History: A Legacy Stronger than a Palmetto Fort

Waves crash peacefully on the beach at Sullivan’s Island as the sea breeze cools the otherwise tropical day. The air feels deceptively calm. But danger lurks close by. Nine British warships sit right offshore, cannons primed, ready for a bloody assault. The date is June 28, 1776, a day that will go down in Lowcountry history as “Carolina Day.”

Many Americans are familiar with the pivotal role of Fort Sumter in the American Civil War, but few know that an earlier victory at nearby Fort Moultrie, a small palmetto fort, helped inspire the fight for independence just days before July 4, 1776.

To commemorate this decisive moment in South Carolina history, Rob Shenk, chief content officer for Wide Awake Films, worked with the South Carolina SC250 commission to create an all-new historical short film depicting not only the battle itself, but local sensitivities and opinions from a wide variety of Charleston residents.

For those unfamiliar with its legacy, Carolina Day occurred when a tiny group of South Carolina soldiers stationed at Sullivan’s Island defeated a significantly superior force of British warships and 3,000 ground troops, using only natural environmental defenses and an unexpected resource: palmetto trees.

The British fleet, boasting nearly 270 guns, retreated after a nine-hour battle. Many of the cannonballs the British fired either bounced off the palmetto logs or lodged between them—something that surprised both sides. While the Americans did suffer casualties, it was this near-impenetrable defense that allowed the South Carolina soldiers to prevail and counterattack effectively.

In directing the film, Shenk said one of their first objectives was to make viewers aware of the battle’s basic history. “One of the best ways to get people interested in a subject is through video content,” he said. “Thankfully, Wide Awake Films has a phenomenal team with significant experience making films like this, although for an event that occurred 250 years ago, there is not a wealth of existing material.”

One of the biggest obstacles Shenk said they faced was making today’s audience feel engaged, at a time when viewers increasingly demand high levels of realism on screen. This was accomplished by combining live-action footage and immersive audio with animated maps that visibly outlined the locations of pertinent battlefield moments.

Eagle-eyed bystanders at past Carolina Day reenactments may notice that several reenactors portraying the 2nd South Carolina Regiment are also actors in this new film. This level of authenticity is common for Wide Awake Films, whose team regularly befriends local living history enthusiasts to collaborate with on future projects. This can include everything from soldiers and citizens to tradesmen and even slaves.

“We really tried to show a multitude of viewpoints surrounding this battle, which is why you’ll see the women in Charleston at the windows and African-American harbor pilots, while you hear the sounds in the distance,” Shenk said.

Shenk and his team prepared extensively for on-site filming by storyboarding which scenes would convey emotion best. From start to finish, the project took approximately 13 months, with the majority of time spent on pre- and post-production, as filming itself only took about two days.  Filming locations included Charles Towne Landing, Breach

Inlet, and the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon. In addition to its live-action shots, limited CGI was used for larger, more difficult objects such as the British warships.

“We really have a chance to spread awareness and interest in history to a new audience, and the nature and length of this film were ideal for the subject. It’s meant to grab you and thrust you into the action,” Shenk said. “We hope it will connect with younger generations so they’ll carry that interest forward.”

The Carolina Day film was financed by SC250, the statewide commission focused on commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in South Carolina.

Other notable historical events highlighted by Wide Awake Films include the Revolutionary War battles of Saratoga and Brandywine, along with the Civil War battles of Antietam, Gettysburg, and Manassas.

Charleston’s annual Carolina Day commemorations begin at historic St. Michael’s Church—built before the battle itself—with citizens marching down the streets in a patriotic fashion to a monument for the battle at White Point Garden. During this 250th anniversary, exciting new events and programs will take place all weekend long. Please visit the National Parks Service website for all the details at: nps.gov/fosu/planyourvisit/carolina-day-2026.htm

The SC250’s new Carolina Day film can be viewed on YouTube, on Charleston’s SC250 website at SC250Charleston.org, and in person at Fort Moultrie. You can also find a full list of upcoming 2026 events in Charleston to help celebrate SC250 at SC250charleston.org.