Fort Moultrie National Monument

A Look at Palmetto Log Fortification

Description

Constructed in the 18th century to defend the waterways of South Carolina, Fort Moultrie's first call of duty was when British Admiral Sir Peter Parker attacked the coast in 1776. Since many of the fort's structures were built out of Palmetto wood, which is soft and pliable, the cannonballs that were fired at the fort were reflected and didn't cause much damage at all to the fort. Although Moultrie was eventually captured by the British, its role in saving Charleston from that initial attack is memorable in South Carolina's history. By 1804, a new Fort Moultrie had been constructed out of brick over the original wood fort. Today, Fort Moultrie National Monument is part of the adjacent Fort Sumter National Monument, although Moultrie offers a unique perspective on the early Palmetto log forts of the 18th century.