Bluffton expedition

The Bluffton expedition, also called the burning of Bluffton, was an engagement of the American Civil War in which Union forces destroyed most of Bluffton, South Carolina, on June 4, 1863

Quotes

• Flag-Ship Wabash,
  Port Royal Harbor, S. C, June 6, 1863.
  Sir: About ten days ago Major General Hunter applied to me for a gunboat to assist a land force in an expedition against Bluffton, which lies on May river, a stream emptying into Calibogue sound.
  This town has been the headquarters for the rebels for a long time in this vicinity, from which pickets were distributed at various points.
  At the time Major General Hunter wrote this request I had no gunboat in port; but, on the 3d instant, I ordered Lieutenant Commander Bacon to proceed with the Commodore McDonough on this expedition.
  The army forces, numbering, I believe, about one thousand (1,000) men, were on board the army gunboat Mayflower and an army transport, and under the command of Colonel Barton.
  On arriving near Bluffton the troops were landed under the protection of the Commodore McDonough, and took possession of the town, the rebels having retreated. By the orders of Colonel Barton the town was destroyed by fire, the church only being spared; and though the troops made several charges, they were driven back by the troops and the shells and shrapnell of the Commodore McDonough. Bluffton being destroyed, the soldiers re-embarked without casualties, and returned to Hilton Head.
  Enclosed (marked No. 1) is the interesting report of Lieutenant Commander Bacon, who speaks in high terms of Colonel Barton, the commanding officer of the land forces.
  Lieutenant Commander Bacon, whose vessel is well fitted for these inland waters, has in this case, as in all others, exhibited his characteristic energy and intelligence.
  Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
  S. F. DUPONT,
  Rear-Admiral, Commanding S. A. B. Squadron.
  Hon. GIDEON WELLES,
  Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.
  • Report of the Secretary of the Navy, with an Appendix containing Reports from Officers (December 1863), p. 219

• (Report of Lieutenant Commander George Bacon)
  United States Steamer Commodore McDonough,
  Port Royal, S. C, June 4, 1863.
  Sir: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to your order, I proceeded to Fort Pulaski, and reported to Colonel Barton, the commander of the fort, as officer in command of naval forces for the attack on Bluffton. He immediately gave orders that the army gunboat Mayflower should be placed under my command. After arranging the plan of attack, I left Fort Pulaski in time to cross Calibogue sound at high water, and came to anchor off the south end of Hilton Head island, and awaited the arrival of the army gunboat and transports, which were of lighter draught, and men to join me at 11.30 p.m. Unfortunately the Mayflower grounded on the flats, and as it was found impossible to get her off before daylight, I informed Colonel Barton that I could furnish him with all the necessary protection, and that we had better proceed with the expedition. I also ordered the captain of the Mayflower, as soon as his vessel floated, to join me at Bluffton. The steamer Island City, and transport Cossack, having on board about 1,000 volunteers, (this ship leading them,) got under way for the point of attack.
  On account of being detained by the Mayflower, it was long after daylight before we reached the point where the troops were to disembark, which was about three miles this side of Bluffton; meeting with no opposition at that point, the troops were landed in safety, and both them and ourselves advanced to the attack, the Mayflower having joined us in the mean time. I anchored from half to three-quarters of a mile from the town, bringing our batteries to bear upon it.
  The land forces having, without opposition, occupied the town, I moved up with this vessel and the transports for the purpose of being better able to cover their movements, as well as to be ready to re-embark the troops in case of necessity, as the enemy had mustered quite a large force, in the rear of the town, of infantry and cavalry. Soon after we had anchored abreast of the town, and but a few yards from it, sharp firing was heard in the rear between the rebels and our forces. The commanding officer of the land forces made signal that he wished us to shell the woods in their rear, as the rebels were mustering in quite a strong force. I immediately opened with all my guns, firing both shell and shrapnell with 5-second fuzes, which compelled the enemy to fall back. In the mean time the town was fired in several places, by order of the commander of the land forces, the church being the only building spared.
  The enemy, under cover of the fire and smoke of the burning town, which was so dense and hot as to cause us to move our position a little, and almost obscured immediate objects attempted another attack on our forces. They were met by steady volleys from our troops and the enfilading fire of our heavy guns, and were obliged to retire in disorder.
  As we had succeeded in carrying out the object of our expedition by destroying the town and breaking up this nest of marauders, the troops were ordered to re-embark, I having previously ordered the Mayflower and Island City to run alongside a wharf which made out near where the fighting was going on, as by that means the troops could be embarked very quickly.
  The enemy, seeing that all the troops were leaving, collected all their troops for the third and last charge upon the rear guard, who were left on shore to cover the re-embarkation of their comrades. The enemy advanced down the street leading to the wharf, through the town, expecting, no doubt, to sweep off in the general rush the few who were covering the re-embarkation.
  As they were in considerable force by that time, they charged with cheers to within a short distance of the steamers, when, from their repeated volleys, we got their position, * * * when we opened with shrapnell and shell in the direction of the enemy, and the effect was instantaneous, as I have since been assured by the commander of the land forces that our shrapnell and shell passed directly over the heads of our own men, exploding in front of the ranks of the enemy, causing them to break and retreat in disorder. The guns of the Mayflower, which was at that time lying at the wharf and commanding the streets, were served with great effect.
  It affords me the greatest pleasure to state that the rapidity and precision of our fire was commended in the highest terms by the commander and other officers of the land forces, who, witnessing the effect of our fire, were, of course, the best judges of it. In conclusion, I beg leave to state that the expedition was a complete success, which I consider owing to the hearty co-operation of both branches of the service. The land forces were ably commanded by Colonel Barton, of the New York volunteers, who evinced marked ability in manoeuvring his men.
  I cannot speak in too high terms of the conduct of the officers and crew of this ship. The rapidity with which the guns were worked, as well as the good judgment displayed in aiming them, reflects great credit upon the officers and men of the different divisions. Expended during the action 143 rounds as follows, viz: 100-pounder Parrott, 18 long shell; 9-inch Dahlgren shell gun, 16 10", 10 15", 1 20" fuze shells; from both howitzers 19 shell, 68 shrapnell, 10 canister; from 50-pounder Dahlgren rifle, one shell. The shell and shrapnell, without an exception, exploded at the proper time.
  Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
  GEORGE BACON,
  Lieutenant Commander, U. S. N.
  Rear-Admiral S. F. DUPONT,
  Commanding S. A. B. Squadron, U. S. N.
  • Report of the Secretary of the Navy, with an Appendix containing Reports from Officers (December 1863), pp. 219–220