Monday, July 22, 2013

Naval Happenings 150 Years Ago: July 17th to 18th, 1863

JULY 17TH

Rear Admiral Dahlgren is preparing to renew his attack on Fort Wagner and wrote Welles about a critical shortage of men in his squadron.  He asked for 500 Marines "there will be occasion for them."

On the 28th, Welles informed Dahkgran that the USS Aries had left Boston for Charleston with 200 men and would return with 200 more sailors and "Abattalion of marines, about 400 in number, will leave New York on the steamer Arago on Friday next."

Ram USS Monarch  and troops reoccupied Hickman, Kentucky, which had been captured by Confederate cavalry two days earlier.

JULY 18TH

Combined Army-Navy attack on Fort Wagner, SC, renewed.  Six ironclads and five gunboats pounded away at the fort.  The fort's return fire was silenced.  At sunset, General Gillmore ordered his troops to attack, leading to the famed 54th Massachusetts' charge.

Old B-Runner

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