The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-10-22
IN ADVANCE
N u NJ B Err sc.

"
ed a full view of the fort, and he gazed
with the expectation of beholding the
slaughter pen," as he termed 1t, knocked
into splinters in ten minutes time. But
he was mistaken, for when the fresh sea
breeze rolled away the smoke, the black
rampant WAS seen unharmed, and the blue
flag streamed gaily from its staff. The
huge cannon balls sunk harmlessly into
the mass Of soft sand, and the nature of
the palmetto wood, (soft and spongy,)
prevented splinters, those dreadful Off
sprinss of timber walls in general, when
they are smitten by cannon balls.
At length Lee, warmed into admiration
by tho gallant conduct of ,he brave de-
Tenders, crossed over TO the Island 10 cheer
and encourage them. There, amidst the
din and fury Of the battle, he found Col.
Moultrie coolly walking about smoking
his pipe and experimenting the defence
with watcbful eyes-now directing can.
non, and now assisting to convey some
wounded man to place Of safety. But
the British ships suffered. First the bomb
ship was riddled, and forced to cease her
fire. Then the Commodore" a fifty
gun slip, was raked fore and aft; and tho
Experiment reduced 10 hull only,
slackened her FIRE and sent her men be-
low, while three Of the smaller frigates
lost their spars and running rigging. At
one time the fire Of the fort Stacked, and
a FAINT cheer rang across the waves from
the English fleet. The American guns
only ceased to play for want Of powder,
and supply being obtained the battle
opened with greater fury than ever
Once the broadsides Of four vessels all
struck the fort at one instant, and the
ramparts seemed on the point of yielding.
But the wet wood settled down again
and in moment was as firm as ever,
All day long the bombardment contin.
ued and until the sun had sank all red
and fiery in the distant ocean depths. 1t
was about 8 o'clock in the evening when
Sir Peter Parker, despairing of passing
the fort, and finding his feet almost in a
sinking condition, gave orders to. cut ca
bles and start off the coast. Then from
the fort, from the harbor, from the crowds
upon the house tops and the piers, went
up deafening shouts Of victory, and every
patriot thanked God that he had shed
such halo Of glory upon the American
arms, and bid the foe turn in fear from
the shores Of South Carolina.
This battle was no less glorious to the
Americans than calamitous to the Eng
lish. They lost in killed and wounded
over 200 men, and many officers. Amoas
the wounded was Sir Peter Parker him
self, who lost an arm. One ship, the
Action" was left wreck upon the
water, and others were so damaged that
they could scarcely be kept afoat long
enough to be repaired. The Americans
lost in killed and wounded SO officers and
men. For twelve hours and better they
sustained, with 80 cannon and scanty
supply Of ammunition, the combined fire
of nine vessels armed with 26O cannon
The deSeSes Of Fort Moultrio is acknowl-
edged to be one of the most remarkable
military achievements OF modern times.
And here let us consider an instance or
two of individual heroism which occurred
during that memorable battle. Sergeant
Mcdonald, while serving his gun, was
mortally woIn led by cannon ball. He
was Instantly taken by his comrades, and
carried all mutilated and bleeding, to the
unexposed part Of the works. As the
dying man felt himself in the arms of hia
friends, he opened his eyes, over which
the films of cold death were stealing, and
faintly said: II die, but dont let the
cause OF liberty die with me and tho
next moment Sergeant Mcdonald was a
corpse!
While the fire was the hottest, AMI
Willie the walls were shaking from the
stream of iron which poured upon them,
the blue flag which Moul,rie had planted
upon the outworks was shot away, and
fell fluttering to the beach below. A
cheer arose from the feet, and the hearta
of the ;, -srs upon the shore quaked with
fear and grief, as they supposed the fort
had surrendered. But the gallant Jas
per leaped from the walls, seized the flag.
climbed up again, amidst hail of shot,
and with a rope lashed the flag to a
sponge staff and planted it firmly in the
bastion and as the wand spread its folds.
once more into the air the patriots made
the shore resound with their rejoicings.--
And when the FRAY was over. Governor
Rutledge presented the brave man with
a swond, aud, at the same time Ms. El-
lott gave to Moultrie's regiment beau
tiful stand Of colos, which Jasper lost his
life in defending at the storming Of Savan-
nah.