Fort Charlotte
McCormick County, SC
Site of the Revolutionary War’s First Overt Military Land
Action in South Carolina and Perhaps the South
Distinctive Chapters of the Fort’s Multi-Era Story
- Colonial Era – Last fort built – 1766
- Revolutionary War – Site of the first overt military land action in South Carolina and perhaps the South – Surrendered to SC Patriot troops 7-12-1775
- Post-Revolutionary War – Early 1800s – Became an infamous site to conduct duels
- Civil War – The Confederate Treasury & Seal were transported directly past 3 times near the end of the war. Jefferson Davis led the way into Georgia the 3rd The Seal has never been found and is storied to have been buried close to or thrown into the Savannah River near the fort
- July 12, 1941 – South Carolina Historical Marker unveiled at the SE corner of Rte. 81 & Fort Charlotte Rd. in Mt. Carmel
- March into April, 1949 – NPS investigated the site on behalf of the USACOE. Deemed top historical site threatened by the forthcoming damming of the Savannah River. Recommended, “… that every possible cooperation by given this (excavation, recovery and rebuild) project”
- 1951/1952 – Federal Government committed funds to excavate the ruins
- January 1952 – Site excavated & documented by a Smithsonian Institution contracted archaeologist. Artifacts collected, including First American. Promised by NPS to South Carolina. Whereabouts unaccounted for still today
- 1952 – South Carolina Committed funds to recover and rebuild
- May 23, 1952 – On-site stones (walls), including foundation, fully recovered
- December 12, 2001 – Interpretive sign revealed at the southern terminus of Fort Charlotte Rd. along the Thurmond Lake shore
- 2024 – Remains of Fort Charlotte still rest on shore, awaiting reconstruction
- Fort Charlotte’s story continues