The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-07-13

weaving for him crowns of victory, and
save the sentinel's solitary tramp, and
the gentle murmur of the ripping tide
along the beach, silence reigned supreme.
In the distance CLEAN the city lights.
No rest as yet was there. The darkness
and the silence brought thither to many
an anxious heart, fear, doubt and despair:
The battle was over, but, an who had
gained the day? And, ah I! who was left
to tell.
With the mornings dawn, the men
were again at their guns. They opened
upon the ill-fated Acteon, which still lay
aground. Her brave, but unfortunate,
commander sullenly responded, fired the
ship, and left her with guns loaded and
colors flying. Capt. Milligan, with a
party, boarded the burning vessel, turn
ed her guns upon the distant Commodore,
gave him a farewell shot, seized the ships
bell and other trophies, and left her to
her inevitsble fate. Immediately her
magazine exploded; a great pillar of
smoke ascended from the blazing ruin,
expanded at the top, and assumed the
form of a gigantic Palmetto tree, en-
blem of the newborn State emerging
from the ruins of the proud symbol of
Britain's sovereignty in America.
Clinton now made a last attempt to
cross from Long Island, but the intrepid
Thompson and his brave command again
confronted him with terrific volleys and
drove him behind the batteries as before,
discounted and respondent. The same
day, Sir Peter Parker; with a heavy heart,
sailed away northward with his feet,
followed on the Both by Clinton, with his
detected command, and South Carolina
had rest for more than three years from
the invading hosts of Britain.
Congratulations and well-won compli-
ments flowed in upon the victors. Gov.
Rutledge in person rendered his thanks
and the plaudits of the people. Hepre-
sented his own sword to the brave Jasper,
and rendered him commission as a re-
ward of his gallantry. Thatnoble spirit,
modest as brave, gratefully declined the
profered honor. II am content" said
he, 'to be Sergeant; my education does
not fit me for higher office" Oh, for the
revival of sentiments like these, obsolete,
and almost extinct in these degenerate
days, when demagogues madly scramble
for Office, and the highest positions are
often won by unblushing incompetency
and unscrupulous villainy. Gen. Lee
added his testimony to the heroism of
the command, declaring that "no men
ever did, and it is impossible that any
men ever could behave BETTER" and Con-
gress returned thanks "to Maj. Gen. Lee,
Col. William Moultrie, Col. William
Thompson, and the officers and soldiers
under their command" )" and the Legisla-
ture changed the name of the fort to
'Moultrie," in honor of its gallant de-
fence.
On the 30th, the day that Clinton sail
ed, Mrs. Barnard Elliott presented Moul-
tries regiment with stand of colors,
assuring them that their gallant beha-
vior in defence of liberty and their coun-
try "entitled them to the highest honors."
Three years afterwards, these colors were
planted upon the Spring Hill Redoubt,
in the disastrous assault upon Savannah.
One was planted by Lieutenant Bush,
who wes Immediately shot down. Lieu
tenant Hume, in planting the other, met
the same fate. Lieutenant Gray, sup
porting them, received his death-wound.
Jasper seized the flag and planted it, and
when the retreat sounded, mortally woun.
ded, he brought them off the field, and
covered with glory and honor, cheerfully
yielded up his young life, g willing sac
rifce upon the altar of liberty. Just be-
fore he died he said to Major Horny ::
:.'Tell Mrs. Elliott I lost my life support
ing the colors she presented to our regi-
pent"
"Yet, soldier, thy illustrious name Is known,
| Thy fame supported, and thy worth confessed;
That peerless virtue which in danger shone,
Is shining still where thou art laid to rest"
A century has rolled on to join the
march of time. The American States
have become mighty Republic, the
peer of the most powerful Empires and
Kingdoms. The heroism of her sons in
1776 has been transmitted to the genera
tions that succeeded them. Twice has
she defed in arms the British power, and
twice been crowned with victory. Her
flag has waved in triumph over the En-
pire of the Montezumas, and brave Car
olinians are here to-day, bearing the Pal
metto banner, first planted on the Castle
of Chepultepec, and first on the Garita
de Belen, gate of the Mexican capital.
Vast conquests have been made, and her
dominion extends from ocean to ocean.
Immense forests have been felled-
gloomy wastes made fertile fields. Great
cities have been built, roads, canals, rail-
ways and telegraphs, and all the appli-
ances of the most advanced civilization
multiplied. Large manufacturing and
mining interests established; agricultural
industries developed and progressing in
accordance with the latest discoveries in
natural science; innumerablc churches,
schools and colleges, afford the highest
facilities for religious, moral and intel
lectual culture; and broad streams of
immigration pour in yearly upon our
shores, adding to an ever-increasing pop
ulation. America stands to-day stu
pendous example of national develop
ment and achievement.
Standing as it were upon an eminence,
and taking a retrospective view of her
history from the day when q still, small
voice awoke the dreams of Columbus,
gave to the world a new creation, shook
into action the dormant energies of man.
kind, moved the stagnant- fountains of
human thought, and melted the nations
to enterprise, discovery and progress, to
tais full development of American pro-
gress, who can fail to see that an AL.
mighty Providence originated, guided
and accomplished this grandest, hig chest,
most wonderful and most benefcient
manifestation of His intervention in hu-
man affairs? Who, thus believing, can
admit the monstrous thought that this
divine experiment is doomed to prema-
ture failure, that the sun OF Americas
greatness is to be extinguished, in the
midst of its meridian splendor, in the
foul waters of discord and corruption {?
1t cannot, must not, will not be. Among
no people on earth is there more private
| o,d tLoso ,nuot triunonh over the malip-