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Line 46: This battle was the first engagement of the [[54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Hedden |first=Paul |url=http://jamesislandmessenger.com/battle-sol-legare-island-july-16-1863/ |title=Battle of Sol Legare Island, July 16, 1863 |work=James Island Messenger |location=[[James Island, South Carolina]] |date=2014-07-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204190657/http://jamesislandmessenger.com/battle-sol-legare-island-july-16-1863/ |archivedate=4 December 2014 |accessdate=2016-05-25 }}</ref> A letter to his wife written two days later by First Sergeant [[Robert John Simmons]] (a British citizen from [[Bermuda]], who had previously served in the [[British Army]]) shortly before the attack on Battery Wagner was published in the New York Tribune on the 23rd of December, 1863, giving a first-hand account of the action.<ref>[http://54th-mass.org/tag/bcf/ 54th Mass.org]</ref> {{quote|[[Folly Island]], South Carolina July 18, 1863; We are on the march to Fort Wagner, to storm it. We have just completed our successful retreat from James Island; we fought a desperate battle there Thursday morning. Three companies of us, B, H, and K, were out on picket about a good mile in advance of the regiment. We were attacked early in the morning. Our company was in the reserve, when the outposts were attacked by rebel infantry and cavalry. I was sent out by our Captain in command of a squad of men to support the left flank. The bullets fairly rained around us; when I got there the poor fellows were falling down around me, with pitiful groans. Our pickets only numbered about 250 men, attacked by about 900. It is supposed by the line of battle in the distance, that they were supported by reserve of 3,000 men. We had to fire and retreat toward our own encampment. One poor Sergeant of ours was shot down alongside of me; several others were wounded near me. God has protected me through this, my first fiery, leaden trial, and I do give Him the glory, and render my praises unto His holy name. My poor friend [Sergeant Peter] Vogelsang is shot through the lungs; his case is critical, but the doctor says he may probably live. His company suffered very much. Poor good and brave Sergeant (Joseph D.) Wilson of his company [H], after killing four rebels with his bayonet, was shot through the head by the fifth one. Poor fellow! May his noble spirit rest in peace. The General has complimented the Colonel on the galantry and bravery of his regiment.''}} (At roughly the same time as the events that First Sergeant Simmons described took place, his seven year old nephew was murdered in New York during the [[New York City draft riots|four days of race riots]] that followed the 13 July.<ref>[http://www.workersliberty.org/54mass Workers' Liberty Magazine ''Black soldiers in America's Second Revolution'', Submitted by AWL on 27 June, 2013]</ref>) ==See also== | |||