Beaufort & the Port Royal Experiment

A new beginning

This image celebrated Emancipation Day as it was seen at Beaufort’s Ft. Frederick, also known as Camp Saxton.

The Port Royal Experiment started just seven months after the first shots of the Civil War were heard. Beaufort and its sea islands were occupied by the Union Army by November 7, 1861, thus freeing its slaves.  Beaufort quickly became the epicenter for Reconstruction after Confederate soldiers and plantation owners fled the area, leaving 200 sea island plantations and 10,000 slaves abandoned. Having no resources or direction, former slaves looked to the Union Army for support. Union officials oversaw the harvesting of approximately 90,000 pounds of cotton by the newly freed men and women. Workers were paid $1 for every 400 pounds harvested. This was the first time newly freed slaves earned wages for their hard work. Frederick Law Olmstead was the executive secretary of the US Sanitary Commission. He felt it was necessary for the Union to, “Train or educate them in a few simple, essential, and fundamental social duties of free men in civilized life.” Olmstead was a famous landscape architect who would go on to design Central Park, Niagara Reservation at Niagara Falls, Biltmore Estate, and many other prestigious grounds. The Port Royal Experiment was an essential plan that offered newly freed slaves an education and a chance to work and live independently of white control. The freedmen’s Bureau was established to help former slaves succeed in their new way of life.

At the suggestion of General Sherman, the US Congress confiscated a strip of coastal land from Charleston to Florida. President Abraham Lincoln issued new land distribution policies that saw 40,000 acres of this land divided between freed families. They were allowed to purchase up to 40 acres of land for $1.25 per acre. Excess army mules were redistributed to the new property owners. It is thought that this was the origin of the slogan “40 acres and a mule.” White northerners were also allowed to buy land, creating tenant farming.

Hilton Head Island’s Fish Hall Plantation became the site of Mitchelville. This image was taken in 1862 by Henry Moore.

By January of 1862 Union General Thomas W. Sherman requested teachers to instruct the freed men, women, and children. Later that year, the Port Royal Experiment began. This radical program created schools and hospitals for the freedmen. It also allowed them to purchase and run abandoned plantations. 53 missionaries from the New England Freedmen’s Aid Society volunteered during this humanitarian crisis. Skilled teachers, ministers and doctors travelled south to teach life skills and religious studies. Two pivotal initiatives that paved the way for Reconstruction were begun in the Lowcountry – Mitchelville and Penn School.

Freedmen gather at Penn School to learn to read and write along with other skills.

Laura Towne was dispatched from Pennsylvania with funds to create the Penn School, one of the largest schools created during the experiment. She and fellow educator Ellen Murray established an educational mission on St. Helena Island called Penn School. This was the first school for former slaves of the sea islands. The first classes were held at Oak Plantation, then when enrollment increased, they moved to Brick Church. A school was built adjacent to the church and a complex developed around it which served as a center for the St. Helena Island Gullah community. Along with teaching literacy, the school provided training for midwives, a health care clinic, and the state’s first day care center for black children.

Rev. Jesse Jackson; Joan Baez; Ira Sandperl; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and Dora McDonald on the Penn Center campus in 1964. Photo credit: Bob Fitch

The Penn Center took on a new role during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. In those days there were only a handful of safe havens for black leaders to gather. Civil Rights activists, including Martin Luther King, Jr. spent a significant amount of time on the Penn Center campus. Dr. King and other influential civil rights activists were able to meet and strategize on the beautiful campus. The spot also served as a retreat for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The Penn Center campus was designated a National Historic Monument in 1974. The center is still a vital part of the community. History and culture are preserved in the center’s museum, outreach programs and educational experiences.

The community of Mitchelville was planned and built in 1862.

The wartime Department of the South was headquartered on Hilton Head Island. Union General Ormsby Mitchel granted Hilton Head freedmen permission to develop the town of Mitchelville in 1862. This was the creation of the first all-black, self-governing community in the country. Government and missionary efforts provided blacks of Mitchelville with education, religion and promoted self-reliance. While learning new skills, the citizens of Mitchelville were able to thrive and continue their Gullah customs and culture.  By 1865 Mitchelville had 1,500 inhabitants. They built the First African Baptist Church. Homes were built on quarter-acre lots, where the new inhabitants could grow produce in their own gardens.  General Mitchel died from yellow fever, just six weeks after arriving in Mitchelville.

Freedwomen and children began a new way of life in Mitchelville.

Mitchelville became a fully functioning town, complete with a mayor, councilmen, a treasurer, and other officers who oversaw every aspect of the town. The town boasted three churches, two schools, a store, cotton gin and grist mill. Mitchelville also passed the first compulsory education law in the state, requiring all children between 6 and 15 to be educated in school. The town stretched over 200 acres along the shore of the Atlantic. The major source of employment was the US Army Headquarters. After the war, jobs disappeared with the withdrawal of the US Army. This sent freedmen away from Mitchelville in pursuit of employment. The property that Mitchelville occupied was returned to the previous owners during the Johnson administration. They chose to sell the land to anyone that was interested in purchasing, including former Mitchelville citizens. Most of the land was bought by Freedman March Gardner. The land was later divided amongst heirs and the town no longer appeared on maps by the early 20th century. Most of the land was eventually sold to the Hilton Head Company and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. The site is preserved as the Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park. The park serves as a Reconstruction Era heritage site. The park features exhibits, signature events and guided tours.

Freedmen harvest cotton.

The death of Abraham Lincoln on April 15,1865 ended the momentum for the Port Royal Experiment. President Andrew Johnson worked to restore all lands to their previous owners. Many freedmen that bought land witnessed it returned to its former owners. Sharecropping quickly began to creep onto the scene. Not all black landowners lost their land. Many were able to retain ownership of their purchased properties because they were not reclaimed by the previous owners. By 1868, the Freedmen’s Bureau was completely dismantled. Momentum for the Port Royal Experiment began to diminish with the new administration. The Reconstruction Era ended in 1877. Although it was a brief period in American history, it marked a significant chapter in the history of civil rights in the United States.

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SOUTH CAROLINA LOWCOUNTRY

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The Lowcountry & Resort Islands Region of South Carolina includes the four, southern-most counties in the state, Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, and Colleton, which are bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by the Savannah River and the state of Georgia.

simplysoutherncottage keeps us in awe with each her projects. This bed swing refresh is one of our favorites!
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📸: simplysoutherncottage⠀
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Headed down the road....Edisto Island.  #edisto #sclowcountry #trees #endofday  #beauty #islandsofsc
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Sunset sizzle. 🔥#lowcountrysc #lowcountryliving #lowcountry #lowcountrylife #chs #sclowcountry #lowcountrysunset #lowcountryphotographer #creeklife #boatlife #beresfordcreek #scmarsh #saltwatermarsh #lifeonthewater #charlestonsc #chslove #chucktown #socharleston #southcarolina #sc #danielisland #danielislandsc #di #viewsofthesouth #bestofcharleston #coastalliving #clpicks #sltravels
The shore gently recedes beneath the stunning Pawleys Island Pier. The unique island town, located about 25 miles south of Myrtle Beach and 70 miles north of Charleston, exudes laid-back, beachy vibes. Locals have definitely adopted an island state of mind and encourage visitors to as well. When you go, make sure to relax on the beach, explore the famous sand dunes, or fish in one of the many adjacent creeks.⏰ Best time of the day to visit: We guarantee that you’re going to want to spend a whole day here. We recommend getting to the beach at around 10am.🗓️ Best time of the year: Pawleys Island has the best weather during the spring and early summer months.🏖️ Things to do while there: Pawleys Island Nature Park, Pawleys Island Chapel, Hopsewee Plantation.🐠 Things to visit in the area: Brookgreen Gardens (brookgreen_gardens), take a walking ghost tour, Myrtle Beach (mymyrtlebeach), Harborwalk Marina, South Carolina Maritime Museum (southcarolinamaritimemuseum).🏨 Where to stay: The Oceanfront Litchfield Inn (oceanfrontlitchfieldinn), Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort (litchfieldbeachandgolf), Sea View Inn (seaviewinn), 620 Prince (620prince).Photo by qcphotographer
Come explore the Beaufort Arsenal, an iconic landmark that has stood the test of time since the 1700s. Located in the heart of downtown Beaufort, South Carolina, this historic site is a testament to the city's rich cultural heritage and architectural legacy. It is a must-visit destination for history buffs, architecture enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to experience the charm and character of this southern city.#thatsmylowcountry #naturallyamazing #sclowcountry #beaufortarsenal #beaufortsc #discoversc #sctourism
“Cypress Sentinel”
24”x30” oil on canvas#art #kunst #oilpainting #allaprima #crane #cypress #sesquicentennialstatepark #southcarolina #sclowcountry #charlestonartist #charlestonartistcollective #grandbohemiangallery #americanimpressionism #southernartist #wildlifepainting
Beacon of hope
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At the beach…lock.latch#lockandlatch #lockandlatchinstalls #windowinstallation #doorinstallation #customhome #newbuild #southcarolina #sclowcountry #architecture #craftmanshipdetail
Discover at your own leisure at the coastaldiscoverymuseum 🌳  From century-old buildings with storied pasts, to wooden boardwalks that stretch into the Jarvis Creek salt marsh, there's always something to explore!
Built in 1790, The Cuthbert House is a historic mansion turned Bed and Breakfast with stunning water views  in Beaufort, SC
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Come on in. The pool water - and the comfy beds upstairs - are juuuuuust right. 😉​​​​​​​​​
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I ♥️ this picture, and every time I come across it, I get in my feelings. This is a very young me standing barefoot in front of my Papa Franklin’s store (JH Rivers & Sons) on Main Street in Hampton, SC, sucking my thumb, no less. There has been a lot of talk about little ole Hampton recently and in the past few weeks especially. A little community most people had never heard of much less stepped foot in. Well, my roots run deep in Hampton County, going back generations and at the very least more than 130 years! And let me tell you this, just like my mama, my kids, etc. I can say whatever I want about this place, but if you’re not from here, you should probably keep your mouth shut. I’m getting really tired of people who probably couldn’t even point to Hampton on a map talking trash about it and putting our people down. Most of the people in Hampton are some of the most down to earth, genuine, good hearted people you’ll ever meet…black, white, rich, poor…doesn’t matter. Not to mention, being in the heart of the SC lowcountry, it is a beautiful place, too…God’s Country! My heart is filled with pride when I hear someone from Hampton speaking. I would recognize that accent and vernacular anywhere! A lot of these folks are pretty funny too! Additionally, family runs deep here. It seems that some people don’t understand folks standing by their family for better or worse. It doesn’t necessarily mean you always agree with or support what a loved one has done, but you stand in support of the rest of your family as well as those loved ones who have passed on. Also, you shouldn’t demonize an entire family based on the sins of one. Maybe  instead of passing judgement, you should pray for the family…most of us will never know what they are going through. In any event, I am proud of my Hampton County roots and the mostly good people who make up this community.♥️🍉
#hamptoncounty #hamptoncountyproud #sclowcountry #godscountry #familyovereverything #whhsreddevils
Beautiful historic resting place for those before us....these birds have found a piece of heaven to call their own!
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Life’s a party, always be ready to host 🍾.
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Beautiful night on the sunset river cruise with coastalexpeditions_beaufort#southcarolinaliving #southcarolina #southcarolinaphotographer #southcarolinalowcountry #sclowcountry #exploresouthcarolina #visitsouthcarolina #sunsets_captures #summernights #sunsetphotography #summervibes #southcarolinaphotography #beaufortsc #beaufort
“July”, 10x15,  oil on linen.  hortonhayesfineart hortonhayesfineartstudio markkelvinhortonstudio #sky #skydrama #skypainters #marsh #marshpainting #southcarolina #sclowcountry #charlestonsc #charlestonartists #landscapepaintingnow #landscapeartist #waterways #contemporarypainting #sunsets #sunsetpaintings #studiopainting
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