Civil War Relics Unearthed in South Carolina River Cleanup

Artifacts Provide New Evidence of Union's Southern Campaign

Hundreds of Civil War relics were discovered during a $20 million cleanup of the Congaree River in South Carolina.
The artifacts, which include cannonballs, swords, and a wagon wheel, are believed to have been dumped by Union troops to demoralize Confederate forces.
The relics provide tangible evidence of Union Gen. William T. Sherman's ruthless Southern campaign toward the end of the Civil War.
One unexploded munition was demilitarized at Shaw Air Force Base, and the remaining artifacts will undergo conservation before being displayed in a few years.
The cleanup project, which also involved removing toxic tar from the riverbed, was celebrated for its early completion on Monday, November 13, 2023.