© 2003, Rotary Club of Charleston

P.O. Box 21029
Charleston, SC 29413-1029

Club secretary:
Carroll Schweers
chasrot@comcast.net

Charleston Museum looks at Revolutionary siege
British siege was important, underrated part of war

JUNE 10, 2003 - One of the most dramatic and underappreciated engagements of the American Revolution was the siege of Charleston, said the Charleston Museum's Carl Borick.

Borick, who wrote a book on the topic published by USC Press in February, said the Museum just opened an exciting new exhibit to highlight historical and cultural treasures from the siege.

The exhibit, called "Redcoats, Hessians and Tories: The British Siege and Occupation of Charleston, 1780-1782," runs through Dec. 14, 2003. It features important artifacts, such as the original articles of capitulation for the surrender of Charleston to the British, logbooks, muskets, tools, rifles, furniture and more.

At the time of the Revolutionary War, Charleston served as a major center of commerce. The British, who were looking for a new way to quell the colonial revolt, decided to lay siege to Charleston and use loyal colonists to thwart the partisans, Borick said.

In the spring of 1780, the British landed at Seabrook Island with more than 6,000 troops. At the time, Charleston was defended by a force of about half the size.

By April 1, the British laid siege to the city and started bombarding it from the Neck area. At the same time, British warships sailed into the harbor and cut it off. By April 10, the British asked the colonists to surrender. They didn't until a month later on May 12.
The loss of Charleston to the British was a crushing defeat and served as the largest American surrender for decades, Borick said.

But by chance, a large contingent of partisans weren't in the city due to fear of an outbreak of smallpox. Because of that, they were able to harass the British, draw out their supply lines and weaken forces in the U.S. to the point of the eventual British surrender at Yorktown.

Borick said the artifacts on display at the Museum bring the 223-year-old siege to life. Many of the pieces in the exhibit are on loan and haven't been in the area - and may not ever again - since the Revolution.

More: www.charlestonmuseum.org

- Andy Brack

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