Combahee River - History

History

Named for the Combahee Indians (pronounced Cumbee by locals) who formerly lived on this stream.

The Combahee River was made famous as the location of the Harriet Tubman Combahee River Raid, a Union raid into the interior of South Carolina June 2, 1863 which freed over 750 slaves. The bridge across the Combahee on US Highway 17 is the location today.

The Combahee River bordered and supplied the water for some of the largest, most productive rice plantations prior to the Civil War. It was also the scene of skirmishes during the Yamasee War and the Revolutionary War. It was during the Revolutionary War that the British made an attempt at foraging which the Americans headed by General Gist and Colonel John Laurens opposed, causing the loss of John Laurens' life.

The Combahee area was first settled in the 1680s. Before the Yamasee War of 1715, land was set aside for the Yamasee along several rivers including the Combahee.

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