Map of Charleston Harbor showing Union and Rebel Batteries &c. Septr. 1863

Map shows the location of Union and Confederate fortifications on James, Sullivan, Block and Morris islands at the entrance to Charleston Harbor, S.C. In July 1863, Union generals Gillmore and Dahlgren hoped to take Fort Wagner, on Morris Island in Charleston Harbor, in order to gain a vantage point from which to launch an attack on the city of Charleston. Strongly defended by the Confederates, the first Union assaults (July 10th and 18th) resulted in extremely high casualties. Gillmore began formal siege operations and had reached the base of the fort by September 6th. The Confederate forces abandoned the fort during the night. Also indicated are the locations of sunken Union gunboats and of the "Swamp Angel" battery, which had been used to shell Charleston in August. Also, while dated Sept. 1863, the notation "Union batteries 1864" appears on Block Island.
Color coding indicates the location of Union and Confederate fortifications.
NOTE: Researchers will be served a color photocopy of this diary image.
This item is from the collections of the Virginia Historical Society; please contact the institution for more information.
Available also through the Library of Congress web site as a raster image.
In the Robert Knox Sneden Diary (Mss5:1 Sn237:1 v. 4, p. 788).
Manuscripts