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Secessionville

June 16, 1862
Also known as: Ft. Lamar, James Island
Charleston, SC
Campaign: Operations against Charleston

Brig. Gen. Henry Benham, USA
Brig. Gen. Nathan Evans, CSA

Evans brigade of 2,000 was attacked by two divisions totaling 6,600.

Confederate losses were about 200, Union nearly 700.

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.  Shellfire damaged the incomplete Confederate fort at Secessionville, an outwork of the main defense line.  On June 16, contrary to Hunter’s orders, Benham launched an unsuccessful frontal assault against Fort Lamar at Secessionville.  The first rush was checked, and Confederate reinforcements kept pace with Union reinforcements.  Naval gunfire support was inaccurate, some shells falling into the swamps, some into Union lines, and the attack was abandoned.  Because Benham was said to have disobeyed orders, Hunter relieved him of command.

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