Battle of Dingle's Mill
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Dingle’s Mill was an American Civil War
battle that took place near Sumterville, Sumter County, South Carolina
.
. The division numbered 2,700 men composed of two infantry brigades and auxiliary troops.
The First Brigade commanded by Col. Philip P. Brown commander of the 157th N.Y consisted of:
The Second Brigade, commanded by Col. Edward Needles Hallowell
, commander of the 54th Massachusetts consisted of:
In addition small detachments of the 1st New York Engineers, 4th Massachusetts Cavalry and two guns of Battery B 3rd New York Artillery accompanied the two infantry brigades.
's troops, who had crossed the Pocotaligo River, throwing Colonel Presley’s men across Turkey Creek. This put them north of the pond at Dingle’s Mill.
Confederate militiamen, under the command of Col. James Fowler Pressley, dug in their heels behind meager breastworks and awaited the arrival of the Union forces. The two working pieces of artillery were commanded by Lt. William Alexander McQueen and a patient of Sumter hospital, Lt Pamerya, an artilleryman from New Orleans. A third piece of artillery was too rusted to work.
General Potter ordered Col. Hallowell
to attack from the left and rear. The 54th was a part of this flanking column. Unable to reach the Rebels' position, the United States Colored Troops countermarched to where Colonel Brown's First Brigade was stationed on the main road. A Confederate volunteer remembered hearing "the church bells in town ringing for afternoon service" as the battle got underway. Hallowell's brigade reached their comrades a little after two in the afternoon.
Lt. McQueen was struck in the shoulder, incapacitating him, while Lt. Pamerya was killed by a minie ball in the forehead. The Confederate forces fell back toward Sumterville in the face of overwhelming odds. They made one more stand, but left the field of battle about six in the evening, ending the battle.
at Appomattox Courthouse, 300 miles away. The Confederate force disbanded and returned to their homes after fighting the battle.
One witness, W. H. Garland of Fernandina, Florida, claimed at least fifteen additional Northern forces were dead where they had crossed the swamp, and were buried in shallow graves which were dug up and robbed by camp followers of General Potter. After the battle, the camp followers also hanged Mr. Bee, an elderly Charleston gentleman who had fled to Sumter County from Charleston during the war. His home was located near what is presently called Bee Street, probably east of Manning Avenue.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
battle that took place near Sumterville, Sumter County, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
Background
Major General Q. A. Gillmore ordered a provisional division assembled under the command of Brigadier General Edward E. Potter. Potter was ordered to destroy the railroads in the area between Florence, Sumter and Camden. The importance of the mission was pointedly made by Sherman’s statement that "Those cars and locomotives should be destroyed if to do it costs you 500 men." Potter took command of the provisional division on April 1, 1865 at GeorgetownGeorgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown is the third oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and the county seat of Georgetown County, in the Low Country. Located on Winyah Bay at the confluence of the Great Pee Dee River, Waccamaw River, and Sampit River, Georgetown is the second largest seaport in South Carolina,...
. The division numbered 2,700 men composed of two infantry brigades and auxiliary troops.
The First Brigade commanded by Col. Philip P. Brown commander of the 157th N.Y consisted of:
- 157th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment157th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment157th New York Infantry RegimentColonel Philip P. Brown, Jr., received authority, August 13, 1862, to recruit this regiment in the then 23d Senatorial District of the State. It was organized at Hamilton, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years September 19, 1862...
augmented by a detachment of the 56th N.Y. Veteran Volunteer Infantry - 25th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry25th Ohio InfantryThe 25th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 25th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio and mustered in for three years service on June 28, 1861 under the command of Colonel James A. Jones...
- 107th Ohio Volunteer Infantry107th Ohio InfantryThe 107th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was also known as the 5th German Regiment.-Service:...
The Second Brigade, commanded by Col. Edward Needles Hallowell
Edward Needles Hallowell
Edward "Ned" Needles Hallowell was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, commanding the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry following the death of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw at the Second Battle of Fort Wagner in 1863.-Early life:Edward grew up in a well-to-do Quaker family...
, commander of the 54th Massachusetts consisted of:
- 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry54th Massachusetts Volunteer InfantryThe 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that saw extensive service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was one of the first official black units in the United States during the Civil War...
- 32nd Regiment United States Colored Troops
- 102nd Regiment United States Colored Troops102nd Regiment United States Colored TroopsThe 102nd Regiment United States Colored Troops was an African American infantry unit of the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit was organized as the 1st Michigan Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment before being redesignated as the 102nd Regiment USCT.-History:The 1st Michigan...
In addition small detachments of the 1st New York Engineers, 4th Massachusetts Cavalry and two guns of Battery B 3rd New York Artillery accompanied the two infantry brigades.
Battle
On Easter Day, April 9, 1865, the Battle of Dingle’s Mill was fought three miles south of Sumterville. At approximately three in the morning, General Edward E. Potter’s army, called Potter’s Raiders, came from the direction of Kingstree. They were joined by Col. HallowellEdward Needles Hallowell
Edward "Ned" Needles Hallowell was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, commanding the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry following the death of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw at the Second Battle of Fort Wagner in 1863.-Early life:Edward grew up in a well-to-do Quaker family...
's troops, who had crossed the Pocotaligo River, throwing Colonel Presley’s men across Turkey Creek. This put them north of the pond at Dingle’s Mill.
Confederate militiamen, under the command of Col. James Fowler Pressley, dug in their heels behind meager breastworks and awaited the arrival of the Union forces. The two working pieces of artillery were commanded by Lt. William Alexander McQueen and a patient of Sumter hospital, Lt Pamerya, an artilleryman from New Orleans. A third piece of artillery was too rusted to work.
General Potter ordered Col. Hallowell
Edward Needles Hallowell
Edward "Ned" Needles Hallowell was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, commanding the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry following the death of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw at the Second Battle of Fort Wagner in 1863.-Early life:Edward grew up in a well-to-do Quaker family...
to attack from the left and rear. The 54th was a part of this flanking column. Unable to reach the Rebels' position, the United States Colored Troops countermarched to where Colonel Brown's First Brigade was stationed on the main road. A Confederate volunteer remembered hearing "the church bells in town ringing for afternoon service" as the battle got underway. Hallowell's brigade reached their comrades a little after two in the afternoon.
Lt. McQueen was struck in the shoulder, incapacitating him, while Lt. Pamerya was killed by a minie ball in the forehead. The Confederate forces fell back toward Sumterville in the face of overwhelming odds. They made one more stand, but left the field of battle about six in the evening, ending the battle.
Aftermath
At about this same time, General Robert E. Lee was meeting with General Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
at Appomattox Courthouse, 300 miles away. The Confederate force disbanded and returned to their homes after fighting the battle.
- Southern losses were six killed, seven wounded, two captured.
- Northern losses were four killed, twenty-three wounded.
One witness, W. H. Garland of Fernandina, Florida, claimed at least fifteen additional Northern forces were dead where they had crossed the swamp, and were buried in shallow graves which were dug up and robbed by camp followers of General Potter. After the battle, the camp followers also hanged Mr. Bee, an elderly Charleston gentleman who had fled to Sumter County from Charleston during the war. His home was located near what is presently called Bee Street, probably east of Manning Avenue.