Current Civil War Events in Charleston, SC 1996

Dec. 31, Effort to Save Mt. Pleasant Defensive Lines

The Christ Church Preservation society is working to preserve the Confederate Defensive Lines running from the Intercoastal Waterway and a fort theon called Ft. Palmetto to Hwy. 17 in the vicinity of Christ Chruch. These lines run parallel to and North of the IOP connector. Interested persons should contact Mary Julia Royal of the Society, 884-4265

Dec. 30, 1996- Mcleod Graveyard Remains Reinterred

Bones from the unmarked slave graves distrubed earlier this year in grading for construction of a new Fire Station on Folly Road, near Wappoo cut were reburied with Christian, Moslem and African Religious rights at the graveyard site in a public cermemony. The graveyard site was abondoned and the station will now be constructed in another part of the property. The 54th. Massacusetts Reenactors attended.

Battery Lamar Preserved

November 19, 1996- Battery Lamar and 10 surrounding acres have been preserved on James Island. Read the full details in an article published in the Post and Courier and posted on its Charleston Net Server, Secessionville Battle Site Saved. This Battery was the union objective and focal point of the 1862 Battle of Secessionville. A fierce, just in time defense resulted in a Confederate Victory. Contrary to statements in the newspaper article, major attempts to take Charleston also took place in 1861, 1864 and 1865 most of the locations of which are still exposed to development. For preservation information, check the S.C. Battleground Preservation Trust Page.

11/2/96 - Symphony Records Civil War Music

The Charleston Symphony Orchestra has recorded and released a CD of Civil War Era music including arrangements by Earl Mays of Charleston entitled Portraits in Blue and Gray, who has a real feel for the era gained in a career as a military band director. This is a magnificent, professional orchestra and having heard live performances by them of music from the era, it is an impressive rendition.

11/1/96 - Charleston Museum to Enlarge Civil War Displays

The Charleston Museum is planning to develop and improve its Civil War displays. More of the Museum's extensive collection is expected to go on display.

10/29/96 - City of Charleston acquires James Island Earthworks Section

Charleston City Council voted to spend $600,000 to acquire land for a park on James Island between Battery 5 and Ft. Pemberton on the Stono River. This property includes a 2000 foot section of the Rightward portion of the James Island Defensive lines of 1863-65 which run along the North Side of Riverland Drive. Council voted not to make any additional road cuts in the existing earthworks.

Folly Land denied rezoning

October 1996, Voters on Folly Island turned down a proposal to allow the Seabrook Property on the Northeast end of Folly Island (inland on Lighthouse Inlet) to be rezoned for residential development. This area was the staging ground for the Federal landing on Morris Island in July 1863 and was used extensively in that campaign. It may have been the location of some of the masked batteries used to support that crossing.

Penn Center Reenactment Makes Profit for Education

October 12, 1996 - The Liberation of Port Royal, a reenactment hosted by the 54th. Massachusetts announced a small profit of $200 which will be applied to the educational programs at the historic site near Beaufort. A Report on the Liberation of Port Royal is online. Plans for next year's event are being developed and input is welcomed by Email to Joe McGill of the Penn Center

Choisy Charleston Unionist Information Sought

Neil Carmichael, 14th U.S. Inf., is seeking information on the Choisy family, Merchants in Charleston South Carolina before or during the ACW. George Choisy was a 24 year old south Carolinian that enlisted in the Union Army in November of 1861. Carmichael is trying to find family information related to him. Contact by email: Neil Carmichael - neil.carmichael@arch2.nara.gov 14th U.S. Inf.

9/18/96 - McConnel Named head of African American Memorial Commission

State Senator Glen McConnel has been named chairman of the South Carolina State African American Memorial Commission, charged with planning, obtaining approval for and erecting a monument to African American South Carolinians on the Statehouse grounds in Columbia, SC. McConnel, a white, republican is best known for his support of the Confederate Flag and Confederate Heritige. The Black Caucus said they requested his appointment because of his great dedication to history and sense of fair play. McConnel was surprised but honored by the request and accepted the appointment. McConnel is a member of the 27th. SC Reenactors; Secession Camp #4, S.C.V. and the Board of the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust.

9/15/96 - Parrot Bolt Stolen from Gaillard Auditorium

The 100 lb. Parrot Bolt on display in the lower lobby of the Gaillard Auditorium was discovered missing. The shell had sat in an unsecured wooden cradle in the open for 25 years since the auditorium was opened. The bolt was discovered during excavations for the building.

9/19/96 - Time Life Preparing Charleston Book

Time-Life books visited Charleston to photograph relics at the Confederate Museum and other locations for a planned 1997 book with the working title, "Charleston under Siege." They spent most of the day at the Confederate Museum, photographing over forty items. This book will apparently be part of a new Civil War series being issued by the publisher.

8/25/96 - Rosen Researching Jewish Confederates

Charleston historian and writer Robert Rosen announced that his research on Jewish Confederates is continuing. He is seeking information on Jewish persons in the Confederacy, both civillian and military, and their involvement with civic, military and political affairs in preparation for the publication of a comprehensive book on the subject. Robert Rosen can be reached at his law firm in Charleston, Rosen, Rosen & Hagood; 134 Meeting Street, Suite 200, Charleston, SC 29401. He welcomes all sorts of material on the subject, but is particularly interested in little known and low ranking Jewish Confederates. (extra keywords: hebrew, jew, isrealite, judah, benjamin)

7/20/96- Hunley Commission reaches agreement

The State Hunley Commission and U.S. Government (Navy) reached an agreement to move forward with recovery and conservation of the H.L. Hunley Submarine. The State of South Carolina will be given permenant custody of the vessel while the Federal Government retains ownership. Raising, conserving and properly displaying the vessel is expected to cost approximately 4 - 6 million dollars. A detailed computer model and images from the recent expedition are now available. Check Civil War @ Charleston's Hunley Page

6/18/96 - S.C.V. Posts reward for Black Church fires arsonists

Secession Camp #4, Sons of Confederate Veterans posted a One Thousand Dollar reward for information leading to the arrest of any person who has burned one of the black churches destroyed in a string of church fires in South Carolina.

6/15/96 - Anne Padgett donates easement protecting Battery Chevis

Mrs. Anne Padgett of James Island signed an easement at a Ceremony held at Battery #5 permenantly protecting Battery Chevis, an earthwork on James Island used to shell Morris Island, to the S.C. Battleground Preservation Trust.

27th. SC Reenactment Unit formed

The 27th. S.C. Infantry, Co. G, Charleston Sharpshooters official organized, becoming a unit of the Palmetto Battallion affiliated with Hampton's Legion, June 9, 1996.

6/1/96 - Hunley Find Confirmed by Expedition

The C.S.S. H. L. Hunley Submarine reported found last year was confirmed by an expedition of divers from the State of South Carolina, Navy and National Park Service. The hull appears to be sound and the vessel appears to be recoverable. Skylights were found in the top of the hull, a feature of the ship completely unknown to present day historians. The sub was also found to have a tapered hull.

5/2/96 - Johns Island Expressway Killed, battlefield saved

On May 2, 1996 the State Transportation Commission decided not to support the privately planned Johns Island Expressway, which would have substantially damaged the Bloody Bridge Battlefield on Johns Island

5/1/96 - Hunley Expedition Begins

Federal and State divers begin expedition to survey the wreck of the Submarine C.S.S. Hunley off Sullivan's Island

4/11-14/96 - Charleston Museum Civil War Week Held

The Charleston Museum focused on the Hunley for it's third Civil War Week. Many other programs were held. Check out the online schedule for the event.