Register Now for the Battle of Purysburg Lecture on March 11, 2022

Update: 2:16 pm 28 February 2022 - All seats have been taken. If you'd like to get on a wait list (in case someone else cancels), sign up through the Beaufort History Museum's website: https://beauforthistorymuseum.wildapricot.org/event-4618214 - Grace Cordial

NOTE: 4:32pm 24 February 2022 - Registration for "Battle of Purysburg" has opened earlier than I expected through the Beaufort History Museum website- and seats are going really, really fast. Sign up asap. https://beauforthistorymuseum.wildapricot.org/event-4618214 - Grace Cordial

The Revolutionary War Battle of Purysburg [spelled with only one 'r' in the year 1779) in old Beaufort District was part of a series of military movements in 1779 to prevent the invasion of British troops into South Carolina.  British General Augustine Prevost hoped to gain support of the numerous Tories in the area and capture Fort Lyttelton near Beaufort with its 21 cannon and small garrison. Standing in opposition was Patriot General Benjamin Lincoln* who had approximately 6000 soldiers and militiamen spread along the Savannah River from the sea islands to Augusta. Who would emerge victorious? 

Watch the documentary with us at the program then ask archaeologist Rita Elliott questions about the military engagement during our next Beaufort History Museum / Beaufort County Library Local History Series lecture: 

Registration is required. Masks are encouraged inside all Library buildings. (I will be wearing one.)  

Go to the Beaufort History Museum's website and click on the Events tab for further instructions. 

The day after the lecture, there will be a free Revolutionary War Encampment at the Arsenal featuring 5th Company, 4th South Carolina Regiment re-enactors. I plan to be there part of the day to talk with visitors about some of the many Revolutionary War related materials that we have here in the Beaufort County Library. 

* Here's a fun fact for all you history nerds: For the short period between 12 March 1785 and 19 February 1791, the area roughly from present day Ridgeland to Fairfax was known as Lincoln County in honor of Gen. Benjamin Lincoln. Learn more about Beaufort District boundary changes through time with the "Boundaries" segment on the Beaufort County History Moments video series.

The map is from South Carolina: Atlas of Historical County Boundaries edited by John H. Long (1997). I prefer the printed book but I should tell you that there is an online database of this material for the entire United States at The Newberry. It can come in quite handy if you're doing genealogical and/or historical research.