Assault on Fort Wagner
Colonel Haldimand S. Putnam
7th New Hampshire infantry
2nd Battle of Fort Wagner
Morris Island, South Carolina
July 18, 1863.
This painting shows Colonel Haldimand S. Putnam of the 7th New Hampshire infantry, a graduate of West Point Military Academy, acting as brevet brigade commander, while leading the second brigade’s assault into Fort Wagner on Morris Island, South Carolina. Putnam’s command went forward in support of Colonel George C. Strong’s brigade who had spearheaded the attack, but began to suffer heavy casualties and had become bogged-down in the chaos of a night time assault. Putnam himself would reach the parapet of the fort, but would be killed by a musket ball to the head while conversing with Major Lewis Butler of the 67th Ohio as they attempted to rally their troops to keep the assault moving. Eventually, both Union brigades were beaten back with heavy losses of over 1,515 casualties and would result in a siege that would last until September 7th, 1863 when the Confederate forces abandoned the Fort. For this action, Colonel Putnam chose to wear a private’s sack coat with no rank designation which would later make his body impossible to identify as an officer and was never recovered. The sword and scabbard Putnam had with him was miraculously recovered by a Confederate officer who later returned the sword to Putnam’s family after the war. The sword resides today in a private collection. It was a true honor to be commissioned to paint this scene and to bring the story of a virtually unknown officer of the Civil War in his final act of valor in life.
Prints of this artwork available here: www.maritato.com
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In this video is a continuation of Military Historical Artist Mark Maritato working on a privately commissioned oil painting depicting Colonel Haldimand S. Putnam of the 7th New Hampshire infantry as he lead his brigade mixed Federal regiments into the battle of Fort Wagner, South Carolina on July 18, 1863 during the American Civil War. The video is a time-lapse showing the beginning of using oil paints in an under-painting phase of the development of this artwork. Other videos will follow showing more of how this painting develops into a fully realized historical artwork.
HISTORY
For more information on Haldimand S. Putnam: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haldimand_S._Putnam
Find a Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/96714940/haldimand-sumner-putnam
For more information on the battle of Fort Wagner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Fort_Wagner
The American Battlefield Trust’s Map on the battle of Fort Wagner: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/fort-wagner
FOR ARTWORK
For more...
Here is a short video of a painting that was commissioned over a year ago that was especially illustrated for the wonderful award-winning historical fiction novel written by Mike Eisenhut "Brothers of War - The Iron Brigade at Gettysburg" that tells the story of the 19th Indiana Infantry Regiment of the legendary Iron Brigade as they participate in the largest Civil War Battle fought on the American continent. The novel is based on true events and actual historical characters.
Here is a video of me beginning work on a commissioned painting on the battle of Fort Wagner, South Carolina which was fought in July of 1863. The battle was depicted in the movie Glory. The painting I am working on will feature Colonel Haldimand S. Putnam of the 7th New Hampshire Infantry who served as a brigade commander and was tasked with leading the second wave assault on Fort Wagner. Putnam was killed in this assault and his sword fell into the hands of the Confederates. After the war Putnam's sword was returned back to his family. The sword has recently passed into he hands of the client who is commissioning this painting to honor an unsung and forgotten hero of the Civil War who's story deserves to be told. This video is an almost an hour long time-lapse that shows the beginning phase of the development of this new painting. The development of this artwork will be shown in subsequent videos following this one until the artwork is finished.
Note: Because I am new to Locals, I am...
