The Battle of Grimball's Landing took place in James Island, South Carolina, on July 16, 1863, during the American Civil War.

Supported by a heavy naval bombardment, the assault jumped off at dawn, moving forward through a thick morning fog which helped to conceal their advance.

[6] A letter to his wife written two days later by First Sergeant Robert John Simmons (a British citizen from Bermuda, who had previously served in the British Army) shortly before the attack on Battery Wagner was published in the New York Tribune on 23 December 1863, giving a first-hand account of the action.

We have just completed our successful retreat from James Island; we fought a desperate battle there Thursday morning.

God has protected me through this, my first fiery, leaden trial, and I do give Him the glory, and render my praises unto His holy name.

My poor friend [Sergeant Peter] Vogelsang is shot through the lungs; his case is critical, but the doctor says he may probably live.

Poor good and brave Sergeant (Joseph D.) Wilson of his company [H], after killing four rebels with his bayonet, was shot through the head by the fifth one.

(At roughly the same time as the events that First Sergeant Simmons described took place, his seven-year-old nephew was murdered in New York during the four days of race riots that followed the 13 July.