Fort Johnson (1)
Fort Johnson (1) (1704-1865) - First established in 1704. Named after Gen. Sir Nathaniel Johnson. Abandoned in 1865.
Fort Johnson (1) History
Part of the Harbor Defense of Charleston.
Built 1704-1708 at Windmill Point on James Island as a three sided palisade with three bastions surrounded by a moat. Ungraded several times, the final configuration was constructed by Confederate forces of brick and palmetto logs and armed with 26 guns and mortars.
Revolutionary War
Col. William Moultrie first raised the South Carolina flag 15 Sep 1775 at Fort Johnson.
U.S. Civil War
Confederate troops occupied Fort Johnson in Dec 1860 refurbishing and rearming the fort. The first shell fired over Fort Sumter came from Fort Johnson at 4:30 AM on 12 Apr 1861, starting the U.S. Civil War. On 3 Jul 1864 the Confederate defenders repulsed two Union regiments totaling about 1,000 men with only 130 men. The fort was evacuated on 17 Feb 1865 as Union Gen. William T. Sherman approached Charleston in his famous march to the sea.
Current Status
No period guns or mounts in place.
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Location: Windmill Point, James Island, Charleston County, South Carolina. Maps & Images Lat: 32.7525 Long: -79.8991667 |
Sources:
- Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 715
Links:
Visited: 23 Jan 2010 Area visit
Fort Johnson (1) Picture Gallery
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