Fort Moultrie, SC
People
8 historical figures connected to Fort Moultrie during the Revolutionary War.
Patriots & Founders
John Rutledge
1739–1800
President (Governor) of South Carolina in 1776 who supported the decision to defend Fort Sullivan against advice from Continental commanders. His political leadership before and during the battle helped maintain the Patriot cause in South Carolina through the difficult years ahead.
Christopher Gadsden
1724–1805
South Carolina Patriot leader and designer of the Gadsden Flag — the rattlesnake banner — who was a leading advocate for South Carolina's defense in 1776. He was present during the preparations for the Fort Sullivan defense as one of the colony's most prominent Patriot figures.
Other Figures
General Henry Clinton
1730–1795
British general who commanded the land force intended to attack Fort Sullivan from Long Island. His troops discovered the crossing channel was impassable at the planned depth and could not support the naval bombardment. Clinton returned in 1780 with a completely different approach and captured Charleston.
Commodore Sir Peter Parker
1721–1811
Royal Navy commodore who commanded the British fleet during the June 28, 1776 bombardment of Fort Sullivan. His flagship HMS Bristol was hit more than 70 times. Parker himself was wounded when a fragment tore away part of his clothing. The fleet withdrew having failed completely.
Colonel William Moultrie
1730–1805
South Carolina colonel who commanded the garrison at Fort Sullivan on June 28, 1776. His calm conduct during the British bombardment and his effective direction of the fort's artillery made the victory possible. The fort was renamed Fort Moultrie in his honor.
Sergeant William Jasper
1750–1779
South Carolina soldier who climbed over Fort Sullivan's ramparts under British cannon fire on June 28, 1776 to recover the regimental flag after its staff was shot away and reattach it to a cannon sponge staff. His act became one of the most celebrated stories of personal courage in the Revolutionary War.
General Charles Lee
1732–1782
Eccentric Continental general who commanded American forces in the south in June 1776. He initially opposed the decision to defend Fort Sullivan, considering it indefensible. When Moultrie's defense succeeded, Lee's objections were forgotten. He was captured by the British in New Jersey six months later.
Brigadier General Francis Marion
1732–1795
South Carolina partisan commander who was coordinating with Greene during the Camden campaign. Marion's operations in the lowcountry during the Hobkirk's Hill period cut British supply lines into Camden and contributed to Rawdon's decision that the post was untenable.