A New Hampshire Soldier Witnesses The Fall Of Battery Wagner

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005

A great war-date Union soldier's, 4pp. 8vo., letter written in ink by Pvt. Philip A. Warner, Co. K, 3rd New Hampshire Vols., Morris Island, [Charleston Harbor, S.C.], Sept. 13, 1863 to his father concerning the capture of Forts Wagner and Gregg, reading, in part: "…I set down…to let you know something about the siege of Charleston. It has been sixty seven days since our batteries opened fire from Folly Island onto Morris [Island]…we have just completed the capture of Forts Wagner and Gregg with the loss of a great many lives…after the assaults…made on Wagner under the late brave Gen. Strong. Gilmore went to work building batteries and digging rifle pits under a heavy fire from the rebels from Sumter, Wagner, Gregg and batteries on James Island. After the batteries were finished our troops opened on Sumter and the bombardment was keep up until the fort was broken to pieces and of no use what ever…we have not got any troops in Sumter…the rebels are still there but it is of no use to them. After this was done…we payed our attention to Wagner and Gregg. Our troops worked night and day digging up to Wagner…they dug so near that…they throwed the sand into the rebel's trenches. Mr. Reb thought it was about time to be leaving…the night our troops were going to…charge…they left…the rebs left because they were afraid we were going to blow them up. They left their dead and wounded…it was a horrid sight…for our batteries and Iron Clads had been firing for twenty four hours before they left. We are mounting heavy guns on Wagner and Gregg…to demolish Sumter…and make it surrender…Fort Sumter is not but a small thing towards taking Charleston…Gilmore has got to take every inch of ground he goes over…". On the night of September 6, 1863, Confederate General P. T. G. Beauregard opted to abandon the two beleaguered forts and removed his forces before an expected Federal attack. The Union victory was mute since Charleston and Fort Sumter would not fall until February 1865. Warner served throughout the remainder of the war and rose to the rank of corporal before being discharged in July 1865. Included is the original transmittal envelope missing its stamp. Light soiling, else very good.

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