Battle of Sullivan's Island June 28, 1776

Carolina Day is the annual commemoration the Battle of Sullivan's Island on June 28, 1776.

On June 28, 1776, a small band of South Carolina Patriots defeated the British Royal Navy in the Battle of Sullivan's Island. Troops, led by Colonel William Moultrie, were station at an incomplete palmetto log and sand fort near Breach Inlet. Soldiers defeated a British naval force of nine warships led by Commodore Sir Peter Parker as they attempted to invade Charlestown by way of the Harbor. After a nine-hour battle the ships were forced to abandon their efforts to occupy Charlestown. 

The Liberty Flag was designed by Colonel William Moultrie and waved by Sergeant William Jasper to rally the troops during the battle. This scene was famously painted by Johannes Adam Simon Oertel, a German-American artist.  The Liberty Flag became the basis for the Flag of South Carolina which bears an image of the same palmetto trees that were used to build Fort Moultrie. 

The anniversary of the victory was celebrated locally starting in 1777, when it was then known as Palmetto Day. The anniversary became know as Carolina Day in 1875. Fort Moultrie still holds a celebration each year to commemorate the victory over the British troops. 

Upcoming Event

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park will commemorate the 249th anniversary of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island on Saturday, June 28. This special event will include musket and cannon firing demonstrations, kids’ activities and crafts, history talks, and a living battle demonstration of Sergeant Jasper heroically retrieving the fort’s flag. The site fee for Fort Moultrie will be waived for the day. We encourage everyone to come out and experience this historic day on the eve of the Nation’s 250th Anniversary.

This free event is open to visitors of all ages. There will be encampments with historians in period clothing throughout the day portraying soldiers, sailors, and civilians. A flag raising will start the day’s events inside Fort Moultrie at 10:00 am, followed by history talks (10:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm), musket firing demonstrations (11:00 am, 2:30 pm), artillery firing demonstrations (11:30 am, 3:00 pm), a living battle demonstration (2:00 pm), and a flag program (4:30 pm) inside Fort Moultrie. The final activity will be a special guest presentation by local author and historian Norm Rickeman (6:00 pm) about the Battle of Sullivan’s Island.