1706 French and Spanish Attack on South Carolina Lowcountry

Following the British attack on St. Augustine in 1702, a combined French and Spanish fleet moved to Charles Town, weakened by a yellow fever epidemic. On August 21, a ship arrived at the port city, warning of the arrival of the attacking fleet. The invaders gathered at the outer bar on August 25 and three days later made a demand for the surrender of the city.

After the surrender demand was rejected, on August 29, the French and Spanish privateers sent a small landing party ashore at Barksdale Plantation (present-day Old Village Mount Pleasant). The main attack group made landfall at Col. Dearsley's Creek (Hobcaw Creek), where they burned a storehouse and two vessels at Dearsley's Shipyard.

The next day, Governor Johnson ordered militia led by Capt. Fenwick, Capt. Lynch, and Capt. Canty east of the Cooper River to meet the attack. As the invaders attacked their way across the Wando Neck, they were pursued by the local militias. Everyone faced off to battle in a 150-acre open field at Hatchman's Plantation.

After suffering casualties, the French and Spanish troops retreated to their ships. Their fleet retreated on August 31. The French ship, Le Brilliante, moved to Sewee Bay to continue the attack. The ship was captured and captain taken prisoner. The Charles Town Vice Admiral William Rhett sailed victoriously into Charles Town aboard his prize, the Le Brilliante, along with local sloops Seaflower and the Flying-horse. It was a crushing defeat for the French and Spanish, with 230 men taken prisoner. These men were sent to Virginia and ordered dispersed among the British fleet to be sent to Britain for judgment under Queen Anne.

The main component of the French and Spanish forces were privateers who had been assembled and recruited from various ports such as Havana, having been offered the opportunity for adventure and potential fortune. Thus, once ashore, the privateers, without clear leadership, were disorganized and lacked a common goal. On the opposite side, stood Governor Nathaniel Johnson and Vice Admiral William Rhett who struck with surgical precision and with organized men eager to defend their land.