This early evening view of Sewee Bay was captured during an early spring visit to Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in Charleston County. Cape Romain is located off US 17 and extends from Awendaw to McClellanville.

Cape Romain was home to the Sewee Indians for over 4,000 years. When English settlers landed at Bulls Bay in 1670, the tribe welcomed them with food and supplies. However, in 1715 the relationship soured and the Sewee banded together with the Yemassee to fight the English. Most of the Sewees were killed. Surviving members were caught and sent to the Caribbean as slaves.

If you travel down Bull Creek from Sewee Bay, you will find Bulls Island, the largest barrier island within Cape Romain. The island is named for Stephen Bull, a distinguished Englishman who came to North America sometime between 1669 and 1670 aboard the frigate The Carolina. He was one of the first white people to visit the island, and he is also credited with being one of the first white settlers in South Carolina.

Incidentally, this is probably a good place to note that the island’s official name is Bull Island, not Bulls. We refer to it as Bulls because that is what most people along the South Carolina coast call it. There is no apostrophe. Kevin Godsea, Refuge Manager at Cape Romain, laughs and says, “That’s an age old question!” But like most people, he himself calls it Bulls, even though he knows it may not be technically correct.