All Civil War battles in South Carolina. They are in the order in which they occurred during the Civil War.
If you’d like to learn more about the beginning of the Civil War #ad Days of Defiance: Sumter, Secession, and the Coming of the Civil War
Civil War Battles in South Carolina
Fort Sumter
Civil War battles in South Carolina
Other Names: None
Location: Charleston County
Campaign: Operations in Charleston Harbor (April 1861)
Date(s): April 12-14, 1861
Principal Commanders: Maj. Robert Anderson [US]; Brig. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard [CS]
Forces Engaged: Regiments: 580 total (US 80; CS est. 500)
Estimated Casualties: None
Description: On April 10, 1861, Brig. Gen. Beauregard, in command of the provisional Confederate forces at Charleston, South Carolina, demanded the surrender of the Union garrison of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Garrison commander Anderson refused. On April 12, Confederate batteries opened fire on the fort, which was unable to reply effectively. At 2:30 pm, April 13, Major Anderson surrendered Fort Sumter, evacuating the garrison on the following day. The bombardment of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the American Civil War. Although there were no casualties during the bombardment, one Union artillerist was killed and three wounded (one mortally) when a cannon exploded prematurely while firing a salute during the evacuation on April 14.
Result(s): Confederate victory
Secessionville
Civil War battles in South Carolina
Other Names: Ft. Lamar, James Island
Location: City of Charleston
Campaign: Operations against Charleston (June 1862)
Date(s): June 16, 1862
Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. Henry Benham [US]; Brig. Gen. Nathan Evans [CS]
Forces Engaged: 8,600 total (US 6,600; CS 2,000)
Estimated Casualties: 889 total (US 685; CS 204)
Description: Early June 1862, Maj. Gen. David Hunter transported Horatio G. Wright’s and Isaac I. Stevens’s Union divisions under immediate direction of Brig. Gen. Henry Benham to James Island where they entrenched at Grimball’s Landing near the southern flank of the Confederate defenses. On June 16, contrary to Hunter’s orders, Benham launched an unsuccessful frontal assault against Fort Lamar at Secessionville. Because Benham was said to have disobeyed orders, Hunter relieved him of command.
Result(s): Confederate victory
Simmon’s Bluff
Civil War battles in South Carolina
Other Names: None
Location: City of Charleston
Campaign: Operations against Charleston (June 1862)
Date(s): June 21, 1862
Principal Commanders: Lt. A.C. Rhind [US]; Col. James McCullough [CS]
Forces Engaged: Regiments
Estimated Casualties: None
Description: In June, the Federals besieging Charleston mounted an amphibious expedition to cut the Charleston & Savannah Railroad. On June 21, troops of the 55th Pennsylvania landed from the gunboat Crusader and transport Planter near Simmon’s Bluff on Wadmelaw Sound, surprising and burning an encampment of the 16th South Carolina Infantry. The Confederates scattered, and the Federals returned to their ships. Despite this minor victory, the Federals abandoned their raid on the railroad. Although a bloodless raid, this engagement typified scores of similar encounters that occurred along the South Carolina coastline.
Result(s): Union victory
Charleston Harbor
Civil War battles in South Carolina
Other Names: Fort Sumter
Location: Charleston County
Campaign: Operations against Defenses of Charleston (1863)
Date(s): April 7, 1863
Principal Commanders: Rear Adm. S.F. Du Pont [US]; Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard [CS]
Forces Engaged: 9 warships
Estimated Casualties: 36 total (US 22; CS 14)
Description:In April, Maj. Gen. David Hunter prepared his land forces on Folly, Cole’s, and North Edisto Islands to cooperate with a naval bombardment of Fort Sumter. On April 7, the South Atlantic Squadron under Rear Admiral S.F. Du Pont bombarded Fort Sumter, having little impact on the Confederate defenses of Charleston Harbor. Although several of Hunter’s units had embarked on transports, the infantry were not landed, and the joint operation was abandoned. The ironclad warships Keokuk, Weehawken, Passaic, Montauk, Patapsco, New Ironsides, Catskill, Nantucket, and Nahant participated in the bombardment. Keokuk, struck more than 90 times by the accurate Confederate fire, sunk the next day.
Result(s): Confederate victory (Warships were repulsed.)
Fort Wagner
Civil War battles in South Carolina
Other Names: First Assault, Morris Island
Location: City of Charleston
Campaign: Operations against Defenses of Charleston (1863)
Date(s): July 10-11, 1863
Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. Qunicy Gillmore [US]; Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard [CS]
Forces Engaged: Brigades
Estimated Casualties: 351 total (US 339; CS 12)
Description: On July 10, Union artillery on Folly Island together with Rear Adm. John Dahlgren’s fleet of ironclads opened fire on Confederate defenses of Morris Island. The bombardment provided cover for Brig. Gen. George C. Strong’s brigade, which crossed Light House Inlet and landed by boats on the southern tip of the island. Strong’s troops advanced, capturing several batteries, to within range of Confederate Fort Wagner. At dawn, July 11, Strong attacked the fort. Soldiers of the 7th Connecticut reached the parapet but, unsupported, were thrown back.
Result(s): Confederate victory
Grimball’s Landing
Civil War battles in South Carolina
Other Names: Secessionville, James Island
Location: City of Charleston and James Island
Campaign: Operations against Defenses of Charleston (1863)
Date(s): July 16, 1863
Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. Alfred H. Terry [US]; Brig. Gen. Johnson Hagood [CS]
Forces Engaged: 6,800 total (US 3,800; CS 3,000)
Estimated Casualties: Total unknown (US unknown; CS 18)
Description: To divert Confederate reinforcements from a renewed attack on Fort Wagner, Gen. Gillmore designed two feints. An amphibious force ascended Stono River to threaten the Charleston & Savannah Railroad bridge. A second force, consisting of Terry’s division, landed on James Island on July 8. Terry demonstrated against the Confederate defenses. On July 16, the Confederates attacked Terry’s camp at Grimball’s Landing. Because of incomplete reconnaissance of the difficult, marshy ground, the disorganized Confederate attack was soon aborted. Their mission accomplished, Federal troops withdrew from the island on July 17.
Result(s): Inconclusive
Fort Wagner/Morris Island
Civil War battles in South Carolina
Other Names: Second Assault, Morris Island
Location: City of Charleston
Campaign: Operations against Defenses of Charleston (1863)
Date(s): July 18-September 7, 1863
Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Quincy Gillmore [US]; Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard [CS]
Forces Engaged: 6,800 total (US 5,000; CS 1,800)
Estimated Casualties: 1,689 total (US 1,515; CS 174)
Description:After the July 11 assault on Fort Wagner failed, Gillmore reinforced his beachhead on Morris Island. At dusk July 18, Gillmore launched an attack spearheaded by the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, a black regiment. The unit’s colonel, Robert Gould Shaw, was killed. Members of the brigade scaled the parapet but after brutal hand-to-hand combat were driven out with heavy casualties. The Federals resorted to siege operations to reduce the fort. This was the fourth time in the war that black troops played a crucial combat role, proving to skeptics that they would fight bravely if only given the chance.
Result(s): Confederate victory
Fort Sumter
Civil War battles in South Carolina
Other Names: Charleston Harbor, Morris Island
Location: City of Charleston
Campaign: Operations against Defenses of Charleston (1863)
Date(s): August 17-December 31, 1863
Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Quincy Gillmore [US]; Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard [CS]
Forces Engaged: Morris Island Batteries [US]; Fort Sumter Garrison
Estimated Casualties: Unknown
Description: Federal batteries erected on Morris Island opened fire on August 17 and continued their bombardment of Fort Sumter and the Charleston defenses until August 23. Despite a severe pounding, Fort Sumter’s garrison held out. Siege operations continued against Fort Wagner on Morris Island.
Result(s): Inconclusive
Charleston Harbor
Civil War battles in South Carolina
Other Names: Battery Gregg, Fort Wagner, Morris Island, Fort Sumter
Location: Charleston County
Campaign: Operations against Defenses of Charleston (1863)
Date(s): September 7-8, 1863
Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Quincy Gillmore [US]; Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard [CS]
Forces Engaged: Regiments: total unknown (US 413; CS unknown)
Estimated Casualties: (US 117; CS unknown)
Description: During the night of September 6-7, Confederate forces evacuated Fort Wagner and Battery Gregg pressured by advancing Federal siegeworks. Federal troops then occupied all of Morris Island. On September 8, a storming party of about 400 marines and sailors attempted to surprise Fort Sumter. The attack was repulsed.
Result(s): Confederate victory
Honey Hill
Civil War battles in South Carolina
Other Names: None
Location: Jasper County
Campaign: Savannah Campaign (1864)
Date(s): November 30, 1864
Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. John Hatch [US]; Col. Charles Colcock [CS]
Forces Engaged: 6,400 total (US 5,000; CS 1,400)
Estimated Casualties: 796 total (US 746; CS 50)
Description: Leaving Hilton Head on November 28, a Union expeditionary force under Maj. Gen. John P. Hatch steamed up the Broad River in transports to cut the Charleston & Savannah Railroad near Pocotaligo. Hatch disembarked at Boyd’s Landing and marched inland. On November 30, Hatch encountered a Confederate force of regulars and militia under Col. Charles J. Colcock at Honey Hill. Determined attacks by U.S. Colored Troops (including the 54th Massachusetts) failed to capture the Confederate entrenchments or cut the railroad. Hatch retired after dark, withdrawing to his transports at Boyd’s Neck.
Result(s): Confederate victory
Rivers Bridge
Civil War battles in South Carolina
Other Names: Salkehatchie River, Hickory Hill, Owens Crossroads, Lawtonville, Duck Creek
Location: Bamberg County
Campaign: Campaign of the Carolinas (February-April 1865)
Date(s): February 3, 1865
Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Francis P. Blair [US]; Maj. Gen. Lafayette McLaws [CS]
Forces Engaged: Divisions: 6,200 total (US 5,000; CS 1,200)
Estimated Casualties: 262 total (US 92; CS 170)
Description:On February 2, a Confederate force under McLaws held the crossings of the Salkehatchie River against the advance of the right wing of Sherman’s Army. Federal soldiers began building bridges across the swamp to bypass the road block. In the meantime, Union columns worked to get on the Confederates flanks and rear. On February 3, two Union brigades waded the swamp downstream and assaulted McLaws’s right. McLaws retreated toward Branchville after stalling Sherman’s advance for only one day.
Result(s): Union victory
Source: https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battles.htm# No protection is claimed in original U.S. Government works
