Battle of Port Royal Island
February 3, 1779
The Battle of Port Royal Island, fought on February 3, 1779, stands as the first land-based Patriot victory in South Carolina. Following the British capture of Savannah in December 1778, British General Augustine Prevost sought to establish a base on Port Royal Island to sever the supply lines of General Benjamin Lincoln at Purrysburg. This engagement became a vital test of the South Carolina militia’s ability to stand against British regulars in open combat.
The British Advance and the Fall of Fort Lyttleton
British Major James Gardiner led approximately 200 men from Savannah toward Hilton Head Island aboard the HMS Vigilant, a floating battery. Historical accounts suggest the British were aided by Andrew DeVeaux IV, a local Loyalist who helped navigate the ship through the complex backwaters to Port Royal Island.
As the British moved up the Broad River, they bombarded and burned several plantations, including properties belonging to Thomas Heyward Jr. and General Stephen Bull. Fearing the British would capture the local defenses, Patriot Captain John DeTreville ordered the cannons at Fort Lyttleton spiked and the bastion destroyed on January 31st. He was unaware that General William Moultrie had arrived that same day with roughly 300 reinforcements to defend the island.
The Engagement at Gray’s Hill
On February 3, Moultrie marched his troops out of Beaufort to intercept the British, joining detachments led by Colonel Bernard Beekman and Captain Thomas Heyward Jr.. The two forces met at Gray’s Hill around 4:00 PM. The British occupied a protected tree line, while the Americans—including artillery units led by Heyward and Edward Rutledge—were positioned in an open field.
Despite the British advancing with fixed bayonets, the Patriot artillery held its ground. The two sides exchanged fire for about 45 minutes until both ran low on ammunition. Recognizing he could not break the Patriot line, Gardiner ordered a retreat. During the British withdrawal, Captain John Barnwell’s cavalry attempted to capture the retreating force, ultimately securing eight prisoners.
