SOUTH CAROLINA HALL OF FAME

Teacher Guide

Brig. General William Moultrie

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South Carolina Social Studies Standards

Brig. General William Moultrie The American Revolution (all 3)

Topics include: Rice & Indigo farmer, SC Legislative Assembly, SC Militia, Battle of Sullivan's Island/Fort Moultrie, Governor of SC, Moving of the capital, Design of the state flag

3-3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the American Revolution and South Carolina's role in the development of the new American nation.

3-3.3 - Summarize the course of the American Revolution in South Carolina, including the role of William Jasper and Fort Moultrie, the occupation of Charles Town by the British, the partisan warfare of Thomas Sumter, Andrew Pickens, and Francis Marion, and the battles of Cowpens, Kings Mountain, and Eutaw Springs.

3-3.4 - Summarize the effects of the American Revolution, including the establishment of state and national governments.

Standard 8-2:. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the causes of the American Revolution and the beginnings of the new nation, with an emphasis on South Carolina's role in the development of that nation.

8-2.5 - Summarize the role of South Carolinians in the course of the American Revolution, including the use of partisan warfare and the battles of Charleston, Camden, Cowpens, Kings Mountain, and Eutaw Springs.

8-2.6 - Explain the role of South Carolinians in the establishment of their new state government and the national government after the American Revolution.

Standard 8-3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of South Carolina's role in the development of the new national government.

8-3.1 - Explain the tensions between the Upcountry and the Lowcountry of South Carolina, including their economic struggles after the Revolutionary War, their disagreement over representation in the General Assembly, the location of the new capital, and the transformation of the state's economy.

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Biographies

Brig. General William Moultrie

“William Moultrie (November 23, 1730 –

September 27, 1805) was a planter and

politician who became a general from South

Carolina in the American Revolutionary War.

As colonel leading a state militia, in 1776 he

prevented the British from taking Charleston,

andFort Moultrie was named in his honor.

After independence, he advanced as a

politician; Moultrie was elected by the

legislature twice over a period of years as

Governor of South Carolina (1785–87, 1792–

94), serving two terms. (The state

constitution kept power in the hands of the

legislature and prohibited governors' serving

two terms in succession.)”

From

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Moultri

e

Early Life: 1730-1776

William Moultrie was born in Charleston, South

Carolina on November 23, 1730. His father, a prominant physician, had come from England in

1728. He lived on a plantation in St. John's Berkeley County. In 1749, he married Elizabeth

Demaris de St. Julien. After her death, he would marry Hannah Motte Lynch. Moultrie rose to

prominance after serving as a militia Captain in the Cherokee expedition under Lt. Colonel

James Grant in 1761. Even though William Moultrie was a political moderate, when the

Revolution came, he joined the rebellion. He was elected to the 1st Continental Congress in

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1774, but did not serve. On June 17, 1775, he was given the commission of Colonel in the 2nd

South Carolina Regiment.

Fort Sullivan: June 28, 1776

In 1776, William Moultrie was second-in-command of Charleston, South Carolina's defenses. He

was charged with construction of Fort Sullivan, which had been planned out in January 1776.

Moultrie did not have stone available to construct the walls, so he used palmetto logs to build

two parallel walls sixteen feet apart and filled in the gap with sand. At the time of the British

arrival on June 2nd, only the south and east walls were complete. The new Southern

Department Commander, Maj. General Charles Leearrived a couple of days later on June 4th.

General Lee inspected the incomplete fort and felt that it should not be defended, but South

Carolina Governor John Rutledge overruled him. Moultrie himself was also confident in the

fort's capability. Meanwhile, Maj. General Henry Clinton landed on the adjacent Long Island,

planning to ford the two islands and attack Fort Sullivan from that direction, but he was having

difficulty crossing over. Moultrie ordered fortifications built there, so that even sending troops

across by the few boats he had was now out of the question.

At 11:00 A.M., on June 28, 1776, Commodore Peter Parker began his bombardment of the fort

with around 100 guns and the Battle of Fort Sullivan had begun. When three ships attempted

to move into the harbor west of the fort, they got stuck on a shoal. Moultrie began a steady

reply with his guns. The fort itself withstood the assault thanks to the spongy palmetto logs and

the sand, which absorbed the cannon balls. Under his command that day were Lieutenant

Thomas Sumter and Major Francis Marion. When General Lee visited the fort during the

action, he was pleasantly surprised with how well the fort was withstanding the assault. The

action ended at 9:30 P.M. and the beaten British ships slipped away at 11:00 P.M.

Revolutionary War: 1776-1782

When word of Moultrie's stout defense of Charleston reached the other colonies, it gave the

rebels new hope in their cause. Moultrie became a national hero. However, his easygoing

manner allowed some criticism to begin that he had been somewhat derelict in his

preparations. This criticism would continue. On September 16, 1777, Moultrie was

commissioned a Brigadier General in the Continental Army. However, he did not participate in

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any significant field opperations until after the British capture of Savannah, Georgia on

December 29, 1778.

Under Southern Commander Maj. General Benjamin Lincoln, Brig. General Moultrie was given

a measure of independence of command. He commanded at Beaufort (Port Royal Island), South

Carolina on February 3, 1779 where he defeated 200 British troops. This defeat discouraged

Colonel (later Maj. General) Augustine Prevost from pursuing operations north into South

Carolina until May 1779. Moultrie helped organize Charleston's defenses when General Prevost

threatened the city on May 11-12, 1779. Moultrie was involved in the American defeat at Stono

Ferry, South Carolina on June 20, 1779. He was again elected to the Continental Congress, but

declined to serve. In 1780, Moultrie was captured following the Siege of Charleston on May 12,

1780 and remained imprisoned for the next two years. He was exchanged for Maj. General

John Burgoyne in February 1782. On October 15, he was promoted to Major General, the last

such appointment of the war to that grade.

After the Revolutionary War (1782-1805)

Following the war, Willliam Moultrie was elected to the South Carolina House of

Representatives in 1783. In 1784, he served as Lieutenant Governor. He was then elected

governor for a two-year term in 1785. While governor, he created the county court system and

the capital was moved from Charleston to Columbia in 1786. He was elected to the State

Senate in 1787. He was elected to his second two-year term as governor in 1792. He retired

from public office 1794. In 1802, his Memoirs of the American Revolution were published in two

volumes. Moultrie died in Charleston on September 27, 1805. He was interred at Windsor Hill

Plantation. Fort Sullivan was renamed Fort Moultrie in his honor.

From http://www.patriotresource.com/amerrev/people/patriots/moultrie.html

William Moultrie was an American Revolutionary general, born in Charles Town, SC. He fought

against the Native Americans (1761) and served in the colonial assembly before the advent of

the American Revolution. In June of 1776, his gallant defense of a small fort on Sullivans Island

(later named Fort Moultrie in his honor) prevented Sir Henry Clinton and Sir Peter Parker from

taking Charlestown. Even Moultrie's skill failed to prevent the fall of Savannah, Georgia to the

British in 1778. He was captured in the Fall of Charlestown to the British in May of 1780 and

remained a prisoner until mid-1782.

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After the war he served twice as governor of South Carolina (1785-1787 and 1795-1797). He

wrote his "Memoirs of the Revolution as Far as It Related to the States of North and South

Carolina" in 1802.

From http://www.carolana.com/SC/Governors/wmoultrie.html

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Timeline

Brig. General William Moultrie

1730 (Birth) - William Moultrie was born in Charleston, South Carolina on November 23, 1730.

His father, a prominent physician, had come from England in 1728. He lived on a plantation in

St. John's Berkeley County.

1749 – 1761 - In 1749, he married Elizabeth Demaris de St. Julien. After her death, he would

marry Hannah Motte Lynch. Moultrie rose to prominence after serving as a militia Captain in

the Cherokee expedition under Lt. Colonel James Grant in 1761.

1774 – 1775 - Even though William Moultrie was a political moderate, when the Revolution

came, he joined the rebellion. He was elected to the 1st Continental Congress in 1774, but did

not serve. On June 17, 1775, he was given the commission of Colonel in the 2nd South Carolina

Regiment.

1776 – 1782 - Fort Sullivan: June 28, 1776. In 1776, William Moultrie was second-in-command

of Charleston, South Carolina's defenses. He was charged with construction of Fort Sullivan,

which had been planned out in January 1776. Moultrie did not have stone available to construct

the walls, so he used palmetto logs to build two parallel walls sixteen feet apart and filled in the

gap with sand.

When word of Moultrie's stout defense of Charleston reached the other colonies, it gave the

rebels new hope in their cause. Moultrie became a national hero. However, his easygoing

manner allowed some criticism to begin that he had been somewhat derelict in his

preparations. This criticism would continue. On September 16, 1777, Moultrie was

commissioned a Brigadier General in the Continental Army. However, he did not participate in

any significant field operations until after the British capture of Savannah, Georgia on

December 29, 1778.

1802 – 1805 - After the Revolutionary War (1782-1805)

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Following the war, Willliam Moultrie was elected to the South Carolina House of

Representatives in 1783. In 1784, he served as Lieutenant Governor. He was then elected

governor for a two-year term in 1785.

1786 - While governor, he created the county court system and the capital was moved from

Charleston to Columbia in 1786.

1787 - He was elected to the State Senate in 1787.

1792 - He was elected to his second two-year term as governor in 1792.

1794 - He retired from Public Office.

1802 - In 1802, his Memoirs of the American Revolution were published in two volumes.

1805 - Moultrie died in Charleston on September 27, 1805. He was interred at Windsor Hill

Plantation. Fort Sullivan was renamed Fort Moultrie in his honor.

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Images

Brig. General William Moultrie

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Moultrie

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=images+for+William+Moultrie&id=E889EDB24BEB95B6DBE0518E3383002C7ADA679E&FORM=IGRE2

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http://images.virtualology.com/ac/4/i/ency0194.jpg

http://www.charlestonbatterytour.com/william-moultrie.jpg

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http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=images+for+William+Moultrie&view=detail&id=5CFA00CB09AEE123C585A3E4B54BD24AD0F63F59&first=0

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=images+for+William+Moultrie&view=detail&id=6D5604BF4AAFB7C6BE3D5BBB60673A54FB522AE0&first=0

http://rpmedia.ask.com/ts?u=/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Fort_Moultrie1.3.jpg/300px-Fort_Moultrie1.3.jpg

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Image of Ft. Moultrie, South Carolina ttp://www.forttours.com/images/fortmoultrie.jpg

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=images+for+William+Moultrie&view=detail&id=64F4D9D562B7690D683B5FF4462FC1BF7F217B0D&first=180&FORM=IDFRIR

Image of Ft. Moultrie Flag

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http://www.troubadourinteractive.com/bibweb/images/portraits/williammoultrie.jpg

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Credits

South Carolina Social Studies Standard Correlations were provided by Lisa Ray

The purpose of the South Carolina Hall of Fame is to recognize and honor both contemporary

and past citizens who have made outstanding contributions to South Carolina's heritage and

progress.

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