Crawled a Half Mile on my Belly: A New Yorker's Escape from Fort Wagner

Writing to his brother William H. Freeman in Freehold, New Jersey “with a broken smeller,” James Freeman of the 48th New York described how he had been shot through the nose while storming Fort Wagner just a few days prior.

“As we gained the ramparts, I got a ball square through my nose and one on the shoulder, the latter did not enter but raised a considerable lump and is somewhat sore,” he stated. “I am in no way seriously hurt and there is no necessity for my being in the hospital but it is orders and I had to come. I would leave the hospital today if I could get permission to get away from the awful smell which is just like that of a slaughterhouse. Many of the men are horribly mangled and in this hot climate, where there are so many patients, it is impossible to keep the hospital from smelling disagreeably. The cries and groans of the suffering are not very pleasing music to sleep by until you get used to it.”

Freeman’s brief letter describing the fight at Fort Wagner first saw publication in the August 6, 1863, edition of the Monmouth Democrat published in Freehold, New Jersey.

 

The 48th New York was among the regiments who stormed the ramparts of Fort Wagner on July 18, 1863. Our correspondent was shot through the nose but still clawed his way into the fort. His regiment lost 234 men out of the 400 that made the charge. 

Hospital No. 8, Beaufort, South Carolina

July 21, 1863

          We left St. Helena for Folly Island on the 4th of July, landed on the night of the 5th, and remained there till the morning of the 10th when we attacked the Rebels and carried all the works on Morris Island except Fort Wagner and the Cumming’s Point battery. Five Monitors, five gunboats, and the Ironsides attacked these on the morning of the 18th and kept up a heavy fire till half past 6 o’clock at night when our brigade was ordered to storm Fort Wagner.

Our regiment was third in line. We started on the double quick and the wholesale slaughter commended. The enemy’s grape, canister, shells, hand grenades, shrapnel, and musketry thinned our ranks fearfully. The 48th New York had eight companies in the fight numbering about 400 men; we came out with 166, leaving 234 on the field killed, wounded, and missing. I was inside the Rebel works about two hours. When I left, all our forces had retreated but a few like myself who did not know the order to retreat had been given as it had been done very quietly in order to deceive the Rebels.

When I left, I crawled a half mile on my belly over dead and wounded soldiers before I dared to rise up and walk. The moment I left the fort, the Rebels opened on me but owing to the darkness I escaped without further injury than that which I received in the beginning of the fight. As we gained the ramparts, I got a ball square through my nose and one on the shoulder, the latter did not enter but raised a considerable lump and is somewhat sore. I am in no way seriously hurt and there is no necessity for my being in the hospital but it is orders and I had to come. In this fight, the 48th new York had 17 officers but only two of them came out whole.

During the time we occupied the island, we were compelled to dig caves underground to protect us from the enemy’s shells. We lost some men every day killed or wounded; Fort Sumter annoyed us most by shelling our camp. I would leave the hospital today if I could get permission to get away from the awful smell which is just like that of a slaughterhouse. Many of the men are horribly mangled and in this hot climate, where there are so many patients, it is impossible to keep the hospital from smelling disagreeably. The cries and groans of the suffering are not very pleasing music to sleep by until you get used to it. The wounded are very tenderly cared for and receive the kindest attention. 

Yours, with a broken smeller,

James H. Freeman

To learn more about the fight for Fort Wagner, please check out these additional posts:

Storming Fort Wagner with the 67th Ohio

Another Such Engagement Would Not Be Desirable: The 62nd Ohio and Battery Wagner

 The Flag Never Touched the Ground: William Carney at Battery Wagner (54th Mass.)

 Following Glory: Two New Yorkers Recall the Charge on Battery Wagner (48th & 100th NY)

At the Center of a Circle of Fire: A Confederate View of the Fight for Battery Wagner

Source:

Letter from Private James H. Freeman, Co. C, 48th New York Volunteer Infantry, Monmouth Democrat (New Jersey), August 6, 1863, pg. 2


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