July 18

1863The 54th

The 54th Massachusetts at Battery Wagner

After a day-long bombardment by land and sea that killed eight of the garrison, six thousand Federal troops attacked Battery Wagner at dusk with the 54th Massachusetts in the lead. They took the southeast salient and held part of it for an hour in the dark. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw was killed on the parapet. Federal losses were about 1,515, Confederate about 174. Wagner held for seven more weeks.

Official Records, Series I, Vol. 28, Pt. 1

1864Fort Sumter

Thirty-four shots and forty-two shells

Thirty-four Parrott shots and forty-two mortar shells during the night; one private of the 32nd Georgia slightly wounded in the back. The firing in the morning was the same as the day before, at the south and southwest angles. One year to the day since the 54th Massachusetts charged Battery Wagner.

Fort Sumter post returns, OR I, 35, Pt. 1

Entries are dated from the War of the Rebellion official records, the naval official records and contemporary Charleston sources. Browse the whole year.