Sullivan’s Island in hopes of distracting rebel defenders. No landing on the mainland was feasible because of impenetrable swamps, and while the inlet was too deep to wade, it was too shallow for any man-of-war to provide gunfire support. The squadron had brought fifteen flat-bottomed assault boats, but they could transport less than a quarter of Clinton’s force at one time to Sullivan’s Island and would then land through treacherous surf “in face of an entrenchment well lined with musketry.” Such a fragmented attack, without adequate firepower, would easily be defeated in detail. Clinton
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