Union Occupation of Beaufort, S.C.

 From the Know It All Org.:  Federal Occupation of Beaufort.

Federal forces under General Isaac I. Stevens march triumphantly into Beaufort on December 5, 1861.  "Harper's Weekly" reported to its readers:

"The beautiful rural town of Beaufort came into possession of the Union authorities as a result of the Battle of Port Royal.  The place had been abandoned  by all the white inhabitants  save one man who sat in the post office when the Union troops appeared  on the scene.

"To him was delivered the message announcing that the life and liberty of the people will be respected."

--Old B-Runner

160 Years Ago, Union Forces Occupied Beaufort, S.C. That History Will Be Relived Saturday.

From the November 30, 2021, Island Packet by Karl Puckett.

The 160th anniversary of Beaufort's capture by Union forces -- which changed the outcome of the Civil War-- will be relived this weekend, and you can watch.

Live re-enactments of troops with the   79th New York Highlander Regiment and the 48th New York Infantry, Company F, will be conducted at the Arsenal Courtyard, 713 Craven Street from 10 am to 4:30 pm Saturday, December 4.

Admission is free, although donations will gladly be accepted.

In early December 1861, the two Army units being re-enacted were part of the Union occupation  of Beaufort after  the Union Navy success at the Battle of  Port Royal on November  7.  Port Royal Sound is the deepest natural harbor south of New York City and it became one of  the several  ports in the deep South to serve as bases for the Union blockading fleets.

Without these ports, the blockade would have been very difficult to enforce.  Plus, at the time, the Union was having very little success in its efforts to bring the Confederate states back into the Union.

--Old B-Runner