I do love an old big porch filled with rockers.
People sit around and ‘solve the problems of the world’, without ever leaving the chair.
This is a porch that came close to doing just that.
In 1777 the Marquis de La Fayette sat here after landing in the US colonies in the south rather than the northern ports where the British expected him. He went on to lead the Continental Army during the US revolution.
Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, was here often in 1779 after the siege of Savannah while being pursued by British forces. Marion and his militia hid in the swamps and marshes behind this plantation while fighting the first guerrilla warfare campaign.
George Washington stayed here during his tour of the original US following his term as President. He had meetings with veterans of the southern campaign here.
The poet laureate Archibald Rutledge was the last of his family to own Hampton Plantation. In 1971 the state of South Carolina purchased the land.
I’ve written about this before, it still amazes me after hundreds of years of history you too can just sit on the porch (usually by yourself).
Rockers are nice, and it’s kind of this place to allow visistors the opportunity to sit and ponder a while.
It’s an amazing spot. Sitting with history….and my ham and cheese sandwich.
I like your edits very much and can visualize the events you describe taking place here.
Twice we made an adventure out of going there. A friend has a company that uses custom flat bottom swamp/marsh boats. We took a trip up the Santee Delta rivers, through unmarked creeks, and finally through the old rice fields that were part of this plantation 200 years ago. The area was considered the frontier back then. A special place.
Quite the trip.
It’s great. We pass through places rarely seen. Some on the edges of complete wilderness.
Me too. If I had a porch I am sure the snakes would sun themselves on it 🙂
Well don’t think they don’t do it on that one. Those marshes are filled with Cottonmouths.
They are now in CT and MA I bet not long before they hit my spot.
The probably will stay south of you. The Copperheads like your area, Water Moccasins (Cottonmouth) prefer swamps. While you don’t water to get bitten by one, they rarely will bite.
I remember sitting on a friends dock in NC and while fishing I saw my 1st cottonmouth.
They are certainly common down here.