USA > South Carolina > Documentary history of the American revolution: consisting of letters and papers relating to the contest for liberty, chiefly in South Carolina, from originals in the possession of the editor, and other sources, V.2 > Part 2
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The enemy made three attempts to land on the north of Sullivan's during the cannonade, but were each time repulsed without any loss on our side. Let Mr. Baker have this letter after you have read it, and when he has seen it, you can order the boy to bring it to you, or send it to Mr. Piercy, if an opportunity can be had.
The house looks melancholy without you, pray come down. You can retreat time enough. I long to see you, and am
Your very affectionate husband,
BARNARD ELLIOTT.
GEN. C. C. PINCKNEY TO HIS MOTHER.
THE BATTLE OF FORT MOULTRIE.
[Original MS.]
FORT JOHNSTON, June 29, 1776.
I am sure my honored Mother must be anxious to know the event of yesterday's cannonade. I therefore take the earliest opportunity of acquainting her with the particulars of it. As my station was at Fort Johnston, and the whole of the engagement was at Sullivan's Island, I was only a spectator, though I and every man here declared they longed earnestly to have been there, to have partaken the honor and danger with their fellow soldiers.
Yesterday, about eleven o'clock, the Bomb Ketch, and a ship-of-war, came up from Five-Fathom Hole, and a signal was fired from the Com- modore for the other ships of war to weigh anchor. At about half' after eleven, the Ketch began to favor Sullivan's Island with some bombs. I could distinctly see many of them burst in the air. Five fell in the Fort at Sullivan's Island, but did no other damage than
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slightly wounding one man. The Solebay, of 28 guns, who was ahead of the line, received a shot from the Island, and immediately returned it with her whole broadside. The enemy then formed in two lines to attack the Fort on Sullivan's Island. In the first line the Bristol, of 50 guns, the Solebay, of 28, the Active, of 28, and a 40 gun vessel, which I am told is called the Roebuck, (I am not sure of her name, but certain of her strength, for [ could plainly see her guns.) In the second line was the Syren, of 28, and two other frigates, whose names I do not know; behind them were the Bomb Ketch, and a heavy hulk of a vessel something like our Prosper.
A brisk and heavy cannonading was kept up at first, both from the ships and the Fort. Some shot from the Fort put their second line into disorder, and carried away the bowsprit of one of the frigates ; and as they were near that bank of sand which runs out from the Fort towards Sulli- van's Island, and then turns towards Cummins' Point (called the Lower Middle), the two ships, whose names I do not know, rau aground there. The first line of the enemy appeared to us at this place to be about six or seven hundred yards from the Island, but from them I hear they were within 500 yards. All the 26 pounders were pointed at the Bristol, and about two hours after the cannonading began, she received so much damage that she was obliged to draw back, but still continued to fire, though not so briskly as before. At about three o'clock the Fort had expended all its ammunition, (it had thirty odd rounds to each gun, and thirty-two guns.) The shipping still kept up a heavy cannonade; the Fort could not return it. In about two hours they got a supply of 200 lbs. of gunpowder from Tufts', and 500 lbs. from Haddrell's Point. They fired again, but slowly, and with great judgment. Night came on, and the cannonading still continued on both sides, and the greatest number of our shot (if we may judge from the noise they made against the sides of the ships) took place, but the ships fired near fifty for one. A little after nine o'clock, the ships thought they were sufficiently battered, and ceased firing; and half after nine began to work down again to their old station in Five-Fathom Hole. One of the ships which ran aground got off again, the other (at least a twenty-gun ship) stuck fast there. Upon being fired at from the Island this morning, she re- turned the fire; the Island fired again. The men then that were on board her loaded all their guns, set her on fire, got into her boats, leav- ing all the colors Rying aboard the ship, and rowed off to the rest of the fleet. When she burnt down to her cannon, she gave a noble discharge. A boat from the Island went on board of her, and brought away her Jack. She is now almost burnt down to the water's edge; in a little
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THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
while we shall scarcely see the remains of her. The ships that warped off must have received considerable damage, as in general the shot from the Island was exceedingly well placed. The Bristol's mizen mast is this moment fallen down, doubtless in consequence of the shot she got yes- terday. " Several parts of the ships, and some parts of the cabin, have floated up to town, so that I believe they have met with a reception they little expected. The officers and men at the Island I am informed, behaved with the greatest bravery; and notwithstanding so heavy a cannonade for ten hours, we had but ten men killed and twenty-two wounded. There were only Moultrie's Regiment, consisting of about 350 men, and thirty of Roberts' Artillery, in the Fort. The officers behaved nobly, and pointed every gun themselves; and what is remark- able, though there was not a man killed but what was close to an officer, yet only Lieut. Gray was slightly wounded by a splinter from a carriage in his thigh, and a spent ball on his breast. Lieuts. Hall and Mazyek received two contusions in their faces. The first man that was killed was a Corporal of Grenadiers. The rest of the men who belonged to his gun immediately threw him off the platform with their handspikes, crying out, " Revenge, let us revenge our comrade's death !" and imme- diately returned to their gun with the greatest eagerness.
The enemy shot away the flag staff, with our colors. A grenadier immediately ran through a shower of grape shot, and stuck up the colors on a pike. One McDonald, a sergeant in Capt. Frank Huger's Company, being mortally wounded, as they were carrying him away, cried out, " I am killed my brethren, but don't let liberty expire with me !" While this happened at the end of Sullivan's Island, where this Fort is, the enemy, whose troops are on Long Island, attempted to pass over to that end of Sullivan's Island which was nearest them, but re- ceived so warm a reception from Thompson's Rangers, the Virginia Riflemen, some of the North Carolina troops, a few of the Militia, and an eighteen pounder that we had there, that they were obliged to re- treat, without wounding so much as one of our men. The enemy's loss in men must have been considerable, as our shots were chiefly levelled at the hull of the ships. The transports lay in Five-Fathom Hole during the whole engagement. I assure you I never saw men in higher spirits than ours were during the whole cannonade; and though from our station here we were unfortunate enough to be out of it, there was not a man but was wishing most earnestly to be there.
The Fort, though well peppered with shot, has received scarcely any damage, not a single breach being made in it, nor did the Palmetto logs, of which it is built, at all splinter. The powder room on board
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the burning frigate, has this instant blown up. You cannot conceive what a noble column of smoke it makes till it loses itself among the highest clouds.
My brother is well. Pray give my love to my sister and Dan, and compliments to Mrs. Elliott, and the ladies at Sandy Hill. I remain, Your dutiful son, CHARLES COTESWORTH PINCKNEY.
BATTLE OF FORT MOULTRIE.
[MS. of William Henry Drayton.]
JUNE 28, 1776.
Only 470 men to sustain the attack at the advance guard from Clinton. At five in the afternoon they were re-inforced by 700 Continen- tals. At ten, bare of ammunition ; only one cartridge in the 18 pounder, and one out, and only two or three charges for the two field pieces. After being reduced to this state, the enemy continued firing more than an hour. Lee had been so dissatisfied with Moultrie's conduct, that he had determined to supersede him in the command of the Fort; and leaving the President on the morning of the action, he told him he was determined to do it that day if he did not, on his going down, find certain things done that he had ordered.
4.600 Ibs. at the beginning.
300 lbs. from Haddrell's and Tuffts' about five o'clock.
200 lbs. from town in the night -none of this fired.
When left off firing at night, had 13 cartridges-that is, 144-so that 4,766 lbs. were expended, and about 600 shot.
From three to five, had no powder, but a few cartridges for grape shot, in case the enemy attempted to land. Lee came about five o'clock, when the first of the supply of powder arrived, the General having some hours before sent word by an aide-de-camp that a supply would be sent. He stayed about a quarter of an hour. Ten killed and twenty-two wounded. Commodore and Experiment lay within 480 yards, the others about 550 yards. These five engaged instantly-the Bomb covered by the Friend- ship, and two on shore. Two hours after the engagement began, orders arrived from General Lee that when the powder was expended, to spike the guns and evacuate the Fort. The day he arrived there were 1,200 on the Island, but he soon reduced them to about 600, and averred in public, before the men and officers, that the Fort could not hold out half an hour, and that the platform was a slaughtering stage.
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NARRATIVE BY THOMAS BENNET, OF COL. DONNELSON'S MASSA- CHUSETTS REGIMENT, DANIEL HAWKINS, OF BOSTON, ROBERT SCOTT AND EDMOND ALLSTON, OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND JAMES SCOTT, OF VIRGINIA-AMERICANS TAKEN BY THE ENEMY AT SEA, AND DESERTERS FROM THE FLEET, WHICH ATTACKED AND WAS REPULSED FROM SULLIVAN'S ISLAND, JUNE 28, 1776.
[Original MS.]
Bristol, 50 guns, Sir Peter Parker, Commodore; Experiment, 50 guns, twelve-pounders, on two decks; Solebay, 28 guns; Active, 28 guns; Acteon, 28 guns; Syren, 28 guns ; Sphinx, 20 guns; Thunder Bomb; Friendship an hired vessel, 20 guns.
The Bristol, greatly damaged in her hull, large knees and timbers shot through, and if the water had not been very smooth, it would have been impossible to have saved her from sinking. Her mizen mast was shot away-three shot in her main mast, which is badly wounded --- two shot in her fore mast-rigging, sails and yards much damaged. The Captain of the Commodore lost his arm above the elbow. He was sent yesterday, June 30, to England. The Commodore's breeches were torn off, his backside laid bare, his thigh and knee wounded. Forty- four men killed and thirty wounded, of which twenty are since dead. When lightened as much as possible she draws 18 feet 7 inches.
Experiment exceedingly damaged in her hull. Killed fifty-seven, including the captain, and thirty wounded. When lightest, draws 17 feet.
In coming up, the Sphinx and Acteon got on ground. The Sphinx cut away her bowsprit and got off. The Acteon was burnt next day by her own people; and while she was on fire, Lieut. Milligan boarded her, and brought off her colors, bell, and as many sails as three boats could hold.
The Thunder Bomb lay at a considerable distance, covered by the Friendship and Syren, the first throwing shell, and the two others firing briskly shot ricochet at the Fort. The Thunder, by overcharg- ing, is so much damaged, as to require being docked before further service.
The whole fleet badly manned and sickly, particularly the Syren; at two-third short allowance; no fresh meat since their arrival, June 1.
Lord Wm. Campbell had been very anxious for the attack, and pro- posed to be sent with the Syren and Solebay to take all the Forts.
The Pilot Sampson much caressed by the Commodore. When the
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fleet sailed, there were about 4,000 land forces, but eleven transports had been separated from the rest, and had not been heard of.
Between nine and ten at night, the squadron, slipping their anchors, dropt down from before the Fort.
About two o'clock, when the Fort was silent, and waiting for a supply of powder, some of the men-of-war's men, mistaking the silence for a surrender, cried out : " The Yankees have done fighting." Others re- plied, "By God, we are glad of it, for we never had such a drubbing in our lives. We had been told they would not stand two fires, but we never saw better fellows." All the common men in the fleet spoke loudly in praise of the garrison, and the seamen in general are desirous of getting on shore to join the Americans.
A deserter from Fort Johnston informed the Commodore that he had spiked up all the cannon, and that the place might be easily taken.
A report prevailed in the fleet that no quarter was to be given to the Americans, and that &5000 had been offered for Gen. Lee.
ACCOUNT OF THE ATTACK ON FORT MOULTRIE.
[The South Carolina and American General Gazette of August 2, 1776.]
CHARLES TOWN, August 2, 1776.
It having been deemed expedient that the printing presses should be removed out of town during the alarm, the publication of this Gazette has been necessarily discontinued for the last two months. As the transactions in this province during that period will probably make it a distinguished one in the American annals, we doubt not but a succinct account of them will be very acceptable to our readers.
On the 1st June, his Excellency, the President, received advices of a fleet of forty or fifty sail being at anchor about six leagues to the northward of Sullivan's Island. Accounts of the arrival of Sir Peter Parker's fleet in North Carolina, and that it was destined either for Virginia or this province, having been received about three weeks be- fore, put it beyond a doubt that this was his fleet. Next morning the alarm was fired, expresses having been sent ordering the country militia to town; che fortifications were all visited by his Excellency and Gen. Armstrong, and preparations for the most vigorous defence ordered. In the evening a man-of-war, thought to a twenty-gun ship, beat up to windward and anchored off the bar; next day she was joined by a fri-
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gate, and, on the day following, June 4, by upwards of fifty sail of men- of-war, transports, tenders, &c. We have since learned that the meri- of-war were the Bristol, of 50 guns, on board of which the Commodore had his flag; the Solebay, Capt. Symonds, 28; Syren, Capt. Furneaux, 28; Active, Capt. Williams, 28; Acteon, Capt. Atkins, 28; Sphinx, Capt. Hunt, 20; Ranger, sloop, of 8; Thunder Bomb, of 6 guns and 2 mortars-one of them thirteen inches, and the other eleven; an armed ship, called the Friendship, of 18 Guns, with some smaller armed vessels. The same day Capt. Mowat arrived from North Caro- lina, with an express from General Lee, informing that the fleet had left North Carolina, and that he would be here, as speedily as possible, with several Continental Regiments to our assistance.
A few days after the arrival of the flect. several transports and small armed vessels went to Long Island, situated to the eastward of Sulli- van's Island, from which it is separated by a small creek called the Breach, where they landed a large body of troops, who encamped there. The wind and tides being favorable for the four following days, about thirty-six vessels came over the bar, and anchored at about three miles distance from Sullivan's Island. Two of their transports got aground in coming over ; one got off, but the other went to pieces. On the 10th the Bristol came over, her guns being previously taken out.
On the 7th, a boat, with a flag of truce from the enemy, came to- wards the Island, but was fired on by an ignorant sentinel. The boat thereupon immediately put about, and would not return, notwithstand- ing the officer who was sent to receive the flag waved his handkerchief, and desired them to come ashore. Next day Col. Moultrie sent an officer to the fleet to acquaint them of the sentinel's having fired with- out orders, and that he was ready to receive anything they had to send. Gen. Clinton was satisfied with the apology, and said the intention of the flag's being sent was only to deliver the following Proclamation, which the officer brought on shore :
A PROCLAMATION BY MAJOR GENERAL CLINTON, COMMANDER OF HIS MAJESTY'S FORCES IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCES OF NORTH AMERICA, &C., &C.
Whereas, a most unprovoked and wicked rebellion hath for some time past prevailed, and doth now exist, within his Majesty's Province of South Carolina; and the inhabitants thereof, forgetting their alle- giance to their sovereign, and denying the authority of the laws and statutes of the realm, have, in a succession of crimes, proceeded to the total subversion of all legal authority, usurping the powers of Govern-
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ment, and erecting a tyranny in the hands of Congresses and Commit- tees of various denominations, utterly unknown and repugnant to the spirit of the British Constitution ; and divers people, in avowed defiance to all legal authority, are now actually in arms, waging an unnatural war against the King. And whereas, all the attempts to reclaim the infatuated and misguided multitude to a sense of their error have hitherto unhappily proved ineffectual, I have it in command to proceed forthwith against all such men, or bodies of men in arms, and against all such Congresses and Committees thus unlawfully established, as against open enemies to the State. But, considering it as a duty in- separable from the principles of humanity, first of all to forewarn the deluded people of the miseries ever attendant upon civil war, I do most earnestly entreat and exhort them, as they tender their own hap- piness and that of their posterity, to return to their duty to our common sovereign, and to the blessings of a free Government, as established by law, hereby offering, in his Majesty's name, free pardon to all such as shall lay down their arms and submit to the laws : And I do hereby require that the Provincial Congress, and all Committees of Safety, and other unlawful associations, be dissolved, and the Judges allowed to hold their Courts according to the laws and Constitution of this Pro- vince, of which all persons are required to take notice, as they will answer the contrary at their peril.
Given on board the Sovereign transport, off Charles Town, this sixth day of June, 1776, and in the sixteenth year of his Majesty's reign. H. CLINTON, Major-General. By command of Gen. CLINTON,
RICHARD REEVE, Sec.
Major-General Lee, Brigadier-General Howe, Colonel Bullet, Col. Jenifer, Otway Byrd and Lewis Morris, Esquires, aides-de-camp to General Lee, with some other gentlemen, arrived at Haddrell's Point on the morning of the 9th. After having viewed the fortifications there, and on Sullivan's and James' Islands, they came to town. Orders being given on the 10th for a number of buildings on the wharfs to be pulled down, intrenchments to be thrown up all around the town, and barricades to be made in the principal streets-every person, without distinction, were employed on these works.
On the 12th, there blew a violent storm, in which an hospital ship and the Friendship, which were at anchor on the other side of the bar, were obliged to put out to sea, but returned in a few days after. _ 1 schooner, having on board some provisions and coals, drifted a little
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way from the fleet, was taken by one of our pilot-boats, and brought to town. Her crew took to their boat on observing the pilot-boat ap- proach.
His Excellency, the President, on the 14th, proposed to the militia under arms an oath of fidelity, which was voluntarily and readily taken by every one excepting three. The next morning it was proposed to the country militia doing duty in town, and to the Artillery Companies, when it met with their unanimous assent.
A sloop from the West Indies for this port, with a cargo of gun- powder, arms, rum, &e., having, on the afternoon of the 16th, descried the fleet, attempted to make her escape; but, through the ignorance of her pilot, ran aground and bilged. Next day she was discovered by the men-of-war, and a tender, with several boats full of armed men, came towards her. The crew, being only twenty-two men, unable to cope with such a force in the situation the vessel was in, quitted her. She was soon after boarded, set on fire, and blew up with a great ex- plosion.
By some sailors who deserted from the Ranger sloop, lying near Long Island, we were informed that the land forces were about 2.800 (some say 3,300) men, under the command of Major-General Clinton, who had under him Major-General Lord Cornwallis and Brigadier-General Vaughan.
On the 21st, our advanced party at the north-east end of Sullivan's Island fired several shot at the armed schooner, Lady William, an armed sloop, and a pilot-boat, lying in the creek between Long Island and the Main, several of which hulled them. For several mornings and even- ings the enemy threw shells, and fired from some field pieces on our advanced post, but without any effect.
A large ship hove in sight on the 25th, in the morning. It was thought to be the Roebuck, but we have since learnt it was the Experi- ment, Capt. Scott, of 50 guns. Next day she came over, having her guns out:' On the day following, the 27th, between nine and ten in the forenoon, as soon as the Experiment had her guns all in, the Com- modore hoisted his topsails, fired a gun, and got under way. His ex- ample was followed by several others of the men-of-war; but a squall coming on, and the wind shifting from south-east to the opposite quar- ter, prevented their coming much nearer at that time. In the after- noon the Commodore again got under way, and came about a mile nearer Sullivan's Island.
Next morning, June 28, the following was the disposition of the ships-of-war :- The Friendship, at the distance of about a mile-and-a-
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half from Sullivan's Island, covering the Thunder Bomb, the Solebay, Sphinx, Bristol, Active, Experiment, Acteon and Syren. About half- an-hour past ten o'clock in the forenoon, the Thunder began throwing shells on Fort Sullivan, and the Active, Bristol, Experiment and Sole- bay, came boldly up to the attack, in the order their names are put down. A little before eleven o'clock, the garrison fired four or five shot at the Active, while under sail, some of which struck her. These she did not seem to regard till within about 350 yards of the Fort, when she dropped anchor and poured in a broadside. Her example was in a few minutes followed by the other three vessels, when there ensued one of the most heavy and incessant cannonades perhaps ever known. The bomb vessel was at the same time throwing shells. A firing was heard from the advanced post at the north-east end of the Island, and more vessels were seen coming up. Our brave garrison (consisting of the 2d Regiment of Provincials, a Detachment of Artillery, and some Volunteers), under all these difficulties, which to the far greater part were entirely new, encouraged by the example of their gallant Com- mander, Col. William Moultrie, and the rest of the officers, behaved with the cool intrepidity of veterans. Our cannon were well served, and did dreadful execution. About twelve o'clock the Sphinx, Acteon and Syren, got entangled with a shoal, called the Middle Ground. The two first ran foul of each other ; the Sphinx got off with the loss of her bowsprit, but the Acteon stuck fast. The Syren also got off. Much about the same time the bomb vessel ceased firing, after having thrown upwards of sixty shells. We have since learnt, that her beds got damaged, and that it will require much repairing before she is fit for service again. In the afternoon the enemy's fire was increased by that of the Syren and Friendship, which came within 500 hundred yards of the Fort.
Till near seven o'clock was the enemy's fire kept up, without inter- mission. It slackened considerably after that, and they only returned the garrison's fire, but generally twenty fold. At half after nine, the firing on both sides ceased, and, at eleven, the ships slipped their cables.
About the time the ships came up, an armed schooner and sloop came nearer our advanced post, in order to cover the landing of their troops, and every other preparation for that purpose was made-the soldiers even got into their boats, and a number of shell were thrown into our intrenchments, but did no other damage than wounding one soldier, notwithstanding which, they never once attempted to land. At the ad- vanced post were stationed Col. Thomson with his Rangers, some com- panies of Militia and a detachment of Artillery. They had one 18
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pounder and two field pieces, from which they returned the enemy's fire. They were reinforced in the afternoon with Col. Muhlenburg's Virginia Battalion.
Next morning all the men-of-war, except the Acteon, were retired about two miles from the island, which they had quietly effected under cloud of night. The garrison fired several shot at the Acteon, which she returned; but soon after her crew set her on fire, and abandoned her, leaving her colors flying, guns loaded, with all her ammunition, provisions and stores on board. They had not been long gone before several boats from the Island went to her. Lieut. Jacob Milligan, with some others, went on board, and brought off her Jack, bell, some sails and stores, while the flames were bursting out on all sides. He fired three of her guns at the Commodore. In less than half-an-hour after they quitted her, she blew up.
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