Stono River

The Stono River or Creek is a tidal channel in southeast South Carolina, located southwest of Charleston. The channel runs southwest to northeast between the mainland and Wadmalaw Island and Johns Island, from north Edisto River between Johns (West) and James (East) Islands. The Intracoastal Waterway runs through southwest–northeast section of the channel.[1]

Map of the Charleston Harbor watershed showing Stono River.

The Stono River is noted for the Stono Rebellion which started on September 9, 1739. Started by slaves from West Africa, likely from the Kingdom of Kongo, it became the largest slave uprising in the British mainland colonies prior to the American Revolution.

On June 20, 1779, it was also the site of the Battle of Stono Ferry during the American Revolution.

And the Stono River, played a role in the 1861-1865 American Civil War. On January 30, 1863, men from the Confederate side were able to capture the Union side's steamer USS Isaac Smith on which 8 men died and a further 17 were wounded in crossfire.