This Day In Naval History: June 28

1776 - Army Col. William Moultries' troops defend Sullivans Island and Charleston, S.C. from an attack by British Commodore Sir Peter Parker and his fleet during the American Revolution. After a nine-hour battle with casualties mounting, Parker retreats. With Charleston saved, the fort is named in honor of Col. William Moultrie.

1814 - The sloop of war USS Wasp commanded by Johnston Blakeley, comes across HMS Reindeer, commanded by William Manners, off Plymouth, England, and engages in battle. After the 19-minute battle, USS Wasp captures HMS Reindeer, taking her crew as prisoners, and burn her at sea. 

1869 - The Navys first surgeon-general William M. Wood is appointed, and serves until Oct. 25, 1871.

1914 - Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is assassinated at Sarajevo, Bosnia. This act eventually leads to World War I.

1918 - A detachment of Marines from USS Brooklyn lands at Vladivostok, Russia to protect the U.S. Consulate and to assist forces of other Allied nations in bringing order to the city during the early stages of the Russian Revolution.

1919 - The Versailles Peace Treaty is signed, which ends World War I.

1943 - USS Peto (SS 265) and USS Tunny (SS 282) sink Japanese hydrographic-meterological research ship Tenkai No.2 northeast of Mussau Island and a gunboat Shotoku Maru off the west coast of Rota, Mariana Islands.


(Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Communication and Outreach Division)