Editing Blackbeard (section)

===Blockade of Charles Town===
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| footer = According to contemporary sources, Blackbeard flew a black flag with a skull and a blood red flag;<ref name=mf>{{citation|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/531982/facts-about-pirate-blackbeard|title=15 Facts About Blackbeard|date=22 November 2018|website=Mental Floss|access-date=2 January 2019|archive-date=1 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201223735/https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/531982/facts-about-pirate-blackbeard|url-status=live}}</ref> see [[flag of Blackbeard]] for details.
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By May 1718, Teach had awarded himself the rank of [[Commodore (rank)|Commodore]] and was at the height of his power. Late that month his flotilla blockaded the port of [[Charles Town, South Carolina|Charles Town]] in the [[Province of South Carolina]]. All vessels entering or leaving the port were stopped, and as the town had no [[guard ship]],<ref>{{Harvnb|Konstam|2007|p=164}}</ref> its [[pilot boat]] was the first to be captured. Over the next five or six days about nine vessels were stopped and ransacked as they attempted to sail past [[Charles Town Bar]], where Teach's fleet was anchored. One such ship, headed for London with a group of prominent Charles Town citizens which included Samuel Wragg (a member of the Council of the province of Carolina), was the ''Crowley''. Her passengers were questioned about the vessels still in port and then locked below decks for about half a day. Teach informed the prisoners that his fleet required medical supplies from the colonial government of South Carolina, and that if none were forthcoming, all prisoners would be executed, their heads sent to [[Robert Johnson (governor)|the Governor]] and all captured ships burnt.<ref>{{Harvnb|Lee|1974|pp=39–42}}</ref>

Wragg agreed to Teach's demands, and a Mr. Marks and two pirates were given two days to collect the drugs. Teach moved his fleet, and the captured ships, to within about five or six [[League (unit)|leagues]] from land. Three days later a messenger, sent by Marks, returned to the fleet; Marks's boat had capsized and delayed their arrival in Charles Town. Teach granted a reprieve of two days, but still the party did not return. He then called a meeting of his fellow sailors and moved eight ships into the harbour, causing panic within the town. When Marks finally returned to the fleet, he explained what had happened. On his arrival he had presented the pirates' demands to the Governor and the drugs had been quickly gathered, but the two pirates sent to escort him had proved difficult to find; they had been busy drinking with friends and were finally discovered, drunk.<ref>{{Harvnb|Lee|1974|pp=42–47}}</ref>

Teach kept to his side of the bargain and released the captured ships and his prisoners—albeit relieved of their valuables, including the fine clothing some had worn.<ref>{{Harvnb|Lee|1974|p=47}}</ref>