The Charleston harbor blockade by Union Navy started in 1861 and was ended 1865.
There were multiple blockade runners attempting to move goods through the harbor over the length of the US Civil War. In addition both sides introduced iron clad war ships, the Confederate Navy also had the first submarines that sank ships in battle.
The Charleston military cemetery at the old Umbra Plantation became the grave yard for the Confederate States Navy, a section included to bury any unknown sailors.
These were photographed at ‘Soldiers Ground’ a few days after Memorial Day.
There was just enough breeze for flags to slow move giving different looks as they unfurled. Basically shoot many images and decide which to keep later.
Because this is on land owned by a historical trust there are no restrictions on what flags can be flown. During the US Civil War there were a large number of different flags. Even the brief country of South Carolina. This makes for interesting colorful images.
Photographed using OM-1 mk2, OM 12-100 f4, Lightroom, DxO Filmpack, DxO Color Efex.
An old stone behind wrought iron.
Photographed; OM-1 mk2, OM 12-100 f4. Finished with Lightroom, DxO FilmPack.
A walk through the old cemeteries here is like a visit to an art gallery that takes you back in time. You see light Victorian lace like structures standing besides heavy Gothic dramatic stone work.
We had not been out for a few days, stir crazy setting in, so let’s go to a cemetery. Made perfect sense.
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Photographs created using an OM-1 (1), OM 12-100 f4, Lightroom, DxO Filmpack.
An old military cemetery. Shot a few days after Memorial Day.
Any number of different flags could have been placed around the cemetery. Since this is primarily from the US Civil Ware era we might have seen;
Thankfully the trust running this old cemetery went the United States flag.
Soldiers Ground 2026, Charleston, South Carolina.
Flowers placed on an unknown for Memorial Day 2026.
Soldiers Ground is on the original Magnolia Umbra plantation property. 644 Confederate Military men were buried here during the US Civil War. Most from actions at Secessionville, Battery Wagner, and Fort Sumter during protection actions for Charleston, South Carolina. An additional 1,500 Confederate men are buried in the Magnolia Cemetery that surrounds Soldiers Ground.
Walking down King Street in Charleston there is an alley between two of the many retail shops. King is the main shopping area in town, home to the chain stores and wandering tourists.
This nondescript alley has an old iron gate that is usually open. A walk through the gate leads you down a lane that has a few entrances to private homes and the hidden cemetery of the old Unitarian Church, founded in the late 1700’s.
There are a few benches here, small trails, and a short cut to the Lutheran Church cemetery. Just yards from a main street, but very quiet. The grounds are nestled between the big church and 200 year old houses. Tall plants, weeds, and flowers all entwined with old headstones and wrought iron creates a perfect place to get lost with a camera.
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Charleston, South Carolina.
When I shot this it was a quick photo in passing. I was out with family and just a little walk through St. Philip’s (1723) since they are from out of town and it’s a special place.
Later on I looked a little closer. These stones are almost stacked on top of each other. This is in the ‘west’ graveyard, the church has two.
Most of the stones date from the 1760’s. View the image large for details.
The idea of two graveyards was to have the main yard around the church for Charleston residents only. The west site was for ‘lesser’ individuals. That’s funny since on the west side you find John Calhoun, 7th Vice President of the US. He is not considered ‘enough’ for the main site LOL. (he really was a pretty bad human)
