Port Royal Sound

The Island area bordering the sound from the head of the Island to Dolphin Point is the Island’s most historically rich area. It was here in 1662, just west of the mouth of Port Royal Sound, that the English Sea Captain William Hilton, sailing from Barbados, landed on his namesake. The Spanish had been here more than a hundred years earlier, but had set down their camp, Santa Elena, across the sound on what is now called Paris Island.

During the War Between the States, Hilton Head had a population nearing fifty thousand. This population was primarily the occupied forces of the North,  Freedmen, escaped slaves, and prisoners of war. In 1861 a force of more than 12000 Union troops landed on the Island and within five hours had taken control of the Southern Fort, Fort Walker. Soon the slaves from the areas more than twenty- four cotton plantations were freed. The first Freedman town was established and named Mitchellville. The Union controlled Port Royal Sound,, and set camp at Fort Howell, now the Palmetto Hall area.. Guarding the Sound and waterway the Union established a large defensive gunnery on Skull Creek, in what is presently Hilton Head Plantation. For nearly seven years there was plenty of activity on the Island, but by 1868 the occupation forces departed, and Hilton Head’s population diminished to under 2100.

Today, this area is home to three of the islands gated communities; Port Royal Plantation, Palmetto Hall, and Hilton Head Plantation. Within these gated confines are eight of the Island’s premier golf courses. Yet, in the Mitchellville area, one can still see remnants of the old Hilton Head, and the not so old. At the end of Beach City Road is the now deserted and over grown Blue Jay Field where the Island’s baseball team played. It is rumored a few balls were hit into the surf. The roads here are still dirt and there is a wonderful tree overhang  giving you a good idea of what it once was like

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HHIDirect

• Hilton Head Island, Sc

• 29928

• (843) 785-7616

• (877) 812-7007