History buffs will be pleased to learn that Battery White is once again open to the public. Visitors are welcome to park at the Yacht Club. Larger groups interested in visiting the site should call Cathy Miller at Belle Isle Yacht Club at 843.527.1423 or e-mail BIYC (at) aol (dot) com. (Please forgive the odd notation — we’re trying to cut down on spam. Simply replace (at) with @ and (dot) with a period.)
Battery White now open to the public again
•September 22, 2008 • Comments Off on Battery White now open to the public againBattery White nominated to register of historic places
•November 24, 1976 • Comments Off on Battery White nominated to register of historic placesThe history of Battery White presented on this site was originally developed by Kappy McNulty and Donald R. Sutherland of the Historic Preservation Division of the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. They prepared the nomination form proposing that Battery White be added to the National Register of Historic Places in November of 1976. You can view a pdf version of the nomination form on the Documentation page.
Belle Isle Gardens closed to the public
•September 1, 1974 • Comments Off on Belle Isle Gardens closed to the publicAfter almost thirty years, Belle Isle Gardens closes, limiting public access to the historic Battery White battlement.
Belle Isle Gardens and Battery White opened to the public
•June 1, 1946 • Comments Off on Belle Isle Gardens and Battery White opened to the publicBattery White remained undisturbed for more than 100 years being part of the Belle Isle Plantation. During the late 19th Century the plantation was extensively landscaped, and circa 1946 the gardens were opened to to the public.
(Adapted from the nomination form proposing that Battery White be added to the National Register of Historic Places. See the complete form (pdf) on our Documentation page.)
Harvest Moon sinks
•March 1, 1865 • Comments Off on Harvest Moon sinksWith the occupation of Georgetown accomplished, Dahlgren reported heading for Charleston on March 1, 1865. As the Harvest Moon began its way down the harbor, however, it struck a torpedo and sank. (At low tide, the remains of this vessel can still be seen.)
(Adapted from the nomination form proposing that Battery White be added to the National Register of Historic Places. See the complete form (pdf) on our Documentation page.)
Battery White could have defended Winyah Bay
•February 28, 1865 • Comments Off on Battery White could have defended Winyah BayOn February 28, 1865, Rear-Admiral Dahlgren of the Flagship Harvest Moon reported on the state of Battery White:
“The battery was found to be a well-constructed and formidable work, mounting 15 guns, of which 2 are x-inch columbiads. The previous accounts of this battery had varied so much as to render our knowledge of it uncertain. Generally, it had been much underrated and supposed to be unable to resist the attack of a single vessel or a few men. But we can now understand that it was well placed, well constructed, and strongly armed, so that we should have had some trouble to reduce it if well manned.
(Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion, Series I, Vol. 16 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1903), p. 273.)
Georgetown falls, Slavery abolished
•February 26, 1865 • Comments Off on Georgetown falls, Slavery abolishedOn February 26, 1865, Rear-Admiral Dahlgren of the Flagship Harvest Moon reported the occupation of Battery White and Georgetown. He proclaimed slavery abolished and established martial law.
(Adapted from the nomination form proposing that Battery White be added to the National Register of Historic Places. See the complete form (pdf) on our Documentation page.)
Battery White Found to be Deserted
•February 24, 1865 • Comments Off on Battery White Found to be DesertedOn February 24, 1865, a party from the U.S.S. Mingoe visited the battery and found it to be unmanned.
(Adapted from the nomination form proposing that Battery White be added to the National Register of Historic Places. See the complete form (pdf) on our Documentation page.)
Battery White Needs Men and Arms!
•January 2, 1864 • Comments Off on Battery White Needs Men and Arms!In January 1864, commanding Brigadier-General J. H. Trapier stated (in one of his several requests for artillery and manpower) that “The position itself is a strong one, and with a proper artillery and a sufficient infantry support might be rendered almost, if not absolutely, Impregnable.”
(The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Vol. XXXV, part 1 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1891), p. 546.)
Battery White Identified as a Strategic Location
•December 30, 1860 • Comments Off on Battery White Identified as a Strategic LocationOn December 30, 1860, Charles Alston, aide-de-camp to Governor Francis W. Pickens, encouraged the lowcountry planters to erect batteries:
“The Governor of South Carolina asks your aid in the erection of Batteries to protect and defend the entrance of Winyah Bay and Santee River. Millions of Property and what is far more precious than Wealth Life and Honor will be at stake if we suffer marauding bands to enter our ports….”
(George C. Rogers, Jr., The History of Georgetown County, South Carolina (Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1970), p. 388, as quoted from Board of Ordnance Papers, South Carolina Archives.)
Battery White 