Monday, May 19, 2008

Some More on Fort Johnson

From Charleston Harbor Tours:

Built 1704 in response to tensions between Spain and England. During the Stamp Act Congress, William Bull, the British Royal Governor, had the stamps moved to Fort Johnson for safe keeping.

Played no big role inthe American Revoultion, althought, it had something to do with thedevelopment of the SC state flag. Gov. Moultrie gave the garrison a flag with a blue background to match their uniforms and a crescent moon to match the one on their hats. Later, the palmetto was added to the flag to honor the historic resistance at Fort Moultrie.

A mortar from Johnson fired the first shot at Fort Sumter. On July 2, 1864, the Union Army launched an unsuccessful amphibious operation against it.

In 1864, it was evacuated and fell into ruin until the College of Charleston purchased the 40 acres. Today it houses the Marine Resources Division and has a graduate program in Marine Biology.

By the Dawn's Early Light. --Old Coot

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