Image, Right, Here is an arial view of the Fort taken in summer of 1995.
Ft. Palmetto was constructed during the War of 1812 on what was then high land, part of Coles Island. It was built of tabby, a concrete like mixture of lime, oyster shells, ashes and sand. At the time of the Civil War, the fort was on the beach of Coles Island. It was designated as Battery #7 and guarded the entrance of the Stono River, inland of Folly Island on the North Bank. It is now protected by an easement granted to the S.C. Battleground Preservation Trust.
Image, Right, Here is an arial view of the Fort taken in summer of 1995.
General Pemberton's decision to contract Charleston's defensive lines to positions on James Island in Spring of 1862 resulted in withdrawing the Confederate garrison and artillery from the Fort. This decision was unpopular in Charleston since it opened the mouth of the Stono River and the western flank of James Island to Federal invasion. Shortly after Fort was abandoned, Federal troops took over the position. Three major attacks on James Island would be lauched by Federal Troops moving up the Stono River, all of which had to pass the position of the former Confederate Fort before landing further upstream.
Pemberton's decision was justified in part on the Fort's position, which exposed it to Federal Bombardment from Folly Island and gunboat attacks. The Confederate retreat from the Fort was a long and difficult trip across the marshes on wooden walkways.and across islands, much of the route fully exposed to naval bombardment. The removal of canons and equipment would have to be done by water, up the Stono river. A swift, sucessful Federal attack could capture the entire garrisson and equipment of the Fort.
General Pemberton was later transferred to Vicksburg, which he surrendered to the Federal army of U.S. Grant in the largest Confederate surrender of the entire war in July 1863.
Federal Troops moving towards the sites of the Battle of Secessionville in June 1862, the Battle of Sol Legare Island in July 1863 and the Assaults on Johns and James Island in July of 1864 all had to pass this position. Ft. Pemberton, further up the river, prevented further movement towards Charleston on the Stono, but Grimball's landing, Battery Island and Coles Island were all open for Federal Occupation, allowing covered movements across Sol Legare Island towards Charleston. The Federal army would hold the position and control the mouth of the Stono River for most of the war. The final, sucessfull assault on the James Island Defensive lines was conducted by Federal troops transported past the Fort.
Image, Left, Ft. Palmetto Today, the tall projection in the rear is probably one of the gateposts of the fort. It is about 3 feet taller than the rest of the work. Coles island is in the background. The water of high tide is visible in the foreground.
Today Ft. Palmetto is nearly inacessible, isolated in the watery marshes between Coles Island and the Stono River. The shoreline has eroded and the waters of high tide now wash in and out of the former gun openings and gate. A high tide allowed an approach by boat from the river last summer by representatives of the S. C. Battleground Preservation Trust during which the photograph at left was taken. The Fort is visible from the water. The best view is at high tide wtih binoculars.