Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-11-02
IL !. .ss IL \. i. i. j. i. !. 10 i.
j. OUR STATE FLAG AND, j.
Il IT'S SIGNIFICANCE. i.
Address by IL. Il. Jaynes.
i. j. d. !. j. j. j. !. J. !. ]. .


an honor to be present on this oc-
casion of such historic interest.
This spot is dear to me. On this
site, from September, 1879, to June,
1882, l spent three Of the happiest
years Of my life as student in
Adger College. They were years of
hard work, and yet they were happy,
because | sought and loved the life
of student.
1t is a real pleasure to come back
here once more and take part in
these delightful exercises. 1t was
timely and we'll that an act of the
General Assembly Of South Carolina
was approved on February 2Gth,
1910, providing "That the State flag
should be displayed daily, except in
rainy weather, from staff upon the
State House and every Court House,
one building Of the State Univer-
sity, and Of each State college, and
upon every public school building,
except when the school Is closed dur
ing Vacation." We have met to-day
raise aloft over the building Of the
Walhalla High School the Palmetto
flag, or the flag of the Palmetto
State, an emblem Of sovereignty,
with all that it signifies.
| thought on this occasion brief
history of our State flag and it's sig
nificance would be appropriate.
Hence | have utilized the short time
at my command to put in written
form, for use and future reference,
this sketch Of our State flag.
Our flag, like our State, was one
among the first Oh the American
soil. 1t was originally designed by
Col. VIM. Moultrie, Revolutionary
soldier. He was born in South Car
olina In 1881, and died at Charles
ton September 27, 1906. In 1915
he was the representative of st. Hell
ena Parish in the South Carolina
Provincial Congress, and later in
the same year he was chosen as a
colonel Of South Carolina regi-
ment. For some time thereafter he
was busily engaged in providing for
the defense OF Charleston, and to
this end he placed battery at
Haddrelrs Point, and in March,
1776, began the erection Of a rude
fort OF palmetto logs on Sullvan's
Island. This fort commanded the
entrance to the harbor and on June
I'd, 1776, was fiercely but unsuccess-
fully attacked by British fleet
under command Of Admiral Sir Peter
Parker, who was finally forced to
withdraw. Col Moultrie had un-
dcrtaken the defense against the adj
vice and wish OF his superior officer,
Gen. Charles Lee. For his success
he received the thanks OF Congress,
and in his honor the fort was named
Fort Moultrie. In September, 1776,
he was made a brigadicr general and
was put In command OF the depart
mcnt OF Georgia and South Carolina.
After the war he was twice Gin 1885
and 179D elected Governor OF South
Carolina While in command of the
military forces Gen. MOultric felt
the necessity OF flag for signals,
and, casting about for design, his
eye fell upon the blue uniform of the
state troops and the silver crescent
on the front o. their caps. On Sep
tembcr 13, W., a blue flag with a
silver crescent in the upper corner
next the staff waved over Fort Jack
son, on James Island. Afterwards
the words, "Lihcrty OF Death" were
added. This was the first indcpen-
dence flag that noatcd over South
Carolina soil. 1t was the same flag
in the hRt,ack OF June 2S, 177G.
Later, by order Of the General AS
sembly, this flag, with the addition
OF the silver palmetto tree in the
center, was adopted as the flag OF
the state. The palmetto was added,
not because 1t grows and nourishes
on our coast, for 1t grows elsewhere
as well, but because OF the signal
victories won in this historic palmct-
to fort The fort was apparently
very slight in construction, and the
casual observer, unacquainted with
the nature Of the palmetto log, would
never appreciate its powers Of re-
siStancc The wood Is extremely
porous, but its power to receive and
resist the impact Of shot and shell
Is tremendous. Besides, it is very
durable, and for this reason is pre-
fcrrcd to every other kind of wood