A Little History

Beaufort, S.C. pronounced Bewfort; Beaufort, N. C. pronounced Boefort. Beaufort was the number one contributor of men and money to the American Revolutionary War; not New York, Virginia or Massachusetts as I always thought. The articles of Separation were drawn up right here on Craven St. The war came to Beaufort when the union needed to close the harbor during the union blockade. On a hot July day, 130 ships of the North sailed into the harbor. Sixty ships were equipped with the latest in war weapons, steam power. With this new invention the ships could maneuver without wind or sail. The ships formed a circle and one after another fired on the city. This pounding lasted for hours. Meanwhile, the rich plantation owners were taking whatever possessions they could carry and leaving the city. This is what history books called "The Great Skidaddle." The town was left to the slaves and one white town drunk. The party was on. The northern soldiers entered the city four days later and ended the party. They had planned on burning the town, without the owners to see it, they changed their minds. The John Mark Verdier house became headquarters for the union during the war. For several years Beaufort was a union town. Many of the homes and churches were made into hospitals. Ships came into port day and night with wounded and dead soldiers from both sides. They used cemetery head stones as operating tables. The First National Cemetery is in Beaufort. After the war, few of the rich plantation owners returned to town. Most of the homes were sold to carpetbaggers for the tax lien. Over 21 movies were filmed here. "The Big Chill", The Prince of Tides", "The Great Santini", "The Water Runs Deep", and "G I Jane." We saw the house Sally Field lived in while filming "Forest Gump." Live oak trees around the city are said to be 400 years old. They are magnificent in their sizes and shapes. The waterfront park has swings for two . They look like the old fashion ones that are on a front porch or verandah. It is a beautiful city.