The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-04-17
SERGEANT JASPER'S FLAG
The Historic Colors Under Which
He Fell Are In the Tower of

London
The following communication to the
Union Progress calls attention to a
matter that ought t, he Of no little in
tcresl:
Under the heading "Serg:. Jasper's
company The State of March 9th,
says: " In the valuable rubbish at
The State house there has recently
been found the original company roll
OF which SeTgt. Jasper, of Fort Moul-
trlc fame was Il member
So there Is within possible reach ma
tcrial for something more than au in
teresting exhibit at the coming Inter
State and West Indian exposition in
Charleston, and an opportunity for
South Carolina to prove her apprcc;a-
tiol of her glorious dead.
In Ramscy's 4" History of the Re-
volution," page l5G, is found this foot
note:
"*On the third day after the action.
the lady of Col. Bernard Elliot pre-
scented an elegant pair of cOlors to the
second regiment which had so bravclv
defended Fort Moultrie. Her address
on the occasion concluded thus: Il
may not the least doubt, under heavens
pr"tectlon, you will stand by these
colors as long as they wave in the air
OF liberty In reply a promise was
made, 'that they should be honorably
supported, and should never be tar
nishcd by the second regiment This
engagement was literally fulfilled.
Three wcals after they were planted
| on ilp RIitiSh 1on,la M S "
by Lieut.. Bush, who was immediately
shot down. Lieut.. Hume in the act
OF planting his, was also shot down:
and Lieut.. Gray in supporting them
received Il mortal wound. The brave
SerSt. Jasper on seeing Lieut.. Hume
fall, took up the colOls and planted j..
In doing so he received il wound which
terminated in death; but on the re-
treat being ordered he brought of the
colols with him. These were taken at
the fall OF Charleston, and are said to
be now in the tower of London.n
From the above it is very evident
that this flag is still in existence and
there is no doubt that, bypropcr 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-
doubtedy obtain, through the British
Minister AT Washington, the loan or
the gift of "Scrgt. Jasper's flag
In justice to ourselves and our chill.
drcn as well as to the heroes of l776.
let US bend our energies to the accom-
plishmcnt OF tins act. Let this fac
be bought from the Tower of London,
lctits faded, perhaps moth eaten, folds
hn unfurlcd over Scrgl. Jaspcr's com
pany roll, let the lrue-hcartcd South
Carolinians from the scabOard to The
mountains take their boy and Urls by
the hand, and, standing in the pres.
Sencc OF these sacred relies, let them
tell the children over and over auoiu
the thrilling story of Bush, and Hume.
and Gray, and Jasper. Let them
whisper it to the zephyrs and shout il
out to the winds that IT may be carried
all over this broad land North, South.
East and Vest for it is high time
that justice be done the memory OF
these gallant men.
All the world knows OF Bunker Hi
and Concord and Lexington. but IN
the year of our Lord 1900 a Southern
lad, i'll deep chagrin, could write from
a great Northern city, These pcopl,
have never heard Of Sergt. Jasprr.'
Awake, South CarolinlaLs, and max,
them heai OF him, and the many olhc,
southern heroes whose glorious deeds
are known and honorcd only upon
their native heath.
Mrs NNp\ 4. l'tII,
Union, 5. G., March 20, 1901.