The Grand Strand's Ties to the Civil War-- Part 1

From the Jan. 16, 2011 Myrtle Beach (SC) News Sun "Grand Strand has several ties to Civil War."

When most people think South Carolina in the Civil War, thoughts turn to Charleston, and rightfully so. When most think of Myrtle Beach or the Grand Strand, they think golf, beaches, or in my case, Beach Music.

However, there are some Civil War places along the Grand Strand.


BATTERY WHITE was built by Confederates around 1862 to protect Winyah Bay. It is now inside the Belle Island Yacht Club and on the National Register of Historic Places. According to Confederate Brig. Gen. J.H. Tipler, it was "almost, if not absolutely, impregnable."

But, throughout its wartime history, it suffered from lack of armament and manpower. The few soldiers who were there eventually deserted and told Union forces about it.

When the Union Navy came upon it in Feb. 1865, Admiral Dahlgren was impressed by it and reported: "The principal battery looks directly on the water, well planned and executed carefully, not only with reference to the cannonade by ships, but also to an assault from the water. ...If the work had been sufficiently manned, it would have required good troops to take the work."

Hit the Battery White label below for more information.

More to Come. --Old B-R'er

Battery White to Be Preserved

The April 5th Georgetown (SC) Times reports good news that the remains of battery White will be protected and preserved from now on thanks to an agreement between the Belle Isle Yacht Club and South Carolina Preservation Trust signed this past Saturday during the 63rd annual plantation tour.

The fort/battery was built during the Civil War as protection of Winyah Bay and Georgetown.

The fort's features will be "retained and maintained in their current condition forever." Future development of the six-acre site will not be allowed. The local Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Confederate Veterans have been maintaining a park there.

A few years back, there was some worry about the yacht club's planned clubhouse, but it was built adjacent to the battery instead of in front of it which would have blocked a remarkable view of the bay and ocean.

You can learn more at www.batterywhite.org.

Of course, yacht club sounds a bit on the "private" side to me. Hopefully they will keep it open for us regular folk so we can see it.

Always Good to get This Kind of News.