Fort Johnson (1)

Fort Johnson (1) (1704-1865) - First established in 1704 on James Island, Charleston County, South Carolina. Named after General Sir Nathaniel Johnson. Abandoned in 1865.

Fort Johnson "First Shot of the War" Marker	Fort Johnson Cisterns
Fort Johnson Magazine

Colonial Period (1630-1775)

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.

Revolutionary War (1775-1783)

Colonel William Moultrie first raised the South Carolina flag 15 Sep 1775 at Fort Johnson.

First System (1794-1808)

In 1794 Fort Johnson was ordered repaired as a part of the First System of fortifications.

U.S. Civil War (1861-1865)

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

In 1970 most of the Fort Johnson property was transferred to the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department. Only a brick magazine remains. 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 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: '

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:

• North American Forts - Fort Johnson
• MRRI - Fort Johnson

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