Timeline
1772 to 1782 Timeline
October 8, 1772
BEAUFORT ASSEMBLY
Held at the Beaufort Assembly meeting hall (site of the current Beaufort Arsenal), this meeting is historically significant as it is mentioned in the fourth grievance of the Declaration of Independence
July 8-9, 1775
Seizure of HMS Philippa
In one of the earliest armed confrontations of the Revolution in South Carolina, Patriot forces seized 16,000 pounds of gunpowder and munitions from the British ship Philippa off Daufuskie Island.
July 1775
Battle of Bloody Point
Following the Philippa affair, the Beaufort District Militia and scout boats successfully captured additional British munitions
September 1775
Shipment of Gunpowder from Sheldon Church
Prince William Parish Church, Old Sheldon, was used as a secure site to store and ship captured British gunpowder.
November 1775
Second South Carolina Provincial Congress meets in Beaufort
Legislators met in Beaufort to organize regional defense and the transition to a revolutionary government.
November 1775
Formation of the Beaufort District Militia
Local volunteer units were formally organized to protect the coastal parishes from British naval incursions.
March 1776
Battle of Yamacraw Bluff / Battle of the Rice Boats
Patriot militias, including units from the Beaufort District, repelled British naval attempts to seize rice supply boats along the Savannah River corridor.
June 28, 1776
Battle of Sullivan’s Island
The first decisive Patriot victory in South Carolina, where forces successfully defended Charleston Harbor against a British naval assault.
August 1778
Capture of the British merchant ship Sally
Patriot naval forces intercepted and captured the Sally off the Beaufort coast.
December 1778
Battle of Port Royal Harbor
Patriots aboard the captured ship Sally successfully repelled an attack by a British privateer.
December 1778
British Capture of Savannah
British forces took control of Savannah, Georgia, turning the Savannah River into a high-stakes military corridor.
December 1778
Battle of St. Helena Sound
A British supply ship was captured by Patriot forces in coastal waters.
January 1779
British Burning Raids
British naval forces conducted destructive raids across Hilton Head Island, Pinckney Island, and Laurel Bay.
January 1779
Skirmish at Zubly’s Ferry
Beaufort District militia engaged British advance elements attempting to cross the Savannah River toward Purrysburg.
Late January 1779
British Landings and Plantation Burnings
British raids targeted major sea island estates, including the burning of Thomas Heyward Jr.’s White Hall plantation.
February 1779
First Battle of Fort Lyttleton
Patriot forces spiked the guns and blew up the fort to prevent it from falling into the hands of advancing British regulars.
February 3, 1779
Battle of Port Royal Island
Patriot Continental troops and militia defeated British regulars, halting an overland advance toward Charleston.
April 22, 1779
Black Swamp Ambush
Loyalists disguised as Native Americans ambushed a 6th South Carolina Regiment guard post, burning the site and capturing its six-man garrison. This raid marked a sharp escalation in partisan violence across the Jasper District.
April 1779
Prevost’s March through the Lowcountry
General Augustine Prevost led a British expedition from Savannah toward Charleston, initiating a month of constant skirmishing. This campaign effectively began with the Battle of Purrysburg, which broke the Patriot river defenses.
April 29, 1779
Battle of Purrysburg
British forces crossed the Savannah River and dislodged 220 South Carolina Continentals. This defeat forced the Patriots to abandon their Black Swamp base and retreat deeper into the Lowcountry toward Coosawhatchie.
Late April 1779
Prevost’s Encampment at Old House Plantation
British forces utilized the elevated grounds of Declaration signer Thomas Heyward Jr.’s plantation as a base before crossing the flooded Black Swamp.
May 1779
Battle of Coosawhatchie
A rear-guard action led by Lt. Col. John Laurens against Prevost’s forces; Laurens was wounded before retreating toward Charleston.
May 1779
Battle of Tulifinny Hill
A defensive land engagement fought as British forces continued their inland push toward the Combahee River.
May 6, 1779
Butler vs. British Foragers
Major Pierce Butler surprised and skirmished with a group of British foragers along the Edisto River to prevent them from seizing local livestock.
May 7, 1779
Fishpond Bridge
A strategically significant clash where Patriot militia attempted to block advancing British troops.
Late May 1779
Second Battle of Fort Lyttleton
A follow-up engagement as British forces sought to solidify control over the Beaufort waterfront.
July 1779
Second Battle of Port Royal Island
Patriots intercepted Loyalist units attempting to drive cattle to British-held areas.
July 1779
Burning of British Sloop at Hunting Island
Patriot forces destroyed a British vessel grounded in the coastal shallows.
August 30, 1779
Battle of Ash’s Point
A Patriot raiding party surprised a British/Loyalist encampment, killing two soldiers and forcing a withdrawal.
September 1779
Naval Battle off Hilton Head Island
A major naval engagement involving the French fleet supporting the American cause against the British fleet.
September to October 1779
Siege of Savannah
A failed American and French attempt to recapture Savannah; Patriot Sergeant Jasper and Polish commander Casimir Pulaski were among the casualties.
March 12, 1780
Skirmish at Two Sisters Ferry
A small land engagement fought during British movements toward the interior of the Lowcountry.
March 17-20, 1780
Salkehatchie River Skirmishes
British forces moved through the Salkehatchie region, probing Patriot defenses at river crossings during the buildup toward Charleston.
March 1780
British Friendly Fire Incident
A confused night skirmish between British units occurred at McPherson Plantation.
September 1780
Capture of British Ship Ceres
Patriot naval elements captured the Ceres off Hilton Head Island.
December 16, 1790
Murder of Captain James Doharty
Patriot Captain Doharty was executed at his plantation by a Loyalist raiding party led by Richard Pendarvis.
April 5, 1781
Battle of Salkehatchie Bridge
Patriot militia under Col. William Harden challenged British supply lines at this vital crossing.
April 8, 1781
Barton’s Post & Pocotaligo Road
An engagement along the inland corridor connecting the Savannah River region to the coast.
April 13, 1781
Siege and Capture of Fort Balfour
Col. William Harden forced the surrender of Loyalist Lt. Col. William Kelsall following a mutiny among the garrison.
April 15, 1781
Retaliatory Killings of Pendarvis and Patterson
In retaliation for the murder of Capt. Doharty, Patriot militia executed Loyalist leaders Richard Pendarvis and William Patterson.
June 3, 1781
Snipe’s Plantation
Patriot forces clashed with British-aligned troops to prevent the plundering of Colleton County estates.
July 8, 1781
Battle of the Horse Shoe
Patriot Colonel Isaac Hayne was captured by British forces during this engagement.
July 1781
Battle of Hudson’s Ferry
A land skirmish along a strategic Savannah River crossing.
August 4, 1781
Execution of Colonel Isaac Hayne
Taken to Charleston after his capture at the Horse Shoe, Hayne was hanged by the British, sparking international outrage.
August 7, 1781
Parson’s Plantation
A localized partisan skirmish in the Colleton District that preceded larger troop movements toward the Edisto River.
August 27, 1781
Godfrey’s Savannah
A sharp engagement between partisan militia and British forces during the height of the violent summer conflict.
August 31, 1781
Battle of Parker’s Ferry
General Francis Marion led a successful ambush against a force of British and Loyalists, inflicting significant casualties at this vital river crossing.
Late August 1781
Engagement at Coosaw River
Patriot forces successfully captured the British brigantine Dispatch, disrupting naval supply lines.
September 1781
Capture of British Officers off HMS Experiment
A naval engagement resulting in the capture of high-ranking British personnel.
October 19, 1781
British Raids on Hilton Head Island
Occurring on the same day as the surrender at Yorktown, British-Loyalist forces conducted retaliatory raids across the island.
October 22, 1781
Ambush at Broad Creek
Patriot forces ambushed Loyalist elements; Patriot Charles Davant was mortally wounded in the conflict.
December 23, 1781
Raid & Execution at Bloody Point
Hilton Head Patriots crossed to Daufuskie Island and executed Loyalist Philip Martinangel in retaliation for the death of Charles Davant.
February 1782
Skirmish at Savannah River Plantations
Loyalists ambushed Patriot militia along the King’s Highway near Hutchinson Island.
March 4, 1782
Second Loyalist Occupation of Beaufort
Loyalist forces under Andrew DeVeaux briefly re-occupied Beaufort during the final months of the war.
March 13, 1782
Naval Incident Involving British Ships Adder and Scavenger
A naval skirmish involving British vessels in the coastal sounds.
March 15, 1782
Ambush of DeVeaux’s Forces near Beaufort
Patriot militia ambushed Loyalist units near the Beaufort township.
May 25, 1782
Saltketchers Skirmish
A late-war engagement in the Salkehatchie River region.
June 1782
Creek Indian Attack near Three Sisters Ferry
British-aligned Native American forces attacked Patriot positions along the lower Savannah River.
August 25, 1782
Battle of Combahee Ferry / Tar Bluff
The final major action in the district; Col. John Laurens was mortally wounded, becoming one of the last high-ranking officers killed in the war.
September 1782
Battle of Port Royal Ferry
In one of the final Lowcountry actions, Patriot land forces used cannons to attack and capture a British galley.
