Battle of Fort WagnerOn July 10, 1863 Ironclads and Union artillery opened fire on Fort Wagner; a fort held by the Confederate soldiers. During the bombardment Union soldiers led by General George C. Strong moved closer to the fort by moving along the beach. On the morning of July 11, 1863 General Strong used the 7th Connecticut Regiment and other brigades and attacked the fort head on. They reached the fort but did not get reinforcements and were quickly forced back across the beach with no success.
After the attack on Fort Wagner went unsuccessful the Union reinforced the beach around Morris Island. On the night of July 18, 1863 the Union attacked the fort again being led by Colonel, Robert Gould Shaw’s 54th Massachusetts all black regiment. The Union soldiers made it into the fort but with heavy casualties and were fighting in hand-to-hand combat. Robert Gould Shaw was killed during the battle. The brave 54th was quickly driven out of the fort suffering from heavy casualties and the fort was not taken. The Union then destroyed the fort using siege equipment such as cannons and mortars. The 54th Regiment of Massachusetts proved that black troops could fight and are willing to die for their country.
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