Fort Trenholm, an 1864 Earthwork on the Johns Island side of the Stono River was damaged when a bulldozer operated by the Charleston County Aviation authority leveled parts of the fort. This happened one day after a press release describing efforts to prevent damage to the site was distributed to the media. All local preservation groups were assured the fort would be left alone. Authority officials attributed the damage to "miscommunication." An archeologist employed by the authority described the damage as minor. Local preservation activists disagreed. For preservation issues contact the SC Battleground Preservation Trust.
- Sept 25- Castle Pinckney to recieved dredge spoil
- Castle Pinckney in Charleston Harbor may be used as a spoil site for harbor dredging. It is hoped that surrounding the fort with dredge spoil will protect it from erosion. Environmentalist apparently hope to turn the surrounding island into a bird sanctuary.
- Sept. 22 - Hunley Marker Dedicated
- A marker commemorating the CSS Hunley Submarine was dedicated at Ft. Moultrie on Sullivan's Island. Funds for the marker were raised by Charleston's Lady Reenacting Groups, including the 10th. SC Ladies.
- July 25 Sumter Tour Dock Plans made
Plans to build a new shoreside visitors center for Ft. Sumter adjacent to the planned SC Aquarium on Charleston's east side are confirmed with planning and funding now in place. The new center will allow visitors an extended orientation before the board the tourboats for the visit to the fort. Continuing tours from Patriots Point and the City Marina is still be considered.
- June 16 - Secessionville Heritige Preserve Opens
The Secessionville Heritige Preserve, centered around Ft. Lamar and the most significant parts of the 1862 Secessionville Battlefield opens. Full details are on the Secessionville Web Page.
June 14 - Controversy erupts in Florence where historic preservationist oppose possible plans to develop site of the Florence Military Prison into a complex of athletic fields. Many of the Federal Prisoners kept in Charleston were transported to the Florence prison at war's end. The greatest loss of life in South Carolina took place there, though effort by the prison's Confederate managers and the community gradually improved conditions there despite the collapse of the Confederacy.
- June 1- German Artillery Reenactors Form
- A reenactment group of Charleston's German Light Artillery was organized by Steve Riggs. See the German Light Artillery Web page for details.
- May 31 - 54th. Reenactors Represent Charleston in Boston
- Charleston's 54th. Massachusetts Reenactors traveled to Boston to celebrate the 100th. Annaversary of the monument on Boston Common honoring Col. Robert Shaw and their regiment. The visit recieved extensive publicity. Read the full report on CNN Interactive.
- May 11- War at Flood Tide Civil War History weekend
- in Charleston Harbor features Lantern Tour which raises $1700 for the Hunley Submarine Recover and holds reenactment in Charleston Harbor between Schooner Pride, depicting Federal Gunboat and shore batteries at Patriots Point and Castle Pinckney. An illustrated after action report is online.
- March 7- Hunley Fund Raising Events Announced-
- Two major fundraising events for the Hunley Recovery are announced. A Gala to be held at the Omni Hotel on April 26 and a living history weekend at Patriot's Point on Charleston Harbor on May 9 - 11, War at Flood Tide.
- March 5, 1997
Commission Awards Credit for Hunley Find-
- The Hunley Commission announces its decision that Clive Cussler planned and supported the expedition which located the Confederate Submarine Hunley and rejected the claim of Charlestonian Lee Spence, who had claimed to have found it 20 years earlier. Spence retaliated by posting the coordinates where he claims the Hunley is located on his Shipwrecks site on the Internet.
- Feb. 17- Hunley Recovery Plans Announce
- The Hunley Commission announced on the annaversary of the sub's final attack that the hull of the submarine is strong enough to be raised and conserved based on studies and data collected during last spring's expedition. Fundraising plans for the 10 million dollar project are being developed. A Feb. 18, 1997 Post and Courier Newspaper article provides details. Civil War @ Charleston's Hunley Page follows developments in depth.
- Feb. 15 - 3 acres cleared at Battery Lamar Site
- Forty volunteers worked for seven hours clearing the site of Battery Lamar, focus of the 1862 Battle of Secessionville. A detailed, illustrated page on the cleanup event is online. Full details on the entire project can be found on our Battle of Secessionville Page. The next work day, which should complete ground clearing on the site, is scheduled for March 1, 1997.
- Feb. 11- Battery 1 Vandalized
- A large trench was discovered dug into the magazine mound of Battery #1 on James Island. The City of Charleston acted to step up security at the site and to repair the damage to prevent further erosion.
- Feb. 4 - Battle Ground Preservation Trust grants easement to protect Battery #5
- The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust granted an easement on February 4, 1997 to the Lowcountry Open Land Trust to help preserve Battery 5. Read the details in the Post and Courier Article.
- Feb. 4 - Colleton Council Rejects Confederate Monument Removal Request
- The County Council of Colleton County voted to affirm the decision of its committee of the whole not to consider the request to remove the Confederate Monument from the Courthouse lawn in Walterboro. A full, detailed and updated webpage with a day by day account of the controversy is online: Collecton County Confederate Monument Controversy.
- Jan. 27 - Walterboro Monument Challenged
- A community activist has petitioned the Colleton County Council to remove the Confederate Monument from the Courthouse Lawn in Walterboro. His petition was place on the Councils Feb. 4th. 1997 agenda.
- Jan. 21 - State of City Address touches on Market Hall, McLeod Issues
- Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley announced that the City would not attempt to construct a new fire station on McLeod Plantation, site of camps and hospitals during the war. He also stated work would continue on renovations for Market Hall, former site of Charleston's Confederate Museum and that the United Daughters of the Confederacy Museum would return there when work was completed.
- Jan. 19 - Rebel Beneath the Waves Premiers
- Rebel Beneath the Waves had its broadcast premier on the Discovery Channel. The documentary was filmed in part in Charleston and several local reenactors appeared in the cast. The hour long program discussed the history of the Confederate Submarine Hunley.
- Jan 18- Walker Trial Reenactment Raised $1000 for Monument
- A recreation of the Court Martial of Sgt. William Walker raised over One Thousand Dollars for the African American History Memorial planned for the Statehouse Lawn in Columbia. SC. A detailed, illustrated report is online.
- Jan 17, Public Hearing on Battery Lamar Held
- The SC Department of Natural Resources held a public hearing on development and conservation of Battery Lamar, recently purchased by the state, the site of the Battle of Secessionville.
- Jan 11- 10th. SC Reenactors Donate $2000 to Hunley
The 10th. South Carolina Reenactors donated Two Thousand Dollars to the raising and conservation of the Confederate Submarine Hunley, announcing the donation at the premier of Rebel Beneath the Waves, the Discovery Channel documentary on the Submarine at a showing at the Charleston Museum. Several members of the unit appeared in the production.
dt>Jan 2 - Confederate Flag Controversy Continues
- The Controversy over the Confederate Flag, renewed by Governor Beasley in late 1996 continues. Civil War @ Charleston isn't attempting to follow this issue closely because the pace of developments outstrips our capacity to update. News items on the continuing controversy appear almost daily on the Charleston Post and Courier Website. Their letters to the editor and editorial pages have also featured the issue prominently.
For earlier events, check our 1996 Charleston Civil War Current Events Listing.
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