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- Captain Jacob Milligan, Revolutionary War Hero of Charleston SC
Jacob Milligan was born in 1730, perhaps in Ireland or Scotland, or South Carolina. We do not have any records of his early life, despite much effort to discover from whence he came. We do know that he was a person of influence and recognized by his peers. He fought against the British in the Battle of Sullivan's Island, (now Ft. Moultrie) June 28, 1776, at Charleston SC, and through his bravery and efforts the battle was turned against the British, thereby making this the first victory for the Colonists against the British at the start of the Revolution. (more info about the National Historical Site is here). He was also the first Harbor Master for Charleston Harbor, met with General George Washington as he visited Charleston, and also was in charge of the first census taken there in 1790.
A deposition made by Capt Jacob Milligan, in which he states he was a native of New York City, and also was at New Bern NC 1772, where he joined the Freemasons.
On the 28th of June 1776 a fleet of British ships under Sir Peter Parker attacked Ft. Sullivan (now Ft. Moultrie) in Charleston harbor. Being unfamiliar with the waters, three of them ran aground. Two were able to get free but the frigate Actaeon was hard aground the next morning. There was a fleet of small boats called gallies operated by the Americans that were suitable for use in shallow coastal waters. Now from Dr. Joseph Johnson's Traditions and Reminiscences,
Charleston 1851, pp. 114-116, the gallies proved to be very useful in guarding the coast and inland trade, at that time constantly going on. One of them was that commanded by Jacob Milligan, a very brave, active man who kept a watchful eye over the movements of the enemy. During the interval between the arrival of Sir Peter Parker's fleet and their attack on Ft. Moultrie, an active partisan warfare was kept up by the flotilla commanded by Whipple, Tufts, Milligan and others. Some firing from then took place almost every day. On the morning after the battle of Ft. Moultrie the gallies, or rather their boats, under the command of Milligan, aided by volunteers, among whom were Captain William Hall and Captain George Warren Cross, boarded the Acteon frigate, while she lay grounded on the shoal where Ft. Sumter now stands. The crew of the frigate seeing the movement, set fire to her and escaped in their boats. Our flotilla took the flag and the bell and other movables. Milligan then turned the guns of the frigate against the other British vessels, fired on them, and left the guns loaded and pointed so as to be discharged against them when the fire approaching would ignite the powder.
And again we have from THE HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA by Edward McGrady: McMillan Co. NY, pp 159-160....."When the morning of the 29th of June broke upon the scene the Acteon lay fast ashore. The garrison at Fort Moultrie fired a few shots at the Acteon, which were promptly and gallantly returned from her by Captain Atkins, when to prevent her from falling into the hands of the Americans, he set fire to her, taking off her crew in small boats, leaving her colors flying and her guns loaded. But this did not prevent a party under Lieutenant Jacob Milligan of the Carolina ship of War Prosper from boarding her while on fire. This party pointed and fired three of her guns at the British commodore, and stripping her of what the pressing moments permitted brought off her colors, ship's bell, and as much of her sails and stores as his boats could contain. Milligan had scarcely done this when the Actaeon blew up with an awful explosion"
NOTE: Jacob Milligan was made Captain as a result of the Acteon engagement and was referred to as Captain in several other history books of which there are seven that refer to this action. Capt Jacob was also a member of the reception committee of 13 members who met George Washington when he visited Charleston about April 27, 1781.
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1730 - 1797 (67 years)