National Register of Historic Places

Fort Motte Battle Site

Fort Motte, Calhoun County, South Carolina
Listed
November 9, 1972
Type
Site
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
72001195

About this property

Fort Motte (Fort Motte Station) was developed first as Mt. Joseph Plantation; it was commandeered in 1780 by the British and fortified as a temporary military outpost in what is now South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War. It was significant for its military use as a depot for their convoys between Camden and Charleston, which they occupied. Located along the Congaree River, it is roughly 90–95 miles from Charleston by 21st-century roadways. The British fortified the big house and surrounds, and it became known as Fort Motte, after Rebecca Brewton Motte, who had been occupying it with her family. During the Patriot Siege of Fort Motte, the plantation mansion was set on fire. The British surrendered at this site. After the war, this site was considered for the capital of the newly formed state of South Carolina, before Columbia was chosen. Fort Motte is now an unincorporated village at the nearby crossroads of SH 419 and State Road S-9-13. The former area of the plantation house and grounds is known as the Fort Motte Battlefield Site. Privately owned, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The Lang Sune Plantation was in the area and is the site of one of the African American burial grounds in Fort Motte. Political leaders Samuel L. Duncan and Edward Israel Cain were both from Fort Motte and went on to serve in the state legislature.

Location

Fort Motte, Calhoun County, South Carolina

Categories

HISTORIC - NON-ABORIGINALMILITARY
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Questions about this property

When was Fort Motte Battle Site listed on the National Register?

Fort Motte Battle Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 9, 1972.

What type of historic resource is Fort Motte Battle Site?

Fort Motte Battle Site is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Fort Motte Battle Site?

The period of significance for Fort Motte Battle Site is recorded as the early_republic era, specifically around 1780.

Can I research the history near Fort Motte Battle Site?

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