Lefebvre's Charles Town expedition

Lefebvre's Charles Town expedition (September 1706) was a combined attempt of France and Spain to capture Charles Town (now Charleston), capital of England's Province of Carolina, during Queen Anne's War. This was part of the larger War of the Spanish Succession.

The attack was mainly planned by France and started from Havana, Cuba. After stopping at St. Augustine for more troops, they reached Charles Town in early September. One ship, Brillant, got separated while chasing a privateer ship. Governor Nathaniel Johnson called the militia when he heard the enemy was approching. Troops landed near Charles Town were quickly pushed back. The militia, led by Colonel William Rhett, captured the Brillant which arrived after the other ships had already left.

Background
When the War of the Spanish Succession started in 1702, English Carolina attacked Spanish Florida but failed to take St. Augustine. They then destroyed many Spanish-Indian settlements in northern Florida. The French in Mobile worried they might be attacked next.Gallay, p. 151

In 1704, Florida's governor talked with a French captain about attacking Carolina for revenge, but nothing happened.TePaske, p. 117 Pierre LeMoyne d'Iberville, who had raided English colonies before, planned a big attack in 1703. He wanted French and Spanish ships to meet in Havana then attack Charles Town. The attack would be paid for by demanding money from other English colonies. France's king agreed in late 1705 and gave ships and troops, but d'Iberville had to pay for supplies.Crouse, p. 251

Prelude
Two small French fleets left France in January 1706 with 12 ships and 600 troops.Crouse, pp. 251–252 They stopped in the West Indies to get more troops at Martinique,Crouse, p. 252 and d'Iberville attacked English-held Nevis. Then d'Iberville sent some ships away and went to Havana.Higginbotham, p. 238 He tried to get Spanish help, but yellow fever was spreading there. The Spanish governor died on July 6, and d'Iberville died on July 8.Higginbotham, p. 284 Before dying, he put Captain Jacques Lefebvre in charge.Higginbotham, p. 285


Lefebvre left Havana with 5 ships, 300 French soldiers led by General Arbousset, and 200 Spanish volunteers led by General Esteban de Berroa.Gallay, p. 152Pezuela, p. 24Marley, p. 250 They stopped at St. Augustine, where the governor gave them a 6th ship, 30 more soldiers, and about 50 Christian Native Americans.

The fleet left St. Augustine on August 31. The Brillant chased a privateer ship and got separated from the others. The privateer warned Governor Johnson, who called the militia. About 900 militia men came, though many people were sick with yellow fever. Johnson put Lieutenant Colonel William Rhett in charge of troops on James Island, which protected the harbor. The militia also prepared some ships, including a fire ship. Snowden, p. 145

The Attack
The Spanish fleet arrived on September 4 (August 24 in England's old calendar). Without the Brillant, Lefebvre's ships entered the harbor on September 7. The next day, he demanded 50,000 Spanish pesos or he would destroy Charles Town. Governor Johnson refused angrily.

On September 9, the attackers landed troops in two places. About 160 men raided farms near Charleston neck but left when militia boats came. A smaller group landed on James Island but also retreated.Jones, p. 9 That night, Johnson sent Rhett with 100 men to check on the neck. At dawn on the 10th, they surprised the raiders, who ran away. About 60 were caught, 12 were killed, and 1 defender died.Jones, p. 10Simms, p. 82 On September 11, Rhett sailed out but found the enemy ships had gone.Snowden, p. 146

The Brillant arrived on September 12, not knowing the attack had failed. Its captain had gone too far north before turning back. General Arbousset landed troops east of Charles Town, but the Brillant was captured. Arbousset surrendered after 14–30 of his men were killed. About 90-100 Native American prisoners were sold as slaves.

Aftermath
Carolina declared October 17 a day of thanks for their victory.Jones, p. 6 They sent about one third of the prisoners to Virginia to be sent to England, but the ships had already left. Virginia was unhappy about having to keep them.Jones, p. 5

After this attack, Carolinians led Native American raids that attacked Pensacola, one of Spain's last Florida forts.Crane, p. 88 They also tried to attack Mobile, but French diplomacy and false rumors of another attack stopped them.Crane, pp. 89–91

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Category:Conflicts
Category:History of South Carolina
Category:Battles of the American Revolutionary War