The Calvin Shedd Papers > Background > Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
| Date(s) of Letter(s) | Little, Henry F. W. The Seventh Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion. Concord, New Hampshire: Seventh New Hampshire Veteran Association, 1896. |
| February 4, 1863 April 2, 1863 April 14, 1863 April 26, 1863 |
On March 26, 1863, orders came from Hilton Head, South Carolina, for Colonel Putnam to take five companies and proceed on board the steamer Cossack. These forces joined an expedition with the purpose of attacking Charleston, South Carolina. "[O]n the 28th, companies B, F, H, I, and K, were ordered on board the Cossack, but on account of the roughness of the sea outside the order was countermanded and the embarkation was deferred until the 29th, when the five companies, taking five days' rations and sixty rounds of ammunition, went aboard of the steamer at 12:45 P.M., accompanied by Colonel Putnam, Adjt. H. G. Webber, and Asst. Surg. Henry Boynton, of the field and staff." The steamer set out to sea, but was forced back to port by rough seas. More rations were loaded and the steamer finally set out for South Carolina on March 30th. A stop was made at Fernandina, Florida, to take on the Seventh Connecticut Volunteers, and all arrived at Hilton Head, South Carolina, on the morning of April 1st. After remaining in camp until the 4th, Colonel Putnam and the brigade proceeded to Stono Inlet. They were to cooperate with Commodore Dupont who was planning to make an attack on Fort Sumter. The fleet failed to reduce the forts, and the land troops had nothing to do. The regiments were ordered back to their original stations. This was the last attempt on Charleston by Major-General Hunter. (Little, pp. 93-95). |