Fort Sumter is a sea fort built on an artificial island protecting Charleston, South Carolina from naval invasion. Its origin dates to the War of 1812 when the British invaded Washington by sea. It was still incomplete in 1861 when the Battle of Fort Sumter began the American Civil War. It was severely damaged during the war, left in ruins, and although there was some rebuilding, the fort as conceived was never completed.
Sullivan's Island is a town and island in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States, at the entrance to Charleston Harbor, with a population of 1,791 at the 2010 census. The town is part of the Charleston metropolitan area, and is considered a very affluent suburb of Charleston.
Fort Moultrie is a series of fortifications on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, built to protect the city of Charleston, South Carolina. The first fort, formerly named Fort Sullivan, built of palmetto logs, inspired the flag and nickname of South Carolina, as "The Palmetto State". The fort was renamed for the U.S. patriot commander in the Battle of Sullivan's Island, General William Moultrie. During British occupation, in 1780–1782, the fort was known as Fort Arbuthnot.
James Island is a town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States. It is located in the central and southern parts of James Island. James Island is included within the Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville metropolitan area and the Charleston-North Charleston Urbanized Area.
Fort Pemberton was one of the larger confederate forts was constructed in the defense of Charleston, South Carolina during the American Civil War. When Charleston was overwhelmed by Union forces in 1861, it became evident that control of the western regions of James Island and the Stono River was to be an important element in the defense of the city. Confederate military authorities of the time believed that Union occupation of James Island would leave Charleston subject to attack from the southeast. From this position the city would assuredly fall to the Union. Although there were many gun batteries in place along the south and east side of James Island, Fort Pemberton was the only fortress in defense of this region.
Battery White was an artillery battery constructed by the Confederates during the American Civil War. Built in 1862–63 to defend Winyah Bay on the South Carolina coast, the battery was strongly situated and constructed; however, it was inadequately manned, and was captured without resistance during the final months of the war.
Buzzard's Island Site is a historic mound located near Mount Pleasant, Charleston County, South Carolina. It is one of 20 or more prehistoric shell rings located from the central coast of South Carolina to the central coast of Georgia. On average, it measures 178 feet in diameter and stands 3 feet high. The midden is largely composed of oyster shell.
Fort Johnson is a state-owned historic site of military and political significance located on the northeast point of James Island in Charleston County, South Carolina.
Battery Gadsden is a historic artillery battery located at Sullivan's Island, Charleston County, South Carolina. It was built in 1903–1904, and is one of a series of batteries stretching from Fort Moultrie to the eastern end of Sullivan's Island. It was named after Christopher Gadsden. Until decommissioned in 1917, the concrete battery housed four, six inch guns. It measures approximately 377 feet long and 84 feet wide, with the front or ocean side of the battery at approximately 7 feet high. Battery Gadsden and its neighbor Battery Thomson provided fortification at the mouth of Charleston Harbor. The battery now houses the Edgar Allan Poe Branch of the Charleston County Public Library.
Battery Thomson is a historic artillery battery located at Sullivan's Island, Charleston County, South Carolina. It was built in 1906–1909, and is one of a series of batteries stretching from Fort Moultrie to the eastern end of Sullivan's Island. Until decommissioned in 1947, the concrete battery housed two, ten inch guns. It measures approximately 326 feet long and 84 feet wide, with the front or ocean side of the battery at approximately 10 feet high. Battery Thomson and its neighbor Battery Gadsden provided fortification at the mouth of Charleston Harbor.
Fort Palmetto is a historic artillery battery located at Christ Church Parish, Hamlin Sound, Charleston County, South Carolina. It was built in late 1861, and was at the easternmost end of the Christ Church Parish line of defense. At the end of the war this battery mounted one nine-inch gun and two rifled thirty-two pounders. The earthen redoubt measures approximately 160 feet long and 80 feet wide. It has a 15 foot high parapet wall and a powder magazine about 25 feet in height.
Folly North Site (38CH1213), also known as Little Folly Island, is a historic archaeological site located at Folly Beach, Charleston County, South Carolina. The site contains the extant remains of two American Civil War artillery batteries constructed by the Union Army in 1863. Artifacts associated with eight other batteries and Fort Green have likely eroded into the Atlantic Ocean. The batteries and fortifications were built as part of the Union effort to capture Charleston, South Carolina.
Battery Cheves is a historic artillery battery located at James Island, Charleston, South Carolina. It was built in 1863, and designed to protect the area between Fort Johnson and Battery Haskell. At the end of the war this battery mounted two pieces of heavy artillery. The earthen redoubt measures approximately 280 feet long and 240 feet deep. It has a 12-foot, 6 inch, high parapet wall and a powder magazine about 15 feet in height.
Battery LeRoy is a historic artillery battery located at James Island, Charleston, South Carolina. It was built in 1863, and designed to protect lower James Island. At the end of the war this battery mounted four guns. The earthen redoubt measures approximately 340 feet on its right face, 140 feet on the center face and 160 feet on the left face. It has a 15-foot-high parapet wall and a slightly higher powder magazine.
Battery Tynes is a historic artillery battery located at James Island, Charleston, South Carolina. It was built in 1863, and designed to protect the upper Stono River and the bridge from James Island to Johns Island, South Carolina. The earthen redoubt measures approximately 320 feet long and 180 feet deep. It has a 10–20 foot high parapet wall and a 15 feet high powder magazine.
Battery No. 1 is a historic artillery battery located at James Island, Charleston, South Carolina. It was built in 1863, as part of the James Island Siege Line. At the close of the war it was armed with five pieces of artillery. The earthen redoubt's right face is about 240 feet, the center face approximately 160 feet, and the left face 280 feet in length. It has a 15-foot-high parapet wall and a 20-foot-high powder magazine.
Battery No. 5 is a historic artillery battery located at James Island, Charleston, South Carolina. It was built in 1863, as part of the James Island Siege Line. At the close of the war it was armed with four guns. The earthen redoubt's left faces measuring about 200 feet and the center face about 100 feet. It has a 10 foot high parapet wall.
Fort Pringle is a historic artillery battery located at James Island, Charleston, South Carolina. It was built in 1863, as part of the James Island Siege Line and protect the Stono River, Johns Island and lower James Island. At the close of the war it was armed with nine heavy cannons. The earthen redoubt's river face measures approximately 360 feet, the right or upstream face 160 feet, the left or downstream face 400 feet, and the rear face approximately 520 feet in length. It has a 7.5 to 12.5 foot high parapet wall and 12.5 feet tall powder magazine.
Fort Trenholm, also known as Battery Trenholm, is a historic artillery battery located at Johns Island, Charleston, South Carolina. It was built in 1864, to reinforce Fort Pringle and protect the Stono River and Johns Island. It has emplacements for 17 guns. The three-sided earthen redoubt measures approximately 870 feet on its eastern face, 780 feet long on its southern face, and 885 feet long on its western face. It has a 15-foot-high parapet wall.
Unnamed Battery is an historic artillery battery located at West Ashley, Charleston, South Carolina. It was built in 1862, to protect the exterior western lines running from the Stono River on the south to the Ashley River at Bee's Ferry. It has emplacements for two guns. It measures approximately 160 feet by 160 feet with a 10-foot parapet and a 15-foot powder magazine.
