The American Revolution in South Carolina




The American Revolution in South Carolina

Fort Lyttleton
February 1, 1779

Patriot Cdr:	Capt. John Francis DeTreville	British Cdr:	None
Killed:	0	Killed:	0
Wounded:	0	Wounded:	0
Captured:	0	Captured:	0
Old District:	Beaufort District	Present County:	Beaufort County
Capt. John Francis DeTreville (SC 4th Regiment) spiked the guns and blew up fort to prevent its capture by British who were ransacking nearby plantations on their way to Charlestown from Savannah (Prevost). Located two miles south of Beaufort on Spanish Point, Fort Lyttleton was originally built to protect against the Spanish. Completed in 1762, it was a triangular tabby-built work, 400 by 375 feet, with a bastion and two half-bastions, tabby barracks, and a magazine. Patriots seized the fort in 1775. Attacked by the British in 1779, the defenders blew up the fort. Fort Lyttleton was renamed Beaufort Battery by the Americans after the American Revolution. Rebuilt in 1809 as a semi-circular tapia work, renamed again to Fort Marion, but was still unfinished by 1812. Fort Lyttleton was built on the site of the former Stuart Town settlement and commanded by William Harden, who organized a volunteer artillery now known as the 1055th Transportation Company. The 1055th has seen service in every U.S. War and is the fifth oldest military company in the nation.