Photo essay: Tall ship fires a Carolina Day salute Sunday

The Spirit of South Carolina, a two-mast replica of a 19^th-century pilot schooner, fired two artillery pieces on Sunday to commemorate the day of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island, a stunning patriot victory during the Revolutionary War.

Jerry Byerly of Mocksville, N.C., fires a swivel gun salute to Fort Moultrie.
Credit: Herb Frazier, Charleston City Paper
Credit: Herb Frazier, Charleston City Paper
Raising sails. Credit: Herb Frazier, Charleston City Paper
Credit: Herb Frazier, Charleston City Paper
Credit: Herb Frazier, Charleston City Paper
Credit: Herb Frazier, Charleston City Paper
Credit: Herb Frazier, Charleston City Paper
Credit: Herb Frazier, Charleston City Paper
Credit: Herb Frazier, Charleston City Paper
Credit: Herb Frazier, Charleston City Paper
Credit: Herb Frazier, Charleston City Paper
Carin Bloom of Charleston, the Spirit of South Carolina’s director of education and programs, and Jerry Byerly, lowers a mast on the Spirit of South Carolina. The ship is rigged with three miles of rope, which sailors call “line.” Fort Sumter is in the background. Credit: Herb Frazier, Charleston City Paper
Jerry Byerly of Mocksville, N.C., fires a swivel gun salute to Fort Moutrie. Credit: Herb Frazier, Charleston City Paper

On June 28, 1776, the fort fended off a nine-hour Royal Navy bombardment that failed to splinter the partially completed palmetto fort on Sullivan’s Island. The fort later was renamed Fort Moultrie to honor its commander, Col. William Moultrie.

Fort Moultrie, today operated by the National Park Service, fired a field artillery piece as a return salute to the Spirit of South Carolina.

For the battle’s anniversary, remembered as Carolina Day, the Spirit of South Carolina, played the role of the Ranger, a British vessel that was dispatched to protect British troops on Long Island, today’s Isle of Palms.

Carin Bloom of Charleston, the Spirit of South Carolina’s director of education and programs, said a cascading set of failures led to the British defeat.

On the Spirit of South Carolina, Revolutionary War reenactor Jerry Byerly of Mocksville, N.C., fired a swivel gun as another artillery crew simultaneously fired a carronade as a salute to the fort.

Revolutionary War reenactors mingled with special guests of the Spirit of South Carolina, owned by a nonprofit group that organized the Carolina Day event.

The ship emerged this spring from major repairs and will soon be available for public programming, Bloom said.