Battle of Sullivan's Island, June 28, 1776 The Battle of
Sullivan's Island, June 28, 1776, was the mighty British navy's
first test in southern waters. Nine warships mounting nearly 270
guns (cannon) were soundly defeated by Colonel William Moultrie
and about 400 Continental soldiers defending an uncompleted
fort. The British intended to take Sullivan's Island, then use
it as a base for overcoming Charleston Harbor and the city. They
planned a two-pronged attack, with a landing force of 2,500
redcoats under General Sir Henry Clinton's army sailing with
Commodore Sir Peter Parker's men-of-war. Lord William Campbell,
South Carolina’s last royal governor, was aboard Parker’s
flagship, HMS Bristol, where he commanded a gundeck. While the
British navy pounded the fort at the south tip of the island,
troops under Clinton and Lord Charles Cornwallis would land
small boats on the Isle of Palms, cross Breach Inlet, and attack
Moultrie's garrison from the rear. Col. Moultrie was at Breach
Inlet on the morning of June 2