Holding Charleston by the Bridle

""Well researched, detailed, and profusely illustrated, this volume represents the first full history of a key cog in the city of Charleston's network of fortifications, finally allowing it to emerge from beneath nearby Fort Sumter's prodigious shadow.""-- ""Civil War Books and Authors"" ""Holding Charleston by the Bridle: Castle Pinckney and the Civil War provides an in-depth and readable history of this often overlooked fort, while simultaneously highlighting the difficulties of preserving historic coastal fortifications and calling the reader to action to take part in said preservation. It accomplishes these tasks handsomely, shedding light on an oft-sidelined position, the challenges it faced as an active installation, and the challenges faced in maintaining it today.""-- ""Emerging Civil War"" ""Holding Charleston by the Bridle, a history of Castle Pinckney in Charleston Harbor, is remarkable for its thoroughness and detail. It not only tells the history of the fort but is a treasure trove of biographical information about all the men and women who were there since the early 1800s. It is a must-read for Civil War buffs. This is undoubtedly the definitive history of Castle Pinckney.""--Robert N. Rosen, author of A Short History of Charleston and Confederate Charleston ""As a lad sailing in Charleston Harbor, my first close view of Castle Pinckney was of a brooding structure that gave few clues of its purpose. The 'no trespassing' signs surrounding the island amplified the mystery of the place. Isolated and cut off from the curious, so close and yet far from Charleston's shores, the mystery just seemed to grow over the years. As a long-serving volunteer at Fort Sumter, I have passed the structure thousands of times, hard-pressed to say anything interesting to a curious visitor other than it is 'older than Sumter.' Thanks to a Herculean effort by Cliff Roberts and Matthew Locke, the veil has been lifted, the mysteries revealed. They document both the structure and the human side of Pinckney, revealing its rich tapestry of life and love, tragedy and joy, pride and folly--all in context with Charleston's rich history. Had Holding Charleston by the Bridle been available 50 years ago, different decisions about preserving the structure would have been made; no longer can it be uttered that 'nothing of significance occurred there.' This engaging and well-documented history is the authoritative resource we have been lacking.""--Dr. Russell Horres, volunteer interpretive guide and researcher for the National Park Service since 2001 and author of Morris Island and the Civil War: Strategy and Influence ""Before the construction of Fort Sumter, three fortifications protected Charleston from an attack from the sea: Fort Moultrie at the harbor's entrance on Sullivan's Island, Fort Johnson on James Island, and Castle Pinckney about a mile from the city in the mouth of the Cooper River on Shute's Folly Island. Pinckney's guns provided the last significant line of defense from an enemy naval force. Pinckney is no longer overshadowed by the events at the other forts, all because of the publication of Holding Charleston by the Bridle by Cliff Roberts and Matthew Locke. By researching an impressive number of primary and secondary sources, they have produced the first in-depth history of this vital link in the defense of Charleston and the nation. It fills a large gap in the historiography of the city, the nation's seacoast defenses, and the Civil War.""--Richard W. Hatcher, III, Historian (Ret.), Fort Sumter Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, and author of Thunder in the Harbor: Fort Sumter and the Civil War