Battle of Beaufort
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Beaufort or the Battle of Port Royal Island was a battle of the American Revolutionary War
that took place on February 3, 1779 near Beaufort, South Carolina
. The British
commander of forces at Savannah, Georgia
, General
Augustine Prevost
, sent 200 British regulars
to seize Port Royal Island at the mouth of the Broad River
in South Carolina
. American General Benjamin Lincoln
, the American commander in the south, sent General William Moultrie
from Purrysburg, South Carolina
with a mixed force composed mainly of militia
, but with a few Continental Army
men, to meet the British advance. The battle was largely inconclusive, but the British withdrew first, eventually returning to Savannah.
by taking
Savannah, Georgia
in December 1778. The British commander there, General Augustine Prevost
, detached 1,000 men out of his 4,000-man army to capture Augusta
in late January. American General Benjamin Lincoln
had gathered a force of 3,500 men at Purrysburg, South Carolina
, about 12 miles (19.3 km) up the Savannah River
from Savannah
.
Prevost decided to stage a diversion to distract Lincoln while Campbell was en route to Augusta, so he sent 200 men (mostly light infantry from the Florida Rangers militia) and a field piece under Major Valentine Gardiner, 16th Regiment of Foot, to take control of Beaufort, South Carolina
, just up the coast. The expedition, as with many British operations in the South, was based on the expectation that these troops would receive support from local Loyalists. These men sailed up the coast, landed at Beaufort, and occupied the highest ground on Port Royal Island, a rise about 7 miles (11.3 km) inland known as Gray Hill.
Lincoln sent General William Moultrie
, who had distinguished himself in the 1776 Battle of Fort Sullivan
, and 300 men, mostly militia, but accompanied by a few Continentals
, to counter this move. This force, which brought three field pieces, crossed onto Port Royal Island at the main ferry crossing.
The victory of a largely militia force over British regulars was a boost to the Americans' morale. However, severe losses incurred about ten days later at Brier Creek
put a damper on American plans to move against Prevost's forces in Georgia.
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
that took place on February 3, 1779 near Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
. The British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
commander of forces at Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Augustine Prevost
Augustine Prevost
Major General Augustine Prévost was a Swiss-born British soldier who served in the Seven Years' War and the American War of Independence.-Seven Years War:...
, sent 200 British regulars
Regular army
A regular army consists of the permanent force of a country's army that is maintained under arms during peacetime.Countries that use the term include:*Australian Army*British Army*Canadian Forces, specifically "Regular Force"*Egyptian army*Indian Army...
to seize Port Royal Island at the mouth of the Broad River
Broad River (South Carolina)
The Broad River is a tidal channel, in Beaufort and Jasper County, South Carolina. The channel flows between mainland on the west and Port Royal and Parris Islands on the east. The Coosawhatchie River flows into the Broad River at the head. It joins Coosaw River channel Northeast and continues...
in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. American General Benjamin Lincoln
Benjamin Lincoln
Benjamin Lincoln was an American army officer. He served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War...
, the American commander in the south, sent General William Moultrie
William Moultrie
William Moultrie was a general from South Carolina in the American Revolutionary War.He was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He fought in the Anglo-Cherokee War and served in the colonial assembly before the advent of the American Revolution....
from Purrysburg, South Carolina
Purrysburg, South Carolina
Purrysburg was a colonial town in Jasper County, South Carolina. While the town itself was abandoned, the settlers were successful. The town was located on the South Carolina bank of the Savannah River....
with a mixed force composed mainly of militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
, but with a few Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
men, to meet the British advance. The battle was largely inconclusive, but the British withdrew first, eventually returning to Savannah.
Background
The British began their "southern strategy"Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War
The Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War was the central area of operations in North America in the second half of the American Revolutionary War. During the first three years of the conflict, the primary military encounters had been in the north, focused on campaigns around the...
by taking
Capture of Savannah
The Battle of Savannah, or sometimes the First Battle of Savannah due to a siege later in the campaign, was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on December 29, 1778 between local American Patriot militia and Continental Army units holding the city and a British invasion force under the...
Savannah, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in December 1778. The British commander there, General Augustine Prevost
Augustine Prevost
Major General Augustine Prévost was a Swiss-born British soldier who served in the Seven Years' War and the American War of Independence.-Seven Years War:...
, detached 1,000 men out of his 4,000-man army to capture Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
in late January. American General Benjamin Lincoln
Benjamin Lincoln
Benjamin Lincoln was an American army officer. He served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War...
had gathered a force of 3,500 men at Purrysburg, South Carolina
Purrysburg, South Carolina
Purrysburg was a colonial town in Jasper County, South Carolina. While the town itself was abandoned, the settlers were successful. The town was located on the South Carolina bank of the Savannah River....
, about 12 miles (19.3 km) up the Savannah River
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
from Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
.
Prevost decided to stage a diversion to distract Lincoln while Campbell was en route to Augusta, so he sent 200 men (mostly light infantry from the Florida Rangers militia) and a field piece under Major Valentine Gardiner, 16th Regiment of Foot, to take control of Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
, just up the coast. The expedition, as with many British operations in the South, was based on the expectation that these troops would receive support from local Loyalists. These men sailed up the coast, landed at Beaufort, and occupied the highest ground on Port Royal Island, a rise about 7 miles (11.3 km) inland known as Gray Hill.
Lincoln sent General William Moultrie
William Moultrie
William Moultrie was a general from South Carolina in the American Revolutionary War.He was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He fought in the Anglo-Cherokee War and served in the colonial assembly before the advent of the American Revolution....
, who had distinguished himself in the 1776 Battle of Fort Sullivan
Battle of Sullivan's Island
The Battle of Sullivan's Island or the Battle of Fort Sullivan was fought on June 28, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, also known as the American War of Independence. It took place near Charleston, South Carolina, during the first British attempt to capture the city from American rebels...
, and 300 men, mostly militia, but accompanied by a few Continentals
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
, to counter this move. This force, which brought three field pieces, crossed onto Port Royal Island at the main ferry crossing.
Battle
Gardner lined his men up at the edge of some woods at the top of the hill. The Americans approached, lined up, and opened fire, at first with the artillery, and then with musket volleys. The battle continued until both sides began to run short of ammunition, at which point Gardner decided to withdraw, leaving the field to the Americans.Aftermath
Gardner was criticized by Prevost for the mauling his detachment received because he left his escape boats too far away. But it was not Gardner's fault that no Loyalists came to join the British expedition.The victory of a largely militia force over British regulars was a boost to the Americans' morale. However, severe losses incurred about ten days later at Brier Creek
Battle of Brier Creek
The Battle of Brier Creek was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on March 3, 1779 near the confluence of Brier Creek with the Savannah River in eastern Georgia...
put a damper on American plans to move against Prevost's forces in Georgia.