Some of the First Shots of the American Civil War were fired from this approximate location on Morris Island, including the first shots by rifled artillery on the Morning of April 12, 1862.  The Battery on Morris Island was the second to go into action.  The small rifled cannon here used by Confederates did more damage to Ft. Sumter than the larger cannons firing round shot.   Morris Island would be a proving ground for advances in artillery technology during the entire war. 

Morris Island Beach looking down towards the site of Battery Wagner in the distance.   Hurricanes have leveled the site of the sand fort assaulted by the 48th. New York on July 18, 1863, but bones of the brave men who fought on both sides that day still rest in the sand hills of the island where they were buried.  The beach is nearly identical in appearance to what the men of the 48th. would have seen that day and conditions on the Island are identical, except for the great reduction in the Mosquito population due to abatement efforts.  Keepers of the Morris Island lighthouse reburied bones found on the eroding barrier island beach in the 1930's.  Local relic hunters found such bones following Hurricane Hugo, showing the marks of bones saws from the hospitals.  Many soldiers were buried on the now eroded beach, but others were buried in the dunes of the Island.  One man died for every yard of the Island taken by the Federal army in 1863.  The island has been heavily metal detected and few relics remain.  The high part of the island is privately owned and relic hunters may be prosecuted for trespassing. The Star of the West Battery was also located along this section of beach, from which Citiadel Cadets fired what some consider to be the first shots of the war against a Federal Supply Ship in January 1861. 

View from the beach across the mouth of Charleston Harbor.  Sullivan's Island is just across the water from Morris Island, but the contrast is dramatic betwween the undeveloped beach and the dense construction on Sullivans. Both Federal and Confederate Artillery positions here during the war commanded the entrance to the harbor.  Blockade running through this area was difficult due to the narrow channel and powerful Federal Batteries erected along the beach.  The Ironclad Attack on Ft. Sumter on April 5, 1863 took place in this area.  The wreck of the Ironclad Keokuk lies under this water.  The Hunley Submarine is under the water on the far right side, somewhat further out to sea.  The Sullivan's Island Lighthouse is located in the middle distance, as is Ft. Moultrie which dueled with Federal Batteries across this water for over a year.