ountry on the ocean.

In addition to the exploits of the American cruisers upon the high
seas, certain operations of the British navy along the American coast,
during the year 1776, demand attention. Of these the most important
was the attack by Sir Peter Parker upon Charleston, in September of
that year,--an attack made memorable by the determined courage of the
Americans, the daring exploit of Sergt. Jasper, and the discovery of
the remarkable qualities of palmetto logs as a material for
fortifications.

Charleston was then a town of but a few thousand inhabitants; but,
small as it was, it had become particularly obnoxious to the British
on account of the strong revolutionary sentiment of its people, and
their many open acts of defiance of King George's authority. When the
offensive Stamp Act first was published, the people of Charleston rose
in revolt; and the stamps for the city being stored in an armed
fortress in the bay, known as Castle Johnson, a party of a hundred and
fifty armed men went down the bay, surprised the garrison, captured
the castle, and, loading its guns, defied the authorities. Not until
the promise had been made that the stamps should be sent back to
England, did the rebellious Carolinians lay down their arms. Nor was
their peace of long duration. When the news of the battle of Lexington
reached the little Southern seaport, the people straightway cast about
for an opportunity to strike a blow against the tyranny of England.
The opportunity soon offered itself. An English sloop laden with
powder was lying at St. Augustine, Fla. Learning this, the people of
Charleston fitted out a vessel, which captured the powder-ship, and,
eluding a number of British cruisers, returned safely to Charleston
with fifteen thousand pounds of gunpowder for the colonial army. Soon
after the colonial troops took possession of the forts in the harbor,
and Charleston became a revolutionary stronghold.

Therefore, when the war authorities of Great Britain prepared to take
active, offensive measures against the seaport cities of the
rebellious colonies, Charleston was one of the first points chosen for
attack. It was on the 4th of June, 1776, that the British fleet, under
the command of the veteran admiral, Sir Peter Parker, appeared off
Charleston bar. The colonists had learned of its approach some time
before; and the town was crowded with troops, both regular and
volunteer. Two forts, Johnson and Sullivan, were erect