d could possibly induce them to forego.
This necessity was apparent for other reasons. In consequence of the
temporizing policy already mentioned, the crown was still in possession
of most of the shows of power in and about Charleston. The royal
governor was still in the city, and in some degree exerting his
authority. Fort Johnson, on James' Island, was suffered to remain in
the hands of the king's troops for more than three months after the
Provincial Congress had ordered a levy of troops, and had resolved on
taking up arms. Two British armed vessels, the Tamar and Cherokee, lay
in Rebellion Roads, opposite Sullivan's Island. This force was quite
sufficient, under existing circumstances, to have destroyed the town.
But the royal leaders were not prepared for this issue; they shared the
reluctance of the patriots to begin a conflict, the issues of which were
so extreme. Their policy, like that of the patriots--influencing it, and
possibly influenced by it--was equally halting and indecisive. It was
sufficiently satisfactory if, by the presence of such a force, the
citizens should be overawed and kept from action.

This condition of things could not continue. The very nature of the
movement was adverse to indecision. It needed but a first step--a
first stroke--and this was to be taken by the patriots. They brooked
impatiently the humiliating position in which the city stood, controlled
by an inferior enemy; and it was resolved that Fort Johnson should
be subdued. It was on this occasion that Marion first drew his sword
against the British. He was one of those Captains who, with their
companies, were dispatched on this expedition. The command was given to
Col. Moultrie. A strong resistance was expected, as, but a short time
before, the garrison had been reinforced from the armed vessels. At
midnight on the fourteenth of September, 1775, the detachment crossed
to James' Island. The disembarkation was effected with delay and
difficulty, occasioned by the inadequate size and number of the boats.
The forlorn hope, consisting of a detachment from the grenadiers of
Capt. Pinckney, joined by the Cadets, and led by Lieut. Mouatt, were to
scale the walls of the fort on its south bastion; Col. Moultrie with
the rest of Pinckney's Grenadiers, and Marion's Light Infantry, were to
enter or force the gates over the ravelin; while Capt. Elliott, with
his grenadiers, penetrated the lower battery over the left flank. It
was broad dayligh