Percival and Thomas

Percival and Thomas

The first time I heard of the Drayton brothers, Percival and Thomas, was about several years ago when I vacationed in Hilton Head, South Carolina. A quick tour to the Visitor's Center led me to the exhibit depicting the war of brother against brother. The remnants of Fort Walker and Fort Beauregard did not survive the demand of modern tourist development. Afterward, I drove to see Beaufort and Port Royal, where the Union Headquarter still stood. Of course I visited the Historic site. The following day, I drove North to see Charleston and Fort Sumter. Later on, I visited the famed Magnolia Plantation, and the well-known, magnificent garden, and it happened to be the Drayton's house.

Thomas F. Drayton attended West Point and met classmate Jefferson Davis. Before the war, he ran the Drayton plantation, became a director of a railroad and served a Palmetto State legislator. As a South Carolinian he whole-heartedly supported the Confederacy. He was appointed brigadier General defending the Port Royal military district.

His younger brother, four years junior, Percival Drayton, joined the United States Navy at age 15 as a midshipman and stayed loyal to the Star and Stripes. Percival believed the sacred Union must be preserved at all cost. Some pro-Union southerners would serve anywhere except refraining to fight against their own State. Not Percival. He would go anywhere he was sent, including South Carolina, his home State. He was assigned captain of a second class sloop, USS Pocahontas, on October 9, 1861, which was re-named from City of Boston, purchased by the Navy in Boston, Massachusetts in 1855. The over-all Naval commander was given to Samuel F. DuPont who commanded the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, made up of 75 ships, while "the other Sherman," Gen. Thomas Sherman, commanded 12,000 troops, being carried in the transports, heading for Port Royal.

To defend Port Royal, the Confederate reinforced Fort Walker in Hilton Head, and Fort Beauregard on Bay Point, about two nautical miles apart. Thomas concentrated his defenders at Fort Walker. As expected, Percival was considered a traitor in the Palmetto State, and a price on Percival's head was established.

Sailing toward Port Royal, USS Pocahontas encountered gale wind, which delayed Percival's rendezvous schedule. However, he managed to reach Fort Walker in the midst of the battle, on November 7, 1861, joining his fellow Federal fleet to bombard the Fort for at least two hours, with his 15 pounder rifle guns and 32 pounder guns on board. When DuPont received information that Fort Walker was abandoned, he ordered cease-fire, and it was then, the Federal found out that the Fort was defended by Gen. Thomas Drayton. Luckily, none of the Drayton brothers was injured.

After this successful venture, Percival continued to serve the Federal fleet, attacking Fort Sumter and Charleston. Later, hearing his bravery, Farragut recruited Percival to join his fleet to attack Mobile Bay. His brother Thomas fought at Second Manassas, South Mountain and Sharpsburg. Both of them survived the war. I asked the tour-guide in the Magnolia Plantation what happened to the relationship of the Drayton brothers after the war. And she said that they remained friendly.

{Souce: Site visit to Fort Walker in Hilton Head, SC (the structure is no longer exists today; Site vist to Port Royal; Site visit to Magnolia Platation (their home) in Charleston, SC., and a lot of notes taking.} (1999)

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Author and Webmaster, Gordon Kwok (gordonkwok@aol.com)

March 15, 2001