Greater Charleston Area I

Last Update: 30/SEPTEMBER/2009

Compiled by Pete Payette - й2009 American Forts Network

д Colonial Forts of Charleston
NOTE: Charleston was occupied by the British from May 1780 until December 1782.

д Charles Towne Landing (State Historic Site)
(Friends of Charles Towne Landing)
(1670 - 1680), West Charleston
Also spelled Charlestowne, this is a recreation of the state's first permanent white settlement, on the west bank of the Ashley River. Palisades and trenches were built around the settlement, and enlarged in 1672. In 1680 the settlers moved to the penninsula (Oyster Point) on which present-day Charleston emerged. Admission fee.

д Charles Town Fortress
(1680 - 1720, 1757 - 1760, 1780 - 1783), Charleston
Originally surrounded by palisades, the city was later protected by earthen and brick and tabby bastioned defensive walls in 1701. Granville's Bastion was located at 44 East Battery, now the site of the Shrine Temple (excavated in 1925). A low tabby seawall just to the south is all that remains. At the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon (1769), located at 122 East Bay Street, are the excavated (in 1965) remains of the Half-Moon Battery. Admission fee. See also INFO and PHOTOS from SC Dept. of Archives and History. The British used the Provost as a prison during their occupation of the city in 1780 - 1782. Craven's Bastion was located at the east end of Market Street on the Cooper River. Remnants were uncovered during the building of the U.S. Customs House in the 1870's. Carteret's Bastion was located at Cumberland and Meeting Streets. The Old Powder Magazine (1713 - 1748) is located at 79 Cumberland Street. It is now a museum operated by the SC Chapter Colonial Dames of America. Admission fee. See also INFO and PHOTOS from SC Dept. of Archives and History. Johnson's Covered Half-Moon Battery protected the gatehouse and drawbridge located at Broad and Meeting Streets. Colleton's Bastion was located at Water Street and Price's Alley. Ashley's Bastion was located at Meeting Street and South Battery. Blake's Bastion was a detached work located between Ashley's and Granville's Bastions, protecting the break in the wall created by Vander Horst Creek.

A new line of fortifications was completed in 1757 after the 1752 hurricane, and rebuilt in 1780, running along a line from the southern tip of Drum Island across the peninsula to Wappo Creek. Located in Marion Square along King Street are the remains of the Tabby Horn Work (1757). An armory and guardhouse were built in 1757 at 81 Broad Street, now the site of the U.S. Post Office and Federal Court (1906). A militia barracks was built in 1757 near College and Green Streets. It became the first building of the College of Charleston in 1790. Brick wall remnants from 1757 are said to exist at 20 Church Street.

During the American Revolution (March-April 1780), the Patriots incorporated the old outer line into the new defensive line against the British seige. Additional redoubts were located along the Ashley River near the present-day city marina along Halsey Blvd.. The British built three seige lines (parallels) north of the Patriot lines. A British battery was located on the Ashley River just above Gibbs' Landing (at the present Citadel). The city surrendered in May 1780 after six weeks of bombardment.

д Charleston South Battery
(The Battery and White Point Gardens)
(1735 - 1815, 1861 - 1865), Charleston
This section of town was established as White Point Gardens in 1838. This is the site of British Broughton's Battery (or Fort Broughton) (1735, connected with main works in 1757), British or Patriot Fort Wilkins (1770's or 1780's), and American Fort Mechanic (aka Fort Darrell) (1794, 1807 - 1815 ?). The house at 39 South Battery was built in 1827 on the site of an old palmetto log fort (one of the above ?).

Two Confederate earthwork batteries were here 1861 - 1865, known as White Point Battery (2) or Battery Ramsay, and King Street Battery. No traces remain, but there are several markers and monuments here, including several large guns on display within the park.

д Wappo Creek Batteries
(1780), St. Andrews
British seige batteries were located on the north bank of the mouth of Wappo Creek (Fenwick/Albemarle Point) on the Ashley River. Two British redoubts were built on the Stono River (along the present Elliott Cut) in the present-day Riverland Terrace area.

Another British battery may have been located on the Ashley River near the mouth of Linning's Creek.

д Fort Johnson
(S.C. Marine Resources Center)
(Grice Marine Laboratory - College of Charleston)
(NOAA - Hollings Marine Laboratory)
(1704 - 1865), James Island FORT WIKI
Originally built as a moated and palisaded triangular work with three bastions and a detached water battery on Windmill Point. Rebuilt in 1759 with tabby walls (a small portion of the wall is still extant). Occupied by Patriot forces from 1775 until captured by the British in March 1780, although by 1779 it was reported in near ruin. A rear line of defense was built in 1780 about one-quarter mile west, protecting the land approach. A new fort was built in 1794 just to the rear of the old work, repaired in 1799. A storm in 1800 breached the walls. It was completely rebuilt again in 1809 as a 16-gun quadrilateral brick and wood work, but was almost destroyed again by a storm in 1813. Virtually abandoned after 1820. A Martello Tower (1815) was also located here, but burned down sometime before 1860. Only foundation ruins remain (?). Confederate troops occupied the site in December 1860, rebuilding and rearming the fort with 26 guns. Held by the CSA until February 1865. Only traces of CSA earthworks and the old stone Powder Magazine (1709, rebuilt 1810) still remain. The entire site is now the campus of the Marine Resources Center of the South Carolina Marine Resources Research Institute.

To the west along the shore, near White Point (due south of White Point Gardens), was a British shore battery (White Point Battery (1)) built during the seige of the city in April-May 1780.

д Fort Pleasant
(1775 - 1780, 1812 - 1814), Mount Pleasant
A Patriot work located on Haddrell's Point. Captured by the British in April 1780 and used as a POW/exchange camp.

During the War of 1812 Haddrell's Point Fort (1) was located here, with barracks. A monument (relocated) is now located in the nearby Confederate Cemetery on King Street.
A CSA battery was here in 1861 (see page 3).

Nearby to the southeast was a Patriot battery (1780) at the end of Middle Street. CSA Battery Gary was built here in 1862 (see page 3).

д Hobcaw Point Powder Magazine
(1770 - 1783), Mount Pleasant
A SC colonial militia powder magazine was built near the Wando River Plantation at the Hobcaw Point shipyard in 1770. Another magazine was earlier built nearby on the property of Capt. Charles Lampriere. The Patriots had built Fort at Lampriere's in 1780 on the south bank of the mouth of Hobcaw Creek, but it was captured by the British in April 1780.

Cattel's Fort
(1715 - 1716), Charleston County
A settlers' fort during the Yamassee War, located somewhere on the west-side of the Ashley River.

Charleston Gun House
(1809 - unknown), Charleston
A Federal Gun House or Arsenal (1) was supposed to have been built somewhere in the city. Undetermined location.

Charleston Arsenal (2)
(1820's - 1841), Charleston
A state arsenal located at Marion Square (also known as Citadel Green) and Hutson Street. Also known as the Old Citadel, it was built sometime after an attempted slave uprising in 1822 to house state troops and arms. It became the Citadel Military Academy in 1843. It was occupied by Federal troops from 1865 to 1882. The school reopened in 1882, but moved to its present site in 1922. Housed state government offices until the 1990's. Renovated in 1994 as a hotel. See also INFO and PHOTOS from SC Dept. of Archives and History

Charleston Arsenal (3)
(1841 - 1879), Charleston
A Federal arsenal near Ashley Ave. and Mill Street. It served as a storage place for weapons, ordnance, and ammunition. The arsenal produced a considerable amount of artillery and small arms ammunition during the Mexican-American War and up to the Civil War. Captured by CSA in December 1860, it was re-occupied by Union forces in February 1865. Sold in 1888 to Porter Military Academy. The brick perimeter wall, the St. Luke's Chapel (former arsenal building), the Waring Library, and Colcock Hall (1862) still remain. In 1963 the complex became part of the Medical University of South Carolina campus.

Castle Pinckney
(1798 - 1878, 1917 - 1933), Shutes Folly Island FORT WIKI
The island was originally the site of a Patriot work to protect a log and chain boom across the river to Charleston (at present-day Waterfront Park) in 1780. The British then erected Shutes Folly Redoubt (1780 - 1781) to help hold the city.

The Americans later built a log and earthwork fort called Fort Pinckney (1794, 1798 - 1804) but it was destroyed by a hurricane. It was rebuilt and renamed in 1809 as a horseshoe-shaped two-tier brick fort with 30 guns. Rebuilt again in 1828. Confederates occupied this fort from December 1860 until February 1865 when they evacuated. This was later a harbor light station from 1878 until 1929. No efforts were made to re-arm the fort in 1898. In 1917 the Army Corps of Engineers used the island as a base for harbor improvements. Transferred to the National Park Service in 1933 - 1953. Sold to the state in 1958. The island is settling, and the fort's walls are severely cracked and overgrown. Now owned by the SC State Ports Authority. No public access. See also INFO and PHOTOS from SC Dept. of Archives and History

(please see page 3 for Civil War Defenses of Charleston)

дд HARBOR DEFENSES of CHARLESTON
Harbor Defense of Charleston - FORT WIKI

дд Fort Sumter (National Monument)
(1829 - 1865, 1874 - 1947), Charleston Harbor д National Archives MAP д
This fort was still under construction until 1860. Confederates captured the fort in April 1861 and never surrendered. It became the national symbol of Southern defiance against the North. The fort's current condition is a result of massive Union bombardments from 1863 - 1865. It was partially rebuilt in 1874, with the outer walls cut down to the first gun tier. Eleven casemates on the northeast face were rebuilt and rearmed with 100-pounder Parrotts. Seven casemates on the northwest face were rebuilt and rearmed. The new sally port was built in the northwest face in 1874. Nine new gun platforms and five new magazines were built on the now lowered barbette tier, but armed with only two 15-inch Rodmans and four 200-pounder Parrotts. A storm in 1893 severely damaged the southwest face of the barbette tier, and was not rebuilt. Battery Huger (1898 - 1943) was later built across the parade, resulting in a further lowering of the barbette tier. A museum is now located inside. AMTB Battery 1 (1943 - 1946) (now covered) was also located here. Admission fee.
See also Fort Sumter article by William J. Hamilton III, from Civil War in Charleston || See also Crisis at Fort Sumter from Tulane University

дд Fort Moultrie (National Monument)
(1776 - 1947), Sullivan's Island д 1776 MAP д
Originally called Fort Sullivan in 1776. It was renamed after the failed June 1776 British attack. There were also four additional small Patriot works on the far northern end of the island at Breach Inlet in 1776. The British held this fort from May 1780 to December 1782 and renamed it Fort Arbuthnot. It was dismantled in 1784.

The second American fort (1794, 1798 - 1804) was destroyed by a hurricane. The current structure dates to 1809 (40 guns). The Confederates occupied the fort from December 1860 until February 1865. In 1873 twelve new barbette gun platforms and five new magazines were built. Positions #3 to #8 were later demolished for the Endicott batteries. Position #2 was later the WWII HECP. Positions #9 to #12 survived until demolished by the National Park Service in the 1970's to reconstruct a Civil War era battery. The old main magazine in the parade was rebuilt, and a new main magazine was built behind the southeast bastion in 1875. The new magazine was later rebuilt as a mine casemate in the 1890's, but was later demolished by the NPS. A four-gun mortar battery was built in the parade in 1875, and armed with 13-inch seacoast mortars. Endicott batteries inside the old fort include Battery Bingham (1899 - 1918), Battery McCorkle (1899 - 1943), and Battery Lord (1899 - 1946) demolished by the NPS in the 1970's (this was the last Charleston area battery that still had its original guns emplaced). Fort Moultrie was the command post for the harbor defenses. The Harbor Entrance Control Post was built in 1944. Admission fee. To the west of the old fort is the Fort Moultrie Quartermaster and Support Facilities Historic District, which includes the former NCO Club, Post Theater, Commissary Storehouse, two Quartermaster Warehouses and QM Dock, Quartermaster Office, Ordnance Storage, Barracks, Dispensary, and the Provost Marshall Office. Most are in current use as single or multiple private dwellings.

Adjacent to the fort, and also owned by the NPS, is Battery Jasper (1898 - 1942) open to public, Battery Logan (1906 - 1944) no public access, Battery 230 (1943, never armed) no public access, and AMTB Battery 2 (1943 - 1946) which was located on the parapet of Battery Jasper. To the west of the old fort is the Sullivan's Island Historic District, which includes the Post Commander's House, nine Senior Officers' Quarters, one Bachelor Officers' Quarters, ten Junior Officers' Quarters, the Post Exchange and Gymnasium, Post Chapel, Post Headquarters, the Electrical Shop, and an Artillery Fire-Control Station (1768 Atlantic Ave.). Most are in current use as single-family dwellings or city government use.

The far eastern portion of the old military reservation included Battery Thomson (1906 - 1945) now used by the local Fire Dept., Battery Gadsden (1906 - 1917) now used by the town's Edgar Allan Poe Library (since 1977), a two-gun AA battery (1921) in front of Battery Gadsden, and the combined mortar Battery Capron and Battery Butler (1898 - 1942, split in 1906) recently buried. The mortar battery was once briefly known as Fort Capron (1898 - 1899). Adjacent to the Sullivan's Island Lighthouse (built 1962), within the U.S. Coast Guard Historic District, is the Fort Command bunker (1920's) and fire-control switchboard bunker (1928), and the Battery Capron Gun Group Command bunker (1920's). A 37mm AMTB battery was located here in WWII. All the outer batteries are now owned by the town, and are off-limits to the public. In 1903 the government proposed to rename the reservation Fort Getty, but the local citizens protested. The Town of Sullivan's Island was originally known as Moultrieville, incorporated in 1817.

дд Marshall Military Reservation
(1905 - 1947), Sullivan's Island
Batteries here were Battery 520 (1944 - 1947), Practice Battery (WWI), and a four-gun 155mm battery (1941 - 1945, Panama mounts in 1942). Two of the 155mm guns were transferred to Folly Island in 1942. A fire-control tower and a radar tower were once located here. The gun casemates and plotting room of Battery 520 are now private residential homes, known locally as "Fort Marshall". Before WWI this was the Target Range Reservation.

дд Folly Island Military Reservation
(1942 - 1944), Folly Island
A two-gun 155mm battery in revetments was located on the beach. Two fire-control towers were once located on either end of the island, and a searchlight station in the center of the island. No remains. The eastern (or northern) end of the island is currently a Coast Guard LORAN station (no public access). The western (southern) end is Folly Beach County Park.

дд ALSO: A 37mm/40mm AMTB battery was located at Cumming's Point on Morris Island in WWII. Harbor mines were planted in WWI, but not for WWII. Additional fire-control towers for the Charleston Defenses were located on Dewees Island (still exists) and on Isle of Palms (removed). Battery 125 was planned for James Island near old Fort Johnson, but was never built.

Fort Palmetto (1)
(1810's, 1861), Coles Island
Once located on Coles Island, but due to erosion it is now in a marshy area and is accessible only by boat. High tides wash over the ruins. This fort was first built during the War of 1812. The Confederates briefly used it after the fall of Fort Sumter, known as Coles Island Fort, but abandoned it. The island was used by the Union during the assault on James Island in 1863.

Robert Fenwick's Fort
(1715 - 1716), Johns Island
A settlers' fortified home used by the SC colonial militia during the Yemassee War. Located about eight miles southwest of Charleston (undetermined location) (Fenwick Crossroads ?).

Larouche's Bridge Fort
(1715 - 1716), Johns Island
A settlers' fort during the Yamassee War. Undetermined location, possibly near the Gift Plantation area on the Stono River.

NEED MORE INFO: Battery Point on James Island Creek.
Towns:

North Coastal South Carolina - page 1 | Greater Charleston Area II - page 3
Port Royal Sound Area - page 4 | Interior South Carolina - page 5

QUESTIONS ? Please send any corrections and/or additions to this list to:
Updates @ NorthAmericanForts.com