This image is the cover for the book Edisto Island, 1861 to 2006, Definitive History

Edisto Island, 1861 to 2006, Definitive History

This title from Charles Spencer recounts the history of Edisto Island from the Civil War to present day.


The Civil War hit Edisto Island hard. Between the mandated evacuation, Union occupation and the eventual emancipation of the slaves, the cotton plantation economy that had sustained the island fell to ruin. But this phoenix was to rise from the ashes of war to become one of the premier destinations for fun and sun on the South Carolina coast. Charles Spencer, in his second volume of Edisto history, recounts the events of the Civil War, the struggles of Reconstruction, the effects of the new freedman class and the island's rebirth as a favorite vacation spot and modern community in the twentieth century. Each chapter offers an enjoyable excursion into the past and a detailed look at the remarkable history of Edisto.

Charles Spencer

Charles Spencer is the sole proprietor of Intercultural Tours of Washington, DC, which specializes in tailored tours of the capital for international visitors sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. He holds a bachelor's degree in English from Clemson University and a master's and Ph.D. in Political Science from Vanderbilt University. He has taught at The Citadel, Vanderbilt, and Fisk University and was a Foreign Service Officer from 1966 to 1991.

The History Press