News from the SC Battleground Trust

George Washington: The General Who Would Not Be Caesar

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:30:36 GMT

George Washington: The General Who Would Not Be Caesar

In choosing retirement over dictatorship, he truly became, in the words of his contemporaries, “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.”

Written by Rick Wise, CEO & Military Historian

Presidents’ Day honors two great Presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Considering that the 250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War is here, we will focus on the former. General George Washington stands as one of the most remarkable figures in world history. That is based not just on his military service, but also on his extraordinary decision to relinquish power at the height of his glory. He could have shaped America’s future with a single word, should he have desired to do so. Instead, he honored his country’s goal of government by and for the people and did not succumb to the temptations of taking power. Washington’s voluntary retirement set a precedent that distinguished him from the many military leaders before him who took power for themselves.

Washington’s military career can be defined by his perseverance, ability to organize and develop the systems for an army, leadership that transcended economic and social boundaries, and a deep sense of duty that provided a moral determination to succeed. As the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, he faced daunting odds against the British
Empire, which at the time was the greatest power on earth. His strategic leadership through hardships and retreats was instrumental in saving the army and eventually winning independence from Great Britain.

Can you imagine the pressures of leading an army whose leaders were learning on the job, whose supply systems were in shambles, and whose strength in soldiers deteriorated in the face of their enemy every day? His task to feed, march, and maintain the army was as much a miracle as it was to fight them against such odds and still have an army remaining. He met challenges, and when given opportunity, he crossed the Delaware and punched his enemies in the nose…those of the British type and his doubters in the army and Congress as well.

At Valley Forge, he built upon his ability to inspire unwavering loyalty in his troops and produced a trained professional army that could stand up to British regulars, which was critical to providing the soldiers who fought the critical actions of the Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution that paved the way for the significant victory at Yorktown. Washington’s reputation was achieved by more than battlefield success, which, in review, was most significant in his ability to save his army to fight another day. He was a good judge of capability, as he learned the value of his subordinates, such as Greene and Lafayette. Washington sending Major General Nathanael Greene to take command of the Southern Army played a critical role in winning the war. Washington’s ability to cultivate great subordinate leaders was one of his greatest attributes.

But his reputation is also based on his unwavering commitment to the ideals of liberty and self-governance. The historical precedents of military leaders such as Julius Caesar, Oliver Cromwell, and others were that power based on control of the army was there for the taking. In contrast, George Washington made a decision that shocked the world. After leading the American colonies to independence, he resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief in December 1783 and returned to private life at Mount Vernon. This act of humility and restraint was so unexpected that King George III reportedly said, “If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.” Washington’s actions may be profound to some. But his actions were a pure reflection of the character of man himself, his principles, and his commitment to the goals for which the American Revolution was fought.

Washington’s retirement helped form the base foundations that became the new American republic. His action reinforced the way that he had fought the war, with the premise that the military should remain subordinate to civilian authority. He could have taken his role as the first President of the United States of America to establish his own dynasty. But after two terms as president, Washington again voluntarily stepped down, establishing our nation’s tradition of peaceful transition of power. His example has served as a model for democratic leadership worldwide, setting the United States on a path distinct from so many other nations. In choosing retirement over dictatorship, he truly became, in the words of his contemporaries, “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.”

Happy Presidents’ Day!
Rick

Commemoration of the taking of Fort Johnson and the raising of the Moultrie Flag

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 18:24:15 GMT

Remarks by CEO Rick Wise, September 13, 2025

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to observe the 250 ^th Anniversary of the capture of Fort Johnson and the first raising of the Moultrie flag. As one of the first directly belligerent acts of war in South Carolina at the beginning of the American Revolution, it introduced the flag that is still the symbol for our great state 250 years later.

We will get to the impressive history of this site, but first, it is my honor to acknowledge the preservation of Fort Johnson as the vision of the late Doug Bostick, former CEO of the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust. A very tangible part of Doug’s legacy in battleground preservation is the very spot where we are right now. As a native of James Island, Fort Johnson held a very special place in his heart, and it was his efforts that led to its acquisition and preservation. And, if you are at all impressed with this breathtaking view, please give a round of applause in memory of Doug! By his foresight and action, this view will now be saved in perpetuity for future generations. Thank you, Doug! I know your spirit is here with us today.

I want to speak to you today about a place that stands as a silent witness to centuries of American history—Fort Johnson, South Carolina. Nestled quietly here on the shores of James Island, with a commanding view overlooking Charleston Harbor, Fort Johnson’s legacy is woven into the fabric of our nation’s story, from colonial times through the wars that created and shaped the United States. Today, I invite you to journey with me through the centuries, to explore the historical significance, pivotal moments, and enduring spirit of Fort Johnson.

The Colonial Beginnings

Archaeology shows that Native Americans were on James Island some 10,000 years ago. Europeans arrived to colonize this area in the 1600s. Fort Johnson traces its origins back to the early 18th century, a period of great change and uncertainty in the American colonies. There was no Fort Johnson in 1706 when Charles Town was attacked by a combined French and Spanish force. The enemy came ashore at several places, including right here, at Windmill Point on James Island. The colonists rallied and severely defeated the invaders, but the need for a better defense of the harbor was apparent. In 1708, South Carolina’s colonial government recognized the strategic importance of defending Charleston, the economic and political heart of the province. James Island, lying just across the water from the city, offered a commanding vantage over the harbor’s entrance. It was here that they established a wood and sand fortification named in honor of Sir Nathaniel Johnson, the then-Royal Governor of South Carolina.

The intent of these early defenses was clear: protect the colony from threats both foreign and domestic. European powers vied for control of the region, and pirates prowled the waters, seeking to disrupt trade and seize riches. The original simple earthworks and timber fort served as the colony’s sentinel, safeguarding Charleston from incursion. The fort went through the years suffering periods of neglect and the effects of being on the coast. In 1752, it was demolished by a catastrophic hurricane. That destruction was considered when the fort was rebuilt beginning in 1759 during the French and Indian War. Its construction was with tabby, a seashell and lime mixture that has the strength of concrete. It lasted so well, in fact, that some tabby remnants can still be found here today.

Fort Johnson in the Revolutionary Era

By 1775, as colonial tensions simmered and the call for independence grew louder, Fort Johnson found itself at the heart of America’s revolutionary spirit. Dr. Erick Nason will tell you in more detail about the momentous events that took place here in 1775, when the flag was raised at Fort Johnson to become a symbol of resistance and solidarity among patriots.

During the Revolutionary War, Charleston and its defenses became prime targets for British forces. Fort Johnson, though not the largest of the city’s fortifications, played a vital supporting role in the defense of the harbor. Its guns guarded the harbor waters, and its troops watched for enemy ships. The fort had as many as 60 guns in June 1776 and was commanded by Colonel Christopher Gadsden.

But when the British approached Charleston by land in 1780, Fort Johnson was “destroyed by Rebels,” according to one Scottish Grenadier, preventing its use by the enemy. When Charleston fell in 1780, the fort was occupied, including being manned by Hessian grenadiers, until the Redcoats evacuated the city in December 1782, ending the war in South Carolina. But the fort still held its defensive role for the state. In 1784, Francis Marion was the Commandant of Fort Johnson, the same fort he had helped take in 1775. He remained in that position until 1788. The fort deteriorated after that, and in 1791, a visitor to the fort described it as “quite fallen.” That visitor was President George Washington.

The Fort in the 19th Century

After the Revolution, Fort Johnson’s role shifted as new challenges arose. The fort was abandoned in the early 1800s, and then intermittently maintained and upgraded, with repairs made to its earthworks, barracks, and gun emplacements, with the still extant brick magazine being built 1807-1808. The War of 1812 revived the need for coastal defense, and once again, Fort Johnson stood ready to protect Charleston from foreign threat.

Throughout the 1800s, Charleston grew in prominence, and Fort Johnson continued to adapt. It was during this era that the fort underwent several reconstructions, transitioning from its humble origins to more robust brick and stone structures. Its guns evolved, too, with heavier cannons and improved artillery reflecting advances in military technology.

Fort Johnson and the Civil War

Perhaps the most dramatic chapter in Fort Johnson’s history unfolded during the War Between the States. In the early hours of April 12, 1861, a Confederate mortar positioned at Fort Johnson fired the first shot of the war that exploded over Fort Sumter, marking the beginning of a conflict that would forever change the nation. Throughout the war, Fort Johnson was an essential part of Charleston’s defensive network. The Confederates fortified the site, building batteries and earthworks to repel Union assaults. The fort’s guns, aimed seaward, were a constant deterrent to naval incursions. Its soldiers endured bombardments and blockades, holding fast against overwhelming odds.

Even as the war dragged on and Charleston eventually fell to Union forces in 1865, Fort Johnson remained a symbol of resilience. Its sand covered battered walls and silent guns bore witness to the sacrifices made by those who defended their homeland—both Union and Confederate alike.

The Twentieth Century and Beyond

With the end of the War Between the States, Fort Johnson gradually faded from its role as a military installation. Over time, the site transitioned to peacetime uses, serving as a quarantine station from 1872-1948, and later the College of Charleston and Medical University of South Carolina used the sited for a marine research facility and medical study, to include the MUSC President occupying the former quarantine officer’s house here on the point in 1954. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources now occupies the grounds, using them for environmental research and preservation.

Today, Fort Johnson is recognized not for its military might, but for its historical significance and educational value. The magazine was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The remnants of its ramparts and batteries stand as reminders of the past—places where visitors can walk in the footsteps of soldiers, patriots, and pioneers.

Legacy and Preservation

The legacy of Fort Johnson endures in many ways. It represents the spirit of South Carolina: a willingness to defend, adapt, and endure. The fort is a living classroom, teaching new generations about the complexities of American history, the cost of conflict, and the importance of peace. Archaeological studies have uncovered artifacts from its earliest days to its final battles, offering glimpses into the lives of those who served here. Local historians, educators, and volunteers work tirelessly to maintain the site and share its story with the public. Preservation efforts continue to include the acquisition of 1.58 acres here on the point from MUSC in October 2023 to ensure that Fort Johnson’s story is not forgotten. Please note that this is phase I of plans for this site, which will be much more user-friendly with historical interpretation and provide a more enjoyable visitor experience. Once the final phases are done and the site is protected by a conservation easement, it will be gifted to the state for oversight and care.

Fort Johnson is also part of The Liberty Trail, and on the Liberty Trail App, which will bring visitors here and to other sites around the state to learn about the role South Carolina played in winning the independence of our great Nation.

These preservation actions by the SC Battleground Preservation Trust, and its partners like the American Battlefield Trust, SC 250 ^th Commission, the SC 250 ^th Charleston Commission, DNR, and other agencies, are helping us preserve battlegrounds and military sites of historical significance around the state. Speaking for the Battleground trust, it is your support financially through memberships and donations that make this possible. As you look around at this site today, there is still much to be done to bring it to meet the vision of what it can and will be. To do that, and as you take in this view today, thank you for your past support, and we ask for your continued support in the future to ensure that this and other sites across the state are preserved to tell the story for future generations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, as we stand on the grounds of Fort Johnson and reflect on its story, we are reminded that history is not merely a collection of dates and events, but a tapestry woven with the dreams, struggles, and triumphs of countless individuals, for history is about people and what they did that brings us to today. From its colonial foundation to its role in the wars that shaped our nation, Fort Johnson embodies the resilience and determination of South Carolina and the United States.

Let us continue to honor its legacy, preserve its memory, and share its lessons with generations yet to come. Thank you for joining me on this journey through the history of Fort Johnson—may its story inspire us all to cherish our heritage and strive for a better future.

Thank you, and Huzzah!

Creating the Declaration of Independence

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 21:28:05 GMT

Written by Rick Wise, CEO & Military Historian

Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams meet at Jefferson's lodgings, on the corner of Seventh and High (Market) streets in Philadelphia, to review a draft of the Declaration of Independence.
Courtesy of the Library of Congress.

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee formalized a resolution stating in part, “that these united colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown…” A vote on the resolution was delayed until July 1 so that delegates could get guidance from their home legislatures, and it also gave time for those still seeking reconciliation to convince others of their views. Meanwhile, a committee of five was established to draft the declaration, so that it would be available should the resolution for independence pass. Moderates were greatly concerned, since passing such a resolution would mean no further possibility of returning to the way things had been before.

Now, after 249 years, we know it all worked out and the fledgling nation is now the most powerful in the world. But the reality of the time was far from predictable. Each representative in the Second Continental Congress understood that their own hides were on the line. What they were doing, especially since they would now be officially critical of the king, could be called treason, payable with your property, your fortune, and your life. Should the effort for an independent America fail militarily, there would be a price to pay for these delegates, and there was no certainty of the outcome.

After Richard Henry Lee’s resolution was passed on June 7, three committees were established. The Committee of Five to draft a Declaration of Independence was appointed on June 11, and included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. A committee was also formed to establish the War and Ordnance Board, and another to draft the Articles of Confederation to unite all the states. That’s right, to be called the United States of America.

When the Committee of Five for the Declaration of Independence met, Franklin suffering from gout, declined to be active. He also clearly stated that he had no desire to draft a document that would be edited by a committee. Adams was focused on the Board of War and Ordnance, of which he would chair and then become the de facto Secretary of War. The other declaration committee members focused on the more important work going on for those other committees. That is correct, more important work. Drafting the Declaration was considered by those on the committee to be a minor administrative chore. And there was a man to do it. Six foot- two Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, a 33-year-old lawyer. He was a gifted writer, but was notably a very poor public speaker, a man who rarely spoke out in congressional sessions.

Once the committee agreed on a framework for the constitution, it was turned over to Jefferson. Adams, who was not well liked by many in Congress, believed that a draft attributed to himself would be too severely scrutinized. The committee left it to Jefferson to draft the declaration, which was considered less impact than the committee members’ other tasks. Little did they know how history would view it today.

Jefferson initially focused on writing a draft constitution for Virginia, not the Declaration. But in doing so, he drew from it points to be made of the wrongs inflicted on the colonies that were included in the draft Declaration. He thought that using “Whereas,” found in legal documents, gave the Declaration too much of a royal sounding beginning. Instead, he opted for another opening, “When in the course of human events….” The draft was completed on the third week of June and presented to Adams and Franklin. Amazingly, these most learned of men recommended only one change. Instead of “sacred and undeniable,” they suggested using a now often recited phrase, “We hold these truths to be self-evident…”

The draft declaration was presented to Congress on June 28…the same day those in Charleston were focused on more immediate events taking place in the harbor at Fort Sullivan, that resulted in a decisive victory for America. A victory that would have likely given resolve to the representatives had they known what had occurred in South Carolina.

Debate of the Resolution for Independence took place in Congress on July 1 and 2. John Dickenson of Pennsylvania was still adamant that diplomacy had not run its course. Those in Charleston, after the events at Fort Sullivan, were pretty sure that diplomacy had run its course, and that the issue would now be decided by force of arms. On the second vote, on July 2, the delegations voted 12-0 to pass the resolution. New York abstained as they did not yet have guidance from home, but did add their affirmative vote on July 9.

John Adams predicted that, “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable … in the History of America … It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” American is still celebrating 249 years later, proving him right! But he did get the date wrong. He did not know that 85 edits later, the Declaration would not get to the printers until Thursday, July 4, 1776, the date that was put on the document. It was then sent, without signatures, across the now 13 states, so declared on the document as being the Unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America. It was ordered to be read to the troops and the people. The signatures were added to it on August 2…and it was said there was total quiet in the hall. Each signature bore the possibility of grave consequences for each of the 56 men whose names appeared there. It was a somber experience, As Benjamin Franklin said about those fomenting change for the country, “We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, then we shall all hang separately.” Such was the gravity and uncertainty of those times.

The unsigned Declaration arrived in Charleston August 2. On that same day in Philadelphia, the majority of representatives finally signed the Declaration. Those representing South Carolina were Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton, and 26-year-old Edward Rutledge.

On August 5, 1776, the local militia formed at noon time on Broad Street, and, with President Rutledge, General Lee, their staff members, legislators, dignitaries, and citizens listening, the Declaration was read. The whole assembly then moved east down Broad Street to the Exchange Building, where it was read a second time, and which event we honor by our presence here this morning. The crowd cheered, and cannon salutes thundered along the Cooper River. The Declaration was then read to the assembled Patriot troops that night by Major Bernard Elliott near the Liberty Tree north of Charleston. The next day it was read to the troops at Fort Moultrie and Fort Johnson.

But the war was not over. The Declaration of Independence, with its desire for a nation derived from the consent of the people, became reality due to the sacrifices of the anonymous many who paid the ultimate price, here, and on battlefields across America, not for liberty they would get to experience, but for the liberty of others. We owe them our sincere and most humble thanks, for without them, we would not enjoy the benefits this great nation bestows upon its citizens for the past 249 years. Thank God for the inspiration of our forefathers, for our State, and our Nation. Huzzah, and God Bless the America!

Battle of Fort Sullivan

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 10:14:25 GMT

The Winds of History: The Battle of Sullivan’s Island, June 28, 1776

The winds were contrary to British wishes for weeks. The fleet under the command of Commodore Sir Peter Parker had crossed the bar to enter Charles Town Harbor and lay in the deeper waters of Five Fathom Hole near Morris Island. But in the days of wind powered navies, the ships were at the mercy of the direction of the wind. Finally on the morning of June 28 the winds were favorable, the sails unfurled, and the mighty ships of the British navy moved into position to annihilate the small fort guarding the channel into the harbor. And those winds carried all concerned into history.

We now look back 249 years to that battle, and those who fought it. June 28, 1776 and the battle fought on that date was significant. The wind ushered in legend. The small palmetto log fort, and between the logs walls to absorb the British cannon balls, of which some 7,000 were recovered in and around the fort after the battle. The fear that American General Charles Lee and others had that the British fleets broadsides would tear the fort and its garrison apart, instead turned to the legend of the spongy palmetto logs and sand deflecting or absorbing the best that was thrown at it.

A much neglected aspect of the battle was defense of the tidal waters of Breach Inlet, that separated it from Sullivan’s Island from Long Island (now Isle of Palms was key. Some 780 troops mostly the Third South Carolina Regiment (Rangers) under Colonel William “Danger” Thomson opposed 1,700 British soldiers under General Henry Clinton. The British were to cross the inlet to attack the fort by land, while the navy attacked by sea. But Thomson kept the British from crossing, helped by a British miscalculation that the water was fordable at low tide. It was up to Moultrie and the men in Fort Sullivan to fight the battle against the powerful British warships.

That slugfest lasted from 11:00 AM until the British ships cut their cables and returned to Five Fathom Hole at 9:00 PM. The Americans, with Major Francis Marion commanding the left wing of the fort, engaged a fleet of nine ships, including the 50 gun Bristol and Experiment. Moultrie ran low on gunpowder, and firing slowed. A cannon shot cut down the indigo blue flag with the crescent in the corner (yes, a crescent, not a gorget) and Sergeant William Jasper claimed immortality by jumping down to retrieve and fly it again from the rampart. Governor John Rutledge sent more powder, with the following reminder to make every shot count: “I send you 500 pounds of powder…P.S. Do not make too free with your cannon. Cool and do mischief. (The intent to cool the cannon between shots to increase their accuracy).

At the end of the day, the fort held, and the British retreated to New York…with favorable winds. We mark this great victory as Carolina Day. On June 28, 2025, we will mark the 249 ^th anniversary of this great victory in the quest for America’s Independence.

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Source : David Lee Russell. Victory on Sullivan’s Island-The British Cape Fear/Charles Town Expedition of 1776. West Conshohocken: Infinity Publishing, 2002.

Liberty Trail and Other Updates

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 14:12:39 GMT

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Liberty Trail Update

Liberty Trail is continuing to mature. Lots of work has been done at the Waxhaws, Hanging Rock, and Eutaw Springs. Development of wayside signs and interpretation at Hobkirk Hill is ongoing, as well as developing more interpretation for sites like Musgrove Mill. We encourage you to visit these sites and let us know what you think. Please know that these are phased approaches, so we are not at the final level we want to achieve. But this allows visitors to have a good experience now, with more to come. Some locations are in the process of development for interpretation, such as Parker’s Ferry and Hammonds Old Store. We are also in the process of having the site of the Hayes Station massacre deeded to SCBPT by Laurens County, and we greatly thank them for doing that.Visit www.thelibertytrail.org for more information.

We are also working to acquire more Revolutionary War properties. We cannot divulge much information on specific sites since some are in negotiation, but know that your support is greatly appreciated and needed for all we do.

Other Updates

John C. “Jack” Parker, author of Parker’s Guide to the Revolutionary War in South Carolina, was recently honored with the presentation of the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian award. SCBPT and other organizations supported Jack’s nomination and are proud that he has been honored for his outstanding work. We highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Revolutionary War in South Carolina, as it a “must have” for finding those many sites across the state.

The 244 ^th Anniversary of the Battle of Eutaw Springs will be held on August 28-29, 2025. A battlefield tour will be on the morning of the August 28 ^, while historian and author Ms. Margaret “Peggy” Pickett will make a presentation about “Founding Mothers” that evening at Clark’s Restaurant in Santee. On August 29 Major General (Retired) Will Grimsley, Commissioner of the SC 250 ^th Commission, will speak about projects related to the Eutaw Springs Battlefield at the Church of the Epiphany at Eutawville, SC, followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Battlefield Park. More details to follow.

We are currently within the window of events for the 250 ^th Anniversary of the American Revolution that happened in 1775. Keep an an ear and eye open for upcoming events. Two South Carolina infantry regiments and one cavalry regiment were being formed in June 1775 that engaged in battles here in South Carolina and Georgia until 1780. Names like Moultrie, Marion, Huger, Horry, and others were soon to become household names.

Memorial Day is for All Who Fell

Sat, 24 May 2025 13:00:00 GMT

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The United States of America, in all her wars from the American Revolution to the War on Terror, has suffered over 1.1 million dead who gave their all while in service to our country. The initiative to establish a set date to memorialize the fallen came in the wake of the War Between the States (1861-1865). The act of strewing the graves of soldiers with flowers was done locally by communities and organizations both North and South, by both Black and White, but there was no national recognition day.

The concept for a day to honor the soldiers who died in the War Between the States can be traced to a Ladies Memorial Association in Columbus, Georgia. Secretary Mary Ann Williams, posted an appeal letter in the local newspaper on March 11, 1866. The intent was to get locals to help improve the local cemetery where many soldiers were buried. The letter proposed for local authorities "to set apart a certain day to be observed...and be handed down through time as a religious custom of the country, to wreathe the graves of our martyred dead with flowers." Their chosen date was April 26, 1866. And yes, the honors were to be for soldiers both Union and Confederate.

Subsequently, many have claimed to be the originator of the concept for Memorial Day. But ultimately we can turn to the “Memorial Day Act” issued by Major General John A. Logan as General Orders No. 11 on May 5, 1868, by the Grand Army of the Republic, a Union Veterans organization. The orders established "Memorial Day" as a “Decoration Day on which the nation would remember its war dead and decorate their graves with flowers.”

Interestingly enough, General Logans wife, Mary S. Cunningham Logan, may also get some credit. In her autobiography, Mrs. Logan claims to have spoken to her husband about

placing flowers on soldiers' graves after returning from a Confederate cemetery in Virginia. Allegedly General Logan felt it was "not too late for the Union men of the nation to follow the example of the people of the South in perpetuating the memory of their friends who had died for the cause which they thought just." General Logan, as the author of G.O. 11, appears to be the catalyst for making Memorial Day a national observance.

But please remember that Memorial Day is for all who have fallen on hallowed grounds across the world where American Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen have given their all. Remember that many of the fallen are unknown, in shallow, unmarked graves on our Revolutionary War battlefields here in South Carolina and elsewhere. Take the time to reflect about them all and their sacrifice for what we have today, as we honor all on Memorial Day.

_____

Source: US Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration: Memorial Day

Remembering the Battle of Hobkirk Hill

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 15:16:59 GMT

April 25, 1781

After the British captured Savannah in December 1778 and particularly Charleston in May 1780, the South was undoubtedly the primary theater of the Revolutionary War. That painful defeat at Charleston was followed by a few militia successes, but almost unraveled with the defeat at Camden in August. Militia won the Battle of Kings Mountain in October as the American Southern Army was still trying to regain its fighting capability. But a change was coming to the army, as Major General Nathanael Greene arrived to take command in December 1780.

Following the dynamic success of Brigadier General Daniel Morgan at Cowpens, the Race to the Dan was on, culminating in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in March 1781. Instead of following Lord Cornwallis’ army to Wilmington and fight the war on Britain’s terms, Greene set his sights on South Carolina and returned to Camden. There he established his camp on astride the Great Wagon Road on Hobkirk Hill, daring the British to attack him. Before the week was out, Brigadier General Francis Marion captured Fort Watson on April 23, and the British attacked Greene’s position on Hobkirk Hill. Colonel Francis Lord Rawdon won the fight that day. But in doing so the British suffered so many casualties that they abandoned Camden about three weeks later and headed to Charleston. Greene had suffered a tactical defeat, but overall achieved a strategic victory at Hobkirk Hill on April 25, 1781.

Today, thanks to the leadership of the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust and American Battlefield Trust and valuable partnerships with the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, Kershaw County, Historic Camden Foundation, and Katawba Valley Land Trust, all of the undeveloped parcels (22.63 acres in 5 parcels) within the footprint of the Battle of Hobkirk Hill have been acquired and permanently protected. More than $2.0 million in local, state, and federal grants and the generosity of private donors made these acquisitions possible.

“Acquiring and permanently protecting these sites is a critical first step in sharing the stories of the Revolution,” remarked Rick Wise, CEO of the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust. “We are excited to work with our partners to research, interpret, and share the stories of this important battle.”

In more recent history, this unique property served as the polo field (and still does!) and special event site for the early 20th century luxury resort hotel—The Kirkwood Hotel—that hosted dignitaries from 1903 until it closed in 1943. This site is now interpreted so that visitors may start their visit of Hobkirk Hill where the 2nd Virginia Continentals once stood.

Your contributions to our work help make more victories like the permanent protection of Hobkirk Hill possible.

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About The Liberty Trail
The Liberty Trail—developed through a partnership between the American Battlefield Trust and the South Carolina Battleground Trust—connects battlefields across South Carolina and tells the captivating and inspiring stories of this transformative chapter of American history. For more information on The Liberty Trail, visit www.thelibertytrail.org.

Media Contact

Jennifer Howard

jen@stewardterra.com

843.709.4192

Out and About on The Liberty Trail

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 12:30:20 GMT

Get outside this Spring to enjoy enhancements that your gifts make possible on The Liberty Trail

Thank you to our members again for your support and donations to our efforts. The financial support we receive goes directly into work on projects like the Francis Marion Papers, research and development for interpretation at our battlegrounds, preserving several more battleground sites around the State, and bringing The Liberty Trail to fruition. So, a little more on what has been going on with The Liberty Trail.

For those of you who have been visiting sites on The Liberty Trail, you know that the app is bursting with amazing stories including audio battlefield tours, 360 degree virtual tours, driving maps and more. (You can download the app in Google Play, the Apple store, or use it from the website www.thelibertytrail.org ). If you’ve not recently visited one of the thirty sites, the spring is a great time to check out the great progress we and our partner, American Battlefield Trust, are making.

Waxhaws (Buford’s Massacre) now has additional interpretation and split rail fencing. You can walk the loop and learn more about the battle and those who fought there.

Hanging Rock is a work in progress that now has a trail, interpretive signage, and split rail fencing. For safety of our visitors, we are initially limiting access to the west side of Flat Rock Road.

New interpretive signage is up at Camden, where several loop trails are in development.

Fort Watson, Fort Fair Lawn, and Marion Square all have Augmented Reality (AR) binoculars, and you may find the AR apps online as well.

And you will find that Eutaw Springs Battlefield has been freshened up with new fencing and tree work. An upcoming AR experience is coming for it as well.

For our expert historians out there, please know that this is Phase I, and not all the signage, etc. will be where it will go in future phases of development. It is a work in progress, but the outcome of the project, with your support, will put our history on display for present and future generations. Our goal is that it will acknowledge the role our State played in the War for Independence in a way that will make us all proud!

Huzzah!!

Behind the Scenes of the Marion Papers

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 12:05:01 GMT

Family ties and beach vacations colored with Disney’s Swamp Fox, not just the makings of a memorable childhood for historian David Neilan, but also the backdrop of a lifelong obsession with General Francis Marion. Retirement opened a window for David to pour his energy into an ambitious project to gather all the known letters and material related to Francis Marion, with a vision of creating a comprehensive manuscript. His compilation of those resources, combined with Marion’s Orderly Book entries, created a very accurate chronological view and insights into Marion’s actions during the Revolutionary War. While an unfortunate medical setback paused the publishing of his work, the late Charles Baxley, Commissioner of the SC 250 ^th , and a friend of Dave Neilan, acquired the rights for the SC 250 ^th to publish the manuscript, ensuring Neilan’s work would be shared, not shelved. Further, Baxley’s desire was for the work to be put into context with other events going on other places during the war, have biographical references, and also be available to the public at no cost. He then called upon his personal friend and author, the late Doug Bostick, Executive Director of the SCBPT to form a team who would ready the work for publication.

Rick Wise and Ben Rubin were tasked as editors to review the manuscript, add military history- based analysis and context, incorporate the biographies, and generally get the manuscript ready for peer review for publication. The first work was done by August 2023, and then with Charles Baxley’s input, further revisions were done to provide even more detail to the over 600 letters and other documents involved. Dr. Jim Piecuch and Dr. Steve Smith conducted the peer review and greatly helped with ensuring the citations and other important aspects of the work were correct. The manuscript was then placed into the very capable hands of Vally M. Sharpe of United Writers Press in Asheville, North Carolina that did an outstanding job in arranging the work into a configuration that the reader will enjoy.

The pages presented in what will be three volumes (1759-1780; 1781; and 1785-1795) will in many ways confirm what we know of Marion, and in some ways change what was thought before. With no fault of their own, prior historians and biographers did not have these primary sources for reference. The letters have disproven some long-lasting assumptions.

Among the discoveries hidden within the papers of Marion was a common assumption turned upside down. Historians have long presumed that Marion did not respond to Thomas Sumter’s requests for support during the Round Campaign – February to early March 1781, that he was silent or drug his feet, so he did not have to serve under Sumter. Our research proves that Marion was indeed a duty-first guy, and he did respond several times. It was purely circumstantial that Marion’s troops were not able to join.

We look forward to your discovering new facts for yourself within the pages of what is a significant contribution to our understanding of the Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution and the life and history of Francis Marion; and hope you’ll consider supporting our work to research, protect and interpret the important history of our state.

Francis Marion Papers Now Available to the Public

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 17:33:56 GMT

Collection will tell the Swamp Fox’s untold stories

Columbia, S.C. [February 27, 2025] – After two decades of research and investigation, the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust (SCBPT), in collaboration with the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission (SC250), is set to unveil the first volume of the Francis Marion Papers , a project that holds the potential to reshape our understanding of one of the American Revolution’s most heroic figures.

The papers, consisting of more than 600 historical documents, includes letters written both to and from General Francis Marion, famously known as the Swamp Fox for his elusive guerrilla warfare tactics against British forces. These materials, discovered in archives across the country including Harvard University and the University of Michigan, have been carefully compiled and annotated by leading historians. The first volume, complete with illustrations and battle maps, will be released on February 27 – the anniversary of Marion’s death.

“This project is rewriting history,” said Rick Wise, director of SCBPT. “A lot of historians and biographers have gotten Marion wrong in some respects. These papers offer a more nuanced and personal look at his character, leadership and strategies.”

For years, Marion’s legacy has been shaped by secondhand accounts and folklore, but these original documents provide firsthand insights into his thoughts and correspondences. This release will likely prompt new discussions on his contributions to the American Revolution and challenge some long-held assumptions about his life and military tactics.

Originally conceived in 2005, the Francis Marion Papers project has been an extensive, nationwide effort, involving historians, archivists and researchers from multiple institutions. The project’s completion is a testament to the dedication of those committed to preserving and illuminating America’s Revolutionary-era history.

One of the most exciting aspects of this release is its accessibility. Unlike many historical archives that remain behind paywalls or physical barriers, the Francis Marion Papers will be available digitally to everyone, free of charge.

“This is not just for scholars; it’s for teachers, students, history enthusiasts – anyone with an interest in the American Revolution,” said Molly Fortune, CEO of SC250. “By making these documents widely available, we’re ensuring that Marion’s legacy, and his role in our independence, is explored and understood in its fullest context.”

Together, SCBPT and SC250 encourage the public to access the Francis Marion Papers to learn previously untold facts and stories directly from Marion’s point of view. To view Volume 1 of the Francis Marion Papers, visit southcarolina250.com/publications/francis-marion-papers/ . To learn more about SCBPT’s role in the project, visit bit.ly/francis-marion-papers .

For more information, contact:

Molly Fortune, CEO

mfortune@southcarolina250.com

About the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust

The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust seeks to protect and preserve these battlefields and historic military sites across South Carolina to not only honor the soldiers who gave their lives in service to their country, but also provide current and future generations a space at which to remember, contemplate, discuss, and learn how our history not only shapes the past, but is also relevant to the present and future of our great state. Over the last 30 years, the organization has protected 72 sites. For more information visit, scbattlegroundtrust.org.

About the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission

The South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission (SC250) was chartered by the state General Assembly to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary Era and highlight the state’s significant role in securing America’s independence. SC250’s mission is to celebrate and promote South Carolina’s role in the American Revolution by engaging and inspiring South Carolinians and visitors through heritage tourism, rural economic growth initiatives and educational programs. Learn more at southcarolina250.com .

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For Love and Liberty: Three Heroes and Their True Loves

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 04:23:54 GMT

Thomas Sumter

Thomas Sumter came to South Carolina in a roundabout way. A native Virginian, he served as a sergeant during the Cherokee War and had the honor to escort Cherokee Chief Ostenaco to England for a visit with King George III. Upon their return to America, they landed in Charleston, returned the Chief to his home, and Sumter made his way to Virginia. His homecoming was not as celebratory as he’d hoped. Bad debt caught up with him and he was promptly jailed. Using his wiles, he successfully negotiated his release and headed for South Carolina, intent upon getting paid money owed him by the British government for his trip to England. In 1764 he received 700 pounds for his efforts.

With this newly acquired fortune, Sumter ventured to a fork in the road near Eutaw Springs on the way to Nelson’s Ferry. That vacant lot on the route from Ninety Six to Charleston became the site of a bustling store, and Sumter’s fortune began to grow. Soon he made the acquaintance of Mary Cantey Jameson, who became widowed during the time he operated the store.

After a respectable amount of time, Sumter began courting the amiable woman, eleven years his senior. Though she suffered a withered left arm from infantile paralysis and didn’t walk well, her suitor was undeterred. He cut a dashing, athletic figure, and showed off by leaping into the saddle without using the stirrups. They were smitten with each other and married. Sumter now had a wife…and a superbly valuable plantation on the Santee River called, “Great Savannah.”

Sumter loved Mary and their son, Tom, Jr. dearly, though he felt the pull to fight for his country. He served in the militia, commanded the Second Regiment of Riflemen, was a Provincial Congressman, commanded the Sixth Regiment of South Carolina Continentals, and participated in the uneventful efforts to drive the British from Georgia. Suffering from fatigue and malaria, he returned home and resigned his Continental commission on September 19, 1778.

With military service behind him, he became a gentleman plantation owner and enjoyed home life with Mary and Tom, even as the war continued and Charleston fell. In addition to Great Savannah on the Santee, Sumter and Mary owned a home in the High Hills of the Santee near modern Stateburg. It was there that the British made a critical mistake. Captain Campbell of Tarleton’s British Legion stopped by his home in search of the former Continental officer. Having received a warning from a neighbor, Sumter was nowhere to be found. The British Legion, Provincial Loyalists from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania fighting for the King, questioned Mary about her husband’s whereabouts. When she couldn’t answer, the British Legion removed the invalid Mary still seated in her wicker chair from the house and sat her under a shade tree. She and twelve-year-old Tom watched the enemy ravage their smokehouse- allegedly leaving Mary one ham under her chair, and then burned their home. Sumter, who was not engaged in the war at that time, now had even more reason to return to the fight. He headed to the New Acquisition (modern day Rock Hill) and raised over a thousand troops to exact revenge.

Sumter stayed in the war and fought many battles, while remaining devoted to his wife and son. During the Rounds Campaign in February-March 1781, he made a special effort to get Mary and Tom from a neighbor’s home at Cane Savannah plantation near modern Sumter. She rode horseback on a mattress held on by a servant, and occasionally fell as they traveled. She and Tom were eyewitnesses to Sumter’s fight at Radcliffe’s Bridge near modern Bishopville. Though bruised and exhausted, Sumter and Mary were reunited. Mary seemed to always have a very special place in Sumter’s heart, though war and in later years, politics and serving in Washington, kept them apart. Mary receives the credit for the spelling of “Sumter” as we know it today. Originally spelled “Sumpter”, Mary felt the spelling without the “p” was more refined. Sumter complied and the change passed the test of time. They were married fifty years, until her death in 1817. For Thomas Sumter, the “Gamecock”, there was also a love story to match his other extraordinary feats. They are buried together at the Thomas Sumter Memorial Park in Stateburg, SC.

William Washington

Lieutenant Colonel William Washington, a cousin of General George Washington, commanded the Third Regiment of Continental Light Dragoons. He arrived in South Carolina in late 1779 and camped near Sandy Hill plantation, Charles Elliott's home a few miles west of Charleston. There he met sixteen-year-old Jane Riley Elliott. She told him that “she would look out for news of his flag and fortune." The cavalryman told her that unfortunately there was no flag for his regiment. She quickly remedied that problem by cutting an eighteen-inch square of crimson damask from a drapery. She then fashioned a sleeve to fit a lance pennon and bound the edges for a fringe. Jane presented it to Washington, and is alleged to have said, "Here is your flag, take this, Colonel, and make it your standard."

William attached the banner to a hickory pole and the 3rd Dragoons carried it at Cowpens, where afterwards the flag was named, "Tarleton's Terror.” Following the flag’s appearance at Guilford Courthouse, Hobkirk Hill, and Eutaw Springs, it became known as the “Eutaw Flag.” Without a doubt Washington had fond memories of Miss Jane Elliott and the gift surely reminded him of her as he fought those battles with her flag guiding his troops.

On September 8, 1781 Washington was wounded and taken prisoner at the Battle of Eutaw Springs. It is little surprise once granted parole, William Washington became reacquainted with rice heiress Jane Elliott, her father since having died and leaving her his estate. Despite the war, the couple married on April 21, 1782. Washington now had a lovely young wife, and became the head of Sandy Hill with real estate holdings of some 12,000 acres.

Together they had a boy and a girl, and William was a planter for 30 years. During that time, they hosted President George Washington for a two-day visit during his Southern Tour in 1791. Jane enjoyed his love of horse racing, and even his brief recall to active duty as a brigadier general in 1798. But it was their love that was kindled in the midst of war that is of special note at this time. And the flag with which she honored Washington? She gifted it to the Washington Light Infantry in 1827, and it is preserved by them to this day. The couple is buried in the Elliott Cemetery near Rantowles Bridge on Highway 17, south of Charleston.

Francis Marion

The Swamp Fox is well known for his exploits in the Cherokee War, as a Continental officer in the Second South Carolina Regiment at the Battle of Sullivan’s Island, then as their commander at Spring Hill Redoubt in Savannah. But at forty-eight years old, his fame was more about leading militia as the greatest partisan commander of the Revolutionary War. His leadership kept the fires of Liberty burning when at times it seemed hope was lost. And part of what kept him going was his relationship with Mary Esther Videau.

Marion was under stress keeping his militia in the field, meeting the intelligence and logistics needs of General Nathanael Greene, and meeting the needs to help Governor John Rutledge as he tried to re-establish the state government. But if there was a source of solace for him, it was that he had a not-so-secret admirer. Mary Esther Videau was his first cousin, the daughter of his mother’s sister. Now a spinster in her late forties, she had been known to him since childhood. Over the years she had inherited a considerable fortune in money and land from her deceased parents and brothers. She also kept up Marion’s morale with a steady flow of correspondence, in which she also helped him with intelligence of enemy movements. Following the announcement of the surrender at Yorktown, she was said to have attended a celebratory ball at Cantey’s Plantation near the Santee River.

It appears Marion was shy around women, and though he and Ms. Videau corresponded, he was not one to reveal romantic feelings. That changed after the war when Some of their cousins arranged a meeting, shedding light on the couple’s mutual attraction. They married on April 20, 1786 as part of double wedding with two other cousins. Yes, that was common in Colonial South Carolina!

Marion was fifty-four and she was forty-nine. The Marions apparently made a sweet middle-aged couple. Though they would be childless, Marion and Esther adopted a ten-year-old grandnephew, Francis Marion Dwight, and another family member, Charlotte Videau Ashby. Unfortunately, Marion’s adopted son did not father any sons, so Marion had no direct descendants to carry on his name.

The Marions enjoyed a happy and loving marriage. Historical documents suggest the two resembled each other, which may not have been complimentary to her. But they did share common interests like fishing, traveling, camping, and backgammon. They also enjoyed having visitors to their home, such as Peter Horry. While Marion continued to grow his estate and participate in politics and militia service, he valued the time spent at this plantation, Pond Bluff. It is said that Esther may have had a bit of temper. As Marion came in from checking his fields, he would toss his hat into an open window to check her mood. If she threw it back out, he would keep riding! Perhaps modern marriages could learn from that.

Marion died at sixty-three years old on February 27, 1795. Esther outlived him by twenty years. They are buried at Belle Isle Plantation Cemetery near Pineville, SC.

Three Revolutionary War heroes, who knew the love of women who made them even better heroes at home.

Sources:

Bass, Robert D., Gamecock: The Life and Campaigns of General Thomas Sumter. (Orangeburg, Sandlapper Publishing Company, 1961).

https://web.archive.org/web/20150912092012/http://home.golden.net/~marg/bansite/friends/washington.html

Oller, John. The Swamp Fox: How Francis Marion Saved the American Revolution (pp. 302-307). Hachette Books. Kindle Edition.

New Augmented Reality Experiences Bring Battlefields to Life

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 21:41:18 GMT

The Liberty Trail announces app and on-site binoculars created through Anglo-American partnership

from Jen Howard, Steward Terra Communications

Charleston, S.C. (November 27, 2024) – The Liberty Trail Augmented Reality Experience provides a new way to interact with Revolutionary War history: By exploring key battlefields faithfully reconstructed in 3D. Working together, the American Battlefield Trust , South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust and UK-based augmented reality company Zubr, have created an interactive and immersive glimpse into places central to the Palmetto State’s pivotal role in the conflict.

Aligned with the American Battlefield Trust’s mission, The Liberty Trail AR suite of digital content goes beyond basic facts to make history inspirational. It showcases military maneuvers and siege tactics from both British and Patriot forces, with four different battlefield locations brought back to life. From Eutaw Springs and Fort Watson to Fort Fair Lawn and the Siege of Charleston , the experience reveals the conflict and aftermath of pivotal battles during the Southern Campaign, as well as broader military pattern-of-life.

"The past has never felt closer than through this dynamic AR experience, which allows visitors to wander around and inside long-lost battlefield structures," says American Battlefield Trust President David Duncan. “The models present the scale of these constructions, and the details of how they may have looked in a way previously unimaginable. Technology is bringing the past to life and deepening visitor understanding of the people and places of the American Revolution – on the battlefield and elsewhere."

Whilst the virtual content can be enjoyed either at the battlefield sites in South Carolina or remotely via a free downloadable app, Zubr’s accessible ‘AR Binoculars’ can also be found at Charleston’s Marion Square , at Fort Watson, within Santee National Wildlife Refuge near Summerton, and soon at the Berkeley County Museum in Moncks Corner. Although visually similar to traditional tower viewers, these innovative, long-lasting binoculars are believed to be the first of their kind installed in the United States and allow visitors to peer through and experience the AR scenes without the need for a personal device or app download.

“I was proud to get a first look at the augmented reality binoculars at Marion Square,” says Charleston Mayor Willam Cogswell, after unveiling the new hardware yesterday afternoon. “It’s exciting to see new ways that we can honor Charleston’s storied history, which played pivotal role in the American Revolution. I encourage residents and visitors to explore this innovative resource.”

“There are countless innovations showcased within the Liberty Trail AR project, such as the custom musket reload animations, the 1:1 scale virtual environments, and of course our unique AR Binoculars. We’re honoured that our cutting-edge tech will be used to increase awareness of these significant moments in US history,” says Jack Norris, Director of Zubr.

The remarkable collaboration between US and UK teams in portraying both British and Patriot soldiers on the eve of the American Revolution’s 250th anniversary has caught the attention of the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., which held a preview event on November 14.

“It was great to meet with the team from Zubr and experience their exciting new tech,” said Col. Matt Churchward, Royal Marines Attaché to the United States. “I can see real value in the military community for both wargaming simulations and joint professional military education.”

The Liberty Trail is an unforgettable journey through place and time, connecting locations central to the story of the American Revolution. It began in the Palmetto State, as the American Battlefield Trust joined forces with the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust, but as the nation’s Semiquincentennial anniversary dawns, will expand into other states. Learn more at www.TheLibertyTrail.org .

About American Battlefield Trust

From a grassroots organization started by historians 30 years ago, the American Battlefield Trust has grown into one of the most successful private heritage land preservation organizations in the nation. The Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 58,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War, representing more than 160 sites in 25 states. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.

About the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust

About Zubr

Zubr is a British augmented and virtual reality technology company founded in 2015. Zubr has previously delivered over 400 immersive technology projects, including AR apps for the Acropolis of Athens and the National Gallery in London. They are the world’s leading provider of augmented and virtual reality binoculars, offering a powerful immersive viewing experience without the hassle of wearables or app downloads. Discover more at https://zubr.co/

Battlefield research that’s down to earth

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 20:44:50 GMT

Leveraging LiDAR for learning

from Jen Howard, Steward Terra Communications

From his office computer in Charleston South Carolina, archaeologist Mike Yianopoulos looks more like a computer researcher or maybe even gamer, than a seasoned field archaeologist and historian. Thanks to LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), a modern-ish technology, Yianopoulos is able to look more closely at the surface for clues to past land uses.

LiDAR dates to the 1960s and continues to see expanding uses. By sending rapid pulses of light from a rapidly firing laser to the surface of the earth, data is collected for a variety of uses. Specifically, archaeologists use LiDAR to study the topography of a site.

“LiDAR is a great tool for looking at detailed topography," commented Yianopoulos. “It strips away vegetation and gives a good image of old roads, earthworks, creeks, valleys.”

Today he is looking at the site of the Battle of Stono Ferry, an area that saw not only Revolutionary War action but also includes a Confederate earthwork battery and encampment. The team first used historic documents such as maps, battle summaries and journals as well as local experts and residents to narrow a broad landscape to a targeted area for further investigation. In the case of the Stono Ferry site, Yianopoulos points to a darker green line through a sea of pale green. The contrast indicates a causeway that was an active travel route during the Revolutionary War and Civil War, one that he had seen in old maps. Today, that causeway is not visible through the marsh. The LiDAR also reveals the footprint of an extant Confederate battery that is documented in historic maps, records, and paintings.

“In a rapidly growing region, time is of the essence. The research we conduct through reviewing historical documents and modern technology enables us to narrow the areas that we ground truth, saves precious time and helps us protect battle sites before they are inadvertently lost to other uses. Additionally, we use what we’ve learned to share battle stories with visitors to the site,” he notes.

Since acquiring 5 parcels in the footprint of the battle of Stono Ferry, SCBPT has been working with American Battlefield Trust to design and develop trails and interpretive signage for Stono Ferry. The site will join other properties statewide, on The Liberty Trail.

Stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram pages to be the first to know when the site is officially opened.

Remembering the Many

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 18:44:50 GMT

A salute to the troops of America’s first decisive victory against land and sea forces

from Rick Wise, Interim Executive Director / CEO, Military Historian

By 9:00 PM on 28 June 1776, it was over. The rotten egg smell of gunpowder wafted across the water of Charles Town harbor, and permeated Fort Sullivan and the surrounding marshes. Colonel William “Danger” Thomson’s troops and the waters of Breech Inlet had held off any attempt by the British infantry to cross from Long Island (Isle of Palms). In the summer twilight, looking across the harbor, it finally became clear to those anxiously waiting in Charles Town that the little palmetto log fort had held. The spongy logs and sand miraculously deflected and absorbed the shot and shell directed at them by the British fleet.

Those mighty ships now limped back to the anchorage at Five-Fathom Hole with splintered rails, decks, and masts. Rigging hung in strips of canvas, frayed ropes, and dangling spars. The dead and wounded sailors were evidence of the accuracy of the cannon fire from the fort. With resounding huzzahs, the soldiers in the fort announced their glorious victory. As their voices echoed across the water, their celebration also marked the first significant victory for the fledgling United States of America in its war with Britain.

Today we revel in the glory of that first, critical victory of the War for Independence. But to accomplish that feat against the strongest country in the world at that time says something about the men who made it happen. Soldiers and sailors, artillerymen, and infantry acting as artillerymen, did their duty and achieved victory that day. But really the full story is overlooked. The combined efforts that made that day possible are all melded into the events of a just few hours of battle. Though we focus our vision on the battles and engagements that happen, it's every day soldiering that win them.

To understand the scope of Carolina Day, is to understand the months’ worth of work by the men, free and enslaved, that made the triumph happen. Starting in January 1776 when the decision was made to make Sullivan’s Island a point of Charles Town’s defense, the task to fortify it began. Troops and enslaved workers were sent to Sullivan’s Island. There was a morass vicinity where the fort was being built with hard labor, with none of the amenities of Charles Town that tempted them across the water. Their days were made of work details to build the fort that Captain Peter Horry described as 500 feet long and 16 feet wide, with sand packed in between. There were countless hours of rafting palmetto logs to the site, the laborious efforts to put them in place, chink the gaps between the logs with sand, build gun platforms, and then mount the heavy guns. Sweat. Heat. Mosquitoes. Fatigue. Humidity. Discipline. Grog. Complaining. All of these, the drudgery that soldiers have endured since the beginning of time.

From March til June those tasks at the fort were mostly same, day in and day out. Sullivan’s Island was no garden spot. Major Francis Marion ordered that the oak trees not be cut, so that the men could have some shade. Building and defending the palmetto log fort with the blue flag with a crescent in the corner flying from its incomplete ramparts, were soldiers of the Second South Carolina Regiment, supported by some men of the Fourth Regiment (Artillery), enslaved workers, and the guidance of officers and engineers. Tedious work, interlaced with drills for quick defense. Another work detail, then training from the artillerymen of the Fourth Regiment on how to work the guns. Training infantrymen to be gunners. Drill on how to repel an enemy landing. Another work detail.

On the north end of the island, Colonel “Danger” Thomson’s men of the Third Regiment did the same, as did the others around the harbor. The British arrived on 2 June, and the work was more strident. Inspections were not promising. The fort not ready, “a slaughter pen,” according to General Charles Lee. But Colonel William Moultrie promised a stout defense by his soldiers. Lee was about to relieve Moultrie and put a more energetic commander in place, but that same morning the British ships sailed into position, and the fight was on. And those haggard soldiers in the little palmetto log fort prevailed.

We all know of the men whose names became famous for their exploits that day, and for their other actions during the war. Names like Moultrie, Marion, Horry, and Jasper. They were with the 435 men who defended that small fortification that most experts expected to be shot to pieces by the British broadsides. We remember those few. I encourage you to remember the many. They are those who remain anonymous in history, except for their appearance on rosters 248 years later. It was their soldiering in desperate times, it was they who endured the hardships necessary when their country in its infancy needed them most. They are the ones who won the battle with duty and sweat, defended the shores at Breech Inlet, and made the indefensible fort hold out against the strongest navy in the world. Their spirits are still with us on Carolina Day. And their spirits are still with those in uniform who anonymously defend our great nation today.

Loss of A Leader, Patriot, and Legend

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 12:19:38 GMT

We mourn the passing of Historian Charles Baxley

from Rick Wise, Interim Executive Director / CEO, Military Historian

The Revolutionary War community in South Carolina sustained a major loss with the passing of Charles B. Baxley of Lugoff, SC on March 30, 2024. Charles was a legend through his steadfast efforts to research and tell the story of South Carolina’s role in the American Revolution, and to help others do so as well.

He was a noted attorney for forty-five years who worked with the educational efforts in his community and the Boy Scouts of America. He was a devoted family man. Charles was appointed by Governor Henry McMaster to be the Commissioner of the South Carolina 250 ^th (Sestercentennial) Commission in 2018. That choice was as obvious in its logic as was the RW 1 license tag on his SUV. Charles was the man with the vision to bring those together to best tell the story of this state’s role to win independence to the people of South Carolina and worldwide, at the places where it all happened. His vision was not just the honoring of those who played such a vital part here from 1775-1782 on the 250 ^th anniversary of those events, but to build a fifty-year infrastructure that will be here for future generations to use for their education and enjoyment.

He and David Reuwer had a vision of bringing people interested in the history of the Rev War together to research, share, learn, and tell the stories about the Southern Campaigns of the American Revolution (SCAR) (https://www.southern-campaigns.org/). Through active fellowship, research, and field trips, Charles led himself and others to discover those lost bits of history that we are now seeing presented across our state today. Doug Bostick played a key role in taking that knowledge to help these efforts that are now being developed into The Liberty Trail.

We are greatly saddened by the loss of such a great leader and Patriot. Our lives were enriched by his presence, and our history by his foresight and diligence. Charles, we will miss you, but will feel your presence on those battlefields and sites across South Carolina which will always bear your spirit.

HUZZAH!!

Marion Square Rev War History Comes to Life In New Installation

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 14:12:29 GMT

Governor McMaster, state and local leaders celebrate newest addition to The Liberty Trail

Charleston, S.C. – February 1, 2024 – The Liberty Trail today unveiled a series of interpretive markers outlining the historic footprint of an archaeological and historical treasure in Charleston’s popular Marion Square. The 32 bronze plates follow the path of the Revolutionary War Horn Work, each marker sharing a part of the story of this large fortification built in 1758 to defend the state’s oldest port city.

“Today’s celebration honors the craftsmen who constructed this intimidating fortification and the Patriots who defended Charleston from the British,” commented Rick Wise, interim executive director and CEO, South Carolina Battleground Trust. “Just as we are grateful for those stalwart hearts of nearly 250 years ago, we are immensely thankful for the many partners who helped document this incredible historic resource and contributed to its interpretation.”

Constructed of tabby, a mixture of shells, sand and lime, the Horn Work was a massive fortification spanning almost three city blocks. The structure and its surrounding ditch, or moat, occupied a space measuring approximately six to eight acres. The tabby walls, which extended to the east and west of the city gate that entered on King Street, measured between six and seven hundred feet across. The elevation of the front (north) wall was about 24-feet high. A small remnant of the Horn Work has long remained visible in Marion Square, intriguing generations of visitors, but the exact location of the underground foundation traces was only discovered by the project using ground-penetrating radar in 2020.

Speaking at today’s ceremony Governor Henry McMaster reflected on the state’s Revolutionary War history and the significance of this site. “Through the Liberty Trail and other historic preservation initiatives throughout the state, we better tell the history of South Carolina and give those who bravely fought for our freedom the recognition they deserve," said Governor Henry McMaster. "As we approach our nation's 250th anniversary, let us continue to tell our story and take pride in being a South Carolinian.”

Pinpointing and interpreting the Horn Work location took the combined effort of many experts and the cooperation of many entities. Nic Butler with the Charleston County Public Library and author and Charleston County Museum Director Carl Borick provided ample research. The Board of Field Officers of Fourth Brigade, which owns Marion Square, Clemson University, College of Charleston, the City of Charleston, Charleston County Public Library, Charleston Museum, and the South Carolina Institute of Archeology and Anthropology were all invaluable with their assistance.

“I believe that it speaks volumes about the rich and complex history of Charleston that as we enter what I intend to be a new era of smart growth for this city, we continue to make historical discoveries that inform our past and thus our future,” said Charleston Mayor William Cogswell. “It is important to honor history, to learn from history so that we can continue to prosper in ways the brave soldiers who died here never could have dreamed. That is their legacy. This is how we honor them. And this is how we serve the citizens of this fine city.”

The Marion Square markers are the most recent addition to The Liberty Trail, an innovative driving route and heritage tourism initiative designed to connect key Revolutionary War battlefields throughout South Carolina. David Duncan, president of the American Battlefield Trust, noted that ultimately this work will yield a gateway experience for The Liberty Trail. “Visitors to Charleston are steeped in the city’s historic fabric,” he said. “When they experience this piece of the Liberty Trail, we invite them to continue their journey through time by venturing out to the South Carolina battlefields on which the question of American

independence was decided.”

The Liberty Trail will expand the interpretive experience in Marion Square later this year through the use of augmented reality (AR). Visitors will be able to see a digital recreation of the Horn Work and events that took place there nearly 250 years ago.

For more information on The Liberty Trail initiative, including historic background and a list of those sites that are part of the Initial Phase of the project, visit www.thelibertytrail.org or download The Liberty Trail Mobile Tour app from the Apple Store or Google Play. As The Liberty Trail takes shape, partners, friends and history enthusiasts are invited to follow its progress on social media using the hashtag #TheLibertyTrail.

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Media Contact

Jennifer Howard

jen@stewardterra.com

843.709.4192

Revolutionary War “Gaol” Site Acquired for Permanent Protection

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 14:39:30 GMT

Battle of Hobkirk Hill property housed Andrew Jackson

Camden, S.C. – January 18, 2024 – The Liberty Trail , a joint project of American Battlefield Trust and South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust , today announced the purchase and permanent protection of an intriguing and significant property in the footprint of the Revolutionary War Battle of Hobkirk Hill. Referred to as the “Gaol” property, it was the site of the first jail, built in 1771 in Camden by order of the South Carolina Commons House of Assembly. During the Battle of Hobkirk Hill, future president Andrew Jackson and his brother were held prisoner there. Legend holds that the Jackson boys bore a hole in the wooden wall to watch the Battle of Hobkirk Hill from their jail cell. The property was also the location of the north redoubt of the British fortification in Camden. When the British evacuated Camden, they burned the wooden jailhouse.

“Over the past several years, the significance of the battles in and around Camden have garnered international attention,” commented Rick Wise, interim executive director and CEO, South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust. “This particular acquisition was not only significant to the battle, but also it holds an intriguing story that helps history truly come to life for site visitors. We’re grateful for the support of our partners in this project: Kershaw County, City of Camden, South Carolina Conservation Bank, American Battlefield Protection Program of the National Park Service, the Hobkirk Hill Society, Kershaw County Historical Society, and the Hobkirk Hill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.”

After the March 1781 Battle of Guilford Courthouse, Major General Nathanael Greene “determined to carry the war immediately into South Carolina.” The British control of the interior of South Carolina depended on their major posts in towns like Camden, Georgetown, Ninety Six, and numerous intermittent posts. Greene began his march on to Camden on April 7 and arrived on April 20. Green’s well-chosen camp was established on the crest of Hobkirk Hill.

In the ensuing battle on April 25, 1781 the Patriots lost 21 killed, 113 wounded, 47 captured, and 89 missing, suffering significantly less than the British, whose casualties were 39 killed, 210 wounded, and 12 missing, a significant loss the British could not replace. “The conflict was short and seemed once to promise us advantage, but we were obliged to retire…with no material loss. We are now within five miles of Camden and shall closely invest it in a day or two again,” Greene wrote to Francis Marion on April 26. The Battle of Hobkirk Hill was a tactical loss for Greene, but the British chose to abandon their post at Camden on May 10, resulting in a strategic victory for the Patriots.

In 2007, the National Park Service in its Report to Congress on the Historic Preservation of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Sites in the United States ranked the Hobkirk Hill battlefield as a high priority battlefield needing protection.

“South Carolina’s Revolutionary War battlefields are remarkable resources,” said American Battlefield Trust President David Duncan. “Long overshadowed by other historical narratives, their significance to the war’s outcome is at last being understood and appreciated. By acting now to protect them, we ensure that the remain for future generations to enjoy and learn from.”

The purchase of this property was made possible through grants from the National Park Service, South Carolina Conservation Bank, and generous private donors.

“As South Carolina grows and welcomes new residents from around the world, the protection and interpretation of historic sites becomes increasingly important. Once these sites are lost, gone too are the stories they hold,” remarked Raleigh West, executive director, South Carolina Conservation Bank. “The Bank is honored to provide critical funding to protect properties that directly enrich the lives of every South Carolinian.”

The Liberty Trail will install park benches and interpretive signage and open the property to the public. A conservation easement ensuring that no development will ever take place on this site will be held by the Katawba Valley Land Trust.

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Jennifer Howard

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Recently Released Stories Preserve South Carolina History

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 16:13:48 GMT

The Liberty Trail rolls out StoryCorps interviews

COLUMBIA, S.C. – December 6, 2023 – The Liberty Trail today released seven inspiring conversations with people who care deeply about history, preservation and education, bringing history to life and honoring the impacts of those who have come before us as we approach our country’s 250 ^th anniversary. The recordings are permanently housed in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

“In this StoryCorps series, we captured reflections from a diversity of South Carolinians and individuals from across the US,” commented Rick Wise, interim executive director, South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust. “Their accounts of these individuals in the Revolutionary War and their influence on our current lives helps to build connections to this important part of our past.”

Interviews feature conversations between Dr. Tonya Matthews, CEO of the International African American Museum and author John Rees; Raleigh West, Executive Director of the South Carolina Conservation Bank along with Lowcountry conservationist, Charles Lane; historian Brooke Bauer and her cousin, spiritual leader William “Monty” Branham; archaeology colleagues Steve Smith and John Allison; Governor Henry McMaster and former State Senator Vincent Sheheen, the late Doug Bostick of the South Carolina Battleground Trust and Catherine Noyes of the American Battleground Trust; and historian, author, and radio host Walter Edgar and the late Doug Bostick of the South Carolina Battleground, and can be accessed via The Liberty Trail website and American Battlefield Trust’s YouTube channel.

“The Liberty Trail offers us the unique opportunity to bring history to life through multiple means, all in concert. Land preservation, traditional interpretation, digital experiences, and powerful storytelling all work together to enrich our understanding of the past,” commented David Duncan, president, American Battlefield Trust.

The Liberty Trail is a partnership of the South Carolina Battleground Trust and the American Battlefield Trust.

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About The Liberty Trail
The Liberty Trail is a joint effort of the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust and the American Battlefield Trust, assisted by numerous partners at the local, state, and federal levels. The statewide driving tour functions as a one-of-a-kind educational and heritage tourism resource through which key battlefields of the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution will be preserved, interpreted, and promoted. For more information on The Liberty Trail initiative, including historic background and a list of those sites that are part of the Initial Phase of the project, visit www.thelibertytrail.org. As The Liberty Trail takes shape, partners, friends, and history enthusiasts are invited to follow its progress on social media using the hashtag #TheLibertyTrail.

Media Contact

Jennifer Howard

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843.709.4192

Wise Appointed Interim Executive Director of the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 21:19:34 GMT

Camden, S.C. – November 13, 2023 -- The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust (SCBPT) Board of Directors has appointed retired Army officer and South Carolina military historian, Rick Wise, to serve as the organization’s interim executive director. As the founder of Liberty Leadership Team, LLC, Rick has been an integral part of SCBPT’s efforts on The Liberty Trail and preserving history in South Carolina.

“With the passing of CEO Doug Bostick, our organization has lost a charismatic leader and well-respected historian,” commented Steve Osborne, chair, SCBPT Board of Directors. “We’re confident that under Rick’s leadership we will continue the significant momentum of the organization Doug has in place, and the team he built will continue to do great things to preserve the history of our state.”

For the past three years, Rick has supported SCBPT’s battlefield protection and interpretation projects through his efforts interpreting Revolutionary War battles at onsite locations for The Liberty Trail, development of interpretive signage, and conducting tours and presentations to educate the public about events that took place in South Carolina during the Revolutionary War period. He was the chairperson responsible for the Battlefield Honors Ceremony at the Camden Battlefield for the Camden Burials Ceremony in April 2023, that honored the Revolutionary War soldiers of that battle. Rick said, “History is about people, and it is through the generosity and efforts of many today that SCBPT is able to help preserve the locations and memories of those people and events that established our great state and nation of today”.

Prior to his work with SCBPT, he served as a program manager for the South Carolina Troops to Teachers program, assisting over 500 service members and spouses in becoming teachers in South Carolina and nationwide.

Rick retired from the US Army in 2007, after 23 years of service. He is a veteran of Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom and was awarded the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster. Rick and his wife, Paula, are the parents of two grown children, have four grandchildren and are residents of Camden, S.C.

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Doug Bostick's Enduring Legacy

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 17:13:22 GMT

From President Steve Osborne and the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust:

It is with heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of our Chief Executive Officer, Doug Bostick.

Douglas W. Bostick’s accomplishments are varied, lasting and numerous, all to the benefit of the greater good for others and to lifting up of the common weal. He was a native of James Island and an eighth-generation South Carolinian who contributed his efforts to many of our beloved historic sites and institutions; a graduate of the College of Charleston and earned a master's degree from the University of South Carolina; and a former staff and faculty member of the University of South Carolina and the University of Maryland.

Doug was the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the South Carolina Battleground Trust (SCBPT) for more than fourteen years. During his tenure, he saved land at nearly sixty historic battlefields throughout South Carolina, bought and conserved thousands of acres of land for public use, and promoted historic preservation as a real untapped and localized economic development tool. This past year he conceived and spearheaded the significant, international effort to rebury fourteen Continental and British soldiers who fought and died at the Camden Battlefield, 243 years ago.

The Liberty Trail in South Carolina coalesced through Doug’s endless endeavors, stalwart instruction, and friendly collaboration. As it is being executed at local, state and national levels with Doug’s leadership, the product of battlefields and related Revolutionary sites will rival far beyond Massachusetts’ Freedom Trail and road to Lexington and Concord, or even the Civil War battlefields throughout the Shenandoah Valley and other parts of Virginia.

Doug, as a historian, was a talented, non-fiction writer who, in the past three decades authored twenty-six books and hundreds of articles about our state’s heritage. As a preeminent story-teller, he seamlessly wove fun with facts, research with robust radiance, and all the while getting his audience to laugh and think “ah-huh” in the vein of Paul Harvey. His “radio” voice endeared attention. Doug has been called a true “raconteur.” He regularly gave hundreds of public talks and media interviews per each year, as well as continuing to write newspaper and magazine articles.

As a statutory partner in South Carolina’s American Revolution 250 ^th Commission, he led the SCBPT to help implement historic research and heritage tourism infrastructure so that these thirteen years of the 250 ^th have an indelible and lasting impact on the students, citizenry, counties, and economy of our State for the next 100 years and for generations to come after us. Doug’s primary focus was to “save places” from which to educate and celebrate Liberty’s birth narrative of our state and country. Upon these outdoor classrooms, we can discover South Carolina’s significant Revolutionary people, principles and events.

People really liked Doug when they met or heard him. A funny, true example: South Carolina requires a realtor to disclose whether a house has been a murder site. On one of our battlefields, a realtor was reluctant to disclose that a criminal murder was conducted in the modern house decades ago. When the realtor finally and hesitantly disclosed the same, Doug said that it was nothing to worry about because “We are only interested in places where people kill each other,” that is to say, battlefields.

What is also exceptional with Doug was his resourcefulness. In this current age of NGO “bigger barns,” Doug greatly expanded the productivity and reach of this small SCBPT nonprofit on a shoestring budget utilizing grants and volunteers. He demanded the most bang for the buck from his projects and his few independent contractors. However, he was quite persuasive in closing larger contributors with his unique handiwork of little-known stories, humor, patriotism, follow-through, and keen urgency.

Apparently, his mind, pen and tongue knew no idleness. His friends, readers, audiences, and admirers are innumerable.

With mindfulness of his personal integrity, caring and joyful attitude, and performance of his native State duty, we celebrate and remember Doug’s diverse accomplishments and real contributions to the people of South Carolina as a competent, published historian, land conservationist, historic preservationist, and preeminent Carolina storyteller.

Make a Gift in Doug's Memory

You may honor Doug’s legacy by joining SCBPT or making a memorial gift through our website. Select any membership or current project, then at checkout, be sure to note Doug's name in the "In Honor or Memory of" field. You may also mail a check to P.O. Box 80668, Charleston, South Carolina, 29416-0668.

“I have finished a monument more lasting than bronze and loftier than the pyramids reared by kings, that neither corroding rain nor the uncontrolled north wind can dash apart, nor the countless succession of years and the flight of ages. I shall not wholly die; that great part of me shall escape Death and ever shall I grow, still fresh in the praise of posterity.” —Horace

Laurens County Revolutionary War Battlefield Permanently Protected, Added to The Liberty Trail

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 15:41:09 GMT

The Hammond’s Store Battlefield most recent addition to statewide driving tour

CHARLESTON, S.C. – August 3, 2023 –The South Carolina Battleground Trust today announced the acquisition of the Hammond’s Store Battlefield near Clinton in Laurens County, South Carolina. These 30 acres associated with the December 30, 1780, engagement will be incorporated into The Liberty Trail initiative, augmented with trails and interpretation to tell the story of the Revolutionary War in South Carolina. The Liberty Trail, a partnership of the South Carolina Battleground Trust and the American Battlefield Trust, is a driving trail of Revolutionary War battlefields throughout South Carolina.

“During the time between the well-known battles of Camden and Cowpens, battles and skirmishes waged on in South Carolina’s backcountry pitting neighbor against neighbor as Patriots and Loyalists both sought to gain ground,” commented Doug Bostick, CEO, South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust. “The Battle of Hammond’s Store was a victory that resulted in no loss of life for the Patriots and laid the foundation was an important precursor to the Battle of Cowpens.”

In December 1780, Patriot Brigadier General Daniel Morgan camped on the Pacolet River where he received intelligence that Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Waters had assembled Loyalist troops at Fair Forest. These Loyalists were attacking settlements of Patriot families between the backcountry villages of Winnsborough and Ninety Six. Morgan dispatched Lieutenant Colonel William Washington’s dragoons and mounted militia to harass and antagonize the Loyalists. Waters fell back 40 miles when he learned of Washington's advance. Washington pursued Walters for many miles behind enemy lines until, on December 30, Washington's Continental Light dragoons and 200 South Carolina mounted state troops overtook the 250-person Loyalist militia unit under Waters along the road leading to Hammond’s Store, only 25 miles from the British post at Ninety Six.

After placing militia riflemen on his flanks, Washington’s cavalry directly charged down, across the stream, the headwaters of the Bush River, and up the slope. Thomas Young, a Patriot with Washington, wrote, “When we came in sight, we perceived that the Tories had formed in a line on the brow of the hill opposite to us. We had a long hill to descend and another to rise. Col. Washington and his dragoons gave a shout, drew swords, and charged down the hill like madmen. The Tories flew in every direction without firing a gun. We took great many prisoners and killed a few.” The Loyalist losses were more than 100 men killed or injured beyond recovery. The Patriots took 40 prisoners and captured 50 horses, without loss.

The next day, Washington detached the Little River Regiment mounted troops under Colonel Joseph Hayes and a small Continental Light Dragoons detachment under Cornet James Simons to flush out Loyalist Brigadier General Robert Cunningham and Major Patrick Cunningham occupying Williams' fort, a wooden palisaded farmhouse. Cunningham’s men chose to abandon the fort and slipped away deep inside British controlled territory. Washington’s men returned to Morgan's camp and engaged in the Battle of Cowpens on January 17.

“The Battle of Hammond’s Store expands the narrative of The Liberty Trail by shedding light on the conflicts in the South Carolina backcountry,” commented David Duncan, president, American Battlefield Trust. “We look forward to adding this location to the growing number of publicly accessible, interpreted sites along the trail.”

Two archaeological studies of the battlefield site have been completed and a more intensive study is now underway. “The colonial roadbed has been located,” added Bostick. “Over the coming year, we anticipate completing trails and interpretive signage for battlefield visitors.”

The acquisition of the Hammond’s Store Battlefield was made possible by a grant from the South Carolina Conservation Bank, the South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission, and the Laurens County 250 ^th Commission.

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Jennifer Howard

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Weekend of Honors Commences with Release of Initial Profiles

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 16:00:06 GMT

Camden Revolutionary War Soldiers to be reinterred this weekend

CAMDEN, S.C. – April 20, 2023 -- The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust (SCBPT) today launched three days of ceremonies to honor and reinter the remains of Revolutionary War soldiers excavated on the Camden Battlefield in Fall, 2022; and released the initial findings of biological profiles of the fourteen soldiers.

“Honoring these heroes in a respectful manner and ensuring the permanent protection of their remains continues to be the mission of this effort,” commented Doug Bostick, CEO, South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust. “Today, they begin their final journey to Camden where they will be honored and then permanently re-interred.” A full schedule of the weekend’s ceremonies and events can be found on the Camden Burials website .

Since early November 2022, the Richland County Coroner’s office has been carefully working to prepare the remains for permanent burial and to collect information on the soldiers’ biological sex, age-at-death, stature, cause of death, and burial positions. Previous field work and artifacts recovered during the 2022 excavations indicated that remains were those of twelve Continental soldiers of the Maryland and Delaware regiments, one British Loyalist of a North Carolina regiment, and one Scottish Highlander 71 ^st regiment.

“The Camden Burials project is a kind of humanitarian recovery, preventing these individuals from being further damaged from the field to the lab, to the burial reinterment with respect. That's a full circle,” commented Dr. Bill Stevens, deputy coroner, Richland County Coroner’s office. “The biological anthropologists in our office have worked months to x-ray, clean, visually examine and re-assemble the remains.”

The initial findings revealed that five of the soldiers were teenagers. This discovery says quite a bit about the composition of the Continental Lines from Maryland as they made their way with Baron de Kalb to engage in the Southern Campaigns. The oldest was estimated to be 40 – 50 years old. They ranged in stature from five feet two inches to more than six feet tall, with many being in the range of five feet, seven inches. While not all of the soldiers revealed evidence of traumatic injury, others were uncovered with clear evidence of battle injuries from musket balls and buck shot. The Scottish Highlander was the only soldier who appears to have been carefully laid to rest, face up with arms crossed. Others were found to be face down or overlaying each other.

The Loyalist militiaman may be of Native American ancestry as evidenced by the shovel shape of his upper incisors. The Camden Burials team has been working closely with the Catawba Nation to ensure proper handling of these remains. This individual will be honored in a private ceremony with the Catawba Nation and the Lumbee Tribe and is not a part of this weekend’s ceremonies.

The Camden Burials project has been of interest to descendants of soldiers hoping to learn more about their own family tree. “We're developing a partnership with genetic genealogists to sample DNA from bones and teeth that could be put into a database,” commented Bostick. “We look forward to sharing additional details if or when we are able to move forward with that effort.”

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British Embassy Attendance and Involvement at the Camden Burial Funeral and Burial

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 19:40:54 GMT

In a remarkable effort to ensure each soldier receives the highest of military honors and support, there will be a British presence during the funeral procession and burial ceremony.

Of the fourteen soldiers’ remains recovered at the Camden Battlefield site, there were twelve patriots, one Loyalist, and one soldier with the British 71 ^st Regiment of Foot, Fraser’s Highlanders. In a remarkable effort to ensure each soldier receives the highest of military honors and support, there will be a British presence during the funeral procession and burial ceremony.

Claire Bates, Chief of UK Defense Communications for the British Embassy in the United States, first heard about the Camden Burials project from her colleague who was speaking with contacts in South Carolina. Bates recalls her colleague approaching her with the story, being fascinated and convinced it was something the embassy should support. Bates could not agree more.

While burying Revolutionary War soldiers is certainly a first, Bates shares that being active in the States is not unusual for them, “We attend lots of military exercises and ceremonial events. Wherever we can we turn up in uniform and support our American colleagues we do because it is very important for us to be seen doing what we do together. The UK is the number one ally of the US. I don’t think anyone would argue with that.” Bates continues, “We are always happy to support anything that represents our relationship to its finest. This is a really perfect way of illustrating that.”

Bates further explained that having a British presence at the Camden Burials is symbolic of the transformation of the UK and US relationship since the 18 ^th century. The two countries have migrated from enemies to the closest friends, a change that should be recognized and celebrated. Bates shares that while the relationship between the US and UK is important and should be supported, when possible, the attendance of British soldiers at the events comes from a deeper motivation.

“More importantly than the relationship, it is a soldier who deserves the respect and dignity of a proper burial and that doesn’t matter really if they’re French, German, American, or British. It just so happens that this person is British, and we are there to support,” Bates explains. “Rather it is about giving respect and dignity to someone who fought passionately for a cause they believed in. It’s not really about whose side they were on. It’s just about doing the right thing.”

Furthermore, one of the military attaches at the embassy, Colonel Alcuin Johnson, has direct links to the regiment that the recovered Highland soldier belonged to, and feels passionately that he should be in attendance.

“Remembering our fallen is a fundamental part of life in the military, regardless of when the conflict may have taken place,” Colonel Alcuin shares, “I feel humbled to be able to represent both the British Defense Staff in the United States and the British Army at this important ceremony. It is an honor and a privilege.”

In addition to Colonel Alcuin, the embassy is also sending British soldiers to be pall bearers for the Highlander being buried. A detail from the 2 ^nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland will be part of the official ceremonies. There is no shortage of military members interested in being a part of such an importantly historical event.

Historic Caissons Carry Soldiers home

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 13:43:39 GMT

These patriots will move heaven and earth to bury these guys.

The week leading up to the events for the Camden Burials, volunteers from Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, and even as far as Ohio, will be traveling to the town of Camden to lend their time, experience, and resources to properly honor and lay to rest the fourteen soldiers’ remains. While it is an effort that does not go unnoticed, these volunteers are not doing it for the glory, they are doing it for the original veterans of this country and because they believe it is the right thing to do.

Steve Riggs, a seventy-one-year-old veteran himself, is overseeing the coordination of the funeral cortege and the horse-drawn caissons carrying the fourteen soldiers’ remains to the funeral service. Rigg’s recalls when he was contacted about assisting with the funeral procession that there was not one moment of hesitation.

“It’s something that must be done. I have made this commitment. This is not a reenactment; these are fourteen real men. We are burying twelve American soldiers, two British who have been missing in action for 233 years. We are bringing them home.” Riggs continues solemnly, “And I don’t want them to be lost for another two hundred years. We are burying war dead. These are guys who died to give us our freedom. I served to keep our freedom. These guys gave it to us.”

Riggs has been volunteering his time and resources for the past thirty years performing funeral processions with horse drawn caissons- something that exists in roughly five places around the country. Riggs has helped bury the crews from the Hunley, General Pulaski in Savannah, Strom Thurmond, and Captain Kimberly Hampton (the first female pilot in the United States military to be killed in action) to name a few of the many ceremonies he has contributed towards.

However, in all the years of experience this is a first for Riggs finding himself with the honor to organize a military funeral cortege for the first veterans of our country. He has called upon people from all over, past buddies of his he has met over the course of years doing war re-enactments and through his contacts volunteering with the South Carolina National Guard to conduct funerals for those in the military and public service.

One of these friends is Paul Rice, a Civil War re-enactor, Rice is coming down from Roanoke, Virginia with a group of about fifteen volunteers, two limbers, two caissons, six harnesses, and at least eight horses. Rice’s contribution is one of a few others that will make the military caisson funeral procession possible.

There will be four groups total in the procession, three pulling the twelve American soldiers and one pulling the two British soldiers. Those pulling the American soldiers will don 1924 US army mounted artillery uniforms and those pulling the British will wear World War I British uniforms. There are six horses to a group, each row has one rider and one riderless horse. The horses pull a limber behind them which in turn pulls the caisson that the soldiers’ coffins will lay atop. In the case of the two British, they will be carried atop a gun carriage.

Riggs explained that the British do not use caissons in their military funerals and that the tradition began by soldiers placing their wounded on the caissons during battle for transport off the field. In each group there will be a seventh horse untethered with a rider that leads the group, known as the chief of caisson or chief of peace, respective to the caisson or gun carriage.

While Riggs and Rice both have experience using a caisson in re-enactments, Riggs hopes that everyone present for the funeral procession does not forget that these are soldiers who were once alive and breathing and now are being laid to rest. He also recognizes the feat of pulling off a funeral cortege with horse-drawn caissons of this magnitude is not something he could do alone.

“I am heading up the program, but I can’t do it, really, without all my friends. They’re the heroes. They’re the guys who are coming to help me do this because it means something to them,” Riggs shares, “To me that’s the story: across America the word went out that we had fourteen Revolutionary soldiers who died for their country that need to be reburied. Who will come help us? And these guys all raised their hands. These patriots will move heaven and earth to bury these guys. That to me is the miracle.”

Over two hundred and thirty years later veterans and patriots alike are coming together to bring these men home, so that they may finally find a place for their souls to rest.

Camden Coffin Craftsmen

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 20:53:17 GMT

No stone has been left unturned throughout the process of excavating, analyzing, and planning for the ceremony set to honor these soldiers in April–including their coffins. Meet the men behind the coffins.

The sound of the saw cutting through wood with the smell of sawdust clinging to the air, while not too far away the steady pound of a hammer against metal reverberates off the walls of the workshop. These sounds and smells surpass time spanning over centuries of woodworkers and blacksmiths, building and forging creations for both the living and the parted.

The remains of the fourteen soldiers archaeologically recovered from the Camden Battlefield will be laid to rest with the utmost honor and respect. No stone has been left unturned throughout the process of excavating, analyzing, and planning for the ceremony set to honor these soldiers in April – including their coffins.

Coffins, handcrafted in an eighteenth-century design is one of many paramount details made possible by volunteers and staff working on the Camden Burials project. Fortunately, both a woodworker and blacksmith living in Camden agreed to offer their talents in memorializing these soldiers.

Philip Hultgren agreed to lend his woodworking expertise to build the coffins while Dr. Jack Hurley, a self-taught blacksmith, has forged each nail by hand in the on-display workshop at the Historic Camden Foundation. Both men have worked on projects with the Historic Camden Foundation previously, but this project is one that is considered not only worthwhile to them, but also an emotional process.

Hultgren was first introduced to woodworking when he was eleven. He spent many days with his grandfather, a Swedish immigrant, scouring the forest for pieces of wood to take back to the house and craft in the basement.

“My grandfather taught me important things, of sharpness and of looking, not so much following directions, but of looking at it,” Hultgren explained. “He gave me three gifts: an appreciation of what you can do with wood, the beauty of wood, and that I can make anything I see in my mind’s eye.”

Prior to pursuing woodworking as his main profession, Hultgren received a master’s degree in theology and worked as an ordained minister in two parishes. It was when he lived in St. Croix and found himself surrounded by mahogany trees knocked down during Hurricane Hugo, that his woodworking passion was reignited. Hultgren says his background in ministry has influenced his work today, by offering him a perspective to see things as larger than himself. Creating artistic pieces out of wood is a way for him to offer his gifts to others. This project has been no different.

Currently residing in Camden, it was a bit of a fluke that Hultgren began working with the Historic Camden Foundation. While recovering from an emergency eye surgery in 2019, Hultgren found himself with time on his hands to research woodworking techniques. During one of these days of recovery, he came across a water-powered sash sawmill online. Further investigation found that these sawmills were prominent in the eighteenth century with two having once existed in Camden.

Excited, Hultgren contacted Historic Camden Foundation with hopes of creating a replica for the organization to display as a new exhibit. Soon he found himself lending his skills to build other structures on the property. When approached with the proposition to build coffins for the Camden Burials project, Hultgren agreed without hesitation.

Hultgren crafted these coffins with precision and care, by ensuring the coffins are authentic to what one would have looked like in the eighteenth-century. The decision to build coffins instead of caskets is one element of authentication. Hultgren explained that caskets have four corners, while coffins have six. The coffins he has built are slightly smaller than a modern-day style, measuring out to five feet and six inches, adjusting for the fact people averaged much shorter in those days.

“In making the coffins I left them purposefully, let’s call it homespun, so they’re not perfect. The joints are all very, very close, but I did not sand them down to a super fine finish and put on coats of polyurethane to make them shine,” Hultgren describes his decisions on how he finished the coffins with only linseed oil, accurate to how it would have been in the 1700’s. “I wanted them to look like they were fashioned by someone who cared and who was a hands-on kind of person. The workmanship of risk rather than the workmanship of certainty. They’re not perfect, but they look really good, and they have that sense of this is real, this is what a family would do.”

Further adding to the authenticity is the wood Hultgren chose for the coffin. “That’s another long story”, Hultgren said with a smile in his tone. The coffins are constructed of wood from longleaf pine trees. The wood was upcycled from the Burns Hardware store in Camden. The store was first opened in 1898 by the grandfather of the current owner Jim Burns. When the shop was built, local pine was used to construct cabinets, shelves, drawers, and tables in the store. Burns reached out to Hultgren before selling the building asking him to salvage what he could of the pine, hating to think it would become scrap in future development of the store. Hultgren happily obliged and left with roughly 2500 feet of boards.

Hultgren still had much of this wood left when contacted about building the coffins. He wagers that based on the rings in the wood (about 20 rings per inch of wood) that the pines were slow growing and between two and three hundred years old when cut down. The Battle of Camden occurred in a longleaf pine forest and Hultgren believes that the pine he used in the coffins was alive and growing not far from that battlefield. A full circle moment, the pine trees that existed during the Camden battle will now serve as the vessels for the same soldiers who fought and died on those grounds, hundreds of years later. In this way, the environment and soldiers will be memorialized together in this connection of history, land, and people.

For Dr. Jack Hurley, a former history professor at the University of Memphis, this project brought a tangible connection between his background in academics and blacksmithing. He initially became interested in blacksmith work when his academic interest in folklore led him to seek physical representations of it. During his quest to learn more about folklore, Hurley spent much time in the Ozarks where he met a man running a self-sufficient homestead with a deep knowledge of the blacksmith practice. Through this individual Hurley first began learning the trade.

Hurley has been practicing blacksmithing since 1972, but it wasn’t until his retirement in 2004 that the passion took over full time. Now settled in Camden, Hurley volunteers two to three times a week at Historic Camden Foundation. He works in the blacksmith workshop, where many of the tools have been donated by him, on various projects for the foundation.

It was in this workshop that Hurley forged the nails for the coffins. The coffin boards are one inch thick, requiring each nail to be two inches long which Hurley explained is nearly four times as difficult to make as a standard 1-inch nail. The steel used for the nails is modern mill steel, the iron used in the eighteenth-century being difficult to acquire, explained Hurley, however the forging techniques used are authentic to the period. To fit with the authenticity of the period the head of each nail has four tapered corners, in contrast to a standard wire cut nail that has a rounded head. It takes about 100 blows from Hurley’s 4-pound hammer to create each nail. He averages about 30-35 nails a day, with each coffin needing 30 nails.

“Quite the physical labor for an eighty-two-year-old,” chuckled Hurley. Despite the physical demands to create these nails special to the project, it was a challenge Hurley took eagerly. He has had some assistance from Rick Thompson, another local interested in blacksmith work who helps in the shop when he can.

Between the expertise and physical labor required to materialize the vision for the coffins, it has been a project of worth and an emotional process. When asked what working on this project has meant to Hultgren, he took a breath.

After a brief period of thought he responded slightly choked up, “It’s been a lot of emotion. You think about how these remains are from people, real, honest to goodness people, who didn’t hesitate to give their lives. Here they are after they’ve fallen doing what they felt was the right thing to do- for everybody not just themselves. And to honor them by giving them a proper burial is like wow, this is really, very emotional.” After a brief pause Hultgren continued, “These guys died before their time and before their life was fully lived. They didn’t have a chance but gave that chance to so many others. But to be grateful to them for that and do what little bit I can to express that appreciation and gratitude. That’s what it means.”

These men were left on the battlefield having given their lives for a cause they all strongly believed in and now with the help of Hultgren and Hurley they will be given the honorable funeral and military burial they deserved over 200 years ago, so that they may finally rest easy.

Camden Battlefield Revolutionary War Soldiers to be honored, reinterred

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 17:17:47 GMT

April 20 - 22, 2023 events offer opportunities to pay respects

CAMDEN, S.C. – March 10, 2023 -- The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust today released the schedule of events for the Camden Burials, April 20–22, 2023 for the reinterment of the remains of fourteen Revolutionary War soldiers excavated in the Fall of 2022.

“Honoring these heroes in a respectful manner and ensuring the permanent protection of their remains is the mission of this effort,” commented Doug Bostick, CEO, South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust. “Over a period of three days, the public will have numerous opportunities to participate in the ceremonies and pay their respects.”

The weekend of events begins on Thursday, April 20, as the remains of the fourteen Revolutionary War soldiers will be escorted back to Camden. The public is invited to honor these soldiers by assembling on the procession route.

The procession will pass through Main Street in Columbia to the State Capital on Gervais Street. After a brief pause, it will continue to Fort Jackson where current Army members will be waiting to pay respects. Past Fort Jackson the cortege will pass by each public school between Fort Jackson and Camden, including the Camden Military Academy. The final stop will be at the Historic Camden campus.

The remains of the soldiers will lie in repose at the Kershaw Cornwallis House. The public is invited to pay their respects starting Thursday evening at 6:00 PM through midnight Friday. Thursday evening from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM, the Revolutionary War Visitor Center will host a panel discussion with Dr. Mattie Atwell, James Legg, Dr. Steven Smith, and Dr. Bill Stevens about the project and what the forensic and archaeological study has revealed.

On Friday, April 21, reenactors will be assembled to honor the fourteen soldiers at a living history camp at Historic Camden. From 10 AM to 8 PM the public is invited to visit the camp and interact with the reenactors. On Friday evening, the heralded US Army Old Guard will offer a public concert and a narrated demonstration. The event is free; however, prior registration is required.

Beginning early Saturday morning, April 22, the funeral cortege will leave Historic Camden and make its way to Bethesda Presbyterian Church. The public is invited to watch the cortege along Broad Street and follow the procession to the church. The funeral service will begin at 11:00 AM outdoors at Bethesda Presbyterian Church. At 3:00 PM the Burial Honors Ceremony will commence at the Camden Battlefield. The battlefield ceremony is open to the public, but due to space limitations prior online registration is required.

The Camden Burials Project is the result of a significant historic discovery at the Revolutionary War Camden Battlefield. The Trust, acting on behalf of Historic Camden Foundation , contracted with the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology , University of South Carolina to excavate a number of bodies of Revolutionary War soldiers killed in the August 16, 1780 Battle of Camden. A team of archaeologists from the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, along with biological anthropologists from the Richland County Coroner’s office and the University of South Carolina unearthed the skeletal remains and accompanying artifacts of 14 Revolutionary War soldiers.

“These young men demonstrated their allegiance in an intense battle for liberty. They are truly America’s first veterans,” said Doug Bostick, CEO, South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust. “We have a responsibility to honor their sacrifice by ensuring their remains are protected in perpetuity and their stories of bravery are shared.”

Based on preliminary field examinations, the team believes that twelve individuals are Patriot Continental soldiers from either Maryland or Delaware, one is likely a North Carolina Loyalist, and one served with the British 71 ^st Regiment of Foot, Fraser’s Highlanders.

Bostick continued, “When these young men marched into the darkness on that summer night in 1780, they did so out of love for their country despite the consequences that may befall them. Our intent is to lay them to rest with the respect and honor they earned more than two centuries ago.”

The City of Camden and Kershaw County have partnered closely in the planning for the weekend of events. “The City of Camden is deeply honored to host this once in a lifetime event,” remarked Alfred Mae Drakeford, mayor, Camden. “We very much appreciate all that Doug Bostick and his SCBPT team are undertaking to honor our Revolutionary War heroes in such a moving and respectful manner.”

County Council Chairperson Katie Guinn offered, “It is a privilege to be involved in this historic event. The American Revolution is the founding story of our country, and the Battle of Camden was a pivotal moment in the war. We invite all Kershaw County residents to join us in honoring the service of America’s first soldiers. “

The events of the Camden Burials are free and open to the public, but the public can support these efforts through tax-deductible donations through the website . Interested parties can also register as Patrons and enjoy reserved seating and transportation to and from all the events on Saturday, April 22, as well as seating at a "thank you" dinner theater event on Saturday night.

Check out the Camden Burials website for further information on the events April 20 - 22, and an in-depth look at the project.

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Media contact:

Jennifer Howard

jen@stewardterra.com

843.709.4192

Suzi Sale

ssale@camdensc.org

Media Kit:

Click here

About the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust

The Biological Anthropologists of Richland County Coroner’s Office

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 18:49:11 GMT

Dr. William Stevens, Dr. Madeline Atwell, and Rachel Baker are forensic anthropologists at the Richland County Coroner’s office who have contributed their extensive knowledge on bones to the Camden Burials project. Preferring the label “biological anthropologist,” the team has aided with the recovery of the soldiers’ remains, overseen the final steps in removal from the ground, and coordinated the transportation back to their lab where forensic tests could be run.

Dr. Stevens, deputy coroner at RCCO explained his team’s role as, “a kind of humanitarian recovery salvage, to prevent the soldiers’ from being further damaged from the field to the lab, to the burial reinterment with respect.”

When the team of biological anthropologists at the Richland County Coroner’s office was first approached by the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (SCIAA) to help on the project, Dr. Atwell recalls SCIAA’s sensitivity in framing their request. “How do we get these people safely and kindly and ethically out of the ground?” She says knowing the aim of the project was to apply reverence and honor to the soldiers made it an easy decision to join the effort.

Working alongside the archaeologists on site, Dr. Stevens, Dr. Atwell, and Baker identified each bone that was uncovered and helped the archaeologists strategize where and how to continue digging to avoid damaging the bones.

“It was our job to say, ‘This is a human patella, and if the person’s undisturbed, then this area to the left is where the rest of the leg should be.’ And we would give them an outline of where to start brushing instead of digging, and to be very gentle.” Dr. Atwell explained detailing her and her fellow biological anthropologists’ duties on site, “So in addition to that when we got further down and we started what we call a pedestal, sort of working around to elevate the person on dirt, it was exclusively up to us to remove the individuals as safely and ethically as we could.”

Once the bones were removed from the ground, the coroner’s team transported the remains to their lab with the utmost care for further storage, organization, and analysis. In the lab the team took detailed photos of each bone and then prepared them to be x-rayed.

Baker, a deputy coroner at the Richland County Coroner’s office explained the significance of the X-rays in the process, “We’ve been using the X-rays to pinpoint if there are buttons or any buck shot, anything like that still stuck in the matrix because that will shine brighter than anything else.”

With the technology of the X-rays the anthropologists were able to find clues to how the person may have died, or if there are any artifacts buried within the bones and dirt, without having to further harm the bones. The forensic analysis provides context to how old these soldiers were and how they may have died during the battle.

Once the forensic work at the lab is complete, the RCCO team is then charged with the task of preparing each individual for reinterment through careful organization and arrangement of the remains. Dr. Stevens has a few different ideas of the best way to do this, but ultimately will take everyone involved in the project's wishes and expectations into account.

Dr. Stevens, Dr. Atwell, and Baker all shared similar reflections on their work during the project as having been a huge privilege to contribute the biological information of the soldiers with the hope that it may further the historical understanding and the memory of each one who died during the Camden Battle.

Project leaders Smith and Legg share insiders perspective on Camden Burials

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 17:27:10 GMT

Dr. Steven Smith, a research professor at the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (SCIAA) and James Legg, public archaeologist at SCIAA have worked together on and off for several decades on archaeological digs, specifically at military sites. Now they are working together again on another project, this time one that has required their full attention and efforts for the sake of doing what has needed to be done for over two centuries.

Contracted by Doug Bostick, CEO of South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust, Dr. Smith is the principal investigator on the Camden Burials project with Legg serving as field director. Both familiar with the site prior to the start of the project, Dr. Smith and Legg have worked together conducting field archaeology at the Camden Battlefield site since the early 2000’s. Over the past twenty years they have written two reports on the area, with this project culminating into a third report.

Legg has envisioned this specific project since the early 1980’s when he first became aware of the site and realized there may be burials inches below the surface. He felt that it was important to recover these soldiers’ remains, so that they may be recognized for their sacrifice, and properly honored and reinterned.

However, how well the remains were preserved was uncertain up until three years ago. While the university was closed due to the pandemic Legg found himself coming out to the battlefield almost daily with Dr. Smith accompanying him weekly. In April of 2020 while scouring the field with his metal detector, Legg finally found the reading that confirmed his suspicions from all those years ago.

“That reading was a couple of USA buttons initially, one button that still had enough metal in it to get me a reading.” Legg recollects, “And after I excavated the button, I looked at the hole and I could see that it was deeper than the plow zone. I scraped the bottom of the hole, and sure enough, there was a femur running across the hole.”

From this discovery, Legg has not only witnessed this project come to fruition but also has been an integral part of it while working alongside his longtime colleague Dr. Smith. The project has grown exponentially larger than either of them had anticipated.

“As it developed, the project which was envisioned as a small endeavor by the institute, ended up growing tremendously.” Legg explains, “We ended up with easily four times the number of individuals involved that we had envisioned. Our four-week schedule went to a total of eight-weeks. And our five or six individuals that we had planned to excavate ended up being fourteen individuals in seven different graves.”

Legg initially expected to help with the majority of the excavations but found himself busy instead coordinating the roles of the teams working on the project from the Richland County Coroner’s Office and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Dr. Smith reflected that this is the largest project he and Legg have worked on, and his first-time uncovering remains. While the primary goal has been to recover the individuals and rebury them deeply and honorably, the information they are uncovering about the lives of these Revolutionary soldiers has been unparalleled for Dr. Smith.

He explains that they have determined some of the soldiers were only teenagers. They have also been able to learn about health conditions the soldiers may have had, how they died in combat, as well as the location of where they fell during the battle. It’s given further insight into where the units were on the battlefield and how the battle most likely unfolded. This information has also further humanized these remains, bringing it into the foreground that these were actual people, kids even, fighting not for their lives, but for the country they wholeheartedly believed in.

Legg reflects on the most memorable and moving part of this experience being the small, but solemn ceremony given to each soldier after they were removed from the ground. Once laid in the box for transport, a flag was draped over the remains, and escorted by a veteran to the vehicle for transport. He states that while it was a small gesture, it was moving for all who witnessed it.

This project has deeply touched the hearts of the field archeologists, providing moments of honor and reflection. The recovered soldiers and information gleaned from them is something that both men believe will have a lasting impact on historical records from the American Revolution and the public’s understanding of these first veterans of our country.

“This battle has been overshadowed despite it being one of the largest American Revolution battles in South Carolina. It’s important for people to recognize the sacrifice these soldiers made on both sides and to learn about the past.” Dr. Smith shares, “And it brings a reality to what we’re studying. It’s not as abstract as the past being somewhere back there. Someone famously said, ‘Now this is our country and it’s here and it’s real and it happened.’”

Camden Burials: Honoring Heroes Essay Contest

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 13:39:30 GMT

CAMDEN, S.C. – February 21, 2023 -- The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust is holding an essay contest for 8th to 12th grade students in South Carolina. The winner of the essay will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of the Camden Burials Event, April 20–22, 2023.

In 2022, fourteen veteran’s remains were unearthed at the Camden battlefield. Twelve of the soldiers were from Maryland and Delaware, fighting for the colonies’ liberty; two of the veterans were fighting to preserve the union between king and colony. On April 22, these soldiers will be re-interred on the Camden battlefield. Prior to their reburial, the soldiers will lie in repose Thursday night through Friday midnight at Historic Camden’s Kershaw House. On Saturday morning, a funeral cortege and funeral will take place in Camden. That afternoon, the veterans will be laid to rest on the battlefield with full military honors.

The essay contest is sponsored by Wingshot Design and Steward Terra Communications . The winning essay will explain, in 500–800 words, when thinking about the crushing American defeat and the consequences of that defeat to the American Revolution, why the sacrifices these people made almost 250 years ago still matter to us today. The winning student will receive a stipend to cover food, travel, and lodging to Camden for the two day event. The student will earn the opportunity to take part in the Camden Burials Events weekend. The winner will be expected to greet visitors, escort and assist visitors, and answer general questions. The winning essay will also be posted across all participating partners’ websites. The essay must be submitted by March 3 and the winner will be notified by March 24.

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Camden Revolutionary War Visitor Center:

Rickie Good, Director

Revolutionary War Visitor Center

rgood@camdensc.org

843-272-0076

For more information, please contact :

catharine@historiccamden.org or bevans@camdensc.org

Archeologists, Historians Unearth Remarkable Discovery at Camden Battlefield

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 12:45:27 GMT

Remains of fourteen soldiers excavated on the site of significant Revolutionary War battle

CHARLESTON, S.C. – November 11, 2022 -- The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust today announced a significant historic discovery at the Revolutionary War Camden Battlefield. The Trust, acting on behalf of Historic Camden Foundation , contracted with the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology , University of South Carolina to excavate a number of bodies of Revolutionary War soldiers killed in the August 16, 1780 Battle of Camden. A team of archaeologists from the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, along with biological anthropologists from the Richland County Coroner’s office and the University of South Carolina unearthed the skeletal remains and accompanying artifacts of 14 Revolutionary War soldiers.

These human remains, some discovered less than six inches below the surface in seven separate locations across the battlefield, were located during site research, and were carefully excavated, and removed over an eight-week period beginning in September. “This discovery is particularly significant to the history of our state and nation,” said Dr. Steven D. Smith, research professor, South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology and principal investigator for the project. “This is a rare opportunity to examine and analyze a large sample of Revolutionary War soldiers to get information about their health and diet, age, gender, and compare the forensic data to the historic record.”

Based on preliminary field examinations, the team believes that twelve bodies are Patriot Continental soldiers from either Maryland or Delaware, one is likely a North Carolina Loyalist, and one served with the British 71 ^st Regiment of Foot, Fraser’s Highlanders. SCIAA archeologist James Legg has conducted research on the Camden Battlefield for more than 40 years and led the onsite field team. “People visit battlefields like Camden, Cowpens and Kings Mountain every day and don’t often consider that they are walking in unmarked cemeteries. The dead are still there,” remarked Legg. “The work we are doing honors their sacrifice by shedding light on details that are not yet documented in the historical record and by providing them with decent marked graves for the contemplation of battlefield visitors.”

Forensic anthropologists from the Richland County Coroner’s Office assisted in the final stages of removal, transport to the coroner's office, and will assist in the forensic study of the remains. “The Richland County Coroner’s Office is one of only two coroner’s offices in the state with forensic anthropologists on staff,” commented Dr. Bill Stevens, deputy coroner, director of anthropology, Richland County Coroner’s Office. “Over the next five months, we will gather information to uncover details such as age, race, and potentially the region of their birth, further telling the personal stories of these soldiers.”

In 1780, Camden was the oldest and largest town in the Carolina backcountry. It was strategic to both the British Army, which occupied the town, and the Patriots in the Revolutionary War. Following a series of strategic errors before and during the Battle of Camden, the Patriot army under command of Major General Horatio Gates was soundly defeated. Although the Battle of Camden was disastrous for the American cause, it ushered in changes in military leadership that altered the war’s course. After the battle, Major General Nathanael Greene was promoted to command of the Southern Campaign, and his leadership ultimately led to the evacuation of the British army from Charleston, South Carolina, in December 1782.

Historic Camden Foundation, a non-profit with the mission to protect, educate, and celebrate Camden’s colonial and Revolutionary War history, owns the largest portion of the Camden battlefield. “As property owners, we are the caretakers and stewards of not only the resources we can see above ground, but also to the rich history below ground,” remarked Cary Briggs, executive director, Historic Camden Foundation.

The Liberty Trail, a partnership between the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust and the American Battlefield Trust , owns another recently acquired part of the Camden battlefield. The Liberty Trail has introduced Voices of Camden , an immersive audio play that is an excellent companion to The Liberty Trail app. The Liberty Trail is also writing, designing, and will be installing new interpretive signage on the Camden battlefield.

Planning is underway by SCBPT and Camden area partners for reinterment ceremonies April 20-22, 2023, in Camden. Bostick continued, “When these young men marched into the darkness on that summer night in 1780, they did so out of love for their country despite the consequences that may befall them. Our intent is to lay them to rest with the respect and honor they earned more than two centuries ago.”

###

Media contact:

Jennifer Howard

jen@stewardterra.com

843.709.4192

Media Kit:

Click here

About the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust

News from the SC Battleground Trust

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Archeologists, Historians Unearth Remarkable Discovery at Camden Battlefield

Remains of fourteen soldiers excavated on the site of significant Revolutionary War battle

Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams meet at Jefferson's lodgings, on the corner of Seventh and High (Market) streets in Philadelphia, to review a draft of the Declaration of Independence.
Courtesy of the Library of Congress.