Fort Motte
Encyclopedia
Fort Motte was a plantation commandeered by the British as a temporary military outpost in what is now South Carolina
during the American Revolutionary War
. Later, it was considered as a possible location for the capitol for the newly formed state of South Carolina (before Columbia
was chosen).
British
forces occupied and converted into a stockade the recently built Mt. Joseph plantation home of Miles Brewton, whose business was located in Charleston, South Carolina
. The site is near a strategic river crossing of the Congaree River
that would allow the British an important chain of transport from Charleston to points north and west.
By May 1781 Fort Motte was a small but imposing wood and earth fortification of palisades (9' tall), ramparts (10-11' wide), with a 6' deep ditch in front; and 20-30' from the ditch a row of abatis
. Defending the fort were 184 British regulars, Hessians, and Provincials under the command of Capt. Lt. Donald McPherson. Later that month, General Francis "Swamp Fox" Marion
captured the location after the Siege of Fort Motte
.
Mt. Joseph became known as Fort Motte after General Marion's siege due to Rebecca Brewton Motte
, sister of Miles Brewton. Rebecca was living at Mt. Joseph with her children at the time of the British occupation. During General Marion's siege, Rebecca famously helped in shooting flaming arrows into her family home in order to drive the British from it.
The Cherokee Path
is nearby. It is also roughly in the area of an early town (1735) known as Amelia Town, South Carolina. There were several other less well-known forts in the area. Before the forts were established, there were sites which served as trading post
s.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History, the South Caroliniana Library, and the University of South Carolina
have the earliest extant maps for this area.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Later, it was considered as a possible location for the capitol for the newly formed state of South Carolina (before Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
was chosen).
British
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
forces occupied and converted into a stockade the recently built Mt. Joseph plantation home of Miles Brewton, whose business was located in Charleston, South Carolina
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...
. The site is near a strategic river crossing of the Congaree River
Congaree River
The Congaree River is a short but wide river in South Carolina in the United States; It flows for only 47 miles . The river serves an important role as the final outlet channel for the entire Lower Saluda and Lower Broad watersheds, before merging with the Wateree River just north of Lake Marion to...
that would allow the British an important chain of transport from Charleston to points north and west.
By May 1781 Fort Motte was a small but imposing wood and earth fortification of palisades (9' tall), ramparts (10-11' wide), with a 6' deep ditch in front; and 20-30' from the ditch a row of abatis
Abatis
Abatis, abattis, or abbattis is a term in field fortification for an obstacle formed of the branches of trees laid in a row, with the sharpened tops directed outwards, towards the enemy. The trees are usually interlaced or tied with wire...
. Defending the fort were 184 British regulars, Hessians, and Provincials under the command of Capt. Lt. Donald McPherson. Later that month, General Francis "Swamp Fox" Marion
Francis Marion
Francis Marion was a military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. Acting with Continental Army and South Carolina militia commissions, he was a persistent adversary of the British in their occupation of South Carolina in 1780 and 1781, even after the Continental Army was driven...
captured the location after the Siege of Fort Motte
Siege of Fort Motte
The Siege of Fort Motte was a military operation during the American Revolutionary War. A force of Patriots led by General Francis "Swamp Fox" Marion and Lt. Colonel "Light Horse" Harry Lee set out to capture the British post at Fort Motte, strategically located at the confluence of the Congaree...
.
Mt. Joseph became known as Fort Motte after General Marion's siege due to Rebecca Brewton Motte
Rebecca Brewton Motte
Rebecca Brewton Motte was a plantation owner in South Carolina, patriot in the American Revolution, namesake of Fort Motte and mother-in-law of Major-General Thomas Pinckney.-Early Life and Marriage:...
, sister of Miles Brewton. Rebecca was living at Mt. Joseph with her children at the time of the British occupation. During General Marion's siege, Rebecca famously helped in shooting flaming arrows into her family home in order to drive the British from it.
The Cherokee Path
Cherokee Path
The Cherokee Path was the primary route from Charleston to Columbia, South Carolina in Colonial America, connecting all of the Cherokee territories.-History:In the 17th century the Cherokee Path was used by English and French fur traders....
is nearby. It is also roughly in the area of an early town (1735) known as Amelia Town, South Carolina. There were several other less well-known forts in the area. Before the forts were established, there were sites which served as trading post
Trading post
A trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....
s.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History, the South Caroliniana Library, and the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
have the earliest extant maps for this area.