SULLIVAN'S ISLAND, South Carolina — Thomson Park commemorates the Battle of Sullivan's Island of June 28, 1776, where Colonel William "Danger" Thomson's forces successfully defended Breach Inlet against British invasion attempts. This pivotal American victory, coordinated with the defense of Fort Sullivan (later Fort Moultrie), represented one of the Revolution's first major successes and helped protect Charleston from British occupation until 1780.


Photograph by David Coleman. Thomson Park preserves the site of a crucial American Revolution victory where Colonel William "Danger" Thomson led 780 Patriots in successfully defending Breach Inlet against 3,000 British troops. The historical site includes detailed battle maps showing how British forces under Generals Clinton and Cornwallis attempted a coordinated land and sea assault to capture Fort Sullivan and establish a base for taking Charleston. The exhibits document the Americans' effective use of palmetto log fortifications and artillery, which repelled both British warships and an amphibious crossing attempt by 15 armed flatboats. The interpretive displays also highlight the diverse composition of American forces, including Thomson's 3rd Regiment rangers, South Carolina militia, and Native American allies from the Catawba nation. The markers emphasize both the strategic importance of this victory in protecting Charleston and the harsh conditions faced by soldiers on both sides, including extreme heat, disease, and challenging terrain across beaches, creeks, and marshes.


Size: 7561px × 5041px
Location: Thomson Park, Sullivans Island, South Carolina, United States
Photo credit: © David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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