Thanks as always for your MilHist posts. They are a bright spot in a bright spot (FR). We had the opportunity to visit Fort Sumpter twice. We visited in 1980 while on our honeymoon in the Charleston area, and in 2005 when we were in the area to attend son’s graduation from USMC boot camp at Parris Island. I enjoyed both visits, but the 1980 visit more because in those days you could spend all day there once you got off the boat. By ‘05, they rush you thru the place, little time to ponder and explore on your own, then back on the boat and away we go.
As an aside, I love the movie “Glory”. I believe it has a flaw and that is that the 54th attacks with the ocean on its left. My understanding is that Union forces assaulted Ft. Wagner from a southerly direction thus placing the ocean on their right. I’m not sure if I “get it” correctly.
It’s my understanding Fort Sumpter looks like an aircraft carrier now since it was so destroyed during the Civil War. The sister fort is directly underneath the Golden Gate Bridge and called Fort Point.
“Glory” had two other minor mistakes in the movie. One was the Enfields didn’t have serial numbers so they couldn’t have recorded numbers when they were handed out. The second is the flag had painted stars instead of embroided ones.
I believe you're right. Here's a link to a contemporary Harper's Weekly article about the battle. The link to page #509 takes you to a woodcut picture of the battle that shows the attack coming from the South. Battle of Fort Wagner. There's also a map.