The Siege of Charleston, South Carolina

In today's Civil War Diary excerpt, in addition to lamenting the weather, Philip mentions the fall of Charleston which ended the siege of the city that began in 1863.

Charleston, South Carolina, was one of the most important cities during the American Civil War and was often referred to as the "Cradle of the Confederacy." In 1860, it was one of the largest cities in the South and hosted the Democratic convention for the 1860 presidential ticket in the spring. Republican Abraham Lincoln won the presidency in November of 1860 against the split Democratic ticket of Stephen A. Douglas and John C. Breckenridge.

Fearful of the new Republican administration, South Carolina set up a special secession convention in Charleston in December 1860 and the convention voted unanimously 169-0 in favor of seceding from the Union. On April 12, 1861, the first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter, located in Charleston Harbor.

The Great Fight at Charleston S.C April 7th 1863 by Courier & Ives

Though a continuous enemy presence off Charleston was maintained by the Union beginning in May 1861, when the Union navy established its blockade, Charleston did not find itself under constant attack until summer 1863 when Union forces established a foothold on Morris Island in the harbor and began a siege that lasted 587 days.

During the siege, the Union constantly fired on Confederate forts in the harbor before turning their guns toward the city itself. Both the Union and Confederate forces resorted to using prisoners as human shields by strategically placing prison camps in and around the main targets.

In 1863, Confederate President Jefferson Davis had remarked that the city ought to be reduced to a “heap of ruins” rather than surrender. In early 1865, General William T. Sherman began his march into South Carolina. Once the Confederates realized that Sherman’s objective was Columbia, General P.G.T. Beauregard ordered the Charleston garrison to the state capital. Before the Confederates left, they set fire to warehouses of cotton and destroyed artillery and equipment. The Confederate troops evacuated Charleston on February 17, 1865, ending the siege.

Sources:

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FEBRUARY 9TH, 10TH, 11TH
There is not much news afloat. The guerillas are in close to our lines. Making slight demonstrations to our lines…Fort Lyons and tried to get through. One of them was killed and carried off by some of their men. The paymaster has not come.

FEBRUARY 11-16TH
Nothing new in camp. Cold weather. Was on guard yesterday. No news from the army.

FEBRUARY 19TH
Went on pickett this day. Snowed very heavy last night making it very miserable to stand pickett.

FEBRUARY 22ND
Charleston fell into the hands of the United States forces on the 17th. Most of it was set on fire by the rebels. We fired a salute of 36 guns in honor of Washingtons birthday. Every fort and arsenal and navy yard in the United States fired a salute in honor of the victories of…Charleston. There was a skirmish in the direction of Fairfax and a general order came for half of the camp to sleep in the bombproofs of the fort. Mosby is in the vicinity. Very much disagreeable in camp. Raining heavily. Washington City was illuminated and a number of splendid balls took place. We are expecting the paymaster.

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