Category Archives: Historical

Black and White, Charleston, Charleston Jail, Historical, Landscape, This and That, What I Saw

Old Charleston Jail, A Finale (2)

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The jail was built in 1802. By design it was meant to be intimidating, to serve as a warning. And for good reason since given the history this may have been one of the most brutal places in the US. It was closed in 1939 for being ‘inhumane’. Up to 10,000 people may have perished here over the years.

Old Charleston Jail, A Finale (2)
Old Charleston Jail, A Finale (2)

Towers were removed in the late 1800’s after Charleston had a large earthquake. Other buildings, including the workhouse (a place that made the jail itself pale in comparison) have been torn down over time.

Old Charleston Jail, A Finale (2)
Old Charleston Jail, A Finale (2)

The court of the jail has it’s own history. Execution by hanging was common. Since the jail is surrounded by old houses there were spectators for the executions.

During the Civil War the court yard was used to house prisoners from the 54th Massachusetts regiment. This was a famous African American unit that was kept here because the Union Army wanted them returned as prisoners of war. The Confederate States considered them runaway slaves. The unfortunate soldiers were here until the end of the war.

Old Charleston Jail, A Finale (2)
Old Charleston Jail, A Finale (2)

The old Charleston Jail is being renovated to be used for commercial purposes. A small group was invited to visit and photograph the historical site before it is gone. This is part of that project.

 

Cemetery, Charleston, Historical, Landscape, This and That, What I Saw

1st South Carolina Volunteers

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This headstone is in Magnolia Cemetery, the Soldiers Field section.  I was unable to find any reference to a ‘B. F. Austin’  here.

Members of the CSA (Confederate States Of America) military are buried here. However, the 1st South Carolina Volunteers were a regiment of the northern Union Army, not CSA. This explains why there is no military insignia on the marker.

1st South Carolina Volunteers
1st South Carolina Volunteers

This unit was composed of escaped slaves from South Carolina and Florida.  Harriet Tubman, the famous abolitionist,  served with these men as a cook, nurse, spy, and scout. The commander Col. Thomas Higginson was a supporter of John Brown and helped document the Gullah dialect of the men in the regiment.

 

Cemetery, Charleston, Historical, Landscape, This and That, What I Saw

Magnolia Cemetery, Along The Marsh

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Like most of Charleston area, there is a marsh.

Magnolia Cemetery, Along The Marsh
Magnolia Cemetery, Along The Marsh

The Cooper river runs by here and a small dike holds out the marsh and river. However, in some places the marsh is winning. Again, like the rest of the area.

Magnolia Cemetery, Along The Marsh
Magnolia Cemetery, Along The Marsh
Charleston, Charleston Jail, Historical, Landscape, This and That, What I Saw

Old Charleston Jail, A Finale (1)

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The old historical Charleston Jail is about to be ‘changed’. Renovated I guess is the technical term. It has been under new ownership for a while, and time has caught up with it.

Ellen and I were honored to be invited to join a group of historians and photographers to see and document the jail as it is before things are removed  and construction begins. The collective knowledge gathered for this shoot was absolutely humbling.

Old Charleston Jail, A Finale
Old Charleston Jail, A Finale

As is my own style I choose selective parts of the jail to photograph, and of course throw in some drama as I documented it.

My work will take several articles, I will include links to others contributions (Facebook will be popular with others I’m sure).

The jail has a dark disturbing history with African Americans. Mr. Joseph McGill was with us sharing his knowledge and I strongly recommend you visit his organization (click the link) The Slave Dwelling Project.

For several years (click here) Bulldog Tours has been providing tours and special access to the Old Charleston Jail. It was John D. LaVerne and Randall Johnson that reached out from Bulldog to invite this group of known Charleston historians.

Brandon Coffey, the founder of (click here) The South Carolina Picture Project contacted us and it was greatly appreciated. The ‘Project’ is an on going venture to have local photographers document the historical ‘nooks and crannies’ of South Carolina.

All the new, and past, articles here on this subject can be found by clicking the word Jail ‘tag’ in this web site sidebar.

More to come on the Old Charleston Jail.

Black and White, Cemetery, Charleston, Historical, Landscape, This and That, What I Saw

Soldiers Field, Charleston, South Carolina

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Poet Henry Timrod, Memorial Day 1866, at Magnolia Cemetery
'Stoop, angels, hither from the skies!
There is no holier spot of ground
Than where defeated valor lies
By mourning beauty crowned!'
Soldiers Field, Charleston, South Carolina
Soldiers Field, Charleston, South Carolina
Cemetery, Charleston, Historical, Landscape, Marsh, This and That, What I Saw

Lt. Hutto, 1864

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This headstone is in Magnolia Cemetery, the Soldiers Field section. Members of the CSA (Confederate States Of America) military are buried here.

Hutto, Nicholas, 2nd Lieutenant, born 12-Jan-18 in Barnwell District. He was a Farmer, 5′ 5″ tall, weighed 155 lbs., with Dark eyes and Black hair. Resided in Barnwell Court House. He reported for duty on 13-Aug-64. Admitted to 1st LA Hospital, Charleston, with yellow fever on 11-Oct-64, died there on 14-Oct-64 and is buried in Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston. Previously served in Co. B, 11th SC Reserve Infantry (Nov 1862–Jan-63), and Co. E, 2nd SC State Troops (Sep 1863-Feb 1864).

Lt. Hutto, 1864
Lt. Hutto, 1864

Company C of the South Carolina Reserves was primarily older, and younger soldiers, based in Charleston to protect the city during the siege. A blockade of Union ships had closed the city harbor.

There were 2 major battles with Co. C  to capture Charleston.

The first April 1863 was a naval attack on the city by the new ironclad warships. The city defense held and at low tide the ships departed.

The second on July 1863 was combined Army and Navy forces at the southern end of Charleston Harbor. Several battles between July and August 1863 ended when the Confederate forces abandon Ft. Wagner. The Union side determined any other action too costly and closed this section to tighten the siege.

Note; The men of the 54th Massachusetts were hailed for their valor at Ft. Wagner. William Carney, an African-American sergeant with the 54th, is considered the first black recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions that day in recovering and returning the unit’s U.S. Flag to Union lines.  Only 315 members of the 54th survived the battle.