Fort Moultrie, Where Palmetto Logs Saved the Day
March 2022
Fort Moultrie, Triumph on Sullivan's Island
Even though the Fort and Visitor Center were closed today, we still had a wonderful time exploring the exterior and grounds of historic Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island on a beautiful sunny day! The markers provided insightful information about the site, which was first known as Fort Sullivan.
The fort was first constructed primarily of palmetto logs and sand. Quite surprisingly, these soft walls helped the Americans to win the Battle of Sullivan’s Island in June 1776. The British failed to damage the fort because the soft palmetto walls absorbed the force of their cannonballs. As a result, the Americans successfully damaged every British ship, eventually forcing the fleet to withdraw.
To honor American commander Colonel William Moultrie’s crucial triumph, the fort was promptly renamed Fort Moultrie. And thanks to the resilient palmetto logs, South Carolina is also proudly nicknamed the “Palmetto State!”
