Brothers, Sometimes, being a historian ain't easy (even an amateur)… Among the professional (read that as people who draw a pay check for doing so) writers of history there is a template an expectation as to what is "worthy" of coverage. Regarding the Late Unpleasantness, the "professional" historians look for large numbers of men, grandly sweeping across hill and plain leaving carnage and ruin in their wake. Failing this, any other people involved did nothing of note. In my humble opinion, it shows an intellectual laziness and lack of depth in our historical "betters".

Case in point; the Marines (either Confederate or Federal)... You could fill several libraries with books and studies on Gettysburg, the Overland Campaign, Sherman's March to the Sea and the regiments who fought in them. In contrast, there is precious little written about the Marine's of either nation (in fairness, there are a couple of well researched books, but that is about it).

This lack of study can almost be excused in the case of the Confederacy's Marines; as their records were all destroyed either at the end of the war or in a subsequent house fire where remaining records were being stored. However, the lack of research and information regarding the United States Marine Corps is a different story… The Department of the Navy kept excellent records and they are readily available. Given as this is the 150th anniversary of the struggle, I fear a grave injustice that has been done to a Corps of Gallant and True men. Try typing "US Marine Civil War" into an internet search engine. You are, most likely, going to be told, "The Marine Corps played little major role in the conflict. Their duties included serving on blockading vessels, and guarding Naval Bases…" This is, as far as it goes, true. There were no Marines dying in the Wilderness, there was not a Marine Battalion on Cemetery Ridge. But, contrary to conventional wisdom, the Marines played an active and vital role in the Federal Victory.

In 1861, the Lincoln Government decided to actively blockade the Confederacy. The Federal Navy was tasked with securing 3,500 miles of coastline and closing 9 major seaports. Additionally, the Navy would be responsible for capturing and closing the South's major river systems to trade. Assuming the South was not simply going to roll over and allow itself to be slowly choked to death, somebody was going to have to wrest control and hold the entire Southern coastline from the Confederates.

This task was to, ultimately, fall to the Marines. Although to few in number (peak authorized strength was 3000 enlisted men) to seize the major ports without US Army support, the Marines held dozens of Naval bases, and suppressed almost all Confederate resistance within their operating areas. The Marine's war was a war of raids, bitter defensive actions and small unit fighting. Their battles, for the most part, were not grand affairs with regiments advancing under colors across open fields; but small desperate close in affairs fought with muskets, pistols, cutlasses or fists.

During the war, the United States Marines were involved in over 300 documented actions, including ship to ship combat, raids on Confederate garrisons and batteries, defense of Federal installations, Participation in major land battles, and Capture of Confederate fortresses and seaports. As it applies to our hobby (more specifically our impression), I will list major actions and Federal Marine participation in the Carolinas. I am not going to delve into Marine service in the Virginia, Florida, South Georgia, Mississppi or other river systems, nor the participation in the war in the Trans Mississippi Theater. This information was taken from the Navy and Marine Living History Association website:

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The Saga Begins…

1859

• October 18, 1859: 1st Lieutenant Greene with86 Marines under the command of Robert E. Lee and JEB Stuart (Both of later CS service) capture John Brown and his terrorist band at Harper's Ferry, rescuing his hostages. It is worth noting that the marine's assaulted the arsenal with unloaded weapons to prevent any accidental Civilian Casualties.

1861

• January 5, 1861: Marines from the Washington Navy Yard man Fort Washington to protect the capitol.
• January 9, 1861: First Lt. Hayes and thirty Marines from the Washington Navy Yard garrisoned Fort McHenry until relieved by the Army.
• January 14, 1861: Marine gun detachments man howitzers to protect the Washington Naval Yard.
• February 12, 1861: Marines secure the US Capitol
• April 20, 1861: Marines and sailors at the Norfolk Naval Yard, put the naval yard to the torch to prevent capture of supplies by the Confederacy
• May 24, 1861: Marines from the Washington Navy Yard capture and occupy Alexandria, Virginia raising the National flag over the Customs House.
• June 1-2, 1861: Marine gunners man several of the guns on the USS Pawnee, and the USS Thomas Freeborn engaging Rebel shore batteries at Aquia Creek Virginia.
• July 21, 1861: A battalion of Federal Marines, under the command of Major John Reynolds, USMC is engaged in the fighting at 1st Manassas. This force consisted of 12 officers and around 350 enlisted men, most of who had been in the Corps for less then three weeks. Fighting beside the Fire Zouaves of New York they engaged Stonewall Jackson's troops at Henry Hill. The Marines and Zouaves fought gallantly assaulting the hill twice before being forced to retire when the army panicked and ran. The Marines fought a rear guard action at the Sudley-New Market road and Warrenton Turnpike intersection for nearly an hour before breaking and joining the retreat
• August 27-28, 1861: Marines of the Atlantic Squadron, along with sailors and other troops assault Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Additionally, Marines of the USS Pawnee and the USS Susquehanna manned the guns firing on the forts. The Marines were the first to enter the Fort Clark and raised the National Colors
• September 16, 1861: Marines and sailors of the USS Pawnee landed on Beacon Island, North Carolina and destroyed guns and fortifications. This closed Ocracoke Inlet, along with Hatteras Inlet effectively forcing blockade runners to find other ports to work out of.
• November 7, 1861: Fleet Marines and sailors of Flag Officer Dupont's fleet bombard Fort Walker on Hilton Head Island, and Fort Beauregard on Bay Point, South Carolina. Commander John Rogers along with a landing party of sailors and Marines go ashore and raise the flag over the quickly deserted Fort Walker. The next day Fort Beauregard is captured when the Confederates evacuate it. The US Marines had fought against CS Marines during the engagement. This completed the capture of Port Royal Sound, South Carolina.
• November 24, 1861: Commander John Rogers leads a landing party of sailors and Marines from the USS Flag, USS Seneca and USS Pocahontas, landing on Tybee Island, Georgia, and raises the flag on the light house.
• December 12, 1861: USS Isaac Smith embarked on a reconnaissance in the Ashepoo River, South Carolina, with Marine detachment, scattered Confederate troops by gunfire and landed Lieutenant J. W. A. Nicholson with the Marines to destroy their quarters.
• December 16, 1861: Commander Percival Drayton with the Marines of the USS Pawnee and a party of sailors landed at the Edisto River town of Rockville. The Confederates had abandoned their camp leaving a large quantity of supplies including forty Sibley tents that Dupont gave to the Marine Battalion.
• December 26, 1861: Marines of the USS Dale skirmished with rebel troops at the mouth of the South Edisto River, South Carolina. The firefight broke out at the house of former South Carolina Governor William Aiken. The Confederate force was driven away by the combined musket and boat howitzer fire of the Marine landing party.

1862

• January 17, 1862: Sailors and Marines of the USS Susquehanna leave Port Royal to perform picket duty and exploration of the New River waterways and assisted n the construction of batteries on Venus and Bird Islands.
• February 2, 1862: Marines and Army troops seized more Confederate positions on Roanoke Island, North Carolina.
• February 10, 1862: Marine detachments from fourteen US vessels took part in the pursuit of an enemy fleet up the Croatan Sound from Roanoke Island, North Carolina, and occupied Fort Cobb and Elizabeth City, NC.
• February 19, 1862: Marine detachments of the Atlantic Squadron participate in the Battle of Winton, NC.
• March 9, 1862: Marines and sailors of the USS Pocahontas occupied St. Simon's Island, Georgia and the next day accompanied by the Marines of the USS Mohican, capture Brunswick and land on Jekyl Island which they find all the fortifications deserted.
• March 12, 1862: Marine detachments of gunboats took part in a combined Army/Navy expedition up Slocum's Creek, NC to capture New Bern and Washington, NC.
• March 14, 1862: Marines and soldiers captured Confederate batteries on the Neuse River and occupied New Bern, NC. They captured a depot of military supplies.
• April 16, 1862: Marines of the USS Pocahontas and a detachment of the 3rd New Hampshire Volunteers reconnoitered Seabrook Island, Edisto River, South Carolina.
• April 25, 1862: Marines and sailors of Commodore Goldsborough's fleet bombarded and forced the surrender of Fort Macon at Beaufort, North Carolina.
• June 24, 1862: Sixty Marines transfer from the USS James Alger, USS Keystone State and USS Albatross to the gunboats Hall and Andrew for raids on the Santee and Wahamau Rivers, South Carolina.
• June 26, 1862: Marines and sailors were landed at Blake's Plantation on the Santee River after the ships were fired upon. They burned the buildings and destroyed several thousand bushels of rice. They were eventually driven back to the waiting gunboats when reinforcements arrived to drive them off.
• August 8, 1862: Ninety-five US Marines commanded by 1st Lt. H.B Lowry from the USS Wabash and USS New Ironsides, took part in setting up guns on Morris Island, South Carolina.
• August 23, 1862: US Marines commanded by Captain David Cohen from the Brooklyn Navy Yard, put down a riot among Army recruits of General Spinola's Empire Brigade.

1863

• July 6, 1863: A Marine battalion assembled from the ships of the South Atlantic Squadron reinforced Army troops on Morris Island, South Carolina in an unsuccessful attempt to take Fort Wagner.
• July 13-16, 1863: A Naval Brigade was organized at the Brooklyn Navy Yard commanded by Lt. Commander R.W. Meade for the purpose of assisting in suppressing the massive draft riots in New York City. Captain Grayson, USMC led the 180 man Marine battalion portion of the brigade. His Marines were spread out through the city in some of the more disorderly districts. They put down the riots, maintained order and protected government buildings and private property. Their service to the citizens of the city were highly praised and appreciated by all.
• July 16, 1863: Marine detachment on board the USS Wyoming took part in the action against the ships and shore batteries of the Japanese Prince of Magato in the Straits of Shimonoseki, Japan. The warlord did not approve of outside contact and attacked the USS Wyoming. He lost his ships in the engagement.
• August 5, 1863: Admiral Dahlgren supplemented the 257 Marines that arrived with Marines of his fleet to form a battalion of 502 Marines under Major Jacob Zeilin at Morris Island. The Marine Battalion augmented the Army and Navy units assigned for an assault on Battery Wagner and Battery Gregg. A battery of the US 1st Artillery was assigned to the Marines. The Confederates evacuated Battery Gregg before the forces made their assault.
• September 8, 1863: Acting on false intelligence that Fort Sumter was only manned by a skeleton crew, Admiral Dahlgren ordered a night time assault on the fort. Commander Stevens led the assault force of 30 boats, 300 sailors and 100 Marines. The assault boats were towed into position by the tug Daffodil. The Marine boats would follow the sailors' boats so that they could provide covering rifle fire for the landing. The landing went afoul, plus the defenders of around 300 Confederates were alerted and waiting. In the ensuing fight, 100 of the landing force were captured including 30 Marines. Even though the attack failed, Dahlgren commended the Marines and their officers for their service. September 10, 1863: Lt. Colonel John Reynolds arrived and took command of the Marine Battalion due to Major Zeilin's illness. The Marines were encamped on Folly Island and supplemented the Marine detachments on the ships of the fleet.
• December 28, 1863: A detachment of Marines and sailors of the USS Marblehead landed at Stono, South Carolina and attacked a Confederate supply depot.

1864

• January 1, 1864: Thirty Marines and sailors from the South Atlantic Squadron landed at Murrell's Inlet, Charleston, South Carolina and sank a Confederate blockade runner.
• April 19, 1864: US Marines were serving on board the USS Wabash when a boat armed with a spar torpedo attacked her near Port Royal Sound, South Carolina.
• April 19, 1864: Marines of the USS Miami participated in an engagement against the CSS Albemarle.
• May 26-27, 1864: Marine landing party is put ashore at the former Governor of South Carolina's plantation to get their howitzers close to the Williston battery in a joint operation with the army along the Mosquito Creek. June 10, 1864: Marines serving as gun crews on board the USS Kearsarge assist in the sinking of the Confederate raider, the CSS Alabama off the coast of France.
• July 3, 1864: Thirty Marines armed with two light howitzers aid the Army in their fight with Confederates on the Dawho River, White Point, South Carolina.
• August 1-4, 1864: Commander George Colvocoresses led a landing party consisting of Marines and sailors to McIntosh Court House, Georgia. They raided a meeting of civilians forming a coastal guard, took 26 prisoners and 22 horses. They also destroyed a bridge to prevent local cavalry forces from attacking them before returning to the USS Saratoga.
• August 16, 1864: Commander George Colvocoresses led a landing party consisting of Marines and sailors and landed at the mouth of South Newport River and attacked a cavalry unit in camp. They captured several of them along with weapons and supplies. They then continued on, burning a bridge over the South Newport River, destroyed two salt works and took several more prisoners. They returned to the USS Sonoma on the 19th along with their 107 prisoners.
• September 9, 1864: Marines of the USS Shamrock and USS Chicopee under the command of Lt. Commander Earl English landed at Elizabeth City, North Carolina to search for those who had attacked the mail boat Fawn and killed seven persons on board. Failing to find those involved, they took seven persons prisoner back to the ships.
• October 31, 1864: Marines on board the USS Shamrock, USS Chicopee and the USS Otsego participate in the bombardment of Confederate fortifications along the Roanoke River and captured. Plymouth. Shamrock's Marines go ashore and occupied the works, spiked the guns and took prisoners.
• November 24, 1864: Admiral Dahlgren called for a Naval Brigade to be formed from his fleet consisting of 350 sailors and 150 Marines. They were sent to an encampment on Phillips Island, Port Royal Bay. There they instructed in battalion drill so they could operate in the field with the Army. Their main function would be that of skirmishers and be accompanied by two-four gun naval howitzer batteries.
• November 28, 1864: The Marine Battalion embarked on the USS Sonoma up the Broad River to join with the Army in action at Honey Hill, close to Grahamville, South Carolina. Their goal was to cut the Charleston-Savannah Railroad and assist General Sherman in his movement to Savannah.
• November 29, 1864: The Fleet Brigade landed, and the Marine Battalion began its advance driving the Confederate pickets ahead of them. The Fleet Brigade advanced until they ran into a dead end at the Coosawhatchie Savannah Railroad. Commander Preble took the wrong direction and had to countermarch to catch up with the Army. The sailors had to haul their howitzers and carry the ammunition by hand.
• November 30, 1864: Early in the morning, the Battle for Honey Hill began when the Fleet Brigade and Army clashed with Confederate cavalry and militia units. They drove the Confederates back until they reached the enemy's defensive line. The Marine Battalion moved to the far right of the line along with the 55th Massachusetts, moving through swamps and woods and relieved the 144th New York. There they engaged the Confederates for three hours. Late that evening, the whole Federal force withdrew. The Marine Battalion provided cover for the withdrawal of the forces. The Marine loses for the day's battle was one killed six wounded and 1 missing.
• December 5-9, 1864: The Naval Brigade led by Commander Preble fought at Tulifinny Crossroads, South Carolina. Army troops tried to cut the Savannah-Charleston Railway and attempted to link up with General Sherman. The fleet's gunboats fired on the defensive works along the Coosawatachie River while the sailors and Marines fought a continuous action against Confederate forces through rain and swamps.
• December 20, 1864: The gunboats Wyalusing and Chicopee come under heavy sniper fire on the Roanoke River near Poplar Bluff. Marines from both ships went ashore and drove off the enemy. The ships returned down river to Plymouth, fighting off guerilla attacks along the way with the Marines engaging in fire fights with the enemy.
• December 23, 1864: Marines of the South Atlantic Squadron manned guns in the bombardment of Fort Fisher, North Carolina.

1865

• January 13-15, 1865: Admiral Porter with fifty-nine ships participated in the taking of Fort Fisher North Carolina. A landing party of 1,500 sailors and 500 Marines were to assault the front of the fort while the Army attacked from the rear. The Army was late in their timing and the sailors were cut down as they made their assault as they were ordered to "board the fort in a seaman-like way. The Marines provided covering fire for the sailors. The Army finally arrived taking some of the attention from the Naval Party, and both forces captured the fort. Thirty-five sailors and Marines were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions, including,
  
  
  • Sgt. Richard Binder
  • Orderly Sgt. Isaaac Fry
  • Corporal John Rannahan
  • Private John Shivers
  • Private Henry Thompson
  • Corporal Andrew Tomlin


• January18-20, 1865 Marines of the USS Pequot took part in the occupation of Smithville, North Carolina, and Battery Holmes, Smith Island.
• February 26, 1865: First Lt. George Stoddard and six companies of Marines occupied Georgetown, South Carolina.
• March 9, 1865: Marines of the USS Chenango exchanged fire with rebels on shore near Brown's Ferry on the Big Black River South Carolina.
• March 22, 1865: Marines and sailors of the USS Chenango, USS Mingoe, and the USS Pawnee and the tug Catalpa land at Conwayboro, South Carolina. They helped protect locals from marauding deserters and looters.
• April 4, 1865: Guarded by the Marines of the USS Malvern, President Lincoln and retinue enter Richmond, Virginia, and visited the Confederate White House.
• April 14, 1865: The Marine battalion landed from the USS Pawnee at Fort Sumter as honor guard when the national colors are once again raised over the fort.
• April 15, 1865: Marines are ordered into Washington City to be on guard for any trouble once the news that the President died.
• April 15, 1865: As the assassination conspirators were apprehended they were taken to the Washington Naval Yard and placed in chains on board the monitor USS Saugus. They were guarded by Marines both on the monitor and a guard at the dock. They also guarded the body of assassin, John Wilkes Booth.
• April 19, 1865: A Marine honor guard stands in at the White House for the funeral of the President. The Marine Battalion and Marine Band were part of the funeral procession through the city.

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