Part of Civil War @ Charleston Website
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The original unit participated in the Bombardment of Ft. Sumter in April of 1861. It fought in the defense of Port Royal in November of 1861. Members manned some of the guns that repelled the Federal assault on Battery Lamar at Secessionville, June 1862. It helped defeat the Federal Ironclad attack against Ft. Sumter in 1863. A battery of light guns defended the Confederate right flank at Battery Wagner. When the Confederate garrison was withdrawn from Charleston in February of 1865, the unit left Charleston with 1000 men and fought Sherman in S.C. and N.C. as infantry before surrendering with the Army of Tennessee that April. The unit operated heavy seacoast batteries, mortars, and light field artillery.
Artillery at Charleston Bibliography Section.
Today the reenactment unit mans two 3 inch Ordnance Rifles and one 3/4 scale 10 pound Parrot Rifle. It participates in Battle Reenactments throughout S.C. and occasionally travels to the Sumter Bombing Range for target practice with real, live ammunition, ramming shot and bolts through targets that include the cast iron engine blocks of scrap army trucks. These are real cannons and when loaded with real ammunition are powerful weapons. The unit is also the signal crew for the Charleston Battery minor league soccer team, firing its gun to mark the goals scored by the team during its spring and summer games.
Matt Walker, Son of Member
Jay Walker, at the site of Confederate Mass grave, Shiloh National Battlefield. |
The unit can be contacted by calling or writing
