Coastal Towns in South Carolina- Hilton Head Island- Fort Howell
The parking lot for Fort Howell is located at 160 Beach City Road. Major General John Foster, commander of the Department of the South, ordered the fort’s construction in September of 1864. It was designed to protect Mitchelville. Built on the plantation of Confederate Captain William Pope the fort was constructed by the 32nd United States Colored Troops. Four guns were in the fort. It was named after General Joshua Howell, commander of the X Corps 3rd Division who died from injuries sustained from falling off his horse that same month in Petersburg, Virginia.
32.2342778, -80.6921111
The fort is well preserved as shown in the LiDAR images below
Hillshade stretched LiDAR image of fortSlope map image of fortI represent General Joshua Blackwood Howellof Pennsylvania, commander of the Hilton Head District, Department of the South, U.S. Army, from February-April 1864 for whom Fort Howell is named.32.2328056, -80.6941111LinkI represent HarrietTubman, former slave, scout, spy, nurse, famed abolitionist, and conductor on the Underground Railroad, who came to Hilton Head Island with the Union Army and guided the successful Combahee River Raid in 1863, disrupting suply lines and freeing over 700 slaves. 32.2327222, -80.6940278Link32.2327222, -80.6940556 Link32.2327222, -80.6940000LinkI represent Colonel George W. Baird who was charged with setting up the encampment for his regiment, the 32nd U.S. Colored Infantry, whose soldiers built Fort Howell. He later achieved the rank of Brigadier General.I represent a soldier from Fort Howell, taking a break, perhaps reading a letter from home. Most of the soldiers from Fort Howell were freedmen who came from Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York.I represent a soldier “at ease” and marking time while on duty guarding Fort Howell and the village of Mitchelville. Expected raids by Confederate forces did not materialize and Fort Howell never saw action.
You must be logged in to post a comment.