Losing items like buttons or keys can be frustrating, even for soldiers during the Revolutionary War. At Fort Fair Lawn, a British outpost in South Carolina, archaeologists found many objects, including a silver-plated button from the 71st British Regiment, known as "Fraser’s Highlanders." This regiment fought nearby but wasn't stationed at the fort, making the button's presence there a mystery. It could have been lost by a visiting officer or picked up by another soldier. These small artifacts help historians understand the daily lives and sacrifices of those who fought for independence.
The rediscovery of a long-lost portrait of Charleston merchant Richard Lushington sheds light on lesser-known Revolutionary War heroes. Lushington, a Quaker, led a diverse militia called the Free Citizens of Charleston, which included many Jewish men. Despite Quakers' commitment to nonviolence, Lushington fought for independence, possibly seeking acceptance in Charleston society. His unit fought in key battles, and after the war, Lushington became a respected city leader. His portrait, now displayed in Charleston, highlights the contributions of marginalized figures in the fight for American independence.
John Howland, Benjamin Tainter, Stephen Tainter, and Lewis Hurd, all from the same extended family, contributed to American history across generations. Stephen Tainter, who served as a drummer boy in the Revolutionary War and later became a doctor, is especially highlighted in a traveling exhibition by the American Battlefield Trust. His descendants, Stuart Halsan and Steven Pahre, take pride in their family’s history, which they feel personally connected to. They believe that Stephen’s story can inspire young people to stand up for their beliefs and strive to help others, no matter their age or beginnings.
Uncover History in South Carolina
We invite you to visit the preserved locations along the Liberty Trail and to immerse yourself
in the extraordinary events that determined the fate of a nation.
This historic house museum was the home of Thomas Heyward, Jr., one of four South Carolina signers of the Declaration of Independence.
With a rotating collection of artifacts and interactive exhibits, the Cherokee County Museum has something for all ages and interests.
Visit Historic Drayton Hall — Tour the nation’s oldest preserved plantation house in America still open to the public. Explore Drayton Hall's 18th-century architecture, landscapes & the people who lived here.
Treacherous waters and Patriot fire foil a British attack on Charleston Harbor
An oyster-shell, “tabby,” fortress, originally constructed here during the French and Indian War, was restored, and occupied by both the British and Patriots.
Built in 1716 for Paul de St. Julien in Berkeley County. The house was later dismantled and moved to Clemson University and functions as a house museum.
A former British headquarters, explore the reconstructed Kershaw/Cornwallis House, British redoubts, and programs about colonial life.
British Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton pushed up the Enoree River hot on the trail of Patriot Brigadier General Thomas Sumter.
A surprise Patriot attack on Loyalist recruits is a blow to the British
As part of their Southern Campaign, the British set their sights on taking the vital port of Charleston.
On May 29, 1780, British commander Banastre Tarleton engaged and overwhelmed a Patriot force under the command of Abraham Buford in a dreadful defeat for the Patriots.
During the British occupation of Charleston in 1781, these grounds were part of a British outpost to supply ammunition and provisions to patrolling British troops.