Tag: Fort Sullivan

Who Beat the British?

Who beat the British at Fort Sullivan? According to Major Barnard Elliott of the South Carolina artillery, it wasn’t really the Americans:

The expression of a Sergeant McDaniel, after a cannon ball had taken off his shoulder and scouped out his stomach, is worth recording in the annals of America: ‘Fight on, my brave boys; don’t let liberty expire with me to-day!’ … Now, my dear wife, let us not forget to whom we are indebted for this success against our enemy. Let us return God thanks for it. It is He that does all for us — He inspires our officers and men with courage, and shields their heads in the day of battle — He is the wonderful God of victory.

It pays to remember that we’re not alone. There are so many things beyond our control that to take credit for our victories is rather arrogant.

Whether or not you believe in God, and whether or not you believe that God (or Providence, as they often said at the time) had a hand in the outcome of the American Revolution, I suggest that you think twice before taking full credit for anything that you’ve ever achieved in your life. A healthy dose of humility is good for everyone.

The Battle of Fort Sullivan

British warships bombarded Fort Sullivan, on Sullivan’s Island near Charleston, South Carolina, for hours on end, but finally had to give up and leave, worse off than when they came. This map “by an officer on the spot” shows where ships were positioned during the battle.

British General Sir Henry Clinton and Commodore Sir Peter Parker (no relation to Spiderman) led a combined army/navy attack on Fort Sullivan, at the entrance to Charleston Harbor. That is, it would have been a combined attack, but Clinton was unable to get his troops onto Sullivan’s Island, and Parker was left more or less on his own. Half a dozen of his warships pummeled the fort from late morning until after dark, but to no avail. Colonel William Moultrie and his South Carolinians gave even better than they got. The walls of the fort were made of palmetto logs and earth, which absorbed most of the enemy shot; but the American cannonballs took a heavy toll on the ships. When Parker’s vessels finally limped away late that night, they had suffered over 260 casualties, as well as damaged hulls, masts, and rigging (the Americans had only about three dozen killed and wounded). The British were sorely disappointed in their plans for conquering the rebels in the South; before long, they headed north to join the British forces amassing in New York.

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