A Brief History of Fort Moultrie

Sullivan’s Island, home to Fort Moultrie, has served throughout history by protecting Charleston’s Harbor as the first line of defense against invasion, both in force and health. Fort Moultrie, once boasting 5.3 acres of seafront defense, is located between Stations 14 and 16 ½ (from Middle Street to Thompson Avenue) with the official address of 1214 Middle Street. 

One of the original log cabins and first of known forts on the island, Fort Moultrie (at the time known as Fort Sullivan) was initially constructed of Palmetto trunks and sand under the supervision of Captain De Brahm. It was not yet even fully formed when it was first attacked by the British warships in 1776. The fort was slated, in square design, to have 10-foot-high rows of palmetto logs in parallels, but at the time only stood 7-feet high with corner bastions and cavaliers along the rear walls.

Despite its incomplete state, in the Battle of Sullivan’s Island, Colonel William Moultrie and his men fortified the island and stood their ground, saving Charleston (then, Charlestown) from British occupation. Throughout British occupation, from 1780–1782, the fort was known as Fort Arbuthnot. During this battle, Moultrie flew a flag of his own design, authorized by the colonial government – later called the Moultrie or Liberty flag – which became iconic to the Revolution in the South. Charleston locals celebrate “Carolina Day” to commemorate the bravery of the defenders of the fort.

In 1793, war broke out between Great Britain and France. The Congress, seeking to safeguard American shores, authorized a second Fort Moultrie to be built. The fort was finally completed in 1798, but then suffered from much neglect. And, then, in 1804, it was destroyed by the Antigua-Charleston hurricane.

It wasn’t until 1809 that this fortification, undergoing it’s third rendition, was finally completed, though very little changed from its original design-build. In the 1820s the fort began to record meteorological observations. Then, post secession, in December of 1860 it was abandoned when Union soldiers fled to the stronger structures of Fort Sumter.

On April 12, 1861, at 4:30 AM, Confederate flares fired upon Fort Sumter and thus began the American Civil War. Fort Moultrie was severely damaged. Post surrender of Fort Sumter, Confederate forces used Fort Moultrie to protect Charleston’s harbor until February 1865 when they fled the city, again leaving the fort behind.

Once the American wars ended, the fort was repaired and modernized by the Army for use during WWs I and II with additions of concrete bunkers to this coastal defense system. A comprehensive upgrade of the fortifications of the entire US coast were implemented with the outbreak of WWII. More batteries were built along the coast, including the BCN 520 at Fort Moultrie’s stronghold, which were armed with guns previously used at Battery Kimble in Galveston, TX.

Then, in 1947, on August 15th, Fort Moultrie’s flag flew for a final time, thus ending its years of service in defense of the US as it had become obsolete with the advent of nuclear weapons and guided missiles.

In 1960 the fort was decommissioned by the DOD and became part of the National Park Service as Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historic Park, boasting the only location that the entire defense history is traceable by the NPS. And, on September 6, 2007 all of its 171-year history was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the Harbor Entrance Control Post has been preserved and the BCN 520, still remaining from WWII, is now a private residence.

While we wouldn’t recommend knocking on the door to 520 for a behind the scenes tour, the visitor’s center at the fort features a mini-museum and shows a short film on the history of Fort Moultrie that many enjoy daily!     

~ Kristen N. Granet