Fort Motte, Revolutionary War military site in South Carolina, United States
Fort Motte is an archaeological site along the Congaree River with remains of 18th-century fortifications and earthworks. The ruins show the layout of a military installation that protected supply lines between Charleston and Camden.
The British converted Mount Joseph Plantation into a military fortification in 1780 and used it as a strategic outpost during their occupation of South Carolina. The installation was abandoned in 1781 during a siege.
The site shows how warfare changed private architecture in the 1700s when military forces adapted buildings for defense. Visitors can still see the marks of how a plantation became a military stronghold.
The site is straightforward to explore, with remains clearly marked and most areas easy to walk through. A visit works best with a guided tour to understand the layout and learn details that are otherwise easy to miss.
The plantation owner provided the arrows that were used to set fire to her own mansion during the 1781 siege. This act of self-sabotage led to the British withdrawal.
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