The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-07-05
HEROIC DEFENCE

HGnU1C UGf GNOE
Of Fort Sullivan by the Patriots Of
Revolutionary lays.
An Event That Every South Carroll.
nian Should Feel Great Pride
in Remembering.
Last Wednesday was the anniVer.
sary Of the battle OF Fort Sullivan On
Sullivan's Island at the opening Of
the Revolutionary War. In speaking
Of tie day and it's historical import
ance The Columbia State says this
is the anniversary OF the frst-ane
almost the only-decisive victory won
by American arms in the Revolution.
1t was On this day, 12e years ago,
that she unframed valor OF American
troops proved superior to British dis
cipline, as it was to show its superi.
ority 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 it's gal
liant commander. William Moultrie,
was one of those greatly significant
small actions that often characterize
revolutions. Like the historic can
nonade Of Valmy," it meant far more
than the victory itself. The victory
was apparently only the beating of
OF Sir Peter Parker's feet, with loss
Of IL men killed and twice as many
wounded; but it meant far more than
this. It meant, for the hour, the
thwarting Of Clinton's intended at
tack on Charleston. 1t meat that
for two years the southern coonies
were to be unmolested, and allowed
Time in which to prepare the revCIu
tion and organize for. the long alo
desperate struggle which might other
wise have failed. 1t meant, also
tremendous stimulus and 1rspiratirr
to American arms; it ccunLerac e
the depressing effects Of the series Z
defeats in Massachusetts,, wher.
Washington had felt justified Ii
charging the New England officers
with incompetency and even co war
dice. and kept sdame the hope OF the
ultimate triumph Of the colonies.
The story Of the little yet great
battle Is well known TO most OF US;
but one OF two features of it may be
recalled with profit. Charleston was
one OF the five chief objectiyes Of the
British, the others being B oston, 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
OF the great Nelson. While Parker's
ships hammered at the palmetto log
fort on Sullivan's Island, which
guarded the harbor, the British army
was on Long Island, now the Isle OF
Palms, and unable to Cross the inter.
yening channel. Had the land forces
been able to join the feet In the at
tack. Moultrie and his 435 men would
have been swept of the island, and
Charleston would doubtless have
fallen. But the true aim Of the un-
tried American gunners was sufficient
to win a victory OF far reaching con-
sequences.
This victory, so cleanly won, so
important in it's results, 50 character
lstic OF and so creditable to the sol
diers Of this colony, is what the
setting aside Of this day |as intended
chiefly to commemorate: but We ven
ture to assert that what we mCst
honor is the great deed Of heroism OF
Sergeant Jasper's that stirred the
hearts Of the whole nation like a call
to arms, to heroic endeaVor, and to
victory. Ever since Jasper sprang
from the walls, regained the flag, and
again foated it above unconq querable
American valor, many heart has
danced to see that emblem in the
sky" It 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.
Zone other suggestion. The heroic
defense Of Fort Moultrle, in IT'S
foreshadowed the still wore heroic
and more brilliantly successful de-
fense Of Fort Sumter in the same
harbor, by descendants Of the Rsvo-
lutionary 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 heroisms
forever honor the State. They are
sufficient in themselves to give the
State fair Immortality. And we
should never forget that In renen-
bering them and in valuing them we
prove ourselves grateful for them and
worthy OF the sacrifice and blood of
our heroes" F."
KILLED IN TEEIR dUMa.