The War in the Lowcountry: Part III: The Tullifinny Raid

Previously published Part I and Part II...

From December 6-9, 1864 Union forces made a third and final attempt on the railroad. This was another effort to fulfil Sherman’s wishes to break the rail line before his troops arrived at Savannah. This time their goal was the railroad bridge at the Tullifinny River, a few miles southwest of the Pocotaligo bridge, scene of the 1862 raid. It was also not far from the site of the Revolutionary War battle of Coosawhatchie in 1781, where General William Moultrie was defeated by British troops.

Once again the Coast Division led by Maj. Gen. John P. Hatch with 5,000 men prepared to move north from Hilton Head. The force again included a Naval Brigade, with 500 sailors and marines, and two howitzers, to assist with landings. These were the same troops who had fought in the frustrating battle of Honey Hill a month earlier.

Commanding Confederate troops in the area was Maj. Gen. Samuel Jones. In addition to the prepared defenses along the rail line, he maintained a mobile force of 500 men and a train which could respond quickly wherever needed. The defenders were also largely the same troops as at Honey Hill.

In all Jones managed to bring together about 900 men to meet the threat, including South Carolina militia, North Carolina Reserves, South Carolina cavalry, Georgia regiments, the Athens Arsenal Battalion (comprised of industrial workers), and Citadel Cadets. While the VMI cadets are famous for their role in the Battle of New Market, here the Citadel Cadets performed equally well.

The Federal troops landed at Deveux’s Neck on December 6 and proceeded to march north about ten miles towards the Tullifinny bridge. If they could destroy this structure, it would be a major blow to the Confederate supply line. Once again the landing was successful and without incident, but Confederate pickets spread the word and the reactionary system was set into motion. Confederate troops organized at the bridge and moved towards the Union troops.

Positioned south and west of the bridge, on December 7 the Confederates launched a spoiling attack and nearly overwhelmed the invaders. The Citadel cadets lost 8 men. The southerners fell back and fortified a position alongside the railroad line. Rain began and grew heavier as the day went on, soaking everyone and making conditions miserable.

The 8th passed with little activity, save for Confederates improving their defenses and more reinforcements arriving. That night General Beauregard arrived, met with Jones, and finding everything in good order, moved on to Savannah. The next day Hatch’s forces advanced, with the Marine battalion, 127th, and 15th New York in front as skirmishers.

By the morning of the 9th Union troops were running out of options, and time. Several attacks along the line failed, and by 3 p.m. they pulled back to their earthworks. One Confederate veteran said of the inexperienced cadets, “Dang, them fellers fight like Hood’s Texicans!”

Darkness came by 5:30 and the blue troops turned back to march back to the transports, having failed again to cut the railroad.

It was a wet, cold, miserable experience, the temperatures dipped into the 20s by the 10th. Although small, it was a unique battle in many aspects: Marines fighting on the front lines, sailors serving with artillery, USCTs and white troops in line together, and the Citadel Cadets fighting in battle.

The battles of Pocotaligo, Honey Hill, and Tulifinny are all within a few miles of each other. Each site preserves earthworks, and has historic markers about the events. Each was a Union failure despite overwhelming numbers and the guidance of local African Americans who knew the roads and rivers.