Invasion of the Lowcountry??????

[508preach]

I am thinking of doing a preservation style March in South Carolina on one of the various Islands out here around Beaufort (I'm thinking St. Helenas) Theres quite a few backroads out here.

Anyways the main purpose of the event is to raise funds for preservation, the impression for the event is Late 1861 Federal, when they and made their way towards Beaufort. It would be a late year event I'm thinking either the weekend before Thanksgiving or the weekend after.

This would be a Federal only event, seeing as the confederates in the area were either Captured during the battle of Port Royal Sound or had retreated. And NO white civilians, only black civilians and by invite only. The only reason for this was from accounts of the capture of Beaufort, they only found one white person in the entire town, and that was in the town of Beaufort, St. Helena was just as barren except for the slaves as St. Helena Island held all of the plantations for the citizens of Beaufort.

I'm just trying to curb some interest and if I have enough interest I want to start planning it.

[world_warrior]

Well I can say this....

COUNT ME IN! My folks have a place on Hilton Head so me and my Messmates could have a place to crash either before or after the event and since we'd be coming from Ohio, that's kinda a big factor. The Lowcountry's involvement in the war hasn't been represented very much even though Ft. Mitchell is claiming the first intergration of the races during the war. There's actually some pretty good websites with lots of documentation supporting this. PLUS, wasn't the assault on Hilton Head like the largest amphibious landing by the US Army prior to D Day? There's actually a Union cemetery on the Island that could be good to do some kind of wreath laying ceremony. Ft. Mitchell's earthworks are still in place, but that's pretty much it I think. There's a restaurant there called The Old Fort Pub that is really nice.

There's a very smart fellow down there named Stephen Bacon who's a professor at USC Beaufort who I recommend getting in touch with to not only get documentation and do research, but would probably be a good liaison for you to work with since he is HIGHLY respected down there.

And for those of you who don't know, if you're gonna be down in that area, you can't beat the weather in November. 60-70's during the day and in the 50's at night. Should keep the No see ums down. I used to live down there and October and November in the Lowcountry is BEAUTIFUL! Maybe this event could be the Bummers of 2011! Something to REALLy look forward to! PM me if you need some help.

RJ

[508preach]

Well I am definitly glad to have guys from Ohio come down, mainly because I am originally from Ohio as well. I think I'm going to do this event, I'll go and talk to the necessary people later on this week, get permission to do it, then start setting up the staff, and the main guidelines, look for registration to open late this year, due to the fact that I would like registration to be open well in advance so we might be able to get hopefully full size companies (its wishful thinking but would be awesome)

[KevinBarnes]

This sounds like a really cool event. Not too much of a drive from Beaufort, NC

[Gallinipper]

As I recall, the last time the Barnes' invaded the Low Country there was HELL TO PAY!

I have relatives in Hilton Head too. Some of the property, like Ft. Walker, is (or was) located behind private gated communities, don't know what you would need to do to get access there. On the other side of the sound, however- you have to drive way around and through the area near Parris Island- is the "accessible" (I should add- if you don't mind the hike, depending on the time of year) but scant remnants of lesser-known Ft. Beauregard. Don't know if you can metal-detect down there or not, I did not. Not even sure what you would find. Some of the landscape still showed scars of the bombardment, which I found pretty cool.

Take your period bug deterrent boys, poking around in that part of the woods I got the worst case of chiggers I ever had....

Rich Croxton

[KevinBarnes]

As I recall, the last time the Barnes' invaded the Low Country there was HELL TO PAY!


I'll try not to burn any Secesh houses this time

[Gallinipper]

Kevin, I heard some of those Secesh have pet chupacabras.... better behave yourself.

Rich Croxton

[508preach]

Coincedently I havent come across any documentation of the homes being burned by troops early in the war in the Lowcountry mainly because the whole area from Beaufort to Hilton Head was captured with ease by Union Forces that they turned the area into the Union Naval Southern Department (or something along those lines) Beaufort was turned into a Union Army Hospital Zone with most of the homes being turned into Hospitals including several Contraband Hospitals. Also one of the first desegregated Commisarys was in Beaufort. The homes in the area were pretty much unburned or destroyed because the area was occupied by Union Forces for the entire war.

Now! In 1907 though....when 3 little boys were smoking by a warf with lots of hay on the dock they accidently started a fire that ended up burning ALOT of homes in Beaufort. But thats another story on its own.

[Gallinipper]

Michael, I had not heard about that incident. Interesting that 3 children could do more damage to an entire community in one evening than was done in four years of occupation and war... and of course Bro. Barnes' last visit!

Rich Croxton

[KevinBarnes]

Michael, I had not heard about that incident. Interesting that 3 children could do more damage to an entire community in one evening than was done in four years of occupation and war... and of course Bro. Barnes' last visit!

Rich Croxton

You cant prove a thing, Croxton!!

Michael,
I recently found the book CIVIL WAR: A Complete Photographic History by William C Davis and Bell Wiley. Huge book with about 4,000 pictures. Has alot of images of Beafort and Hilton Head

[508preach]

Awesome, I'll need to get that book.

So Mr. Barnes......what exactly did you do last time you came through the Lowcountry that Rich would be referencing constantly?

[Gallinipper]

In the immortal words of Ronnie Van Zant....

Don't ask me no questions, and I won't tell you no lies
(If you want to talk fishin, well I guess that'll be OK....) :D

Rich Croxton

[KevinBarnes]

Oh not much. I'm actually pretty calm usually. I love the idea of only black civilians. Do you have any volunteers for that? I think it might be hard to find folks willing to portray slaves or freed slaves. Someone like Emmanuel Dabney here on the forum might be able to help or put you in contact with some people who may be interested

[508preach]

I've got a few in mind, but that is about it a few, by a few I have 5 people off the top of my head I could invite and three that I know for certain would do it (because they already do a slave impression surprisingly)

But the cool thing is 90% of the area we will be traversing is populated by the Gullah people so its mostly african americans in the area.

[Gallinipper]

My uncle opened a clothing store in Harbor Town in the early (and I mean VERY early) 70s. You may recall what HH looked like- or didn't look like, as the case may be- at that time. As a young'un, I well remember the long, scary drives in the middle of nowhere to get there. It truly amazes me what that whole area has become. I feel a sense of sadness, yet in a way I am happy, for those people in places like Bluffton. Many Gullah people are stylish Mall people now!

Rich Croxton
"Come Yah" Mess

[508preach]

While still deciding on the possible route, I have come up with the impression of Company F of the 50th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment which was in the invasion of the low country area. Their roster includes 168 men but doesnt say if they were all present for the invasion of the low country so I am putting a cap on this company at 105 men. Ill give more info as time comes closer.

[Clsinclair]

Michael, It was nice to meet you last week in Charleston. See you at Resaca. Good luck on your march. Looks like fun. The country down there is beautiful.

[508preach]

It was really great to meet you as well, and I'll definitely see you at Resaca. And I know this would make a great march and I'm almost certain I can get it going. I do hope you will be a participant in the march.

[508preach]

We have a site on St. Helena island, the focus of the event has changed from a preservation march to a living history and the best part is, it is on the grounds of where actual federals encamped on St. Helena Island, expect a website up in the next month or so and registration to open soon!

[Jon The Beloved]

GREAT to hear Mike! There's no place like the Low Country..

[KevinBarnes]

We have a site on St. Helena island, the focus of the event has changed from a preservation march to a living history and the best part is, it is on the grounds of where actual federals encamped on St. Helena Island, expect a website up in the next month or so and registration to open soon!

Very cool. I was just about to ask you how the event planning is coming along