Ken, I assume that you have read my post below, so I'll start from there.

First, *if* Branch was there, he would have been senior in rank as a Lt. Col., Stevens being a Major.

Does that mean that he was "in command" of the whole island? I don't know. Did the chain of command come from Branch down to Stevens? Again, I don't know.

Second, is the question of whether Branch was even there. I can find no account that mentions him being there, at all. In fact, the accounts that I read say that Major Stevens received his order "directly" from Gov. Pickens. This would not be likely if a senior officer was present, I don't think. Or, maybe that senior officer just had nothing to do with the command of the battery. Under either of these scenarios, Branch would not be giving the order to fire. And, futher, it is specifically recorded that Stevens gave the order "Fire!". Would Branch order "Fire!", then Stevens say "Fire!", then Whildon pass the order to fire? I don't know, but it seems unlikely.

According to the accounts that I have read, the sole purpose for the three companies of infantry even being there was to protect the sand batteries from assault coming from the rear, via a landing on the opposite side of the island. At least one company had barracks on the island, and when word was received that a relief ship's arrival was imminent, the company was called out to encamp on the beach in order to protect the batteries. No further information on what the other two companies were doing at the time. The way the accounts are written, it is not like the batteries were a part of a stationed garrison force under a garrison commander. Quite the opposite. The infantry force was sent to protect the batteries.