Greater Port Royal Sound Area

Last Update: 29/MARCH/2008

Compiled by Pete Payette - й2008 American Forts Network

Saltcatchers Fort
(1728 - 1734), Yemasee
A SC colonial militia stockaded fort on the Salkehatchie (Saltcatchers) / Combahee River east of town. It protected Beaufort from Yamassee Indian raids. The fort was destroyed in 1734 after the garrison transfered to Fort Prince George (1).

Pocotaligo Trading Post
(1710's - 1715), Pocotaligo
A British trading post operated by William Bray at the principal Yamasee town of Pocotaligo. Bray had lived on Bray's Island, located on the east-side of the Pocotaligo River south of town. The post was attacked by Yamasee Indians in April 1715 over long-standing trading grievances, igniting the Yamasee War. Bray and British Indian agent Thomas Naire were killed.

Fort Balfour
(1780 - 1781), Pocotaligo
A British one-gun fort. Attacked and captured by Patriots in April 1781.

Pocotaligo Earthworks
(1862 - 1865), Pocotaligo
CSA earthworks remain that once protected a rail station here. Captured by the Union in January 1865. Private property.

CSA Camp Martin (1861) was nearby.

Boyd's Neck Earthwork
(1864), near Coosawhatchie
CSA earthwork positions were located on Boyd's Neck between Boyd Creek and the Coosawhatchie River, southeast of town, to protect the approach from the Broad River to the Charleston and Savannah Railroad station and bridge. Attacked by Union forces in November 1864.

Grahamville Earthwork
(1862, 1864), near Ridgeland
A CSA work protecting the eastern approach from Euhaw Creek to the Charleston and Savannah Railroad station at the old town of Grahamville, near Honey Hill east of town. Abandoned, but reused in November 1864 (Battle of Honey Hill) when attacked by Union troops.

Evan's Fort
(1715 - 1716), Colleton County
A settlers' fort during the Yamassee War, located somewhere along the Combahee River.

Chisolm Island Post
(1861), Chisolm Island
A Confederate-held island prior to the Union occupation of Beaufort.

Sam's Point Fort
(1861 - 1862), Wilkins
A CSA fort at Sam's Point on Ladys Island. Abandoned in January 1862. Remnants still exist.

д Colonial Forts of Port Royal Sound

д Charles Fort
(1562 - 1563), Parris Island
A small earth and log fort built by 150 French Huguenots under Jean Ribault, and abandoned soon after the failure of the colony. A monument was erected in 1926 on the supposed site, which is now known to be the site of Spanish Fort San Marcos (a). The Spanish Fort San Felipe (a) was built over the actual ruins of Charles Fort (see below). This site was excavated in 1997.

д Santa Elena Forts
(1566 - 1587), Parris Island
The Spanish under Pedro Menщndez de Avilщs built the settlement of Santa Elena over the ruins of the French Charlesfort settlement. The first fort built here was named Fort San Salvador (1566). Fort San Felipe (a) (aka Fort San Sebastian) (1566 - 1570) was a larger work, built over the actual ruins of Charles Fort. Its site was excavated in 1997. After its powder magazine exploded, it was rebuilt in 1570 on higher ground (Fort San Felipe (b)), rectangular with two earthen and timber bastion, and moated with an outer stockade. Indians destroyed the settlement and the fort in 1576. This second site was first excavated in 1979. In 1577 the Spanish rebuilt the town and built a new triangular fort, called Fort San Marcos (a) (1577 - 1583), 200 yards south of Fort San Felipe (b). It was rebuilt in 1583 (Fort San Marcos (b)), probably on the site of Fort San Felipe (b), and destroyed when the Spanish abandoned the area in 1587 and returned to Florida. The coastal region encompasing the area between the Savannah River and the Edisto River was known to the Spanish as the Orista Province. The Charles Fort Monument (1926) is located at the site of Fort San Marcos (a), which was first excavated in 1979, and again in 1998, underneath the Parris Island golf course.
Charlesfort - Santa Elena Settlement and History by U. of S.C. || Parris Island Museum website

д Orista Blockhouse
(1568 - 1570), Seabrook Island ?
A Spanish blockhouse was built by the Juan Pardo Expedition as they were returning to Santa Elena in February 1568. Located at the Indian village of Orista that was inland, upriver from Santa Elena.

д Stuart Town
(1684 - 1686), Seabrook Island
An early Scots settlement that was attacked and destroyed by the Spanish in August 1686. Unknown if fortified. Site located at Stuart Point on the Coosaw River.

д Beaufort Fort
(1715 - 1731), near Port Royal
A SC colonial militia palisaded earthwork fort built during the Yamassee War. Also known as Port Royal Fort. Located either on Spanish Point or on the future site of the U.S. Naval Hospital one mile further south. Rebuilt in 1724. Replaced by Fort Prince Frederick (2).

д Fort Frederick (1)
(1731 - 1743 ?), Cat Island
A tabby fort. Ruins possibly still exist. Located across the Beaufort (Port Royal) River from Parris Island and Port Royal.

д Fort Prince Frederick (2)
(1731 - 1758), Port Royal
A 125-foot by 75-foot tabby fort, completed in 1734, with 4-foot high tabby walls on three sides (fourth side eroded away by river), with barracks and a powder magazine, with some ruins remaining, located on the grounds of the present-day U.S. Naval Hospital at the Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve. Replaced by Fort Lyttleton.

д Fort Lyttleton (1)
(1758 - 1782, 1809 - 1825), near Port Royal
Located on Spanish Point, two miles south of Beaufort, originally built to protect against the Spanish. Completed in 1762, it was a triangular tabby-built work, 400 by 375 feet, with a bastion and two half-bastions, tabby barracks, and a magazine. Patriots seized the fort in 1775. Attacked by the British in January 1779, the defenders blew up the fort, but repulsed the British anyway. In July 1779 the fort was rebuilt and occupied by the British until April 1781. Renamed Beaufort Battery by the Americans after the American Revolution, but no Federal funds were allocated for any "First System" work during the 1790's. Rebuilt in 1809 as a semi-circular tapia work, renamed Fort Marion, but was still unfinished by 1812. Site excavated in 1978.

NOTE: Beaufort was occupied by the British from July 1779 until September 1779 when the combined Patriot-French armies lay seige to Savannah, GA. Reoccupied in the spring of 1780 until April 1781 with the surrender of Fort Balfour.

Beaufort Arsenal
(1795 - 1966), Beaufort
A state arsenal located at Craven and Carteret Streets. Rebuilt in 1852 with barracks. Seized by Union troops in November 1861. Enlarged and renovated in 1934. Now the Beaufort Museum. Admission fee.

дд Civil War Defenses of Port Royal Sound

дд Camp Saxton
(1861 - 1865), Port Royal
A Union camp, mostly for Negro troops.

дд Fort Duane
(1862 - 1865), Beaufort
A Union post on the western edge of town.

дд Camp Palmer
(1861 - 1862), Port Royal Island
A Union camp near Beaufort.

дд Camp Shaw
(1864), Port Royal Island
A Union camp near Beaufort.

дд St. Helena Island Post
(1863 - 1864), St. Helena Island
A Union garrisoned island during the Civil War.

(NOTE: St. Helena is an English corruption of the Spanish Santa Elena.)

дд Seabrook Island Post
(1862 - 1864), Seabrook Island
A Union occupied island after the capture of Port Royal Sound.

дд Fort Beauregard (2)
(1861 - 1865), Bay Point Island
A CSA 13-gun earthwork located in Port Royal Sound, it was captured by the Union in November 1861, and may have been renamed Fort Seward in 1862. No remains.
NOTE: Bay Point Island was formerly part of St. Phillips Island.
(some info provided by Joe Cronley)

Civil War Defenses of Hilton Head Island
(1861 - 1866), Hilton Head Island
Fort Mitchell (1862 - 1865) a Union earthwork located in Hilton Head Plantation, adjacent to the Old Fort Pub on Old Fort Drive. Restricted public access.
Fort Howell (four guns) (1864 - 1865), a Union earthwork, now a public park on Beach City Road.
Fort Welles (1862 - 1865) originally CSA Fort Walker (1861), a 23-gun earthwork which was renamed after it was captured in November 1861 and then enlarged in 1862. Trace remains, located in Port Royal Plantation on Fort Walker Drive. Restricted public access. Also near here was Union Fort Gillmore (date ?).
Battery Holbrook (1864), a Union shore battery on the peninsula near Spanish Wells (Brams Point). Originally the site of a CSA battery in 1861.
Braddock Point Battery (1861), a CSA four-gun earthwork battery was once located on the southern end of the island. No remains.
Camp Bennett (1864), a Union camp for Negro troops. Undetermined location.
Fort Sherman (1864 - 1866), the name given for all the Union earthwork defenses, barracks, quarters, workshops, warehouses, and post hospital within the 800-acre military reservation. This was the headquarters post of the Union Army's Department of the South. Renamed Post of Hilton Head in April 1866, abandoned in January 1868.

Of interest is the Coastal Discovery Museum which provides guided tours (fee) to the sites on Hilton Head Island.

ддд COAST DEFENSES of PORT ROYAL SOUND

ддд Fort Fremont
(1898 - 1918), Fort Fremont
Located at the southwestern tip of St. Helena Island. Endicott batteries here are Battery Jesup (1899 - 1914), and Battery Fornance (1899 - 1913), which had been built on. Also here was an unnamed battery from 1898. Four field guns were also emplaced by the wharf in 1905. The site is overgrown. The former Post Hospital still exists, now a private residence. This fort protected the Port Royal Naval Station, which after 1906 became the Parris Island Recruiting and Training Depot for the USMC.

ддд Hilton Head Military Reservation (1)
(1890's - 1910's), Hilton Head Island
Located about 200 yards north of the site of Fort Walker/Welles in Port Royal Plantation were Dynamite Battery (1901 - 1902 ?) in ruins, and an unnamed battery (1898) (two M1888 8-inch BL guns on modified 15-inch Rodman carriages) destroyed in the surf. Restricted public access.

д TEMPORARY HARBOR DEFENSES of SAVANNAH (partial)

д Hilton Head Military Reservation (2)
(1917 ?, 1942 ?), Hilton Head Island
There are several rumors of "gun mounts" on the beach at Braddock Point, said to be visible at times of extremely low tide. If true, possibly either a WWI emergency battery, or a WWII temporary battery. Possibly also a WWII U.S. Navy gun position, as Cockspur Island in Georgia was used as a naval base during that time.

д Camp McDougal
(1940's), Hilton Head Island
A WWII post. Undetermined location.

Calibogue Point Blockhouse
(1742), Hilton Head Island
A British blockhouse and battery located at Braddock Point to defend against a possible Spanish attack.

Passage Fort
(1717 - 1764), Daufuskie Island
A SC colonial militia palisaded fort intermittently garrisoned, located on Bloody Point at the mouth of the New River. Attacked by Yamassee Indians in 1728.

Daufuskie Island Post
(1861 - 1862), Daufuskie Island
A Union occupied island after the capture of Port Royal Sound.

Camp Despair
(1860's), near Savannah, GA
A CSA camp. Undetermined location.

Purrysburg
(1732 or 1733 - 1770's), Purrysburg
An early colonial settlement of German/Swiss and French Huguenots led by Jean Pierre Purry was once located here. Unknown if fortified. The settlement failed by the time of the American Revolution. Patriot Major General Benjamin Lincoln used the town as his first headquarters in early 1779. A large stone cross memorial marks the site.

Fort Prince George (1)
(1723 - 1742), near Robertville
A SC colonial militia fort located on the Savannah River southwest of town. Also known as Palachacola Fort. Garrisoned by the GA colonial militia after 1735.

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