Colonial Forts of Saxe Gotha

Congaree Fort(1)  
(1718 - 1722), near Cayce
A SC colonial militia fort and trading post. It was palisaded with a ditch and two earthen bastions, located in the great bend of Congaree Creek, about one mile or so from the creek's mouth. Exact site undetermined. It was apparently an earthen-walled structure, except that the west side which butted against Congaree Creek was protected only by a palisade. The opposite side had a bastion at each corner and a ravelin protected the gate on the north side. A mote with a palisade planting in the bottom may have surrounded the fort on the land side. The fort served as a trading factory, agovernment Indian trading post, until 1721. The garrison's strength varied between 13 and 21. In 1722 the fort was abandoned.  A trading post later operated here after 1725.

Brown's Factory (1733 ? - 1754 ?), a trading post operated by Thomas Brown, was located nearby. Granby Village (now Cayce) was founded just north in 1733.

Fort Congaree (new)
(1748 - 1754), Cayce
A British palisaded and moated fort located about two miles north of the old Congaree Fort (1). It was built to protect against Iroquois raiders from the north. The garrison abandoned the fort to join Col. George Washington's expedition to Pennsylvania and the Ohio River, where they met their fate at Fort Necessity.

A trading post was later established here (Granby Village) in 1765 by James Chestnut and Joseph Kershaw.

Fort Granby
(Cayce Historical Museum)
(1780 - 1781), Cayce
James Cayce's two-story home (1770) and storehouse at Granby Village, captured by the British and fortified as a square redoubt with bastions, a ditch, and an abatis. Captured by Patriots in May 1781. House is now the Cayce Historical Museum at 1800 12th Street.

Hans Jacob Gallman's Fort
(1740's or 1750's), near Cayce
A settlers' blockhouse located on the north bank of Congaree Creek south of town, fortified in 1760. Also spelled Coleman.

Godfrey Dryer's Fort
(1760 - 1761), near West Columbia
A private settler's fort built during the Cherokee War. Also spelled Dreher. Located on the south side of the Saluda River about five and one-half miles west of Columbia.