In early July, an amphibious federal force landed at Lighthouse Inlet at the north end of Morris Island and overran two thirds of the island before being stopped at Battery Wagner, a point which kept Federal guns just beyond range of Charleston, SC.

On July 18, 1863 General Quincy Gilmore threw an assualt against Battery Wagner on Morris Island, which guarded the Southern approaches to Charleston Harbor. His goal was to capture the Battery and the remainder of the low, sandy, flea infested island (know locally as coffin island due to its use as a Lazzaretto and leper colony prior to the war). The fort was held by a small garrison of Confederate Infantry and Artillary and protected by a narrow approach up the beach, constricted by a marshy creek which funneled the soldiers onto a strip of sand a few hundred feet wide. After a heavy naval and land bombardment, as assault force led by the 54th. Massachusetts, an experimental black regiment of free men from the North went in with fixed bayonets to storm the fort. The bombardment had failed to destroy the sandbagged gun emplacements of the Fort and the assault column marched into a heavy artillary barrage and massed musketry. Much of the Fort's garrisson consisted of troops from the Charleston area, including the Charleston Battallion. The 1st. S.C. Artillary was positioned on the right flank of the fort, in the sand dunes so as to sweep the front wall of the Fort with Cannister. Fighting was fierce. The Federals were able to occupy a small portion of the fort and the 54th. planted its colors atop the parapet. After lengthy hand to hand fighting, the Federal troops were ordered to withdraw, leaving Wagner in Confederate hands. Losses were heavy.

Gen. Gilmore decided to attempt to take Wagner by siege, digging zig zag trenches towards the fort and moving his large guns to into ever closer range. The Navy also pounded Wagner from the sea, using a large calcium light at night to prevent to Confederates from rebulding the fort. On some days a shell was thrown into Wagner every 30 seconds for hours at a time. The Fort held out another 58 days under heavy bombardment before being abandoned in September. During this period the shelling of Charleston began.