The+Battle+of+Fort+Wagner

1. My topic is The Battlle of Fort Wagner. 2. What I already know. Who? The Union and Confederate Armies What? It was one of the last major battles of the Civil War. Where? In South Carolina When? Im not sure but somewhere around 1863. Why? Im not for sure on the events that lead up to the battle. How? Im not for sure on how the battle turned out. What do I want to know? Who? Who were the leaders in this battle? Who won? What? What strategies were used in the battle? What was the impact of this battle? Where? What part of South Carolina did it take place in? Or what fort did it take place in? When? When was the exact date it took place? Why? What happened in order for this battle to take place? How? How did this impact the Civil War? My research strategy: Who? I could ask Mrs. Brolan or Miss horn for good places to get information What? Websites, Databases, books When? During class or outside of class Where? CTMS Library or my computer How? Take notes on good resources that i find and site them in noodletools Draft The Battle of Fort Wagner influenced American History because it showed that African-American soldiers could fight bravely and defend their country if given the chance. "The fate of the Civil War hinged on the battle that would follow. Capturing Charleston--the South's major port and the symbolic birthplace of Secession--would drive a fatal spike into the heart of the Confederacy. The defensive linchpin was Fort Sumter, where the war's first shots had been fired against its then-Federal defenders in April 1861. Sumter now bristled with Confederate cannon. If Union forces could recapture it, they could penetrate the harbor, seize the city and strike inland." (Bordewich, FERGUS M) The Union soldiers fought bravely and were envtually driven back by the confederate soldiers. If the Union captured the fort the could strike and take down the confederacy. "When the 54th stormed Fort Wagner, some 1,200 Confederates opened fire, killing many of the attackers. The survivors reached the walls of the fort and engaged the Southerners in bitter hand-to hand combat." (Grolier Inc) This showed how brutal each battle of the Civil War was and how brave the soldiers were who fought in the war. It also showed how important the battle to capture fort wagner was. "After the July 11 assault on Fort Wagner failed, Gillmore reinforced his beachhead on Morris Island. At dusk July 18, Gillmore launched an attack spearheaded by the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, a black regiment. colonel, Robert Gould Shaw, was killed. Members of the brigade scaled the parapet but after brutal hand-to-hand combat were driven out with heavy casualties. The Federals resorted to siege operations to reduce the fort. This was the fourth time in the war that black troops played a crucial combat role, proving to skeptics that they would fight bravely if only given the chance." ("Fort Wagner) The second attack on the morning of July 18, had failed. The few soldiers that reached the walls had to engage in hand to hand fighting and were driven out with heavy losses. Colonel Shaw, the leader of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, was killed during the fighting. Brave African Americans participated in the fighting and proved they were decent fighters.  "The first attack went in on 11 July. One brigade, commanded by Brigadier-General George C. Strong, launched an attack that reached the parapet of the fort before being forced back with heavy losses (339 Union losses compared to only 12 Confederate). If the attack had been abandoned at this point then it would almost forgotten. However, a second attack was ordered, and it was this attack that made a longer term impact." ("Battle of Fort Wagner, 11 and 18 Jully 1863.") On july 11, the attack on Fort Wagner began led by General George C. Strong. The Union lost 339 soldiers and only 12 Confederate soldiers. A second attack was ordered on Fort Wagner.  His regiment had amply proved its worth. Their attack on Fort Wagner was compared to Bunker Hill by one northern newspaper, and provided President Lincoln with the perfect background for the defence of the Emancipation Proclamation, still under attack ten months after it had been issued. Lincoln was able to argue that every black man in the U.S. Army who had been freed from slavery reduced the Confederate strength by just as much as it increased the Northâ€™s strength, although this argument did not really apply to the 54th Massachusetts, as that regiment had been raised entirely in the north." ("Battle of Fort Wagner, 11 and 18 July 1863.") The 54th Regiment had given Lincoln the basis of argument for the Emancipation Proclamation. He argued that every black man in the U.S. that had joined the Union's army, had weakened the South. Also a newspaper had compared the battle to the Batte of Bunker Hill. "Around 7:30 p.m., 25-year-old Col. Robert Gould Shaw of Boston addressed the men of the 54th. "We shall take the fort or die there!" he told them. "Now I want you to prove yourselves men!" As depicted in the 1989 film Glory, the two long blue ranks began to move forward across the sand." "The fate of the Civil War hinged on the battle that would follow. Capturing Charleston--the South's major port and the symbolic birthplace of Secession--would drive a fatal spike into the heart of the Confederacy. The defensive linchpin was Fort Sumter, where the war's first shots had been fired against its then-Federal defenders in April 1861. Sumter now bristled with Confederate cannon. If Union forces could recapture it, they could penetrate the harbor, seize the city and strike inland" (Bordewich, FERGUS M) The battle showed how brave the 54th Massaschusetts Regiment was in fighting the Confederates. "The 54th Massachusetts included Lewis N. Douglass and Charles Douglass, the sons of Frederick Douglass, and many free blacks and former slaves. At first, the regiment was relegated to non-combat duties, but after Shawâ€™s protests, and a drop in the number of white enlistments, the army allowed the 54th to enter into combat. Among their first engagements was a July 18, 1863 suicide attack on Fort Wagner, which guarded the entrance to Charleston Harbor. More than half of the regiment was killed, wounded, or captured, and Colonel Shaw lost his life. One soldier, Sergeant William H. Carney became the first African American to earn the Medal of Honor by running through gunfire to save the regimental flag, in spite of head, leg, and hip wounds. The survivors of the regiment rallied, and several weeks later participated in the capture of the fort." ("54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment.") The regiment was very brave and made up of sons of former slaves who fought bravely. "The attack on 18 July was no more successful than that on the eleventh. Despite a preliminary bombardment by twenty-six guns and ten siege mortars, the Confederate defences held. The 54th managed to reach the parapet of the fort, even maintaining their position for an hour before being pushed back with 25% casualties, the same ratio suffered by the entire attacking force. The Union attackers lost 1,515 men (246 dead, 880 wounded and 389 missing) out of a total of 5,264, compared to a confederate total of only 174 (36 dead, 133 wounded and 5 missing). Colonel Shaw was amongst the Union dead." ("Battle of Fort Wagner, 11 and 18 July 1863.") The second attack on Fort Wagner was not sucessful. The Union Lost 1,515 soldiers compared to 174 Confederates. The Union lost Colonial Shaw the leader of the siege on Fort Wagner "A key northern objective during the Civil War was the capture of Charlestown, South Carolina-the city where the first shots of the war had been fired." This was one of the last major battles of the Civil War that the North needed to win in order to capture Charlestown, South Carolina. It also showed that African American soldiers were brave and willing to fight for their country. And also they were willing to die for the country. "Fort Wagner was an important part of the defences of Charleston, South Carolina, built after the start of the American Civil War . It commanded one approach into Charleston Harbour, as well as providing protection for Fort Sumner. If it fell into Union hands, then it would provide a perfect base for the bombardment of that fort, and dramatically weaken the Confederate grip on South Carolina." ("Battle of Fort Wagner, 11 and 18 July 1863.") If the Union captured the fort it could attack and gain control of South Carolina.