The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-06-22
THE BATTLE OF FORT MOULTRIE.
June 2sth, I776.
BY A SOUTH CARoLrNIAS.

BY A SOUTH CAROLINIAS.
That was proud array of the British
Navy, when the combined fleets of Sir
Henry Clinton and Sir Peter Parker
darEencd the horizon, in the of1ing of
Charleston harbor.
Sullivan's Island is directly in the
mouth of this harbor, and commands all
the channels leading into it. Here a
small fort of palmetto logs had been has
tily fitted up to check the advance of the
fleet. Its garrison consisted of 400 men,
mostly "backwoodsmen," under the COM
mand of Col. Moultrie. Gen. Lee, but
recently assigned to the command of the
Southern department, had inspected this
fort, and advised Gov Rutledge to recall
the garrison, "as it was nothing but a
slaughtcr-pen!" !" Gov. Rutledge prompt
ly replied that he would "sooner cut off
his right arm than sign any such order"
There were some of what we now call
"sharp-shootcrs" under Col. Thompson,
scattered over the Island, and screened
by sand mounds, blown up by the wind,
and by mystic bushes. These were to
give their attention to any land attack.
The British sent reconnoitering party
in boats to Long Island, lying just to the
north of Sullivan's and separated from it
by very narrow inlet, not more than
twelve yards wide. They visited this
inlet at low tide, and reported it favora-
BILE. Sir Henry then embarked with
$500 men in his boats, and landed on
the beach of Long Island, with much
parade. But the tide had risen some six
feet in the meantime, and when they
reached the inlet, it was impossible.
They made no effort to bridge this mar
row pass, either with their boats or other
wise, but promptly re-embarked for their
ships. Col. Thompson's men peppered
them pretty briskly with their deer-kill-
ing rifles, and they may have thought
that this, his whole force, was mere
skirmish line.
While this was going on, the lombard
ment of the fort had begun most furious
ly. Those of us who are now grey-headed
can we'll remember how our pulse quick
cned, and how our breath came thick and
short when our sircs described the inces-
SAINT roar of those English guns of heavi-
est calibre from that lowering semi-crcle
of their choicest "men of war" Their
curved line of battle was in "point-blank
range" of the low sandy beach of Sulli-
vans Island; and the elevation of Fort
Moultric was very little above the hulls
of their own vessels.
The garrison numbered 400 men, all
told, the great majority of whom had
never seen cannon before they went
there. 1t was terribly hot day-this
2Sth of June, 1776-and they retained
but little of their clothing. But while
the balls were railing upon this devoted
"pen," these grim countrymen were ply
ing their 26 guns without intermission.
Col Moultrie was leaning upon spare
palmetto log, but little above his force,
watching the effects of his guns. He,
too, was in his shirt-sleeves, and gave his
orders, still holding his short tobacco-pipe
between his teeth. One of the gunners,
aiming his piece, as he would have aimed
his rifle, made no allowance for the swell
ing of the breech, but "drew q bead"
along the upper surface. This ball struck
the water little more than half way,
and ricocheting in direct line, it struck
one of the largest vessels "amid-ships"
and for time silence her guns.
"That's the lick, boys" |" exclaimed
Moultrie, "send some more of those
bouncing balls, they make the splinters
fy"
But their ammunition began to fail,
and he was compelled, reluctantly, to
slacken his fire. The British, thinking
this an evidence of the terrible effect of
their inccssant shower of balls, only
poured in more rapid broad-sides.
There was no retreat open for this little
force, as Sullivan's Island was separated
from the main land by channel nayiga-
bic for schooncrs yet Moultric had no
thought of surrender. The fight could
only be continued by his having fresh
supply of ammunition, and this could
only be obtained from the city, some five
miles distant. Without hesitation, he
manned boat with volunteer crew, who
rowed there and back in safety through
the balls flying all around them; and
these brought goodly supply. With q
"yell," which the Confederates would
have recognized as ancestral, they re-
sumed their rapid firing, and kept their
guns as hot as prudence would permit.
They were getting hungry, too, for they
had been called to their guns after a
very early breakfast-the actual fight
began at il a. m.-and now the sun was
fast sinking behind the city. The tough,
yet spongy, fibre of the famous palmetto
logs, had really been strengthened by the
well-aimed shots, but the constant jarring
affected their nerves, as only they appre-
ciate who have realized something like
it. These eight hours of hard fighting
had affected all their senses as they never
had been before. Their ears were ring
ing from the constant and unaccustomed
explosions their eyes were almost bleared
by the quick returning flashes ofthe guns |;
their oltactories oppressed with VILLAIN
ous salt-petrc," and called for more o1y-
gen; and their taste was langlished for
the longed-for "bacon and green's" But
their hearts were unshaken, and many q
rough Joke beguiled this long protracted
trial of fortitude as well as of bravery.
There was an interludc, enabling some
of their number to fight the enemy, for a
little while, OH his own element. The
British had detached three of their ves-
sells to pass into the harbor, and, if posi-
BILE, to reach the rear of the Fort. But
they all stuck fast on the middle
ground" and soon their most earnest
efforts was to return to the front. After
much trouble, two of them succeeded in
getting off, but the third was abandoned
by her crew. Her flags were left flying,
all her guns heavily shotted, but flames
were seen beginning to burst out near her
stern. These old patriots could not stand
the temptation, and, encouraged by the
safe passage of the powder boat to and
from the city, they asked and obtained
leave to pay her flying visit: Soon
three boats, well manned, boarded her,
4;rnd hnr rnns at her own ne0nle. hauled