Morris Island Visit

Part of the Civil War @ Charleston Website

A diverse group of local environmentalist, Civil War History advocates and ecotourism proponents visited Morris Island on Feb. 5, 2000 to assess the Island's potential for preservation as nature preserve and low impact recreational area focused on history and the local ecosystem.  To contact the people working to preserve the island, email Nora Kravec at  norakravec@mindspring.com.   Please include your full name, address and telephone number.

morris landing.JPG (33005 bytes) Transportation to the island was donated by the operators of the Charleston Explorer, who runs ecotours to the island for school children.  Here Park Service Ranger Rick Hatcher (in green) and Dana McBean of the SC Battleground Preservation Trust.  (carrying white folder) land on the Island.  The explorer makes landings on the back spit of the island where a steep slope allows viistors to land without even getting their feet wet in colder months.    For information on these excursions and field trips for schools contact: EXPLORER CRUISES LLC, CHARLESTON MARITIME CENTER, PO BOX 21169, CHARLESTON, SC 29401, (843) 723-5656 FAX (843) 856-8761 or check EXPLORERCRUISES.COM.

  Ft. Sumter, about 1000 yards away, is visible in the Background.
morris beach.JPG (31274 bytes)The group is briefed on the history and ecology of the Island by tour participants. Confederate Cavalry running the gauntlet of Naval Artillery fire raced from battery Gregg to Wagner over this section of beach, braving the fire of the entire Federal Fleet.  Ft. Sumter is again in the background to the left.
first_shots.JPG (32853 bytes)Some of the First Shots of the American Civil War were fired from this approximate location on Morris Island, including the first shots by rifled artillery on the Morning of April 12, 1862.  The Battery on Morris Island was the second to go into action.  The small rifled cannon here used by Confederates did more damage to Ft. Sumter than the larger cannons firing round shot.   Morris Island would be a proving ground for advances in artillery technology during the entire war.
morris_beach_towardswagner.JPG (12497 bytes)Morris Island Beach looking down towards the site of Battery Wagner in the distance.   Hurricanes have leveled the site of the sand fort assaulted by the 54th. Massachusetts on July 18, 1863, but bones of the brave men who fought on both sides that day still rest in the sand hills of the island where they were buried.  The beach is nearly identical in appearance to what the men of the 54th. would have seen that day and conditions on the Island are identical, except for the great reduction in the Mosquito population due to abatement efforts.  Keepers of the Morris Island lighthouse reburied bones found on the eroding barrier island beach in the 1930's.  Local relic hunters found such bones following Hurricane Hugo, showing the marks of bones saws from the hospitals.  Many soldiers were buried on the now eroded beach, but others were buried in the dunes of the Island.  One man died for every yard of the Island taken by the Federal army in 1863.  The island has been heavily metal detected and few relics remain.  The high part of the island is privately owned and relic hunters may be prosecuted for trespassing. The Star of the West Battery was also located along this section of beach, from which Citiadel Cadets fired what some consider to be the first shots of the war against a Federal Supply Ship in January 1861.
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View from the beach across the mouth of Charleston Harbor.  Sullivan's Island is just across the water from Morris Island, but the contrast is dramatic betwween the undeveloped beach and the dense construction on Sullivans. Both Federal and Confederate Artillery positions here during the war commanded the entrance to the harbor.  Blockade running through this area was difficult due to the narrow channel and powerful Federal Batteries erected along the beach.   The trip to the Island from the Maritime Center in downtown Charleston on the Explorer took only 30 minutes as a moderate speed.  The Ironclad Attack on Ft. Sumter on April 5, 1863 took place in this area.  The wreck of the Ironclad Keokuk lies under this water.  The Hunley Submarine is under the water on the far right side, somewhat further out to sea.  The Sullivan's Island Lighthouse is located in the middle distance, as is Ft. Moultrie which dueled with Federal Batteries across this water for over a year.
swamp_angel.JPG (30811 bytes)The Swamp Angel battery, which fired the first shots into the City of Charleston is located in the marsh on the left side in the rear of this photo.  Landings on this beach give schoolchildren access to major historical sites and three different coastal environments in a few hundred yards.   Supplies were landed from Charleston to support the defense of this island from this point.  Charleston is clearly visible from this spot and Federal Troops bombarded Charleston from this location for over one year.
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