▁had ▁a ▁focus ▁primarily ▁on ▁agricult ure , ▁hosting ▁several ▁slave ▁plant ations ▁prior ▁to ▁the ▁Civil ▁War . ▁▁ ▁Some ▁military ▁activity ▁took ▁place ▁here ▁during ▁the ▁Civil ▁War . ▁The ▁area ▁had ▁several ▁batter ies , ▁including ▁those ▁at ▁Fort ▁Bull ▁( near ▁present - day ▁Be es ▁Fer ry ▁Road ), ▁but ▁no ▁major ▁batt les ▁occurred . ▁Sh erman ' s ▁forces ▁did ▁burn ▁down ▁Middle ton ▁Place ▁Plant ation ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 8 6 5 ▁march ▁to ▁the ▁sea . ▁The ▁Char l eston ▁and ▁Sav ann ah ▁Railway ▁extended ▁from ▁dow nt own ▁to ▁West ▁Ash ley ▁during ▁the ▁ 1 9 th ▁century , ▁and ▁the ▁Union ▁had ▁attempted ▁to ▁cut ▁it ▁off ▁in ▁ 1 8 6 4 , ▁but ▁were ▁be aten ▁back ▁at ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Bur den ' s ▁C ause way ▁on ▁nearby ▁Joh ns ▁Island . ▁ ▁Ash ley ▁Hall ▁Plant ation ▁and ▁Magn olia ▁Plant ation ▁and ▁Gard ens ▁are ▁listed ▁on ▁the ▁National ▁Register ▁of ▁Historic ▁Places . ▁ ▁West ▁Ash ley ▁neighborhood s ▁▁▁ ▁Air ▁Har bor ▁ ▁Alb em ar le ▁Point ▁ ▁Ar d more ▁ ▁As he ford ▁Place ▁ ▁Ash land ▁Plant ation ▁ ▁Ash ley ▁Forest ▁ ▁Ash ley ▁Hall ▁Man or ▁ ▁Ash ley ▁Hall ▁Plant ation ▁ ▁Ash ley ▁Har bor ▁ ▁Ash ley ▁Tow ne ▁Land ing ▁ ▁Ash ley ville ▁ ▁Av ond ale ▁ ▁B atter y ▁Ha ig ▁ ▁Bol ton ' s ▁Land ing