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Coastal Towns in South Carolina- Bluffton

Commodore McDonough

After the fall of Hilton Head Island Bluffton served as a central outpost for the Bluffton peninsula. Lookouts and couriers operating here reported to Hardeeville as part of an early warning system and conducted scouting missions and nighttime raids. Its riverfront location and dock also allowed pickets to move by rowboats and canoes as well. Union General David Hunter ordered an expedition to Bluffton to attack Rebel forces there and to burn and completely destroy the town. He enlisted the help of Rear Admiral Samuel Du Pont to provide naval support. Lieutenant-Commander Bacon and his ship the Commodore McDonough was ordered to proceed to Fort Pulaski and along with the Island City, Cossack and Mayflower transport 1,000 Union troops to Bluffton. The landing force would be made up of six companies of the 48th NY, three companies from the 115th NY, and 50 men from both the 3rd RI Artillery and NY Volunteer Engineers. They would be facing one infantry and 4 cavalry companies.

The Rebel Cavalry commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Johnson were made up of Company B of the 4th SC cavalry and Companies A, B and G of the 3rd SC cavalry. Captain Mickler would command Company E of the 11th SC infantry. The Mayflower grounded on the way and the other three ships proceeded toward Bluffton on the 4th. They were spotted by 2 Confederate pickets near Alljoy Landing on Hunting Island who after some initial confusion managed to warn Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson at Camp Pritchard, about half way between Bluffton and Hardeeville, of the Union approach. No one warned the town itself! After unloading the 1000 man infantry force the ships headed toward Bluffton and were rejoined by the Mayflower. The Commodore McDonough and Mayflower anchored about one half mile from town. The 48th NY arrived in Bluffton at 7:30 AM and began firing the town. Lieutenant Smith commanding Company E and his small force of 50 men quickly evacuated the town and took up defensive positions west of town not realizing the Federals had no intention of moving inland but were there to burn the town. Johnson’s cavalry found them there and headed to Bluffton with about 238 men. By this time the two Union ships had moved closer to town. The Commodore McDonough had a 100 hundred pounder Parrot, a nine inch Dahlgren smoothbore, two smoothbore howitzers and a 50 pound rifled Dahlgren. The heavy artillery fire from the ships drove off the Confederates. The Federals were gone by noon after destroying most of Bluffton.

Shown below are 8 homes and 2 churches that survived the burning.

The John Seabrook House (47 Lawrence Street) was built in the 1850s. Seabrook was a planter on Edisto Island.
The Heyward House (70 Boundary Street) was built by John Cole in 1840. The Heywood family purchased it after the war. It now serves as the town welcome center (link).
The Fripp House (48 Bridge Street) was built in 1835 by the Frip family. They were among the wealthiest families in the state and also owned several homes in Beaufort.
The Card House (34 Bridge Street) was named after a famous poker game that occurred here in which William Baynard won the deed to Braddock’s Point Plantation on Hilton Head.
Seven Oaks (82 Calhoun Street) was built in 1860 for Colonel Midleton Stuart.
Bluffton United Methodist Church- 101 Calhoun Street
The Allen-Lockwood House (94 Calhoun Street) was built in 1850 by William Allen. Colonel Allen was a local planter and owned the Garvey Hall Plantation.
The Church of the Cross (110 Calhoun Street) was constructed in 1857. It is thought that a heavy growth of trees surrounding the church may have protected it from the fire.
Squire Pope’s Summer House- 111 Calhoun Street

The May River

The Huger-Gordon House (9 Water Street) was built in 1975. During the war it was owned by Colonel E. M. Seabrook. The only house located on the bluff overlooking the May River that survived the Burning of Bluffton. Minnie balls lodged in the front door studs indicate the conflict that took place between Union forces and Confederate pickets here. 

Sources

The Bluffton Expedition by Jeff Fulgham

Civil War Tours of the Low Country by David D’Arcy

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