The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-04-10
Sergeant Jasper's Flag.

The following communication to the
Union Progress calls attention to a
matter that ought to be of no little
interest:
Under the heading "Sergt. Jasper's
company" the State of March e1tb,
says: "In the valuable rubbish at the
State house there has recently been
found the original company roll of
which Sergt. Jasper Of Fort Moultrie
fame was member.
SO there is within possible reach ma
terial for something more than an in
teresting exhibit at the coming Inter
State and West Indian exposition in
Charleston, and IN opportunity for
South Carolina to prove her npprecia-
tiOn of her glorious dead
In Ramsey's History Of the Reyolu-
tion," page 150, is found this footnote:
"'On tho third day after the action,
the lady of Col. Bernard Elliot present
ed an elegant pair of colors to the Sec
ond regiment which had 80 bravely de-
Tended Fort Moultrie. Her address on
the occasion concluded thus: "I may
not the least doubt, under heavens
protection, you will stand by these
colors as long as they wave in the air
of liberty In reply promise was
made. that they should mover be tar
nished by the second rogimcnt.' This
engagement was literally fulfilled.
Three years after they were planted
on tho British lands at Savannah. One
by Lieut.. Bush, who was immediately
shot down. Lieut.. Hume in the net of
planting his, was also shot down; and
Lieut.. Gray in supporting them receiv-
ed mortal wound. The brave Sergt.
Jasper on seeing Lieut.. Hume fall
took up the colors and planted it. In
doing so he received wound which
terminated in death; but on the retreat
being ordered he brought off the colors
with him. These were taken at tho
fall of Charleston, and arc said to be
now in the tower Of London.
From the above it is very evident
that this flag is still in existence and
there is no doubt that, by proper effort,
it can be obtained. Our State officers,
members Of congress and exposition
authorities can unite their efforts and,
with the support and influence of the
president of the United States, can un-
doubtedly obtain through the British
Minister at W ashington, the loan OF
the gift of "Sergt. Jaspcr's flag"
In Justice to ourselves and our chill
dren as veil as to the heroes of 1910,
let us bend our energies to tho accom-
plishment Of this act. Let this flag be
brought from the Tower Of London,
let its faded, perhaps moth eaten, folds
be unfurled oyer Scrgt. Jasper's COM
pany roll, let the true hearted South
CaroliniaDs from tho seaboard to the
mountains take their boys and girls
by tho hand, and, standing in the pres
ence of these sacred relics, let them
tell tho children over and over again
the thrilling story of Bush, and Hume,
and Gray, and Jasper Let them whis-
per it to the zephyrs and shout it out
to the winds that it may be carried all
over this broad land--North, South,
East and West--for it is high time that
justice be done the memory of these
gallant men.
All the world knows of Bunker Hill
and Concord and Lexington, but in the
year of our Lord 1000 southern lad,
in deep eisaass:::a, could write from a
great northern city "These people have
never heard of Sergt. Jasper
Awake, South Carolinians. and make
them hear of him. and the many other
southern heroes whose glorious deeds
are known and honored only upon
their native heath.
Mrs. Mary G. Clifford.
Union. S. c., March 80, 1901.
ff.. 20 ouA U,rc;oso I,oro