The Battle of Honey Hill was the third battle of Sherman's March to the Sea

Sherman's March to the Sea

Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted around Georgia from November 15, 1864 to December 21, 1864 by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army in the American Civil War...

, fought November 30, 1864, during the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

. It did not involve Major General

Major general (United States)

In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...

 William T. Sherman's main force, marching from Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...

, to Savannah

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...

, but was a failed Union Army

Union Army

The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...

 expedition under Maj. Gen. John P. Hatch that attempted to cut off the Charleston and Savannah Railroad in support of Sherman's projected arrival in Savannah.

Engagement

Hatch's expeditionary force left Hilton Head, South Carolina, for Boyd’s Neck (above Beaufort

Beaufort, South Carolina

Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...

) on November 28. It consisted of 5,000 men—two brigades of the Coast Division of the Department of the South, one naval brigade, and portions of three batteries of light artillery. They steamed up the Broad River in transports to cut the Charleston and Savannah Railroad near Pocotaligo. Due to a heavy fog the troops were not disembarked from the transports until late the following afternoon, and Hatch immediately started forward to cut the railroad near Grahamville .

However, the expedition maps and guides proved worthless and Hatch was unable to proceed on the right road until the morning of November 30. At Honey Hill, a few miles from Grahamville, he encountered a Confederate

Confederate States Army

The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...

 force of regulars and militia, under Col. Charles J. Colcock, with a battery of seven guns across the road. Determined attacks were launched by U.S. Colored Troops including a brigade led by Alfred S. Hartwell

Alfred S. Hartwell

Alfred Stedman Hartwell was a lawyer and American Civil War soldier, who then had another career as cabinet minister and judge in the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:Alfred Stedman Hartwell was born June 11, 1836 in South Natick, Massachusetts...

 that included the 54th Massachusetts

54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

The 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that saw extensive service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was one of the first official black units in the United States during the Civil War...

 and 55th Massachusetts. The position of the Federal force was such that only one section of artillery could be used at a time, and the Confederates were too well entrenched to be dislodged. Fighting kept up until dark when Hatch, realizing the impossibility of successfully attacking or turning the flank of the enemy, withdrew to his transports at Boyd’s Neck, having lost 89 men killed, 629 wounded, and 28 missing. The Confederate casualties amounted to 8 killed and 39 wounded.
1st Lt. O.W. Bennett awarded Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...

Union Order of Battle

Brigade	Regiment and Batteries
1st Brigade BG Edward E. Potter	25th Ohio Infantry 25th Ohio Infantry The 25th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 25th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio and mustered in for three years service on June 28, 1861 under the command of Colonel James A. Jones... : Ltc Nathaniel Haughton 32nd US Colored Troops: Col George W. Baird 34th US Colored Troops 35th US Colored Troops: Col Beecher 56th New York Infantry: Ltc Tyler 127th New York Infantry: Col William Gurney 144th New York Infantry: Col Lewis 157th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment 157th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment 157th New York Infantry RegimentColonel Philip P. Brown, Jr., received authority, August 13, 1862, to recruit this regiment in the then 23d Senatorial District of the State. It was organized at Hamilton, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years September 19, 1862... : Ltc Carmichael
2nd Brigade Col Alfred S. Hartwell	54th Massachusetts Colored Volunteer Infantry: Ltc Hooper 55th Massachusetts Colored Volunteer Infantry: Ltc Charles B. Fox 102nd USCT: Col Henry L. Chipman
Naval Brigade Commander George H. Preble	Sailor Battalion of Infantry: Lt James O'Kane USMC Battalion of Infantry: Lt G. G. Stoddard
Artillery Brigade Ltc William Ames of 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery	Battery A, 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery Battery A, 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery Battery A, 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery was a heavy artillery regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:... (one section): Cpt William H. Hammer Battery B, 3rd New York Light Artillery: Cpt T. J. Meseareu: 4 12 pound guns Co F, 3rd New York Artillery: Lt E. H. Titus: 4 12 pound guns
Cavalry Cpt George Hurlbut	1st Massachusetts Cavalry (2 companies)

Confederate Order of battle

General Gustavus W Smith

• 1st Brigade Georgia Militia
• State Line Brigade of Georgia
• 47th Georgia
• Athens and Augusta Battalions
• 3rd South Carolina Cavalry: detachments from 3-4 companies
• Beufort Artillery: 2 guns
• DePass's Battery: 2 guns
• LaFayette Artillery: 3 guns

Reinforced during battle by Gen Beverly H. Robertson

• 32nd Georgia
• a battery and company of artillery

Casualties

In a report of Hatch December 1864 summarized the Union losses:

• 1st Brigade: casualties of 2 officers and 54 men killed;28 officers and 409 men wounded; 1 officer and 14 men missing.
• 2nd Brigade: casualties of 3 officers and 28 men killed;10 officers and 160 men wounded; 1 officer and 8 men missing.
• Naval Brigade: casualties of 1 man killed; 7 men wounded; 4 men missing
• Artillery Brigade: casualties of 1 officer killed; 2 officers and 12 men wounded
• Cavalry: casualties of 1 man wounded

The Confederate losses were reported by Lt Col C.C. Jones in his Siege of Savannah as 4 killed and 40 wounded. The Savannah Republican newspaper on Dec 1, 1864 reported "between eighty and one hundred killed and wounded"

External links

• Official records of Civil War search engine