Two British naval vessels had just arrived in the area and sent a small boat into the harbor to see if it was safe to enter. The British boat soon came under attack by a armed harbor pilot vessel. The British boat boldly attacked the harbor boat which quickly began to flee back into the harbor with the British boat in hot pursuit. The British boat soon turned tail it self after it came under fire from a shore battery manned by men of the SC 2nd Regiment.

SC 2nd Regiment detachment on Sullivan's Island, led by unknown

USS Hibernia - Capt. Thomas Smith with 30 men, 6 Swivel Guns, and several Musquetoons

HMS Syren - Capt. Tobias Furneaux

HMS Raven - unknown captain

HMS Rittenhouse - unknown captain