Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Gorge Wall

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 3, 2010

1. Gorge Wall Marker

Inscription. Fort Sumter was designed with its strength toward the sea. The gorge, the lightly-armed rear wall facing inland, was vulnerable to attack from Morris Island. Early shelling left the gorge wall in ruins. Continued bombardment reduced the gorge to rubble, but Confederate soldiers and slaves reinforced the debris with sandbags and cotton bales, creating an earthwork that made the fort stronger than ever.

Erected by Fort Sumter National Monument South Carolina, National Park Service - U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1863.

Location. 32° 45.136′ N, 79° 52.501′ W. Marker is in Charleston, South Carolina, in Charleston County. It can be reached from the Fort Sumter Ferry Terminal. Located at Fort Sumter National Monument and only reached by boat. See links below for more information about access to the site. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Charleston SC 29412, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Historic Charleston

and in the Lowcountry.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Garrison Defending Fort Sumter (here, next to this marker); Battery Huger (a few steps from this marker); Powder Magazine (a few steps from this marker); Fort Sumter 1861-65

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(a few steps from this marker); Fort Sumter Today (within shouting distance of this marker); Casemates and Cannon (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Johnson (within shouting distance of this marker); Charleston Besieged (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charleston.

More about this marker. In the center is a wartime photograph showing damage to the wall. The arch in the center of this 1861 photograph is the original fort entry, or sally port, which was later relocated where you entered today. On the right is a cross section of the wall. The gorge wall originally contained offices, the guardhouse, storerooms, the powder magazine, and three-story apartments for officers and their families. At the bottom right is a floor plan of the officer's quarters.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 4, 2013

2. Gorge Wall Marker

Close up of Cross Section and Floor Plan image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 3, 2010

3. Close up of Cross Section and Floor Plan

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 3, 2010

4. Gorge Wall Marker

Remains of the Gorge Wall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 3, 2010

5. Remains of the Gorge Wall

Shell Still Embedded In Fort’s Inner Wall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen

6. Shell Still Embedded In Fort’s Inner Wall

Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,693 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 19, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on August 17, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 19, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 6. submitted on September 12, 2020, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.