3IOULTRIE, WILLIAM, 1731-1805; b. S. C.; SOD of Br. .Tolin, a Scotch physician who settled in Charleston early in the century. He received an ordinary education, and in the Cherokee troubles of 1761 was a cart. in the militia. Though of British descent and closely connected with many tories, Moultrie was prominent in the popular movements which preceded the revolution; in 1775 was a delegate to the colonial con gress, and in the same year was chosen col. of a S. C. regiment. He assisted in the seizure of the arsenals and forts, placed a battery at Haddrill's Point, which drove off two vessels, and when the siege of Charleston by the fleet of sir Peter Parker and sir Henry Clinton's land forces was threatened, obtained permission to con struct a fort of palmetto logs on Sullivan's island, which he began in 31ar•h, 17i6. (See Mouvru•, Foul.) Gen. Lee, the commander-in-chief, thought the position poor and the construction faulty, hut when on June 28 the fleet appeared, the terrific can nonade of the ships produced little effect on the soft palmetto wood, while Moultrie, though poorly supplied with ammunition, made every shot tell, and at night ate fleet retired with a loss of 225 killed and wounded, the colonial forces having night 36 men disabled. This remarkable and gallant defense resulted in the ultimate withdrawal of
tile British forces from the coast of South Carolina. .Moultrie received the thanks of congress, and in his honor the fort was named fort In September of the same year Moultrie was made a brig.gen. and put in cu inniand of the department of Geor gia and South Carolina. In 1779 the British forces again appealed, and under col. Gardner were defeated by gen. Moultrie near l'u hen gen. Prevost was advancing upon Charleston, Moultrie obstructed him in every possible way, and thus gave the city time to prepare for its defense. In the defense of the city he again dis played military ability, was held a prisoner for two years after the surrender, and at last exchanged for gen. Burgoyne. In 1782 he was made a maj.gen.; in the years 1785 and 1794 was elected governor of his state, and then retired to private life. Ills .4fcatoirs of the &volution (1802) was written in part while he was a prisoner, and finished in later years.