In the summer of 1863 three major campaigns occurred that affected the outcome of the Civil War. Two of three, Gettysburg and Vicksburg were dramatic turning points, while a third campaign directed against Charleston, South Carolina, proved instrumental for the Civil War but also future battles. The campaign introduced a new era of engineering and gunnery; it was a testing ground for African American troops and had a tremendous impact on life in Charleston and the Palmetto State. Dr. Stephen R. Wise, curator of the Parris Island Museum of Marine Corps History, is author of Lifeline of the Confederacy: Blockade Running during the Civil War (USC Press) and Gate of Hell: Campaign for Charleston Harbor, 1863 (USC Press). He talks with Dr. Edgar about the Battle for Charleston, and about blockade runners, in a presentation that is part of the series “Conversations on the Civil War, 1863,” held at USC, Columbia, in January and February, 2013. The series was sponsored by the USC College of Arts and Sciences.
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Dr. Stephen R. Wise discusses the early days of the Civil War, in Charleston, S.C. The war began with the firing on Fort Sumter, which painted Charleston as a prime target for the Union. Leading up to...
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The spring of 1863: African American troops are introduced into the Federal Army, forming the first three African American regiments, one of which is the legendary Massachusetts 54 th Infantry. The...
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Dr. Stephen R. Wise talks more in depth about one of the first African American regiments, the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, commanded by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. The 54th suffers heavy losses during...
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In this section, Dr. Wise discusses the grueling and harsh living conditions on Morris Island, for both Federal and Confederate forces.
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September 6, 1863: The final assault on Battery Wagner by Federal forces causes the Confederate troops to abandon the fort. With Battery Wagner now empty, the Union troops can now turn their guns on...
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Fort Sumter, now heavily damaged from years of attacks by the Union fleet, is a tough place for Confederate forces to live: living in trenches over-run with rats and roaches, while under constant...
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Life was not much better for civilians during the siege of Charleston. Most of the civilians are allowed to be evacuated, but some if the ones left behind resort to living in tent cities, like the one...
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In the final part of the Fight for Charleston, Dr. Wise talks about Confederate blockade runners. Blockade runners played a crucial role in bringing supplies to support the South’s war effort. The...
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In the summer of 1863 three major campaigns occurred that affected the outcome of the Civil War. Two of three, Gettysburg and Vicksburg were dramatic turning points, while a third campaign directed...