To the Sound of the Guns Civil War Artillery, Battlefields and Historical Markers Payne’s Wharf: A high spot in the marshes between the lines at Charleston Payne’s Wharf was a point between Morris Island and James Island which saw considerable activity during the later half of the Civil War. At this time 150 years ago, a detailed survey of the site came to Major-General John Foster to answer his question – could a battery at that spot add to the bombardment of Fort Sumter. Payne’s Wharf had an interesting history, which I’ll briefly outline here. In the spring of 1863, Confederate engineers developed plans to place a battery at the mouth of Vincent Creek, behind Morris Island. This, called the Vincent’s Creek Battery, would have provided flanking fires down the lower end of the island. The plan called for a pit dug out of the marsh, in which the engineers would place a hulk or crib that would form the foundation of a battery. However, they had just started placing the foundation prior to the Federal assault on Morris Island in July 1863. As the location would allow an angle on Federal siege line, Confederates tried to complete the battery. But on July 12, Federal gunners caught the steamer Gabriel Manigault at the battery. Disabled, the steamer caught fire and went aground. At that point, the Confederates abandoned Vincent’s Creek Battery in an incomplete state. However, the remains of the Confederate project and the wrecked steamer afforded the Federals a convenient observation out on the marsh. In particular Captain Lewis Payne of the 100th New York Infantry liked to use the wreckage as cover during the summer nights, as he observed Confederate activity in the harbor. Due to his activity, the Federals gave the name “Payne’s Wharf” or “Paine’s Wharf” to the old Confederate works and wreck. Having made his activities too well known, by way of lights and signal rockets, the Confederates countered Payne’s nighttime activities with a raid on August 4, 1863. They killed one and captured Payne and nine others. The Federals continued to use Payne’s Wharf through the summer, but not so much to illicit a Confederate response. The location appears on Federal maps of the siege (look to the upper center, left of the legend, at the point of the marsh): I would also add it is my opinion (emphasis) the Confederate effort inspired the Federal engineer to explore possibilities that lead to the Marsh Battery and Swamp Angel. But I would caveat that – there is no indication of Federal intent to place a battery at Payne’s Wharf during the Morris Island campaign (against Battery Wagner). That did change in the fall, as Major-General Quincy Gillmore looked for positions offering angles on Fort Sumter to support the Second Major Bombardment of the fort. Lieutenant Charles Suter, one of the Federal engineers in the department, offered their assessment of the location at that time: I found it (Paine’s Wharf) to consist essentially of a floor of heavy planking resting on some foundation of which I could not ascertain the nature, and inclosed by a crib-work of heavy square timbers about 4 feet high, except on the side toward Moultrie and Gregg, where it has been burned away down to the flooring. About 12 feet inside the crib-work is another inclosed space about 1½ feet high, also composed of square timbers. Its sides are parallel to those of the exterior crib-work. This inclosed space is filled up flush with oyster shells. In shape it (the wharf) is a hexagon equilateral, but not equiangular. The sides are about 70 feet long; those of the interior polygon about 54 feet long. It lies on the left side of the mouth of the creek and detached about 30 feet from shore. At high tide the water overflows the flooring in those places where the parapet was burned. Spring tides probably overflow the greater part of the area filled with shells. Accompanying his report, Suter added the following diagrams illustrating the layout of the old Confederate cribwork: The crib itself stood just off the point, and extended into the shallows. Suter also noted the respective angles from the wharf towards the intended targets: The Federals, based on Suter’s assessment, declined to improve upon the Confederate work. But they did continue to use Payne’s Wharf as an observation post and rendezvous point. Those departing on the failed Fort Johnson Raids of early July 1864 used the wharf as a staging point. By late July 1864, with the Third Major Bombardment in full swing, once again Federal officers looked to another artillery platform to gain fresh angles on Fort Sumter. Addressing that, Suter, now the Chief Engineer in the Department of the South, dug out his old files and responded… in the tone of an engineer responding to an impractical request from higher authorities: I beg leave to state that in my opinion the results to be attained by placing a battery in this location are entirely incommensurate with the time and labor required for its construction. Besides, when completed, it will be often open to a surprise party, as it cannot be supported. In addition I will state that the distance to Sumter from Paine’s Wharf is 1 ⅔ miles; from the Marsh Battery to Sumter 2 ⅓ miles. The line of fire from the Marsh Battery is nearly perpendicular to the gorge wall of Sumter. Paine’s Wharf lies considerably to the right of this line of fire. The line of communication to Paine’s Wharf is about one-third longer than to the Marsh Battery, and being by water is often impassable at low tide. The space available on this wharf would be mostly occupied by the battery, as will be seen by the accompanying sketch. The direction indicated for the battery is necessary, otherwise the work would be seen in reverse from James Island. There will be little or no room for building bomb-proof shelters for the supports, hence the difficulty of holding the work. The shore of the harbor to the left of this point is good and firm, so that a surprise party might easily creep along there and surprise the work. Finally, I am afraid the foundation would not be reliable for firing heavy guns. It would probably settle unequally and necessitate continual alterations. I think the Marsh Battery decidedly the best location. A 100-pounder would compensate sufficiently the increased range (two-thirds of a mile). Foster had already ordered the Marsh Battery rearmed, with lighter Parrotts, to gain an angle on the west face of Fort Sumter. Suter concluded his response, mentioning at least one use for the crib at Payne’s Wharf (and the slip here to Paine’s Dock is yet another variation in the site’s naming!): The [Marsh] battery may be increased in area by pulling Paine’s Dock to pieces and towing the timbers to the Marsh Battery; also by using marsh mud in making parapets. I think a magazine and bomb-proof could be constructed there. To demonstrate Suter’s point about the value of Payne’s Wharf as a battery location, consider the angles of fire from Morris Island and the Marsh Battery (dark blue) compared to that from Payne’s Wharf (light blue). Likewise, the exposed position of Payne’s Wharf is apparent, looking at the location respective to Confederate works. Observation post perhaps, but not the place to put several tons of ordnance. Suter’s arguments against the work appear to be the last word on the subject. Today the remains of Payne’s Wharf remain, and are visible from Fort Sumter if you know where to look and have a good pair of binoculars. There is a slight rise of marsh just behind Morris island: markerhunter.wordpress/2014/08/16/paynes-wharf/
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 19:11:10 +0000
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