Civil War

This Week in the Civil War

00000174-b11b-ddc3-a1fc-bfdbb1a20000The Schreiner University Department of History is honoring the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War with a series of short vignettes focusing on events from 1861 through 1865. The Civil War was the most destructive conflict in American history, but it was also one of our most defining moments as a people and as a nation. Let us know what you think about "This Week in the Civil War." E-mail your comments to Dr. John Huddleston at jhuddles@schreiner.edu.Airs: Weekdays at 5:19 a.m., 8:19 a.m., 4:19 p.m. on KTXI and 4:49 a.m., 9:29 p.m. on KSTX.

This Week in the Civil War - 637

Texas Public Radio | By Texas Public Radio

Published August 16, 2013 at 3:52 PM CDT

On Monday, August 17, 1863 eleven guns of the Federal batteries on Morris Island, aided by naval armament, opened fire at Charlestown, South Carolina against Confederate fortifications at Fort Sumter, Fortress Wagner, and Battery Gregg.

A total of 938 shot were fired in the first major, Union bombardment of Charlestown’s defenses. Fort Sumter’s brick outer walls crumbled under the blows of the huge, Union Parrott guns. Ironically, the rubble and sand formed an even more impregnable bulwark against Federal fire, especially at Fortress Wagner and Battery Gregg.

However, from 7900 yards the Federal guns could fire directly into Charlestown, threatening both civilians and the city’s Confederate defenders. By August 21, Union General Q.A. Gilmore would threaten to bombard Charlestown, if the city continued to resist the Union’s attack.