Admiral Peter Parker sent Maj. James Moncrief of the Engineers in the armed schooner Pensacola Packet to conduct a reconnaissance of Charleston. On May 20th, Capt. Simon Tufts and the Defense arrived with a recently captured New York brigantine that had been whaling. The Royal Navy frigate Sphinx spotted the Defense entering the harbor and followed her, then waited at the entrance to the harbor with the Pensacola Packet.

The Pensacola Packet lowered three boats to allow Maj. Moncrief sound the bar. He determined that the British fleet could make it over the bar and then noticed the half-finished fort at Sullivan's Island. He was able to get inside the fort and walk around and sketch the construction. When he went back to his boats Patriot sentinels figured out what was going on and fired at him.

On May 21st, Capt. Joseph Turpin and his Comet arrived with a new prize - the St. James. [author's note, this account is not 100% accurate because the St. James had been captured back in March, so perhaps the two skirmishes are blended together]. According to the account, it is now the Sphinx that pursued the Comet, but the St. James had to be abandoned and set onfire.

The Sphinx continued to patrol the harbor because Maj. Moncrief needed to scout the other defenses around Charleston. The Pensacola Packet captured a small coasting sloop from Georgetown with a load of turpentine. The same day five deserters of the SC 2nd Regiment rowed out to the Sphinx and were welcomed aboard.

Even though the British ships captured a few small prizes they were not able to complete their mission of thoroughly scouting Charleston's defenses. The Comet repeatedly drove them off.

SC Provincial Navy brig. Comet - Capt. Joseph Turpin, with eighteen 6-pounders

-

Sloop HMS Pensacoal Packet - unknown captain

Maj. James Moncrieff - Royal Engineers
-