Millstone Landing

Millstone Landing, located in Hardeeville, serves as the modern gateway to the site of the former frontier settlement of Purrysburg. During the Revolutionary War, this landing was a critical strategic river crossing and staging area, serving as the high-water mark for Patriot defense along the Savannah River before the British invasion of 1779.

The Strategic Hub of the Savannah River

Purrysburg was established in the 1730s as a Swiss Huguenot settlement intended to bolster the southern frontier of South Carolina. By 1779, its location made it the logical headquarters for General Benjamin Lincoln and the Continental Army of the South.

• Continental Headquarters: Lincoln used the town as a base to monitor British movements in Savannah and to coordinate the defense of the southern parishes.
• The Crossing: The landing provided one of the few reliable points where troops and supplies could be ferried across the swampy Savannah River, making it a primary objective for both sides.

The 1779 Campaign and the Maroon Frontier

The landing’s military significance culminated in the Battle of Purrysburg on April 29, 1779. A surprise attack by British Highlanders and light infantry forced the Patriot regulars under Colonel Alexander McIntosh to abandon the settlement and begin their long retreat toward Charleston.

Beyond its formal military history, Millstone Landing interprets the complex social landscape of the Revolutionary-era Lowcountry:

• Maroon Communities: The dense, nearly impenetrable swamps surrounding Purrysburg and the Savannah River were home to Maroon communities—groups of formerly enslaved people who lived in self-governed settlements.
• Wartime Volatility: During the Revolution, these communities often navigated the conflict between British and Patriot forces to maintain their independence, adding a layer of unconventional warfare to the region’s history.

Preservation and Interpretation

Today, Millstone Landing features historical markers that detail the rise and fall of the town of Purrysburg. It remains a site of quiet reflection on the “forgotten” frontier of the South Carolina Revolution, where the lives of European settlers, Continental soldiers, and freedom-seeking Maroons intersected.