Coosawhatchie, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Coosawhatchie is an unincorporated community located in Jasper County, South Carolina
at the northern head
of the Broad River
. It served as the headquarters for General Robert E. Lee
during the early part of the American Civil War
. It is accessible from Interstate 95
via Exit 28.
and their word for river, hatchie. A sub-group of the Muskogees, they spoke a mixture of the Muskogee
and Koasati language
s. Located on the King's Highway
that stretched from Boston
to Charleston
, Coosawhatchie was settled by trappers in the 1740s. The original town grew around a store owned by rice
planter brothers, Henry and Daniel DeSaussure. During the Revolutionary War
in 1779 much of the town was burned by British troops. It became the seat of Beaufort District in 1788.
In 1810, the local court of equity was relocated to Coosawhatchie. Seven years later a new courthouse was constructed in town. Designed by British architect William Jay, the two story structure remained in use until 1840 when it was moved to nearby Gillisonville. After 1840 the town declined somewhat due to the perception that its marshy terrain was unhealthy.
During the Civil War
it was the site of several small battles. Robert E. Lee
was headquartered in Coosawhatchie while he was fortifying the coastal defenses of South Carolina and Georgia
during late 1861 and early 1862. In order to protect the railroad bridge located in Coosawhatchie against Federal
gunboat
s coming up the Broad River, Lee's troops dug massive earthworks along its banks. It was in Coosawhatchie that Lee bought and named his horse Traveller
.
In 1912, Coosawhatchie became part of the newly created Jasper County.
, 3.8% is Hispanic
, 0.33% is Asian and 0.35% is Native American. 54.4% of inhabitants are male while 45.6% are female.
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...
at the northern head
Source (river or stream)
The source or headwaters of a river or stream is the place from which the water in the river or stream originates.-Definition:There is no universally agreed upon definition for determining a stream's source...
of the Broad River
Broad River (South Carolina)
The Broad River is a tidal channel, in Beaufort and Jasper County, South Carolina. The channel flows between mainland on the west and Port Royal and Parris Islands on the east. The Coosawhatchie River flows into the Broad River at the head. It joins Coosaw River channel Northeast and continues...
. It served as the headquarters for General Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
during the early part of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It is accessible from Interstate 95
Interstate 95
Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and serving some of the most populated urban areas in the country, including Boston, Providence, New Haven, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore,...
via Exit 28.
History
The area derived its name from its original inhabitants, the Coosaw group of Native AmericansIndigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
and their word for river, hatchie. A sub-group of the Muskogees, they spoke a mixture of the Muskogee
Muskogean languages
Muskogean is an indigenous language family of the Southeastern United States. Though there is an ongoing debate concerning their interrelationships, the Muskogean languages are generally divided into two branches, Eastern Muskogean and Western Muskogean...
and Koasati language
Koasati language
Koasati is a Native American language of Muskogean origin. The language is spoken by the Coushatta people, most of whom live in Allen Parish north of the town of Elton, Louisiana, though a smaller number share a reservation near Livingston, Texas, with the Alabama people...
s. Located on the King's Highway
King's Highway (Charleston to Boston)
The King's Highway is a route over in length in the eastern United States. It joins Charleston, South Carolina, to Boston, Massachusetts. It was named after Charles II of England, who in 1650 directed his colonial governors to build it. It did not become a continuous wagon road until 1735...
that stretched from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
to Charleston
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...
, Coosawhatchie was settled by trappers in the 1740s. The original town grew around a store owned by rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
planter brothers, Henry and Daniel DeSaussure. During the 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...
in 1779 much of the town was burned by British troops. It became the seat of Beaufort District in 1788.
In 1810, the local court of equity was relocated to Coosawhatchie. Seven years later a new courthouse was constructed in town. Designed by British architect William Jay, the two story structure remained in use until 1840 when it was moved to nearby Gillisonville. After 1840 the town declined somewhat due to the perception that its marshy terrain was unhealthy.
During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
it was the site of several small battles. Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
was headquartered in Coosawhatchie while he was fortifying the coastal defenses of South Carolina and Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
during late 1861 and early 1862. In order to protect the railroad bridge located in Coosawhatchie against Federal
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
s coming up the Broad River, Lee's troops dug massive earthworks along its banks. It was in Coosawhatchie that Lee bought and named his horse Traveller
Traveller (horse)
Traveller was Confederate General Robert E. Lee's most famous horse during the American Civil War.-Birth and war service:...
.
In 1912, Coosawhatchie became part of the newly created Jasper County.
Demographics
According to the 2000 census, Coosawhatchie has a population of 11,407. It has 4,164 households with an average household income of $30,240. 44.47% of the population is White, 51.47% is African AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 3.8% is Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
, 0.33% is Asian and 0.35% is Native American. 54.4% of inhabitants are male while 45.6% are female.
Notable residents
- James L. PetigruJames L. PetigruJames Louis Petigru was a lawyer, politician, and jurist in South Carolina. He is best known for his service as the state's Attorney General, his juridical work that played a key role in the recodification of the state's law code, and his opposition to nullification and, in 1860, state...
, politician and judge - William F. ColcockWilliam F. ColcockWilliam Ferguson Colcock was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina.Born in Beaufort, South Carolina, Colcock attended Hulburt's School, Charleston, South Carolina, and was graduated from South Carolina College at Columbia in 1823.He studied law.He was admitted to the bar in 1825 and commenced...
, politician