The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-10-22
5HlsrtllanlI,
THE B0MRARDMENT OF FORT
MOULTpIE.

In the Spring of l77G, the Committee
Of Safety in Charleston, South Carolina,
ordered Col VIM. Moutrie to erect fort
upon Governors Island. This Island is
the key to Charleston harbor, and the
safety of the city called that it be strongly
fortified. Stones and mortar were carce,
and the light sandy soil of the Island was
not easily held in embankmepts, therefore
Col Moultrie tried another and very effi-
cient method OF fortification. Two paral
lei walls of Palmetto logs were laid down,
sixteen feet apart and strongly bound to.
ge;her by cross timbers. These walls
were about six feet high, aud the space
between them was filed with sand.-
Thus was formed an impregnable fortress,
in an exceeding short space Of time and
when it was completed the blue colors
were displayed from the flagstaff. The
origin Of the blue flag is thus explained in
Nouitrie's Memories -" AS there was
no national flag at the time, it was desired
by the Council Of Safety to have one
made, upon which, as the State troops
were clothed in blue, and the fort was
garrisoned by the first and second regi-
ments, who wore silver crescent on the
front oftheir caps, j had large blue flag
made, with a crescent in the dexter cor.
ner, 20 be in uniform! with the troops
This was the first American flag displayed
in the South"
At the embrasures of this fort were
mounted thirty pieces Of cannon, most Of
them long thirty-twos, but the garrison
was composed chiefly of militia, unused to
the management of heavy guns, and when
Cen Lee, who had been seat from the
North 10 command, saw the fortification
and lis armament, he styled j: "slaugh-
ter pen" and requested Col. Moultrie to
vacate it at once. But the gallant officer
answered that he would do no such thing.
lie was then told that the enemy would
knock his fort to pieces IL half an hour.
" Then" said he, :" we will fight between
the ruins and prevent the men from land
ing" On hearing this reply, Lee gave up
all hope, and began to arrange matters for
a general retreat, as he felt confident that
the royal fleet would soon be in Charles
90.
The feet, consisting Of two irigates Of
fifty guns, FIVE Of twenty eight, one Of
twenty-four, and one bomb vessel. was at
length discovered moving upon the coast
1t was under the orders Of Sir Ifeter Par
ker, brave and experienced officer, who
believing that the American fortress was
c mere piece of sham work, anticipated an
easy victory. Contrary winds detsined
his vessels off the coast for some time, but
on the 2Sth June, l776, fair breeze
sprung up, the ships sailed proudly shore
ward, and with springs on their cables, an.
chored within fair cannon shot Of The fort
To the people Of Charleston this was an
eventful day. The roofs and spires, the
wharyes, the shipping around the piers
were crowded with anxious spectators and
from many apatrio,ic heart went up silent
prayers that success might crown the
causo.oi liberty.
Slowly the vessels swung round broad.
side to the fort, and as they did so, every
emtrazure blazed forth great volume Of
fire and iron hail. Bnt the ships soon re.
piled, and were enveloped in vast clouds
Of sulphurous smoke. The cannonaale
was dreadful; three hundred heavy guns
mingled their mighty thunders together,
until the shore trembled at the sound
Within tie foFt a strange spectacle was
presented. There were huntera,. militia,
regulars, and volunteers all mingled to-
gether; many Of them working cannon
for the first time in their lives, but all full
OF courage and enthusiasm. Some had
stripped of their coats, and with handker-
chiefs bound round their heads, trained
their long "thirty-twos with the skill OF
old artillerists.
| Atthe beginning Of the action General