The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-07-13
do the work of devils and demagogues

to raise upon the body of the State fou
and fostering boils and putrefying sores
full of deadly corruption, fatal to the
Commonwealth. Let the appeal be to
posterity, that august tribunal for the
arbitrament of human conduct and
opinion. Calm and impartial, as it is re-
moved by time from the men and issues
submitted to its judgment, its DEGREES
approximate the exact and infalll6le
truth only attainable in the forum of the
Supreme and Omniscient Judge of the
Universe. 1t will decide with. justice,
tempered with filial tenderness ano
mercy. :,
In this our Southern land, we cherish,
with a reverence almost religious in its
devotion, the memory of two illustrlous
Americans, whose virtues shine in his
tory with equal and full-orbed pertec.
tions. AS the sun in the heavens, abso'
lutely peerless, if not absolutely fault!ess,
George Washington and Robert p. Lee
stand forth as our grand models of human
excellence. When their bright unsullied
blades were sheathed, and the issues OF
war determined, vengeance found no
place in their hearts. 1t shall lind no
abiding place in ours.
No Kindly word or generous deed, COM
ing to us whence it may, shall be un.
mated. The hand of Cancellation and
fraternal recognition extended to US, in
honor and honesty, shall ever be met
with the responsive pressure of friendly
and brotherly grip.
In this spirit we welcome this day the
gallant and faithful sons Of the North,
and reciprocate in our humble way, id
no niggardly or grudging spirit, the gen.
erous, courteous, and distinguished hos
pitality with which Boston, and New
York, and all New England, welcomed
and honored our gallant and faithful
sons, to commemorate with them the
glories of:Bunker Hill, and the splendid
achievements of New England's heroes
of the Revolution.
The Revolution of 1776, that brought
to America Liberty, Independence and
National Unity, initiated at Boston and
Bunker Hill, was re-echoed from Charles
ton and Fort Moultrie.
The Revolution of 1876, that brings
harmony, union, and restored nation
ality, initiated at Boston and Bunker Hill,
finds an echo this day in the hearts OF
South Carolinians at Charleston and Fort
Moultrie. They were the leaders then
as now; but as our fathers shared
the dangers, the horrors, and the fruits Of
the first, so we claim no inferior place IN
the revolution that shall restore to all
Americans liberty, equality, and fraterni-
,ty. To this generous contest we invite
the men of the North. IF they found us
in the unhappy past foemen worthy Of
their steel, they shall find us in the COM
mon struggle for a restored nationality,
faithful and unfaltering comrades.
FORT MoULTRIE.
A hundred years ago, the bright sum-
mer,s sun witnessed, upon this spot, 9
scene of moral grandeur and historical
interest seldom surpassed. Many occa'
sions have far transcended it in the num-
Der of actors, the splendor of martial
array, "the pomp and circumstance Of
war" and in conscious interest and i'm
portance; none in the real magnitude Of
the issue involved; none in the brave
and simple faith and devotion of the
patriot band here assembled, and few in
the comparative value and importance Of
its wonderful results. To produce this
singular spectacle; to realize its true
character and the spirit which animated
and sustained the actors in the glorious
drama; to recall the memory of Their
achievements and honor their virtues and
their fame; this the pious pilgrimage
that gathers here to day, this grand
assembly of American soldiers and citi.
zens, at the call of patriotic and repre-.
sentative band of South Carolina's best
brayest and most honored sons, equally
enlightened, liberal and generous in
peace, as brave, magnanimOus and dis
tinguished in war-a veteran organiza.
ton of worthy scions of their great pro.
totypes of the past, who have vindicated
upon many bloody field, and by many
an arduous service, the honor and fame
of their beloved State, and justified Their
claim to the proud title Of Guardians oi
the Palmetto"
On the 2Sth June, l776, this then
barren island lay in the bosom of the
waters, wild and deep swamp, covered
with the dense and picturesque verdure
of the live oak, myrtle and palmetto, and
bordered by broad and beautiful sandy
beach. At this spot stood an incomplete
and modest structure, novelty in de.
fensive fortifcation-a rude pen of pal.
metto logs from the adjacent forest, with
walls sixteen feet thick, filed in with
sand, having q sea front east and west oi
some two hundred feet, and on all other
sides in IN unfinished and exposed con.
dition, furnishing but little cover to the
inmates. Within this primitive and ex.
temporized fortress platforms were raised
and some twenty-eight guns, twenty-six,
eighteen and nine-pounders, were mount
ed. In the magazine were twenty-eight
rounds of ammunition for this armament
The garrison consisted of Moultrie's
Second South Carolina Regiment, and a
few volunteers, aggregating about four
hundred men. At the eastern extremity
of the Island were stationed Thompson's
Regiment of Rangers, (300,) Clark's
North Carolina Regulars, (200, and fifty
militiamen. With this force were two
guns, an eighteen and a six-pounder.-
At that point North Island was separated
from this by channel, not more than
eighteen inches deep at low water mark.
Col. William Moultrie commanded the
Island, and Col. William Thompson
popularity known as ''Old Danger" the
eastern outpost.
Gen. Armstrong with one thousand
five hundred militia, held Haddrell's
Point, and garrison occupied For,
johnson and the Notifications of the city
The whole force aggregated nearly six
thousand men, commanded by General
Charles Lee, of the Continental Army
with headquarters at Charleston. A
British fleet Of Fifty sail, under the COM
mand of Admiral Sir Peter Parker, lay
in the harbor and adjacent inlets. The
squadron of attack consisted of the flag.
ship Bristol and the Experiment, men-of'
war of fifty guns each; the frigates
Acteon, Active, Solebay, and Syren, o.