We are heading back to 1776 for an important battle in South Carolina history. It’s June in the order book of the 4th regiment that we have been following, and it’s just a few days before the Battle of Sullivan’s Island in Charleston. The troops are preparing because they know that the British are planning an attack and, in fact, have already begun landing on today’s Isle of Palms. In this episode, we'll get a first-hand account of the battle and the days following the Americans' surprising victory.

We talk with Christina Butler about her latest project, a report and exhibit for the Powder Magazine and the SC250 Commission on the British occupation of Charleston from 1780 to 1782. Christina is Dean and Chair of General Education at the American College of the Building Arts, where she also teaches. She owns Butler Preservation, a company that does preservation planning and historic property research. And, if that wasn’t enough, she’s authored several books.

Our conversation covers what life looked like for Charlestonians during the British occupation, and how it affected those outside of Charleston as well. We talk about the lives of those who did not have as much power as those who were leading troops, and how stated allegiances of patriot or loyalist may have been different depending on who was in charge in the city.

In March of 1776, the Patriots in South Carolina were preparing for a British attack – and as know now, one is coming at the end of June. In this episode, we explore the Fourth Regiment Order Book in the weeks leading up to the Battle of Sullivan's Island.