General Richard Heron Anderson

The Beaufort Arsenal in Antebellum Beaufort By Evan R. Thompson Executive Director, Historic Beaufort Foundation

The Beaufort Arsenal is one of Beaufort’s most significant historic landmarks. From its construction in 1798 through the Battle of Port Royal in November 1861, the Beaufort Arsenal was home to the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery (B.V.A.), a group with a history as rich as that of the building. Indeed, their histories cannot be separated, nor can one understand antebellum Beaufort without recognizing the importance of the Beaufort Arsenal and the B.V.A.

Some say that the organization of the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery predated the Revolution by many years, if not decades. It has even been claimed that the B.V.A. greeted General Oglethorpe to Beaufort in 1733 with a salute on his arrival in town prior to the establishment of Savannah. His visit to Beaufort on March 31, 1733 was saluted with a Discharge of all the Artillery. Descendants of the men of this early artillery group were those who would eventually organize in 1775 as the Beaufort Independent Company.

The following year, a resolution passed by the South Carolina Provincial Congress in 1776 provided for the creation of an artillery company of 100 men for the defense of Port Royal Island. Captain William Harden was served as commander 1777. The Beaufort Independent Company was soon incorporated into the 4th South Carolina Regiment in the Continental Army.

Col. Thomas Talbird was selected to build the original Beaufort Arsenal and it consisted of two small buildings 20’ x 30’ with walls 10’thick. Tabby, a local building material formed of oyster shells, sand, lime and water was used to build the original Arsenal. One of the small buildings was designed to hold a thousand weight of powder and the other a thousand stand of arms.

With the Battle of Port Royal in November 1861, military action was largely confined to Bay Point and Hilton Head Island. The Beaufort Arsenal did not have an active role to play in the battle and almost immediately thereafter Beaufort was abandoned. The Arsenal fell into Union hands soon after. For over 60 years, the Arsenal played an important symbolic and social function for the people of Beaufort. After the War for Southern Independence had concluded, the Arsenal continued to house local military groups. The National Guard was the last military group to serve in the Arsenal. In 1963 they were moved to a new building off of Boundary Street. Since 1939, the Beaufort Arsenal has also housed a museum dedicated to the preservation of Beaufort’s history.

The Beaufort Arsenal enters its third century with great promise for its ongoing preservation. A Save America’s Treasures Grant was awarded in 2005 to the Historic Beaufort Foundation. This will enable the exterior restoration and returning its original color. Windows, a flagpole, restoration of the courtyard and restoring it's historic wooden gates will follow. By restoring the Beaufort Arsenal it will continue to stand as a monument to Beaufort’s fascinating history.

The Beaufort Arsenal has stood the test of time...

The Arsenal has played a key role in the history of Beaufort, South Carolina. It protected the Beaufortonians from invasions, battles and raids.

An Honorable Mention to another fine Confederate and Beaufortonian Major Stephen Elliott

Brigadier General (here seen as a major) Stephen Elliott was one of Beaufort's most able military figures. Known for acts of bravery and outstanding leadership in the defense of Beaufort. He served as Lieutenant, and later, Captain, of the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery, which was based in the Beaufort Arsenal. Elliott served with the Palmetto Guards during the attack on Fort Sumter on April, 1861 and as a Brig. General was gravely wounded leading SC Troops at the Union mine explosion point during the Battle of the Crater in Petersburg, Va, July 30, 1864. The United Daughters of the Confederacy of Beaufort, S.C. hold Stephen Elliott in high esteem. S.C. Chapter #1349 is named for him. We are very proud of our Sisters in the cause.

Born: Oct 26, 1830 -Died: Feb 21, 1866.

Stephen Elliott, CSA Memorial

"We have fought this fight as long, and as well as we know how. We have been defeated. For us as a Christian people, there is now but one course to pursue. We must accept the situation".

General Robert Edward Lee

Camp 47 would like to thank Linny & Sandy Johnson owners of the Maxcy-Rhett/Secession House for their hospitality.

Cool Slideshows

The Eighth State

Flag Adopted 1861

South Carolina State Flag

Asked by the Revolutionary Council of Safety in the fall of 1775 to design a flag for the use of South Carolina troops, Col. William Moultrie chose a blue that matched the color of their uniforms and a crescent that reproduced the silver emblem worn on the front of their caps.

South Carolina needed a national flag after it seceded from the Union on Dec. 20, 1860. The General Assembly considered a wide range of designs, but on Jan. 28, 1861, added the palmetto to Moultrie's original design. The palmetto represented the colonials defense of the palmetto-log fort on Sullivan's Island against the British on June 28, 1776.

A resolution proposing to change the color to "royal purple" as a memorial to Confederate dead was defeated in 1899, leaving the flag's Revolutionary War symbolism complete. Robert Hainer, 9 April 1998

Actually there were SC flags with Palmetto trees on them prior to the Civil War. The SC Militia Act of 1839 specified flags of that type (sometimes on red fields as opposed to blue) and the Palmetto Regiment of the Mexican War carried flags of this nature in the mid-1840's.

At the beginning of the secession period of 1860-1861 there were indeed a number of designs submitted to the state committee. For a detailed account of these flags please see "A Flag Worthy Of Your State And People" by Wylma Wates. This was published by the SC Dept. of Archives And History. Greg Biggs, 9 April 1998

The Sandlapper Mottos

"While I breathe, I hope"

"Prepared in Mind and Resources"

"When war does come, my advice is to draw the sword and throw away the scabbard."

Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

South Carolina Division Sons of Confederate Veterans

Policy on Hate Groups

The Sons of Confederate Veterans is not a hate group. The South Carolina Division SCV does not knowingly allow anyone with ties to hate groups join and has removed, and will remove, anyone from its ranks who expresses racist sentiments. Specifically, the following is not allowed and will be grounds for immediate dismissal.

Attempting to recruit fellow SCV members for racist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan, American Nazi Party or National Alliance.

Membership in any racist organization such as the Ku Klux Klan, American Nazi Party or National Alliance.

Disseminating racist literature to fellow SCV members by mail or in person.

Membership in any organization promoting a violent overthrow of the United States government.

All members must be aware of these restrictions, as they will be rigorously enforced.

Loving the South and defending its culture, symbols and heritage does not MEAN HATE. In fact, many SCV members are descendants of African-American, Catholic, Jewish, Native American and Asian Confederates. These groups' contributions to Southern culture have made the South a beautiful and unique region. To deny their descendants membership in our organization would betray our principles and the very ancestors we honor. We welcome all descendants of Confederate Soldiers, Sailors and Marines or those who materially aided the South in its struggle for independence.

Want to join the Sons of Confederate Veterans?

Call 1-800-MY SOUTH or 1-800-MY DIXIE for more information.

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