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Battery Park (Charleston)
Encyclopedia
Battery Park which includes a park known as White Point Gardens, is a landmark promenade in Charleston, South Carolina
famous for its stately antebellum homes. First used as a public park in 1837, it became a place for artillery during the American Civil War
. It stretches along the shores of the Charleston peninsula, bordered by the Ashley
and Cooper
Rivers. Fort Sumter
is visible from the Cooper River side and the point, as is Castle Pinckney
, the World War II
aircraft carrier
USS Yorktown (CV-10)
, Fort Moultrie, and Sullivan's Island
.
In the 18th century, rocks and heavy materials were used to fortify the shore of the Cooper River. In 1838, this area of the Battery, known as High Battery, became a promenade.
Before becoming a park, Fort Broughton (ca. 1735) and Fort Wilkins (during the American Revolution
and War of 1812
) occupied White or Oyster Point, so named because of the piles of bleached oyster shells on the point. This site is now known as White Point Garden(s) and boasts many large oak trees, a bandstand, a few memorials, and pieces of artillery, some of which were used during the United States Civil War.
A monument in White Point Gardens commemorates the hanging near that site of pirate captain Stede Bonnet
and his crew in 1718, as well as the 1719 hanging of Richard Worley
's pirates. The monument states that 29 of Bonnet's crew were executed close by. Although 29 of Bonnet's crew were sentenced to death, the evidence suggests that only 22 were actually hanged.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
famous for its stately antebellum homes. First used as a public park in 1837, it became a place for artillery during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It stretches along the shores of the Charleston peninsula, bordered by the Ashley
Ashley River (South Carolina)
The Ashley River is a blackwater / tidal river in South Carolina, rising from the Wassamassaw and Great Cypress Swamps in western Berkeley County. It consolidates its main channel about five miles west of Summerville, widening into a tidal estuary just south of Fort Dorchester...
and Cooper
Cooper River (South Carolina)
The Cooper River is a mainly tidal river in the U.S. state of South Carolina. These cities are located along the river, Mt. Pleasant, Charleston, North Charleston, Goose Creek and Hanahan. Short and wide, it is joined first by the blackwater East Branch, then farther downstream, the tidal Wando River...
Rivers. Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter is a Third System masonry coastal fortification located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The fort is best known as the site upon which the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at the Battle of Fort Sumter.- Construction :...
is visible from the Cooper River side and the point, as is Castle Pinckney
Castle Pinckney
Castle Pinckney was a small masonry fortification constructed by the United States government by 1810 in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina...
, the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
USS Yorktown (CV-10)
USS Yorktown (CV-10)
USS Yorktown is one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. She is named after the Battle of Yorktown of the American Revolutionary War, and is the fourth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name...
, Fort Moultrie, and Sullivan's Island
Sullivan's Island, South Carolina
Sullivan's Island is a town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States, on a similarly named island at the entrance to Charleston Harbor. The population was 1,911 at the 2000 census. It is also the site of a major battle of the American Revolution at Fort Sullivan on June 28, 1776. As...
.
In the 18th century, rocks and heavy materials were used to fortify the shore of the Cooper River. In 1838, this area of the Battery, known as High Battery, became a promenade.
Before becoming a park, Fort Broughton (ca. 1735) and Fort Wilkins (during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
and War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
) occupied White or Oyster Point, so named because of the piles of bleached oyster shells on the point. This site is now known as White Point Garden(s) and boasts many large oak trees, a bandstand, a few memorials, and pieces of artillery, some of which were used during the United States Civil War.
A monument in White Point Gardens commemorates the hanging near that site of pirate captain Stede Bonnet
Stede Bonnet
Stede Bonnet was an early 18th-century Barbadian pirate, sometimes called "the gentleman pirate" because he was a moderately wealthy landowner before turning to a life of crime. Bonnet was born into a wealthy English family on the island of Barbados, and inherited the family estate after his...
and his crew in 1718, as well as the 1719 hanging of Richard Worley
Richard Worley
Richard Worley was an English pirate who was active in the Caribbean Sea and the east coast of the American colonies during the early 18th century. He is credited as one of the earliest pirates to fly the first version of the skull and crossbones pirate flag...
's pirates. The monument states that 29 of Bonnet's crew were executed close by. Although 29 of Bonnet's crew were sentenced to death, the evidence suggests that only 22 were actually hanged.
See also
- Charleston BatteryCharleston BatteryCharleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
, a professional men's soccer team in the Charleston area.