The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-06-22

VOL. XI---NO. 49,.
| It is hardly possible to overestimate
the influence of this Southern American
victory on the whole revolutionary strug-
gle. If this combined feet had succeed
ed in the capture of Charleston-which
at that time held front rank with the
other cities of the colonies-and had, so
early in the contest, secured so important
a foothold in the Southern colonies, there
is no knowing the consequences which
might have ensued.
Tradition says that their watch.word
for the day was "Die in your tracks" and
these meant what they said. The three
hundred at Thermopy1e left as their cpl
taph, "Tell it at Lacedamon, that we
died in obedience to her law" and sue
cessive generations, all down the centu-
RES, have admired and extolled their
devoted patriotism. These four hundred
were under the same inspiration; but
because they were not killed, but gradu-
ally drove back the combined fleets of
the mistress of the seas, they have been
allowed to sink to the level Of daring
partisahs, and must stand aside to listen
to the peans in honor of other exploits
far less heroic in character, and much
less imposing in results.
South Carolina in the days of her pros
perity, should have initiated Massachu-
1 = mr. oY
to mark the spot. Posterity looks upon
magnificent column, thirty feet square
at the base, and two hundred and twenty
feet high, all Quincy granite" to mark
the spot of the first Northern American
battle in the war of the Revolution, while
the very site of this, the first and greatest
of Southern American victories, has we'll
nigh disappeared from the map of the
country. It required petitions to more
than one Congress, before break-water
was constructed to stay the encroach-
ments of old ocean on this historic
Island; and then it was built Of rocks
from Portland, Maine.
In contrasting this battle with that OF
Bunker Hill there are analogies and re-
Hections which may be edifying to the
student of history.
In the first place they were the first
battles in their respective colonies, and
both were fought before the Declaration
of Independence. In both the fighting
was done by natives of the soil, In repre-
sentative colonies of the two sections;
for, even in these primitive days, men
talked of the "North'erd" and South
erd."
At Bunker Hill it was first shown that
the soldiers of Great Britain could be
repulsed and killed, too.
At Fort Moultrie it was shown that
her proud navy, her greatest boast, could
be whipped and driven back.
Massachusetts, could boast that her sons
would "stand to their arms" when a
royal army was marshalled against them,
with all the pomp and circumstance OF
glorious wal"
South Carolina could respond by point
ing to her sons standing to their guns,
with the proudest fleet Of all the world
arrayed against them, and under one OF
the fercest bombardments then on re-
cord. :.
Like thS"foolish virgins" about their
oil, in both there was deficiency of am
munition; but South Carolina had time
to "send 10 those that had" and to cor
rect the fatal mistake.
At yery close range, Bunker Hill wit
messed the death of 226 British.
At very long range, Fort Moultrie
caused 225 dead bodies of the enemy to
be consigned to old ocean.
In those days of the Golden time,"
Massachusetts rejoiced over Fort Moul.
trie. and South Carolina was proud OF
Bunker Hill.
That generation of large hearted pa
triots has long since passed of the stage;
but the scenes of their triumphs are with
us. and we enjoy the rich fruits of all
their tolls and sacrifices and blood.
The associations of this centennial
year tend to lasting revival of feelings
and sentiments long smothered and we'll
nigh extinct.
Why will politicians persist in obstruc-
ting any return to this primitive fraterni-
The centennial of this great battle is
to be celebrated on the 2Sth of June,
1876. South Carolina and her metropo-
lis, in their present desolation, will do
their best; but neither of them is In 8
condition to exhibit much: pageantry TO
the world. The hearts of their sons will
be in it, and there only can any monu-
ment to these Revolutionary sires be-
found.
In the hottest of the fight, Sergeant
Jasper leaped down from the parapet OF
the Fort, rescued the faglwhich had been
shot down and nailed it TO its staff, with
the memorable words, Boys, don't let Us
fight without afagp'':-, 4. .I..
South Carolina has invited her ancient
ally, Massachusetts,, to participate in the
approaching celebration and to claim
her undivided share in theg glorious naem-
ories of the day. Pointing to the flag
staff on the identical spot where Jasper
stood she, will .say-and oh, that her
words could resound through the length
and breadth of this great Republic
'The 'old flag is now safe and safe for
ever! Let us have peacel"
MORE EDUCATION AMONG FARMERS:
1T is fact shown before the British
Parliament, that while the rental of
land in Ireland had doubled during the
previous hundred years, and that OF
England tripled, the rental of Scotland
had se1tupled itself in the same time"
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