South Carolina Navy facts for kids
The South Carolina Navy was formed two times by the State of South Carolina. The first time was during the American Revolutionary War. South Carolina bought and prepared its own armed ships. These ships were separate from the main Continental Navy. The second time was during the American Civil War. Again, its navy was different from the Confederate States Navy.
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South Carolina's first naval actions happened in July 1775. The state's leaders, called the Council of Safety, hired two captains. Their job was to help Georgia capture British ships. These ships were carrying weapons and gunpowder.
That same month, the council rented a ship named Commerce. This ship was meant to get gunpowder the British had stored in Nassau. But then, news arrived that British ships were coming to Savannah, Georgia. So, Commerce was used to capture those ships instead. These actions helped the American cause. They gained over 25,000 pounds of gunpowder.
In October 1775, the council got a schooner called Defence. They hired Simon Tufts as its captain. After a small fight with British ships in Charleston harbor, the state leaders decided to take another ship, Prosper. This was to help chase away the British ships. They also created a group to manage naval matters.
Growing the Fleet
In December, a third ship, Comet, joined the fleet. The council sent Robert Cochran to find experienced sailors in Massachusetts. At that time, Boston was surrounded by George Washington's new Continental Army. So, Massachusetts allowed Cochran to recruit up to 300 men. He had to offer fair wages so he wouldn't take sailors needed locally.
In early 1776, the state leaders allowed other port towns to get ships and men. This was for local defense. They also set up pay scales and ranks for state land and naval forces. In March 1776, the schooner Peggy joined the state's service.
In the next few months, the leaders passed new laws. These laws created special courts for naval cases. They also set rules for choosing ship captains. Captains were chosen by the state's lawmakers. The state president then gave them their official orders.
On October 8, a Board of Naval Commissioners was created. This board managed all naval affairs. This included buying ships, preparing them, and finding sailors. They also managed the state's shipyards. This system lasted until February 1780. At that point, the state's lawmakers ended all previous naval laws.
Challenges and Losses
Throughout 1777 and 1778, South Carolina bought land for shipyards. More ships were brought into service. This included the Paul Pritchard Shipyard in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. This activity sped up when the British captured Savannah in late 1778. This brought the war closer to South Carolina.
When it became clear the British would attack Charleston again in 1780, the state got more ships. The naval defense of Charleston was given to Continental Navy captain Abraham Whipple. Most of South Carolina's ships were lost during the Siege of Charleston. Only a few small ships were used after the war started turning against the British in 1781.
One ship that survived the loss of Charleston was the frigate South Carolina. It was at sea during the siege.
The Frigate South Carolina
Commodore Alexander Gillon had gotten the South Carolina in Europe. The state had ordered her in March 1778. Her original name was Indien. She was rented from the Chevalier de Luxembourg for three years.
The agreement said that money from captured enemy ships (called prize money) would be split. Half would go to the officers and crew. One quarter would go to South Carolina. The last quarter would go to the Chevalier Luxembourg. On her way from Europe to South Carolina, she captured several enemy ships.
In 1782, she helped the Spanish fleet capture the Bahamas. She was captured by the British in December 1782. The money agreements Gillon made caused financial problems for South Carolina for many years.
Other Important Ships
The South Carolina Navy also included frigates like Rattlesnake, Bricole, and Truite (26 guns). There were also brigs like Notre Dame (16 guns) and Comet. The General Moultrie (20 guns) was also part of the fleet. Bricole, Truite, Notre Dame, and General Moultrie all helped defend Charleston in early 1780.
The Bricole
Bricole was a supply ship built in 1764. In September 1779, she sank in the Savannah River but was pulled back up. The next month, the French gave her to the South Carolina government. The South Carolinians wanted to turn her into a large warship with 44 guns. But they changed their minds. Instead, they made her a floating battery. This meant she was a ship with many guns that stayed in one place. She had fourteen 12-pounder guns and twenty-two 8-pounder guns. In March 1780, she was sunk in front of Charleston, South Carolina to block British ships from entering.
The Truite
Truite was a French ship launched in 1777. The French gave her to the South Carolina Navy in December 1779. By March 1780, she was a frigate with 26 guns. She was sunk in the Copper River. This was done to stop a British group of ships from sailing up the river.
Ships in this navy included the Lady Davis. This ship later served in the Confederate States Navy as CSS Lady Davis.
After the American Civil War, states kept both army and naval militias. During the Spanish–American War, the South Carolina Naval Militia became part of the United States Navy. Its members served on several U.S. Navy ships. In 2003, South Carolina started its naval militia again. This was done under the South Carolina Maritime Security Act.
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