The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-10-01
MONUMENT AT THE STAR PORT.
Not to Commemorate Our Defeaf,..-
But to Perpetnate Record Of the
Heroic Daring of Our Forefathers
...Susgestive Letter from DR.. La.
than.

than.
Mr.. Hugh Wilson--Dear Old Friend: There
is in Abbeville county small village, which,
for nearly one hundred and dfty years, has
been known by the name Of Ninety Six:
At AN early period In the history OF South
Carolina, Ninety Six was place Of much Inn
portarca. During the Revolutionary war 1t
Increased in Importance.
In l7S1, the dark days Of South Cardinals
Revolutionary history, in fact, the dark days
gle for independence, Ninety Six was garri-
soned by a strong British force under COM
mand OF Col. John Crugar.
General Green then In command OF the
Colonial forces In South Carolina determ1n-
ell To make an assault on Colonel Cruger and,
II possible capture the fort. In this he was
aided by the various American officers.
On the "a day Of May; 7sl. General Green Green
the seige. The garrison consisted OF aboot
Ave hundred and fifty men-all, think, 10y
alists aud tories. The loyalists were from
New York and New Jersey; OF f, these there
ing one hundred and fifty were South Caro-.
| lima tories under the command OF Colonel
King. Genera! Green's forces amounted TO
less than one thousand This does moi In.
| never known.
The seige was conducted by the celebrated
Kosciusco, who acted as engineer. Green
would have been successful had not the garrl-
SON been relieved by Rawdon, who. on the
| 7th of June, marched from Charleston with O
large force for the defence of the fort.
| On the 10Th Of June General Green raised
the seige and led his forces to place OF secur-
ity. In the seige the Americans lost In kill
ed fifty.seven wounded seventy; and miss
ing twenty. This does not include the loss
In the militia companies;
| My object In writing this Ia to suggest TO
the people of Abbeville county the proprlety
| of purchasing from the owner the land on
which the old fort Is. and erecting suitable
monument for the purpose OF perpetuating
| It would. perhaps, be better Tor the State to
purchase the land, and for the people to erect
| the monument.
| have no plan and no end to accomplish
other than TO hand down to coming genera
tions what our liberties cost us. It would
probably be best for Ninety Six to meet and
devise plan, but think the matter one In
which the whole State may we'll take great
interest This is matter in which, I think,
every South Carolinian will take lively in.
terest.
1 think can prove that the Southern States
did more to gain what we call American In.
dependence than any other section OF the
country.
think I can prove that American Liberty
was born in the South, and when many
thought 1t would die before laying aside Its
swaddling clothes the shout was raised at
Six, "give me liberty or give me DEATH"
You know the people Of Abberille county
II you approve OF erecting monument al
! Ninety-SiX. and think the people Of Abbe
willie county will approve OF 1t, let the monu-
ment be erected.
If YOU think the matter will be likely tc
meet with opposition, 1t will be best not tc
mention IL all. All Yankee land would
laugh at us If we should divide on this thing
Yours, &c. r. Latham.