The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-06-23
SOUTH CAROLINA
Continued from preceding page)

tion of Independence was signed
Sir Peter Parker, one of England's
most distinguished naval command
ers, attempted to enter the harbor of
Charleston (then known as Charles
TOWN. at the head of the warships.
He was completely routed by South
Carolinian troops under the com
mand of General Moultrie. who held
Fort Sullivan. now Fort Moultrie, the
fortification which defended the err
trance of the harbor. The news of
that victory sent wave of exulta-
tion and confidence throughout the
thirteen colonies and it is hardly too
much to say that if the battle had
gone otherwise the signing of the
Declaration Of Independence would
at least have been postponed and
might never taken place.
The whole story of the long strug-
gle which followed is studded. by the
brilliant. deeds of the sons and .daugh-
ters of the Palmtto State. Song and
story. have woven imperishable fume
aroupd. the ride of Paul Revere and.
with the. injustice of which history is
so often guilty, have almost ignored
the far, more perilous and daring ride
of tWo, daughters of South Carolina,
Mrs. Jane Thomas and Mrs billiard.
Thes. two devoted women, learning
that a Body of the Revolutionists
were in, danger of being cut off and
and destroyed rode at dead of night
through the almost impenetrable for
est and enabled the colonial general
to TURF the impending disaster into
glorious victory. Nor should it be
forgotten that in the naval encounter
between the Bonhomme Richard and
Serapis,, 1T was South Carol:nian.
John Mayrant, who led the American
sailors to the capture of the British
ship when their own vessel was sink
ing under their feet.
One of the most trustd lieutenants
of George Washington and one of the
most brilliant and accomplished men
of his age was. another South Caro-
linian, Colonel John Laurens. On the
field of battle he displayed what
Hamilton termed "unapproachable
courage" but it was IN the field of
diplomacy that he made the most no.
table contribution to freedom. At
the most critical time in the Revolu-
tionary War he was sent to France
by Washington to solicit a loan of
money and to obtain more active co
operation on the part of the French
naval and military force. The his
torian Alkanan Watson, has describ-
ed what he accomplished in these
words: Although a youth of twenty
six, he achieved by his consummatc
tact and extraordinary abilities what
the powerful influence of Franklin
failed to effect"
Later Laurens arranged for the
support of the French in the battle
of Yorktown and personally led the
charge on the most formidable of the
British redoubts, capturing the
sword of Colonel Campbell, the Eng
lish commander at that point. The
high honor of arranging the terms Of
surrender was intrusted> to Colonel
Laurens by General Washington and
Lord CORVALLIS was exchangd for
his father, Henry Laurens, a prisoner
in Londcn Tower.
. When America was forced to take
up arms again in 1912 nj defense of
her new found freedom fresh glory
was shed on the name of South aero
lima. Her most famous son, Andrew
Jackson. seventh President of the Uni
ted States, was the American COM
mander in the memorable Battle of
New Orleans where Wcllington's vet
rams were utterly routed by the half
trained soldiers of the young repub-
lie.
With due respect to the feelings
of North Carolina it should be men,
toned that the sister state has alsc
preferred claims to Old Hickory as
one of her sons. The fact is that
there is some uncertainty as to where
ooSNooi was Inc
er line between the two common
wealths not being clearly defined at
that time and the generals home be-
ing situated in what was part of de-
batuble territory. However, he al
ways referred himself as a South
Carolinian and it is noteworthy that
the famou, 30th Division, recruited
in South Carolina, and which won un-
dying fame for it's share in the smash
ing of the Hindenburg line, was
known as the "Old Hickory Division"
With this very inadequate outlire
of the magnificent contribution which
South Carolina made to the founding
of the United States We must be COR
tent, for our main purpose here is
to describe the wonderful pro9r,ss
1uhioh Tho Cfato hoe x~,olo