battle known fought february near south_carolina american revolutionary war battle took place long british forces consolidated control savannah georgia captured december brigadier general sent british regulars seize mouth south_carolina late january major general american commander south sent south_carolina brigadier general south_carolina mixed force composed mainly militia continental_army men meet british advance battle inconclusive british withdrew suffered heavier casualties americans background british began southern strategy sending expeditions new_york_city east florida capture savannah georgia late new_york expedition command lieutenant colonel arrived successfully captured town december remnants savannah defenders combined south_carolina militia major general south_carolina oppose british brigadier general arrived mid january assumed command garrison 22nd sent force campbell control raise loyalist militia companies decided send force occupy coast south_carolina led believe loyalist sentiment strong january hms ship line converted floating battery towed royal_navy crews channel separating mainland accompanied flotilla smaller ships carried infantry 16th 60th regiments major orders control island main settlement major defense establishment port royal island garrisoned company continental_army troops captain learned comparatively large british force moving direction fort cannons blew main order deny use superior force general lincoln learned communications port royal island cut british advance sent south_carolina brigadier general distinguished battle sullivan island men counter force composed south_carolina militia area accompanied continental_army regulars companies artillery charleston headed force arrived main port royal ferry 31st long finished destroying fort crossed island february occupied battle men landed port royal island plantation present day laurel bay loyalist guided february sent detachment secure island ferry men retreated encountered patriot troops began main force face americans early february general alerted british presence moved forces town forces met near highest ground rise called miles south ferry middle island lined men edge woods near hill advanced fixed americans approached lined open field outside musket range general positioned pound field cannons center line smaller pounder right americans advanced british observing action reversed usual way fighting british americans taking bushes taking open ground americans opened fire artillery musket battle continued minutes point americans running low ammunition begun withdrawal british observed retreat leaving field americans company light horse militia chased british nearly cutting boats successfully captured men unable hold small numbers aftermath addition prisoners taken sources cite seven retained british reportedly suffered killed wounded reported nearly half men hit american fire americans contrast suffered killed wounded criticized detachment received far boats fault loyalist support victory largely militia force british regulars boost americans morale severe losses incurred early march delayed american plans forces georgia lincoln began moving troops april moved force charleston able little briefly blockade city retreating savannah port royal island occupied british campaign battle commemorated highway marker near battle site remains listed national_register_of_historic_places
Battle of Beaufort