The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-07-07
HEROIC DFFENCE
Of Fort Sullivan by The Pstriots of
Revolutionary -ays.

/
An Event That Every S..u,h Carroll
nian Should Eel Great Hrido
In Rene m boxing.
Last Wednesday was the anriyer
sary OF the battle OF Fort Sulliy an OK
Sullivan's Island at the opening o,
the Revolutionary War. In speaking
of the day and Its historical import.
ance The Columbia State says ''this
Is the anniversary Of the first-and
almost the only-decsive victory won
by American arms in the Revolution
1t was on this day, 129 years ago,
that the unframed valor of American
troops proved superior to British dis
cipline. as 1t was to show it's superi
GRITTY later on other southern fields
Cowpens, Kings Mountain, Yorktown
and New Orleans.
The heroic and triumphant de.
fence Of Fort Sullivan, which was
afterward named in honor of its gal.
liant commander, William Moultrie,
was one of those greatly significant
small actions that often characterize
revolutions. Like the historic "can.
nonade of Valmy," 1T meant far more
than the victory Itself. The victory
was apparently only the beating of
OF Sir Peter Parker's fleet, with loss
| OF ] 2 men killed and twice an many
wounded; but 1t meant far more than
This. 1t meant, for the hour, the
thwarting of Clinton's intended at
tack on Charleston. 1t meant that
Tor two years the southern colonies
were to be unmolested, and allowed
time In which to prepare the reyolu.
tion and organize for the long and
desperate struggle which might other
wise have failed. 1t meant, also a
tremendous stimulus and inspiration
TO American arms; 1T counteracted
the depressing effects Of the series of
oefeats In Massachusetts, where
Washington had felt justified in
charging the New England officers
with incompetency and even cowar-
dice. and kept atlame the hope Of the
ultimate triumph Of the colonies.
The story OF the little yet great
battle Is we'll known TO most of us;
but one or two features of it may be-
recalled with profit. Charleston was
one Of the five chief objectives of the
British, the others being B )ston, New
York, Baltimore and Savannah.
Clinton planned to break up the de.
fense OF the colonies by attacking
Charleston, compelling the withdrawal
OF troops for defense from the north
This plan was defeated by the repulss
of Sir Peter Parker, friend and patron
ships hammered at the paimeUuo log
fort on Sullivan's Island, which
guarded the haroor, the British army
was on Long Island, now the Isle OF
Palms, and unable to cross the inter
vening channel. Had the land forces
baen able to join the fleet In the at
tack. Moultrie and his 1876 men would
have been swept Off the island, and
Charleston would doubtless have
fallen. But the true aim Of the un.
tried American gunners was SUFFICIENT
TO win victory OF far leacLinp con.
sequences.
This victory, so cl, a ly wor, 80
important In It's rest It's, 81 ca&la Ger
lstc OF and so creditao.e 10 tie sol
diers of this colo y Is what +,
setting aside Of this uay va, inL,n-,
Chiefly to ommemuratt u We vi,
ture TO assert that Wna0 We ncs
honor is the great decd OF ner.is M q
Sergeant Jasper's that SIT req III
hearts Of the whole naliun Iik,, Il Ca,
to arms, to heroic enoeavur, and |,
victory Ever since Jasper sprau,
from the walls, regained the flag, and
again lioated 1t above unconquerable
American yalor, many heart has
danced to see that emblem In the
sky" 1t was characteristic and fit
ting that the hero, though risking
life in a hundred other hazardous
enterprises, should have fallen on
the walls OF Savannah, more than
two years later, while while planting
his regimental colors on the parapet.
"One other suggestion. The heroic
defense OF Fort Moultrie in 1776
foreshadowed the still wore heroic
and more brilliantly successful de.
Tense Of Fort Sumter in the same
barbor, by descendants of the Revo-
lutlonary heroes. And Jasper's gal
liant act foreshadowed the still more
gallant acts OF the soldiers who re-.
planted the Confederate flag cut down
by hostile shot dozen times.
These great unsurpassed herosms
forever honor the State. They are
sufficient In themselves to give the
State a fair Immortality. And we
should never forget that In remem.
boring them and in valuing them we
prove ourselves grateful for them and
worthy OF the sacrifice and blood OF
our heroes"
KILLED IN THEIR HOME.