Philip Martinangele Jr.
Captain Philip Martinangele Jr.: The Loyalist of the Sound
The Martinangele family were prominent landowners on Daufuskie Island, immediately adjacent to Hilton Head. Their deep local roots and geographic isolation made them formidable players in the conflict. Philip Martinangele Jr. was not an ideological figure from London; he was a local man who made a committed choice for the King and organized his community to defend it.
Raids and Retaliation on Hilton Head Island
Operating from their base on Daufuskie Island, the Daufuskie Royal Militia were masters of waterborne warfare, utilizing the intricate creeks and sounds to their advantage. They were a constant threat to the Patriot families on Hilton Head, conducting nocturnal raids that targetted strategic plantations, supply depots, and Patriot leadership. Historical traditions strongly link Martinangele to the ambush at the Davant family plantation. This 1781 raid, which resulted in the death of Charles Davant and the wounding of his brother, James, was not viewed as a simple military engagement; it was perceived by the Patriot community as a targeted assassination, shattering any remnants of neighborly behavior and igniting a blood feud.
The Climax: The Raid of the Bloody Legion
Martinangele’s success made him a prioritized target for the Hilton Head-based “Bloody Legion,” commanded by Captain John Leacraft. The death of Charles Davant had created a fierce demand for justice that only the blood of the opposing commander could satisfy.
On December 23, 1781, Leacraft led a strike team—which included Davant’s own vengeful brother, James Davant—across the Calibogue Sound. Under the cover of total darkness, they infiltrated Daufuskie Island and surrounded Philip Martinangele’s home. The subsequent action was swift and merciless: the Patriotsexecuted Captain Martinangele, effectively decapitating the Loyalist military leadership on the island. Following the execution, they burned the Martinangele plantation to the ground before rowing back across the sound.
Legacy of the “Partisan Civil War”
The death of Philip Martinangele marks the grim apex of the civil war on the Sea Islands. His execution was a direct response to the violence he had orchestrated, showcasing the relentless, cyclical nature of the conflict. Today, he stands as a symbol of the complex, intimate loyalties of the Revolutionary Lowcountry, illustrating that the lines of battle often ran directly through families and communities, turning neighbors into lethal adversaries.
