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CELEBRATING 250 YEARS
Honoring South Carolina’s Revolutionary War history
Story by MARILYN JONES
Wars have shaped our nation, and the stories of the individuals who lived through those transformative times make the challenges, losses and victories of these historic events real. Consider South Carolina, where Dr. Uzal Johnson of the New Jersey Volunteers cared for the wounded and dying, fighting as a loyalist for the British. Johnson spent time in the Lowcountry during the spring of 1780, documenting his journey in a diary. His account of events help tell the story today. He witnessed skirmishes at Fort Balfour, Saltketcher’s Bridge, McPherson’s Plantation and the Battle of Coosawhatchie.
Today, the doctor’s footsteps can be followed through The Liberty Trail that traces the battlefields and Revolutionary War sites across the state. The trail connects 30 national parks, South Carolina state parks and local sites. Not only does it inspire preservation of these sites, the trail also provides visitors with a unique perspective. Displays of excerpts from Johnson’s journal help tell the story.
A Place In History
The events of 1776-1783 directly led to America’s freedom. Battles in South Carolina accounted for nearly one-fifth of the deaths and one-third of the wounds suffered in the war. On Sept. 3, 1783 — 240 years ago — Great Britain formally recognized the independence of the United
States in the Treaty of Paris, ending the nine-year Revolutionary War.
Though the 250th anniversary of that historic treaty is still a decade away, planning for celebrations and commemorations in several Lowcountry counties is underway, with different events slated to mark each year from 1774 to 1783. Many counties in the region have their own 250th anniversary committee tasked with organizing its own festivities.
ABOVE: South Carolina has planned events to mark the 250th anniversary of the Treaty of Paris. LEFT: Markers identify the Revolutionary War trails in South Carolina.
Throughout South Carolina, these county anniversary commissions are honoring the fallen officers and soldiers, as well as the many battles that took place. Research has found untold war stories, and a series of special events will draw attention to the history of the battles.
For example, some members of the Colleton County 250th Committee have looked into the role of women during the war. Others have sought the sto ries of African Americans and Native Americans. Others searched for historic roadbeds in a bid to pinpoint locations of buildings that once existed in historic Jacksonborough — the current-day Jacksonboro, says Christie Slocum, historical and cultural coordinator for Colleton County.
The Route
The Lowcountry Revolutionary Trail winds through Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties. The journey begins at Frampton Plantation House gazebo in Yemassee near Beaufort. The pavilion contains a map of the sites and information about the trail. The next stop is the Battle of Coosawhatchie on Highway 17 at the Coosawhatchie River Bridge.
According to Christie, there are several historic sites representing the days when Jacksonborough existed, including Parker’s Ferry, Pon Pon Chapel of Ease, the burial site of Col. Isaac Hayne and the Bethel Presbyterian cemetery.
It’s a place earning a footnote in state history. After Charleston fell to the British, Jacksonborough was briefly the provisional capital of South Carolina. “Members of the commission are working
“Saturday, March 18, 1780 — Got in motion eight o'clock in the morning and marched ten miles to the Saltketcher. Major Lordson, with eighty militiamen placed themselves on the north side of the river to oppose our crossing. They were opposed by the British Legion returning their fire at a place where the bridge formerly stood, while the light Infantry and remainder of the Legion crossed the river below and came in their rear before they knew of it. Here the bayonet was introduced. A Capt. Mills and 16 privates of the (Revolutionary) Rebels were killed, four badly wounded, and one made prisoner that luckily escaped the bayonet.”
— Excerpt from the Diary of Dr. Uzal Johnson, surgeon
The goal is a self-guided tour in which tourists can travel from site to site and hear the story of the American Revolution as it took place in what is now Colleton County, Christie says.
250th Anniversary Events
Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site Guided Battlefield Hike in Clifton — July 1, Aug. 5 and 19, Sept. 2, Oct. 7, Nov. 4 and Dec. 2
Commemoration of the Battle of Musgrove Mill — Aug. 19
Blackstock Battlefield Mill State Historic Site Ranger Guided Hike in Enoree — July 8, Aug. 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 14 and Dec. 9
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
ABOVE:
Commemoration of the Battle of Eutaw Springs at Historic Church of the Epiphany in Eutawville — Sept. 9; Tour and dinner — Sept. 8
Overmountain Victory Trail Reenactment ending at Cowpens — Oct. 6 for the “Story of the March” and King's Mountain National Park in Blacksburg on Oct. 7 for the commemoration
Battle of Camden Reenactment and Living History event — Nov. 11 and 12 in Kershaw
American Revolution Symposium — Nov. 18 in Columbia
» Lowcountry Revolutionary War Trail: southcarolinalowcountry.com/lowcountryrevolutionary-trail
» The Liberty Trail: battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/libertytrail
» 250th anniversary events: southcarolina250.com/events
Commemoration of the Battle of Blackstocks — Nov. 18 in Enoree
Victory Day (Commemoration of the British Evacuation of Charleston) — Dec. 10 in Charleston
