US Researchโ€บConflictsโ€บCivil Warโ€บSouth Carolinaโ€บGrimball's Landing
Civil War

Grimball's Landing

1863
South Carolina
Era
Civil War
Year
1863
Location
South Carolina
Status
Historical record
Part ofLower Seaboard Theater โ€บThe Civil War โ€บ
The Battle

History & Significance

Grimball's Landing was a Civil War engagement fought in South Carolina, 1863. The outcome was inconclusive.

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
Inconclusive victory
Forces engaged
6,800 total (US 3,800; CS 3,000)
Casualties
Total unknown (US unknown; CS 18)
Background and account

Grimball's Landing in detail

James Island, South Carolina, was the setting for the Battle of Grimball's Landing, fought on July 16, 1863, amid the American Civil War. This clash formed one piece of the broader campaign referred to as Operations Against the Defenses of Charleston.

Battle

Brig. Gen. Quincy A. Gillmore devised a pair of feints meant to pull Confederate troops away from reinforcing Fort Wagner. One column moved up the Stono River, aiming to threaten the bridge carrying the Charleston & Savannah Railroad. A second column, made up of Alfred Terry's division, came ashore on James Island on 8 July. Terry soon put his men through maneuvers in front of the Confederate lines there, though he stopped short of ordering an actual assault.

Gillmore turned his attention to Fort Wagner on July 11. The task of attacking fell to the 7th Connecticut Infantry. With naval guns pounding the fort in support, the men went forward at first light, using a dense morning fog to mask their approach. They ran into fierce opposition and were driven back after suffering badly, losing 339 men in total, among them 49 killed, 123 wounded, and 167 unaccounted for. The garrison defending the fort counted only 12 casualties in the exchange. Gillmore now had to weigh his options.

The Confederates then turned their attention toward James Island, striking on July 16 in an effort to surround and wipe out a portion of the Union troops stationed there. Soldiers of the 10th Connecticut Infantry found them

Source: Battle of Grimball's Landing on Wikipedia, cited as a reference.
Around this battlefield

Nearby Civil War engagements

Skirmishes, James Island and near Secessionville
1864 ยท 0 mi away
Operations on James Island
1862 ยท 0 mi away
Affair, James Island
1863 ยท 0 mi away
Action, James Island
1862 ยท 0 mi away
Demonstration on James Island
1863 ยท 0 mi away
Assaults on Fort Johnson and Battery Simpkins, James Island
1864 ยท 0 mi away
Skirmish, James Island
1864 ยท 0 mi away
Demonstration on James Island
1864 ยท 0 mi away
Engagement, James Island
1864 ยท 0 mi away
Skirmish, James Island
1864 ยท 0 mi away
Affair on James Island
1864 ยท 0 mi away
Action, James Island
1862 ยท 0 mi away
Skirmish, Legare's Point, James Island
1862 ยท 0 mi away
Engagement, James Island
1864 ยท 0 mi away
Demonstration, James Island
1864 ยท 0 mi away
Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Grimball's Landing take place?
Grimball's Landing took place in 1863.
Where was Grimball's Landing fought?
Grimball's Landing was fought in South Carolina, United States.
What was the significance of Grimball's Landing?
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 demons
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Protected heritage nearby

Historic Sites near Grimball's Landing

Secessionville Historic District
Listed ยท 0.8 mi
Seashore Farmers' Lodge No. 767
Industrial ยท 1.5 mi
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Source

The account on this page is written by Aubrey Research from cited sources. Wikipedia is cited as a reference; its text is not reproduced.

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