed engineering documents of the war.
Commanded the engineer regiment. Responsible for the roads, wharves, bridges and — most famously — the pile-and-grillage platform that carried a heavy Parrott in the marsh.
Assistant engineer; his report is Appendix D of the 1865 volume.
Assistant engineer; his report is Appendix E. Later professor of natural and experimental philosophy at West Point.
Relieved Rear Adm. Samuel F. Du Pont on 6 July 1863, after Rear Adm. Andrew H. Foote — named to the command — died in New York on 26 June without ever taking it up. Dahlgren's vessels covered the crossings, engaged Battery Wagner and held the seaward flank throughout.
Commanded the ironclad attack of 7 April 1863 that was repulsed with the loss of the Keokuk — the failure that made the land campaign necessary.
Commanded the naval battery on Morris Island and reported on its operations; his report is Appendix F.
Directed the defense of Charleston throughout the campaign and ordered the evacuation of Morris Island on the night of 6–7 September. Gillmore prints their correspondence over the shelling of the city.
Held Wagner with a garrison of roughly 1,600 through the bombardment and the assault. Gillmore's report does not name him; the Confederate side of this campaign has to be read elsewhere.
Supplied the heavy rifles the campaign turned on, and a statement — Appendix I — defending their construction and performance after so many of them burst before Charleston.