Pocotaligo is an unincorporated community located in northeastern Jasper County, South Carolina, United States, close to the border of Beaufort County. The community takes its name from the Pocotaligo River, a small tidal creek that separates Jasper and Beaufort counties. Although historically significant, Pocotaligo today primarily serves as a junction point between U.S. Highway 17, U.S. Highway 17 Alternate and U.S. Highway 21. These roads lead to Interstate 95 at Point South and Yemassee, which have over time eclipsed Pocotaligo in population and importance. Very few people live in the community today.
In colonial times, Pocotaligo was one of several villages for the Upper Yamaseetribe. As colonial development of Beaufort and the surrounding Lowcountry began to expand, tensions escalated between settlers and several Creek tribes. The colonial government sent a party of six to Pocotaligo to ask for Yamasee assistance in negotiating with the Creeks. However, the Yamasee decided on the night after the party's proposal to attack the party, killing four of the six men. That event launched the start of the Yamasee War, the most serious challenge to colonial rule in South Carolina's history. Pocotaligo was eventually taken over by settlers, who established a bridge over the creek and allowed the community to be an important stop along the overland route between Charleston and Savannah.
Civil War
Prior to the Civil War, Pocotaligo became an important stop on the Charleston and Savannah Railway, with a depot located about one mile northwest of the settlement. When hostilities began in 1861 and the Federal capture of the Beaufort area in the Battle of Port Royal, control of the railway became an objective in disrupting the Confederate economy. Pocotaligo was the closest depot to Port Royal Island and was a sought-after target for Union troops to disrupt rail service. For a short time in 1862, General Robert E. Lee was assigned to South Carolina to protect the railway, establish defensive units, and prevent Union incursion onto the mainland from the Sea Islands. Periodic raids were attempted by Union forces to attack the railway at Pocotaligo, of which, the most serious one was deflected in October 1862. Pocotaligo fell to General William Tecumseh Sherman in early 1865 shortly after his army's capture of Savannah in Christmas 1864.
Post Civil War
Pocotaligo's status as a rail depot declined shortly after the Port Royal Railroad was finished in 1870 with Yemassee as its established junction depot with the Charleston and Savannah Railway. The creation of U.S. Highway 17 in the 1930s brought some economic vitality back to the community for a few decades, but the opening on Interstate 95 and the creation of Point South as a travelers' commercial center brought further economic decline. Beyond a few historic markers and residences, very little of the community remains today.
^Carter, Lori (1988-10-01). "John Postell Williamson (1778-1843)". Savannah Biographies.
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External links
Pocotaligo historic marker
April 28, 2023
pocotaligo, south, carolina, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Pocotaligo South Carolina news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Pocotaligo is an unincorporated community located in northeastern Jasper County South Carolina United States close to the border of Beaufort County The community takes its name from the Pocotaligo River a small tidal creek that separates Jasper and Beaufort counties Although historically significant Pocotaligo today primarily serves as a junction point between U S Highway 17 U S Highway 17 Alternate and U S Highway 21 These roads lead to Interstate 95 at Point South and Yemassee which have over time eclipsed Pocotaligo in population and importance Very few people live in the community today Pocotaligo South CarolinaPocotaligoShow map of South CarolinaPocotaligoShow map of the United StatesCoordinates 32 38 14 N 80 51 48 W 32 63722 N 80 86333 W 32 63722 80 86333 Coordinates 32 38 14 N 80 51 48 W 32 63722 N 80 86333 W 32 63722 80 86333CountryUnited StatesStateSouth CarolinaCountyJasperElevation13 ft 4 m ZIP code29445Area code s 843 854 Contents 1 History 1 1 Colonial 1 2 Civil War 1 3 Post Civil War 2 Transportation 3 Notable people 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditColonial Edit In colonial times Pocotaligo was one of several villages for the Upper Yamasee tribe As colonial development of Beaufort and the surrounding Lowcountry began to expand tensions escalated between settlers and several Creek tribes The colonial government sent a party of six to Pocotaligo to ask for Yamasee assistance in negotiating with the Creeks However the Yamasee decided on the night after the party s proposal to attack the party killing four of the six men That event launched the start of the Yamasee War the most serious challenge to colonial rule in South Carolina s history Pocotaligo was eventually taken over by settlers who established a bridge over the creek and allowed the community to be an important stop along the overland route between Charleston and Savannah Civil War Edit Prior to the Civil War Pocotaligo became an important stop on the Charleston and Savannah Railway with a depot located about one mile northwest of the settlement When hostilities began in 1861 and the Federal capture of the Beaufort area in the Battle of Port Royal control of the railway became an objective in disrupting the Confederate economy Pocotaligo was the closest depot to Port Royal Island and was a sought after target for Union troops to disrupt rail service For a short time in 1862 General Robert E Lee was assigned to South Carolina to protect the railway establish defensive units and prevent Union incursion onto the mainland from the Sea Islands Periodic raids were attempted by Union forces to attack the railway at Pocotaligo of which the most serious one was deflected in October 1862 Pocotaligo fell to General William Tecumseh Sherman in early 1865 shortly after his army s capture of Savannah in Christmas 1864 Post Civil War Edit Pocotaligo s status as a rail depot declined shortly after the Port Royal Railroad was finished in 1870 with Yemassee as its established junction depot with the Charleston and Savannah Railway The creation of U S Highway 17 in the 1930s brought some economic vitality back to the community for a few decades but the opening on Interstate 95 and the creation of Point South as a travelers commercial center brought further economic decline Beyond a few historic markers and residences very little of the community remains today Transportation EditThe western intersection of U S Highway 17 with U S Highway 21 is located in Pocotaligo Interstate 95 is located one mile to the west at Point South Notable people EditJonathan Bryan landowner who assisted James Edward Oglethorpe in the formation of the colony of Savannah Georgia John Postell Williamson mayor of Savannah 1 See also EditYamasee War Battle of Port RoyalReferences Edit Carter Lori 1988 10 01 John Postell Williamson 1778 1843 Savannah Biographies This section is empty You can help by adding to it December 2012 External links EditPocotaligo historic marker Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pocotaligo South Carolina amp oldid 1084781614, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
