The Revolutionary War’s 250th anniversary is here, and there’s no better place to experience it than in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Read on to discover some of our most notable ties to America’s Freedom.
Old Sheldon Church Ruins
Built in 1753 as Prince William Parish Church, these haunting brick ruins near Beaufort hide an incredible secret.
In 1775, Patriots stashed 8,000 pounds of gunpowder here; confiscated from the British ship HMS Philippa off Daufuskie Island. More than half went straight to George Washington to supply the Siege of Boston that winter.
The church was also the muster point for the Beaufort District Militia until British General Augustine Prevost burned it in 1779. Within the ruin walls is a crypt that is the final resting place for Colonel William Bull, who was a co-founder of Georgia with Oglethorpe.
Battle of Bloody Point
Ferry over to Daufuskie Island for one of the war’s first confrontations. On July 9-10, 1775, local militia members teamed up with South Carolina scout boats and a Georgia schooner called Liberty to raid the HMS Philippa. They grabbed 16,000 pounds of gunpowder and other supplies. A bold move that demonstrated to the British that the colonists meant business.
This battle also became known as the Bloody Point Naval Action (or the Philippa Affair).
Thomas Heyward Jr. Tomb
Just off Highway 462 in Ridgeland, you can visit the final resting place of Thomas Heyward Jr., one of South Carolina’s four signers of the Declaration of Independence. His tomb sits on his family’s Old House Plantation land.
On Feb. 1, 1779, after destroying many Patriot homes on Hilton Head, a British shore party of boats anchored in the Broad River. They came ashore and burned Thomas Heyward’s White Hall plantation home across the Euhaw Creek, then moved to Laurel Bay to burn Patriot General Stephen Bull’s home after being instigated by Bull’s neighbor, Tory Andrew DeVeaux.
Battle of Port Royal Island
Fought on Feb. 3, 1779, this battle was also known as the Battle of Beaufort or the Battle of Grays Hill. Americans stopped the British from attacking Charleston in this first land-based victory. The Americans fought with about 325 Continentals, militia, and volunteers to defeat 200 British troops.
Among these Americans were Edward Rutledge and Thomas Heyward, Jr., artillery officers and signers of the Declaration of Independence, and Jim Capers, an African-American drummer boy who went on to serve in many major battles, including Yorktown.
Battle of Purysburg
On April 29, 1779, 220 South Carolina Regulars led by Col. Alexander McIntosh were sleeping in and around the town of Purysburg. They were surprised by two battalions of the 71st Scottish Highlanders and British Light Infantry.
The next day, thousands of British troops under Gen. Augustine Prevost arrived. McIntosh and his men retreated to the Black Swamp to join about 1,000 troops with Gen. Moultrie; the Patriots withdrew to defend Charleston.
Isaac Hayne Tomb
In July 1781, Isaac Haynes retracted his neutral stance and led a troop to capture a former Patriot general who had accepted British protection. The pursuing British cavalrymen captured Hayne soon afterwards. To prevent others from violating their neutrality, a British military tribunal condemned Hayne as a traitor and executed him in Charleston on August 4, 1781. The British withdrew from South Carolina in defeat in 1782.
Hayne was buried in his gardens at Hayne Hall. His family kept access to the cemetery even after the plantation changed hands. South Carolina recognized Hayne’s sacrifice by erecting a monument at the site in 1929. In 1963, the state acquired the cemetery to preserve it as a historic site by the South Carolina State Park Service.
Pon Pon
In the summer of 1781, Tory soldiers roved the wooded areas around Charleston. Patriot Col. William Harden was in charge of a small militia force south of the Pon Pon River. He requested assistance from Brig. Gen. Francis Marion to help him against the Tories.
Marion got to the village of Round “O” on August 22 and sent out spies to collect information. He learned that 100 Tories under Col. William “Bloody Bill” Cunningham were assembling on the banks of the Pon Pon River (present-day Edisto River) to gather with other British and Hessian regulars and Loyalist militiamen. Marion quickly prepared an ambush to prevent the juncture. That ambush became the battle of Parker’s Ferry.
Battle of Parker’s Ferry
On August 30, 1781, the American Patriots got into position in the thick woods of a swamp around 40 yards from the road, within a mile of Parker’s Ferry. The Patriots sent a few light horsemen ahead as decoys.
The British force approached in the late afternoon; a Tory sentry noticed a white cockade, which was the mark of Gen. Francis Marion’s men, in a soldier’s cap in the woodline. A battle ensued and pushed the Tories back toward the ferry. British Maj. Thomas Fraser led his cavalry into a trap.
Plan Your Visit
Give yourself two to three days to explore these historic sites and learn more about the Revolutionary War in the South Carolina Lowcountry.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why was the South Carolina Lowcountry important during the Revolutionary War?
The South Carolina Lowcountry became a critical battleground during the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War. From 1775 to 1781, coastal waterways, river crossings, and inland swamps shaped military strategy. Patriot militias, Continental soldiers, and leaders like Francis Marion used the terrain to their advantage, helping weaken British control in the South.
What is the historical significance of Old Sheldon Church Ruins?
The Old Sheldon Church Ruins served as a muster point for the Beaufort District Militia and reportedly stored gunpowder seized from the British ship HMS Philippa in 1775. More than half of that gunpowder was sent to support George Washington during the Siege of Boston. The church was later burned by British forces under Gen. Augustine Prevost in 1779.
What happened at the Battle of Bloody Point?
The Battle of Bloody Point, also known as the Philippa Affair, took place near Daufuskie Island on July 9–10, 1775. Local militia and Patriot forces captured 16,000 pounds of gunpowder and supplies from the British ship HMS Philippa. This early naval action gave the Patriots a much-needed supply advantage and signaled growing resistance in South Carolina.
Can you visit the tomb of Thomas Heyward Jr.?
Yes. The burial site of Thomas Heyward Jr., one of South Carolina’s four signers of the Declaration of Independence, is located off Highway 462 in Ridgeland on his Old House Plantation land.
What was the outcome of the Battle of Port Royal Island?
Fought on February 3, 1779, the Battle of Port Royal Island, also known as the Battle of Beaufort or Grays Hill, marked the first land-based Patriot victory in South Carolina. American forces successfully repelled British troops, preventing a push toward Charleston and boosting morale across the region.
Who was Isaac Hayne and why is he remembered?
Isaac Hayne was a South Carolina Patriot executed by the British in 1781 after rejoining the American cause. Following his execution in Charleston, he was buried at his plantation, Hayne Hall. Although ownership of the property later changed, his family retained access to the cemetery. In 1963, the State of South Carolina acquired the burial site to preserve it as a historic location, recognizing his sacrifice and lasting significance in the Revolutionary War.
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