“Charleston County and the city of Charleston, its county seat, are the most historic locations in the state.” Situated in the Lowcountry, the county serves as a popular vacation destination but also relies on the business that results from its port. The area in general serves as a large cultural and economic hub for the state.
Charleston County was founded as Charleston District in 1769, and the district became smaller after some of its lands were used to create Colleton and Berkeley counties. The county and its seat were named after King Charles II.
The city and county are saturated with Revolutionary War and Civil War history. Three signers of the United States Constitution and two famous abolitionists resided in Charleston County, and the Civil War began when soldiers fired shots from the county’s Fort Sumter.
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In this section, Dr. Wise discusses the grueling and harsh living conditions on Morris Island, for both Federal and Confederate forces.
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Dr. Stephen R. Wise talks more in depth about one of the first African American regiments, the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, commanded by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. The 54th suffers heavy losses during...
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Life was not much better for civilians during the siege of Charleston. Most of the civilians are allowed to be evacuated, but some if the ones left behind resort to living in tent cities, like the one...
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Dr. Stephen R. Wise discusses the early days of the Civil War, in Charleston, S.C. The war began with the firing on Fort Sumter, which painted Charleston as a prime target for the Union. Leading up to...
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In the summer of 1863 three major campaigns occurred that affected the outcome of the Civil War. Two of three, Gettysburg and Vicksburg were dramatic turning points, while a third campaign directed...
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In the final part of the Fight for Charleston, Dr. Wise talks about Confederate blockade runners. Blockade runners played a crucial role in bringing supplies to support the South’s war effort. The...
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The spring of 1863: African American troops are introduced into the Federal Army, forming the first three African American regiments, one of which is the legendary Massachusetts 54 th Infantry. The...
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As important as the growing of cotton was its marketing, and in this the Cotton Exchange played a powerful role in the local economy. All of the members of the Charleston Cotton Exchange were...
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Interior of a large ginning mill, ginning sea island cotton at Alexander Knox's plantation in Mount Pleasant, early in the 20th century. Courtesy of the Charleston Museum, Charleston, South Carolina.
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“V” is for Vesta Mills of Charleston. In 1899, Spartanburg textile manufacturer John Montgomery and New York merchant Seth Milliken purchased the Charleston Cotton Mills and renamed it Vesta Mills...
