Charleston

The Siege of Charleston took place from March 29 to May 12, 1780, during the American Revolutionary War. British forces, led by General Sir Henry Clinton, laid siege to the city, which was defended by American troops under General Benjamin Lincoln. The British bombarded the city for weeks, cut off supplies and reinforcements, and eventually forced the largest surrender of American troops during the war. Over 5,000 American troops were captured, making it the worst American defeat of the conflict. The city remained under British control until the end of the war.

On June 16, 1822, authorities in Charleston, South Carolina, uncovered a planned slave revolt organized by Denmark Vesey, a free Black man and former slave. Vesey had been inspired by successful slave revolts and aimed to seize control of the city, liberate slaves, and sail to Haiti for refuge. The plan involved arming slaves and attacking key locations in Charleston, but it was thwarted when an informant revealed the plot to authorities. Vesey and about 35 co-conspirators were tried and executed. The event intensified the debate over slavery and led to tighter laws against African Americans in the South.

The first shots of the American Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, on April 12, 1861. The Confederate forces in Charleston, commanded by General P.G.T. Beauregard, demanded the surrender of the Union garrison at Fort Sumter, led by Major Robert Anderson. When Anderson refused, the Confederates opened fire, marking the beginning of the Civil War. The bombardment lasted for 34 hours, after which Anderson surrendered the fort to the Confederates. This event escalated tensions between the Northern and Southern states, leading to a full-scale war.

The second battle of Fort Wagner, also known as the Assault on Fort Wagner, was fought on July 18, 1863, during the American Civil War in South Carolina and is notable for the participation of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, an African-American regiment. The regiment led the charge against the heavily fortified Confederate position on Morris Island near Charleston. Despite failing to capture the fort, the bravery of the 54th Massachusetts in the face of deadly opposition was celebrated and led to increased recognition and recruitment of African American soldiers into the Union Army.

On the night of February 17, 1865, as the Confederate forces evacuated Charleston, South Carolina, a massive fire broke out in the city. Union troops had started reoccupying the city after Confederate General Beauregard retreated. The fire destroyed much of the city, including stores, houses, and institutions, and contributed to the severe destruction Charleston faced during the Civil War. The burning of the city marked a symbolic end to Confederate control, as it was one of the last major Southern cities to fall to the Union. The fire was exacerbated by the presence of cotton bales and other flammable war materials.

Union forces entered Charleston, South Carolina, on February 18, 1865, one day after the Confederate soldiers evacuated the city. The entry of Union troops marked a significant moment in the closing months of the Civil War, as Charleston had been a focal point of Confederate resistance. The Union occupation was largely peaceful, as the city was deserted by Confederate forces. The remaining residents of Charleston, particularly African Americans, welcomed the Union soldiers as liberators. The capture of Charleston symbolized the collapse of the Confederacy's hopes, and Union troops played a crucial role in beginning the process of reconstruction.

On August 31, 1886, Charleston, South Carolina, was struck by a powerful earthquake estimated at magnitude 6.9 to 7.3. It was the most damaging earthquake to hit the southeastern United States and caused severe damage and loss of life in the region. Many buildings in Charleston were destroyed, and at least 60 people lost their lives. The earthquake was felt as far away as Boston, Chicago, and Cuba, and is considered one of the largest historic earthquakes in eastern North America. It prompted advancements in earthquake engineering and building codes in the southeastern U.S.