The Combee River Raid
Harper’s Weekly illustration of the Combahee River Raid, June 1–2, 1863.
The Combahee River Raid took place on June 1–2, 1863, along the Combahee River in Beaufort and Colleton counties, South Carolina, during the American Civil War. This Union military operation sought to remove Confederate torpedoes (mines) from the river, seize supplies, destroy plantations, and liberate approximately 700 enslaved people. Many of those who escaped used their deep knowledge of the river and surrounding waterways to guide the raid and their own flight to freedom. They referred to themselves as “Combee,” a historical spelling and pronunciation linked to the Combahee (Cusabo) people and the river that bears their name.
Descendant Communities of Colleton
The regions surrounding the Combahee River are home to resilient Afro-Indigenous and Indian descendant communities deeply connected to the Combee heritage. These historic settlements represent a vital cultural landscape where ancestral traditions and contemporary community life intersect within the South Carolina Lowcountry.
Ritter, SC
A coastal settlement known for its deep Afro-Indigenous roots, Ritter serves as a vital guardian of Cherokee cultural traditions and ancestral land stewardship.
Broxton, SC
Centrally located near the Salkehatchie, Broxton is a hub for Indian descendant families whose connection to the Lowcountry landscape is woven into the fabric of the Salkehatchie Yamassee community .
Combahee, SC
Rooted in a legacy of resilience, the Combahee community honors the profound Afro-Indigenous history that has flourished along the river's sacred banks for generations.