The Day an Unfinished Palmetto Log Fort Blew the Hell out of the Best the British Navy had to Offer.
The Battle of Sullivan’s Island, on June 28, 1776, is arguably the most important of the many momentous Revolutionary War battles fought in South Carolina. If not for the bravery of the 435 defenders of this unfinished three sided fort, the course of the Revolutionary War would have taken a drastically different turn.
Charleston was the wealthiest city in America. And, with a relatively large loyalist population and an established aristocracy, the British thought that the southern states were ripe for the picking, and they adopted a “southern strategy” early in the war. The Patriots defending Charleston, however, had different ideas, and the resulting Battle of Sullivan’s Island thwarted British activity in the state for the next four years.
Charleston sits on a peninsula formed by the Ashley River to the south, and the Cooper River to the north (these rivers meet in Charleston harbor to form the Atlantic Ocean). Anyone entering Charleston Harbor had to pass by two islands – Sullivan’s Island to the north, and then James Island to the south.
Continental Army General Charles Lee was in command of roughly 5,000 militia and continental soldiers, and in March of 1776 Col. William Moultrie was placed in charge of building a fort on the southern tip of Sullivan’s Island.
Sullivan’s Island had few natural resources. It did, however, have an abundance of Palmetto logs – and sand.
The fort was intended to be a four sided square. The seaward face of the fort was completed, built with inner and outer walls made from Palmetto logs. These walls were 16’ apart, and the interior was filled with sand. Slaves and militiamen reluctant to work beside them provided the labor. The western side, facing the city, was unfinished.
The finished walls were 20’ high with wooden plank gun embrasures. A dark blue flag with a silver crescent designed by Col. Moultrie proudly flew over the fort. The crescent was a symbol the Patriots of Charleston adopted to display their allegiance when wearing their Liberty caps.
The fort mounted 31 guns of various and assorted calibers. These guns ranged from nine pounders to a few eighteen and twenty-six pounders. Shot and powder were in short supply.
When General Lee inspected the fort shortly before the battle, he was not impressed. He ordered the fort abandoned. It was only through the intervention of Provincial Governor John Rutledge that the fort remained defended. As a compromise, half the powder was removed to prevent it from falling into British hands.
On the morning of June 28, 1776, an imposing British Armada came in to view. Previous Intelligence reports had made the Patriots aware of the impending invasion.
The British landed an army of 2,200 men on Long Island (now Isle of Palms). Long Island is located north of Sullivan’s Island, separated only by a narrow channel of water called Breech Inlet .
British intelligence had erroneously indicated that Breech Inlet could be forded at low tide. In fact, Breech Inlet is six feet deep at low tide with strong rip currents. The British soldiers were never able to cross, and the threat of an infantry attack from the landward side was negated.
The British Armada consisted of two fourth-rate ships of the line mounting 50 guns each, 6 frigates mounting 28 guns each, and one bomb ketch mounting mortars.
At dawn on June 28, as soon as the fort came in to view, the British Navy anchored. They were so sure of their superiority they saw no need to present moving targets. The battle began with the bomb ketch launching mortar shells.
Palmetto logs had never been used before to build a fort. No one really knew how they would stand up to a 32 lb. cannonball smashing in to them. As is turned out, palmetto logs are extremely effective in withstanding that impact. The soft pithy core of the logs absorbed the blows, and the fort remained intact. In the meantime, the slow and deliberate fire from the fort began to have a devastating effect on the anchored British ships.
About halfway through the battle, Sir Peter Parker, the British commander, sent three frigates into the channel on the unfinished back side of the fort. A successful foray here would have been devastating. Seemingly by the Grace of God, these ships ran aground on a sandbar that later became the site of Civil War Ft. Sumter. Disaster avoided.
The accuracy of the small and poorly supplied cannons firing from the fort was incredible. In the middle of the battle the powder that had been removed previously was rowed back – this time under heavy fire.
The British ships were being blown to pieces. Sir Peter Parker suffered an ignominious wound to his backside from a 3’ wooden splinter. William Campbell, the Royal Governor of South Carolina standing beside him, was mortally wounded. He suffered from his wound for 2 years before he died.
After a full day of bombardment, the British Navy limped away. The frigate Acton, still stuck on the sandbar, was set afire as the British left.
The indigo blue battle flag was forever immortalized in South Carolina history. During the battle the flagstaff was shot in half, giving the British hope that the fort had struck its colors. Sgt. William Jasper quickly attached the flag to a cannon ramrod and braved deadly cannon fire as he proudly proclaimed the fort’s continued resistance.
Today, in honor of the staunch defenders of the fort on Sullivan’s Island – now named Ft. Moultrie – South Carolina is known as the Palmetto state. And, our state flag is a crescent on a dark blue field – now, with a steadfast palmetto tree standing proudly in the center.
Happy Carolina Day!
Posted to Facebook 6/27/2024