"Robbers Row"

Number 17, Robbers Row, was the business address of the U.S. Customs House, where much business was done behind this modest facade. Dozens of ships entered the port monthly from as far away as Boston. There was often an overwhelming temptetion to sell some of the merchandise on the black market to the Confederates.

When this picture was taken, October 27, 1854, Admiral Dahlgren was assembling ships to support Sherman's March to the sea. Many of these ships can be seen at anchor beyond the Boat Repair Shop. He sent a naval detachment from Hilton Head early on Tuesday, November 27, in keeping with the probable arrival date of General Sherman on the coast south of Savannah.

As ex-slaves flocked to Hilton Head from mainland and sea island plantations in 1862, the village of Mitchelville was built between Fort Welles, ( formerly Fort Walker ), and Fort Howell to house them. Government sawmills turned huge quantities of pine siding and beams from the island timber. These long, low barracks-like structures featured communal bathrooms and kitchens.

"Rufugee Quarters" were built with Government money to house the newly-freed slaves who came by the hundreds to Hilton Head. These gray, weather-boarded duplexes were by no means luxurious, but were scenically located.

Note the wide porches overlooking Port Royal Sound
The tallest building on historic Hilton Head was the four story Port Royal House, not a fancy establishment, but open to the public, serving meals that were a good deal better than the rations a man got aboard ship. It was home away from home for the correspondents of the various northern newspapers who regularly reported the island activities.

Pictured is a section of "Union Square", with Adams Express Office on the left and the "New South " Printing Office" on the extreme right flanking the U.S. Post Office. Hilton Head Island was officially named Port Royal, S.C. from 1862 to 1872. Perhaps from nostalgia, John Sears, the island Post Master, called the space in front of it "Union Square".

The artist sketched this scene only a day or two after the Battle of Port Royal, November 7, 1861. The building in the background is the 1806 Pope House in its orininal form. A signal tower was later added. This camp area later became the heart of Commissary operations after the T-dock was built.

Looking across Port Royal Sound from the signal tower on Squire Pope's Coggins Point Plantation House, with Commissary buildings and Officers Quarters on the left, and the 1200 foot Army wharf on the right. Tugs can be seen in the background hauling supplies from the wharf to ships anchored offshore.

Pictured here is the big T-dock extending 1200 feet into Port Royal Sound, over which moved thousands of tons of supplies for the blockading U.S. Naval squadrons along the Atlantic coast, and for the ground forces garrisoning Hilton Head Island and the rest of the Department of the South.

Looking toward the Atlantic from the signal tower on the Pope house, with ordnance stores on the left and Fort Welles, (formerly, Fort Walker), in the middle distance. Note the disassembled cannons in the foreground awaiting assignment aboard a Union warship. A railroad spur was constructed to move supplies to the end of the dock and westward to Seabrook Landing on Skull Creek.

Before and during the Civil War, baseball was becoming extremely popular. On Hilton Head Island the soldiers and civilians found the game to be an excellent diversion for both players and the fans. In fact, baseball became so popular that an estimated 40,000 fans attended the Championship of Hilton Head on Christmas Day, 1862. No score was reported, but the Forty-eighth regiment of New York was the victor.

Beach houses almost identical to the headquarters of the Post Commander of Hilton Head, Department of the South, can still be seen at some old New Jersey resort areas. Major General David Hunter seemed to be carried away by the ease of life at Hilton Head. He sent for his wife and practiced his pistol daily on the beach in front of his quarters.

Pictured here is Goverment Sawmill Number One on Hilton Head Island. The lumber from this mill was used to construct military structures, as well as government housing in nearby Mitchelville for the newly freed slaves. It took plenty of manpower and horsepower to run a sawmill in 1864. Note the logging cart at the right.

The Confederate ironclad, "Atlanta", seen here after her capture by Union forces, represented the last effort by the Confedercy to break the blockade of the Port of Savannah. Upon her surrender, two Federal vessels escorted her to Hilton Head where the survivors of her 165 man crew were put in the prisoners-of-war stockade, or if wounded, were taken ashore to the 200 bed general hospital.

At South Port Royal Drive and Beach House Drive
Coordinates : 32.219908,-80.67118