3
February 1779 A.D. GEN
William Moultrie Successfully Defends Port Royal, SC from British Assault
Editors.
“1779 – Colonial forces lead by General William Moultrie
successfully defend Port Royal, South Carolina, against a British attack.” This
Day in U.S. Military History. N.d. https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/02/03/february-3/. Accessed 2 Feb 2015.
1779 – Colonial forces lead by General William Moultrie
successfully defend Port Royal, South Carolina, against a British attack.
The British approached and tried to force the Americans to leave Beaufort,
Moultrie was waiting with 300 militia, 20 Continentals, and 3 cannon. The
Americans repulsed their attack in less than an hour. The Americans had to
fight in the open while the British had some cover from the woods. The
Americans knocked out one of the British guns and erased the British advantage
early in the battle. The Americans had run out of ammunition and Moultrie
ordered a retreat. At the same time, he learned that the British were also
retreating. He then countermanded his retreat order and told his mounted troops
to advance upon the retreating British. The British were able to escape by boat
to Savannah and Moultrie moved his force south to rejoin General Benjamin
Lincoln. British losses were heavy and they soon retreated to their ships. The
American victory discouraged the British Army from taking any further action
into South Carolina for 3 months.
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