North Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

British Attack 1780

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Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 22, 2026

1. British Attack 1780 Marker

Inscription.

British Attack 1780. . , From this riverbank began the final assault on Charleston, as recorded below in the diary by Hessian, Capt. Johann Ewald, recently published at Yale University, beginning March 23, 1780:,

"About eight o'clock - I received orders to try to get to Drayton's house. Towards noon we reached the gardens of Drayton's plantation (today's Magnolia) -- in the afternoon General Leslie arrived and took up quarters.", "The 28th. The entire army assembled at Drayton's plantation.", "The 29th. Before daybreak the army set out to Drayton's landing place, where armed ships and flatboats were lying along the right bank to transport troops to the left -- at daybreak the troops boarded (a large force of infantry and artillery under Lord Cornwallis). At about 8 o'clock, the light infantry climbed the left bank at Ben Fuller's plantation, opposite Drayton's house. Some distance away several groups of horsemen and a number of riflemen appeared, who honored us with a few rifle shots, without any damage."

, British intent to cross here had been obvious. It was no surprise. From the landing bluff, a few small cannons could have destroyed the flatboats; or rifle companies could have decimated the assailants on arrival; or even hours later. Charleston's 7,000 fresh troops could have marched and dislodged the smaller force. Yet nothing was done!, What happened is history: the British drew a fatal siege line across Charleston's Pensinsula; their fleet entered the supposedly secure harbor undamaged, preventing water escape; and Charleston surrendered its thousands of troops so needed by Gen. Washington., This default and defeat caused many patriots to despair; and local leaders toasted His Majesty. Cornwallis was feed to move north to crush Washington's weary troops between his and the main British force. That this did not occur was due only to a storybook reversal of Cornwallis' Charleston experience: He inadvertently allowed himself to be cornered on the Yorktown Peninsula and a French fleet arrived unexpectedly to complete the blockade, leaving him to alternative to surrender.

From this riverbank began the final assault on Charleston, as recorded below in the diary by Hessian, Capt. Johann Ewald, recently published at Yale University, beginning March 23, 1780:

"About eight o'clock - I received orders to try to get to Drayton's house. Towards noon we reached the gardens of Drayton's plantation (today's Magnolia) -- in the afternoon General Leslie arrived and took up quarters."

"The 28th. The entire army assembled at Drayton's plantation."

"The 29th. Before daybreak the army set out to Drayton's landing place, where armed ships and flatboats were lying along the right bank to transport troops to the left -- at daybreak the troops boarded (a large force of infantry and artillery under Lord Cornwallis). At about 8 o'clock, the light infantry climbed the left bank at Ben Fuller's plantation, opposite Drayton's house. Some distance away several groups of horsemen and a number of riflemen appeared, who honored us with a few rifle shots, without any damage."

British intent to cross here had been obvious. It was no surprise. From the landing bluff, a few small cannons could have destroyed

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the flatboats; or rifle companies could have decimated the assailants on arrival; or even hours later. Charleston's 7,000 fresh troops could have marched and dislodged the smaller force. Yet nothing was done!

What happened is history: the British drew a fatal siege line across Charleston's Pensinsula; their fleet entered the supposedly secure harbor undamaged, preventing water escape; and Charleston surrendered its thousands of troops so needed by Gen. Washington.

This default and defeat caused many patriots to despair; and local leaders toasted His Majesty. Cornwallis was feed to move north to crush Washington's weary troops between his and the main British force. That this did not occur was due only to a storybook reversal of Cornwallis' Charleston experience: He inadvertently allowed himself to be cornered on the Yorktown Peninsula and a French fleet arrived unexpectedly to complete the blockade, leaving him to alternative to surrender.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Revolutionary • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is March 23, 1780.

Location. 32° 52.607′ N, 80° 4.923′ W.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 22, 2026

2. British Attack 1780 Marker

Marker is in North Charleston, South Carolina, in Charleston County. It can be reached from Magnolia Plantation Road east of Nursery Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Charleston SC 29414, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Lowcountry.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Magnolia at War (a few steps from this marker); The Ashley River (within shouting distance of this marker); Henry Woodward (within shouting distance of this marker); Excursion Up the Ashley (within shouting distance of this marker); The Earthquake of 1886 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); William Henry Drayton

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 22, 2026

3. British Attack 1780 Marker

(about 300 feet away); The Magnolia Houses (about 500 feet away); Azaleas (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North Charleston.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 28, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 28, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.