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(11-2006)
Ashley River from Fort Johnson
Richard Edling |
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(11-2006) Fort Johnson
(1704-1865), James Island
Originally built as a moated and palisaded triangular work with three
bastions and a detached water battery on Windmill Point. Rebuilt in 1759.
Occupied by Patriot forces 1775-1780. Reported destroyed or in ruin in
1779. A new fort was built in 1794 just to the rear of the old work,
repaired in 1799. A storm in 1800 breached the walls. It was completely
rebuilt again in 1809 as a 16-gun quadrilateral brick and wood work, but
was almost destroyed again by a storm in 1813. Virtually abandoned after
1820. A Martello Tower (1815) was also located here, but only ruins remain
(?). Confederate troops occupied the site in December 1860, rebuilding and
rearming the fort with 26 guns. Only traces of CSA earthworks and the old
stone powder house (1709, rebuilt 1810) still remain. The entire site is
now the home of the South Carolina Marine Resources Research Institute
Richard Edling photo
Narrative courtesy of
S.C.
Marine Resources Research Institute |
