This month in SC History: The Battle of Port Royal Island
After the British took Savannah, Georgia, in December 1778, they decided to establish a base to the north, on Port Royal Island, South Carolina. Th...
After the British took Savannah, Georgia, in December 1778, they decided to establish a base to the north, on Port Royal Island, South Carolina. They hoped this action would enable them to cut the supply line of the American troops commanded by General Benjamin Lincoln, who were stationed at Purrysburg. Port Royal Island was defended by a small garrison of roughly 20 men stationed at Fort Lyttleton who were commanded by Captain John DeTreville.British General Augustine Prevost sent British Major James Gardiner with about 200 men from Savannah to Hilton Head Island.