April of 1861, Fort Sumter fell, setting off the Civil War. I wrote about that here. Taking part Charleston and reclaiming the Fort became a major war aim. Not just blockading the port, but taking control of it for the Union. This would require cooperated between the Army and the Navy. Plans were laid in June and early July of 1863 for an attack. On the Army side we had Brigadier-General Q.A. Gillmore. On the Navy side we had Rear-Admiral S.F. DuPont (yes of THAT family). On June 26, Gillmore sent to DuPont the outlines of the attack for taking Morris Island (Battery Wagner) and seizing Fort Sumter. In this message, Gillmore, understanding that DuPont had no orders regarding cooperating, inquired what orders he did have that my cover the situation. He points out that instructions from Washington cannot be awaited. Action had to be taken before the rebels figured things out. Covering fire from gunboats and other ships available would be necessary in order for the Army to land troops successfully. Gillmore even suggested specific boats from the blockading squadron. For his part, DuPont did order the Nantucket to be ready to sail by June 30. But it did not move things along much. of course, by the end of June, it was clear that DuPont would be replaced as commander of the Southern Blockading Squadron. The first choice was Admiral Foote from the Mississippi Squadron. However, he fell ill and died prior to taking over the post. After some back and forth between the Navy and the President, Admiral Dahlgren -- he of gun fame -- was appointed although he had less ship command experience than others of his rank. DuPont knew he was being replaced which could be why he dragged his feet on actually preparing for the attack. Or he got the "yips" that so many high ranking Union officers got, seeming convinced that even a small number of rebel forces were just too much to take on.By July 3, Foote was dead and Dahlgren on his way to the blockade off Charleston at Port Royal. Gillmore was still writing to DuPont warning him the enemy was strengthening Morris Island. This was very much not a good thing. He was all set to go but needed the Navy. Only by a combination of forces could the Union hope to take this well fortified port. he knew no instructions had been received and Dahlgren coming but was still trying to move the plans ahead. Surely, the existing orders could be stretched a little to cover what was needed. After all, a victory would forgive much. He literally begs Dupont for ironclads and gunboats. Upon receipt, DuPont promised Gillmore all he requested. he claimed that all the preparations had been made. In that vein, he told Commodore Turner of the Ironsides, he wanted to be ready to go. The note appended to the message from Gillmore claims that Dahlgren was advised on the 4th of July of these plans.Well DuPont told Dahlgren something. According to Dahlgren's report, on July 4, DuPont showed him the plans from Gillmore. Then said, well since you were coming I didn't make any arrangements since that would be your job. Now that's not quite true as he did alert Turner. But seems he did little else. The lack of orders was just an excuse to just dump everything in his successor's lap so if it failed, DuPont would bear no blame.Finding out that plans were being made for an attack his ships were to participate in, he met with Gillmore personally. Only to find out the fun fact that enemy knew something was up. Fortunately, Dahlgren, didn't dither about having no specific orders, he set about the ironclads together to assist. He also put together some wooden ships just for added power, just in case. Sadly, we know the outcome of this attack on July 18, 1863 on Battery Wagner. Would the ships being more prepared have made a difference? Could they have gone sooner, given the rebels less of a chance to build up defenses, if DuPont hadn't played games? Who knows. But it sure didn't help.
Sources:Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion - Southern Blockading SquadronDiary of Gideon Welles