160 Years Ago, the Occupation of Beaufort, S.C.-- Part 2: Fort Beauregard

Beaufort was captured by the Union Army as a part of a larger strategy of blockading Southern ports to prevent  commerce with Europe.

At the time of the Battle of Port Royal Sound, the Beaufort  volunteer infantry was  stationed at Bay Point Island, where residents used to hunt, fish  and camp.  Right now, conservationists are battling them proposed construction of a 4,000 square-foot villa on the island which is one of the last undeveloped barrier islands in South Carolina.

When I typed in Bay Point Island, the search showed a Fort Beauregard with the island.  This is one of the two Confederate forts defending Hilton Head Sound.

The Confederate fortification on the island was named Fort Beauregard  and was named Fort Seward after the Union capture of it in November 1861.

When Union forces arrived, officers of the Beaufort volunteers were having lunch and they quickly departed.  The Federal soldiers found  those lunches still on the table, uneaten.

--Old B-Runner