The first meeting to draft the Ordinance of Secession (by which South Carolina led the withdrawal of the Southern states from the Union) was held at the Milton Maxey House in Beaufort, known today as the Secession House. As a result, Beaufort was an early target of the Federal forces.

South Carolina seceded from the Union on December 20, 1860. In November, 1861, a Federal fleet circled Port Royal Sound, firing at all settlements in the area. By noon of November 7th, the Confederates knew the battle for the area was lost, and fled before the Union forces. Nearly 80 Union ships had sailed from Virginia to Port Royal carrying almost 14,000 troops and laborers and 1500 horses to begin the blockade of the South. Victory that day for the Union meant freedom for 1,000 slaves on the sea islands.

Union Gen. Isaac Stevens occupied Beaufort on the evening of December 11, 1861 --less than a year after secession. Beaufort town would remain occupied by Federal forces for the rest of the war. Homes were confiscated and used by the Union for meeting places and hospitals, but never destroyed. Because of this, an uncommon amount of Beaufort’s historic beauty remains intact.


Replica Image of the Union Fleets in the Port Royal Sound