History - Andrew Jackson Bennett - Charlotte Rifle & Pistol Club, Inc.

HomeHistory - Andrew Jackson Bennett

The Unfortunate End to Andrew Jackson Bennett in The Magazine Explosion at the Siege of Charleston

Frank Leslie's Illustrated, Courtesy of National Park Service

To almost everyone, the incident in Charleston Harbor September 8, 1863 was of little importance in history or in the fuller picture in the War of the Rebellion. To the growing community of Belair on the North/South Carolina border, it became personal.

Andrew Jackson Bennett (“Andy”) was the son of James (S. or L.) and Lucinda R. Bennett of York County, South Carolina. There were at least two older brothers. At some point they moved to Lancaster County and were raised in a small village of Belair. The area included the plantations of Morrow, Doby, Massey, and Hagins, mixed with the lesser families of Collins and Bennett. Others were more notable including Belk, Cureton, and Jackson. Andy was a distant relative to Andrew Jackson and familiar with other family members. His father named him for the War of 1812 hero. When war broke out, almost every available male in the clans young and old joined up.

The first confirmed duty for thirty-seven year-old Andy was assignment to the “Gist Guard Heavy Artillery,” a unit raised in mid-January 1862. Depending upon the correspondence or report, the unit held another name, Burnet’s Company of 3rd South Carolina. By 1863, roll call for the company revealed thirty-seven effectives. Around mid-year, a realignment under Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard paired them with the 1st South Carolina Regular Infantry under Col. William Butler where they were listed as regular infantry acting as artillery. Brig. Gen. R. S. Ripley was commanding the First District region and preparing defense of the State from imminent threat of Union invasion.

Lt. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard

The Gist Guard Heavy Artillery (SC) served primarily in the Charleston region throughout the war, moving from place to place as Beauregard and Ripley responded to Union maneuvers. It was stationed at Legare's Place on Oak Island from January 15th to April 30, 1862. It saw action twice in May 1862 at Battery Island, and on June 3, 1862, at James Island. The Company was engaged at Secessionville on June 16 and remained at that location through August.

Roswell_Sabin_Ripley_in_the_1860s_-_CSA_LOC_cwpb.06020__cropped_.tif.jpg

Brig. Gen. R. S. Ripley

Starting in April 1863, Andy and the heavy artillery company were posted to Fort Moultrie, on Sullivan's Island when it came under steady shelling by Union naval forces. Naturally, Charleston itself was the ultimate objective but several bastions had to be captured or reduced to accomplish the ultimate goal. Fort Moultrie, South Carolina was key and everyone knew it. These included Ft. Sumter and Battery Wagner. It was in July when the second assault on Battery Wagner involving the 54th Massachusetts took place.

However, it was September 8th that stood as most vital to Andy Bennett. Federal naval ironclads out at sea and large land-based caliber cannon fired on the forts to reduce the defenses. Cannoneers endured prolonged bombardments. While brick-built Sumter took a pounding being steadily reduced, the sand-built Moultrie became “arranged.” Upon breaks in action, crews simply moved dirt back. Though a steady barrage of steel continued to fall, the defenders dished out their own at ironclads.

In fighting, the monitor Weehawken ran aground in the tricky currents and unpredictable sandbars in the harbor. To save Weehawken, monitors Lehigh, Nahant, and Passaic came on to take directed fire from Fts. Moultrie and Bee instead of Weehawken. Ironclads suffered multiple hits but the shots did little to iron hulls. That is, except that of the Passaic. Being the lead craft, she received fifty-one direct hits becoming disabled and veered off unable to endure more.

Four monitors in the distance firing on Charleston fortifications

Fort Moultrie Explosion

When Admiral John Dahlgren was notified that Weehawken had freed itself, he was delighted. He had been receiving a stream of bad news and it was about time for good. It was about this time when suddenly, a lucky (in Andy’s case unlucky) 15” shell from the stricken Weehawken “glanced off the muzzle of a cannon and exploded a nearby stack of ammunition,” and “killing sixteen of the defenders and wounding another dozen. The barracks were damaged as well.”

Andy was one of those killed. Where Andrew was when he died is not specified but it could have been on the gun he was working that the rifled round hit. The explosion was massive and it was miraculous that more were not hurt. It was said adjacent, “Moultrieville was in flames, the smoke hanging in grand masses over the angry scene.” Specifically, at least six buildings were destroyed, including a poorhouse, a brothel, and a prison.

The Aftermath - Fort Moultrie 1865

The New York Times ran the headlines later, “The Bombardment Progressing Favorably—The Occupation and Possession of Forts Wagner and Gregg—Explosion of the Main Magizine in Fort Moultrie by the Weehawken While Ashore--Attempted Possession of Fort Sumter by the Navy and Their Repulse.”

In the way life goes, it didn’t matter as to the circumstances. Andrew Jackson Bennett was dead. Despite the destruction, Moultrie held and didn’t surrender until February 1865. The remains of Andy were transported home to Belair (today Indianland) where his wife and one child mourned. They said their last good-byes and placed him to rest in the Presbyterian Church graveyard. Andrew Jackson Bennett, a resident of a small village that gave many of its sons, fathers, and husbands for their cause in the War of the Rebellion.

It has been almost 162 years since the day. and what remains is Fort Moultrie Park and a grass-filled spot in a cemetery on a less traveled road. The precise location of his grave is not marked.

Note:

• Andrew was buried in an unmarked grave in Six Mile Cemetery. Louise Pettus, York County, SC historian and Winthrop College faculty member pointed out where Andrew Bennett rests.

• Bennett had a half-brother including Doctor (his first name) Green Bennett who was wounded at Malvern Hill 7/1/1862, and Sharpsburg 9/17/1862 (arm amputated). He continued serving until discharged for inability to continue. A relative Philemon Wilbert Bennett would serve in DePass’ South Carolina Artillery and had five others who served, one in Co. H 12th SC Volunteers. One died at Wauhatchie, TN in 1863 around Andy’s death, and one of disease in St. Louis.

• Today, Belair founded in 1813 is unincorporated, essentially swallowed up by four townships invisible but for a Google map pin.

Sources:

- The Belk Department Store Chain has 300 locations across sixteen states.
- States Rights Gist served the State in many military and political capacities before and after the war. In the Civil War he was Brigadier General in the South Carolina Militia, South Carolina Adjutant General and later a Brigadier General in the Confederate States Army.

Six Mile Creek Graveyard