The British attempted the siege of Charleston in 1776 as part of an overall strategy to use the major ports of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina as bases to rally American Loyalists to defeat the Rebellion in the Southern Colonies. On the same day, the British fired heated shot into the city, burning several homes, and Lincoln felt forced to call for a parlay to negotiate terms for surrender. On June 5, Clinton sailed back to New York City, believing his presence necessary to defend against a potential Franco-American attack, leaving command of the southern theater to Lord Cornwallis, with orders to reduce opposition in North Carolina. It was expected that these Loyalists would rise against the American Patriots in large numbers. The siege of Charleston was a major engagement and major British victory, fought between March 29 to May 12, 1780, during the American Revolutionary War. Washington said, "The same Honors will be granted to the Surrendering Army as were granted to the Garrison of Charles Town."[9]. By 12 February, Clinton had landed his army 30 miles south of Charleston on Simmons Island. After repulsing an assault on Savannah by a combined Franco-American force in October 1779, the British planned to capture Charleston, South Carolina, intending to use the city as a base for further operations in the southern colonies. By the end of the eighteenth century, he had been transported back to that area on a British ship. Clinton’s command would soon support the successful British campaign to capture New York City, but its attempt to capture Charleston had failed. Meanwhile, a strategic effort led by Sir William Howe to capture the Revolutionary capital of Philadelphia had met with limited success. The spongy consistency of the palmetto logs used in the fort’s construction absorbed much of the shock of the projectiles. A squadron of Georgia loyalist dragoons (40). Casualties - American casualties were estimated to be 13+ killed. James Hogun Moultrie’s decision to concentrate firepower on the British flagship resulted in significant damage and injured Parker. [2] Following the surrender, the captured ordnance was brought to a powder magazine. The surrender left no substantial army in the South, and the colonies were wide open for a British advance. They decided to take control of Charleston Harbor,South Carolina. Some historians label the successful defense of Charleston Harbor in June of 1776 as the first major American victory of the American Revolution. Unable to force entrance into the harbor and taking significant damage as night fell, the British commanders ordered the one ship still aground burned to prevent capture, and recovered the forces that had been landed north of Sullivan’s Island. The 1776 Siege of Charleston, South Carolina, was a short but important military episode in the early years of the American Revolution. The British, following the collapse of their northern strategy in late 1777 and their withdrawal from Philadelphia in 1778, shifted their focus to the American Southern Colonies. Washington, D.C.: National Park Service, 1968. From the mansion to lush gardens and grounds, intriguing museum galleries, immersive programs, and the distillery and gristmill. An army invading from Quebec under John Burgoyne had surrendered to the Americans under Horatio Gates at the Battles of Saratoga, which inspired both the Kingdom of France and Spain to declare war on Great Britain in support of the Americans. This ended the power of an American army in the South.[3]:70. Defense of Charleston and its harbor centered on a fortification constructed of sand and palmetto logs on Sullivan’s Island. The American guns, meanwhile, damaged many British ships. Spend the day with us! Facts about the Battle of Charleston (First) Armies - American Forces was commanded by Brig. 1st Battalion of the Charles Town District Regiment of Militia (302). A company of Georgia loyalist militia (32). On June 28,1776, Sir Henry Clinton sent British troops aboard the ship Thunder to attack the Continental Army at fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island. [2], The British captured some 5,266 prisoners, 311 artillery pieces, 9,178 artillery rounds, 5,916 muskets, 33,000 rounds of ammunition, 15 Regimental colours, 49 ships and 120 boats, plus 376 barrels of flour, and large magazines of rum, rice and indigo. One prematurely fired, detonating 180 barrels of powder, further discharging 5,000 muskets in the magazine. It took place near Charleston, South Carolina, during the first British attempt to capture the city from American forces. [3], Stymied by the Fabian strategy adopted by Continental general George Washington and, under increasing political pressure to deliver victory, the British turned to launching their "Southern Strategy" to force a capitulation of the Americans. In December, the day after Christmas 1779, Clinton and his second in command Charles Cornwallis, sailed southward with 8,500 troops and 5,000 sailors on 90 troopships and 14 warships. Three other warships ran aground because Sir Henry Clinton did not realize the shallowness of the waters in the channel. New York: Savas Beatie, 2010. The Patriots’ victory helped increase support for independence among South Carolina’s population and the British did not return to the Southern Colonies in force for nearly three years. The siege of Charleston was a major engagement and major British victory, fought between March 29 to May 12, 1780, during the American Revolutionary War. The next battle of the American Revolutionary War is the Battle of Camden. Though the effects of the surrender at Charleston were substantial, the British error in strategy soon became apparent. Savas, Theodore P., and J. David Dameron. Mount Vernon is owned and maintained in trust for the people of the United States by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, a private, non-profit organization. On 25 April, civilians led by Christopher Gadsden prevented any action on Lincoln's part in withdrawing the Continental regiments. The Battle of Sullivan's Island or the Battle of Fort Sullivan was fought on June 28, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. New York: Harper Perennial. When General George Washington arrived to New York City following the expulsion of British forces from Boston in March of 1776, he dispatched Lee, a former British Regular, to assume overall command of the Patriot defense of Charleston. Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. To the American Revolutionary War index. When they returned, they approached Charleston from the landward side, avoiding Fort Moultrie, and successfully invested and captured the city and its entire Continental garrison. Instead, resistance in South Carolina degenerated into a period of chaotic guerrilla warfare in the outlying areas. Discover what made Washington "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen". American use of a fortification on Sullivan’s Island played a critical role in the victory, as the fort dominated the narrow channel into Charleston Harbor and prevented any British ships from entering. The Siege of Charleston was one of the major battles which took place towards the end of the American Revolutionary War, after the British began to shift their strategic focus towards fighting in the southern colonies. William Moultrie Stephenson, Michael. A brigade of Continental Artillery consisting of 391 guns, A brigade of Engineers (7 men, 600 slaves). Among those former slaves (known as Black Loyalists) evacuated by the British after the war was John Kizell, who had been captured as a child from the area of Sierra Leone. The American Patriots, meanwhile, well understood the importance of Charleston as the largest port and city in the Southern Colonies. Having replaced his superior as Commander-in-Chief of the American Station, Sir Henry Clinton withdrew all his forces back to New York City to reinforce the city against a possible Franco-American attack. Upon his arrival, Lee ordered the construction of additional fortifications throughout the islands and inlets around Charleston to augment Fort Sullivan. Lord Cornwallis All Rights Reserved. All three ran aground on a shoal in the harbor entrance. A detachment of Slaves employed in the Artillery batteries (154). The Washington Library is open to all researchers and scholars, by appointment only. New Acquisition District Regiment of Militia, Upper Ninety-Six District Regiment of Militia, Lower Ninety-Six District Regiment of Militia, Little River District Regiment of Militia, 1st North Carolina regiment of militia (9 known companies), 2nd North Carolina regiment of militia (9 known companies), 3rd North Carolina regiment of militia (18 known companies), 4th North Carolina regiment of militia (7 known companies), This page was last edited on 26 November 2020, at 05:08.