The Battle of Secessionville took place on June 16, 1862, during the American Civil War near Charleston, South Carolina. It was a significant conflict between Union forces, led by General Henry Benham, and Confederate defenders, who repelled the Federal troops’ attacks and inflicted severe casualties. This battle occurred within the larger context of Union attempts to seize Charleston, a major Confederate stronghold and port.
The Prelude to the Battle:
In early June 1862, Union General David Hunter positioned divisions under the command of General Henry Benham on James Island, which was strategically located near Charleston Harbor. The goal was to destroy or capture Fort Lamar at Secessionville, a fortified Confederate position.
Despite orders to hold off until reinforcements arrived, Benham ordered an attack on June 16, which would lead to disastrous results. He sought to capture Fort Lamar with the aim of gaining control of Charleston, an effort that ultimately failed, causing a setback for the Union’s war objectives.
Key Events of the Battle:
- Union Assault: At 4 a.m., around 6,500 Federal troops from regiments such as the 3rd New Hampshire, 8th Michigan, 7th Connecticut, 28th Massachusetts, and the 79th New York began their advance. They quickly overwhelmed the Confederate pickets and began the assault on Fort Lamar.
- Confederate Defense: As the Union troops neared the fort, Confederate artillery fired a devastating salvo of grapeshot, nails, and iron chain, creating significant casualties in the Union ranks. Despite this, Union forces managed to scale the parapet of the fort at multiple points, leading to intense hand-to-hand combat.
- The Retreat: After several failed attempts to breach the fort and additional Confederate reinforcements arrived, Benham ordered a general retreat by 9 a.m.. The Union forces, exhausted and decimated, withdrew after a failed attempt to break the Confederate defenses.
Aftermath and Consequences:
The battle had significant strategic consequences:
- Union Withdrawal: The capture of Fort Lamar could have allowed the Union to flank Charleston’s harbor defenses and potentially seize the city. However, after the failure at Secessionville, General Hunter ordered a retreat from James Island on June 27, 1862. By July 7, the Union forces had fully evacuated the island. This would be the last attempt by the Union to capture Charleston by land during the Civil War.
- Benham Relieved of Command: After the failed assault, General Hunter relieved General Benham of command for disobeying his direct orders to wait for reinforcements. Benham’s actions were controversial, and his leadership was scrutinized. His demotion caused significant tension within the Union leadership.
- Restoration and Aftermath: Despite his initial demotion, Benham appealed his case, and in January 1863, he was reinstated by President Abraham Lincoln. However, he was never given another field command.
The Battle’s Legacy:
The Battle of Secessionville had lasting impacts on the course of the Civil War:
- It halted Union plans to capture Charleston in the short term, and Union forces would later shift their strategy to focus on seizing outer fortifications protecting Charleston Harbor.
- It highlighted the challenges of attacking well-fortified positions, and the Union’s inability to succeed in this endeavor would be remembered as one of the significant setbacks in their campaign to disrupt the Confederacy.
The Battle of Secessionville serves as a reminder of the intense conflict and missteps during the Civil War. While it was a decisive victory for the Confederacy, it also revealed the difficulties that both sides faced in achieving their strategic objectives, particularly in the complex landscape of Charleston’s defenses.
