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A banner of resiliency The British fleet finally withdrew late that evening, leaving Charleston free from attack for another four of polls and ratings. They all seem years. It was one of the first sigto come to a consensus—the South Carolina state flag is one of the nificant Colonial victories of the most appealing. Revolutionary War. Days later, the With its simple design of a white Declaration of Independence was crescent and palmetto tree on an ratified in Philadelphia. indigo field, it consistently holds The fort was soon named after top 10 status in rankings across Col. Moultrie. The flag he designed the web, from the North American was known as the Liberty Flag. The Vexillological Association (they palmetto would become the state study flags) to funflagfacts.com, tree and the central icon on the Their caps were adorned with a which gives our banner the numbercurrent state flag. white crescent. Although easily one spot. It looks good waving atop Surprisingly, there is not a stana pole or adorning hats, koozies or version of the banner, so interpreted as a moon, the symbol dardized whatever you want to use to show the legislature recently established a pride in our state. committee of historians to propose represented the metal gorgets It’s not just the aesthetics that an official design. As we consider worn in the battles of ages past. make it so special. It is what it reprewhat the palmetto tree should look like or which way the cressents. Every element in the flag harkens back to the Battle of Sullivan’s Island, which took place on cent should face, I hope we reflect on what happened on that June 28, 1776. At what was then called Fort Sullivan, a small fateful June day 245 years ago. I think about the resiliency of force of American soldiers thwarted the initial attempt by the that fort and the men who were defending it, and it fills me British to capture Charleston, and in the process, handed the with pride for my state. world’s greatest navy its first defeat in 100 years. That pride is multiplied when I think about the resiliency The soldiers for the South Carolina regiment were clad in of my fellow South Carolinians over the last few years. We deep blue uniforms, likely colored by indigo, a valuable crop have absorbed our own bombardments—the costly failure in the state’s economy. Their caps were adorned with a white of the V.C. Summer nuclear plant, natural disasters and, of crescent. Although easily interpreted as a moon, the symbol course, the coronavirus pandemic. represented the metal gorgets worn in the battles of ages past. We have our heroes, too, some with the name recognition Flying above the still-unfinished fort was a flag that of Sgt. Jasper, but many others who have protected us without matched—a white crescent in the left corner of a blue field. fame. They restore our power lines, help neighbors in need and give support to the elderly and the young. This iconography was determined by their commander, Col. Often forgotten was that the British took Charleston four William Moultrie. It was the first American flag displayed in years later, but the spirit of the 1776 battle was never defeated. South Carolina, according to the colonel’s memoirs. When the city was liberated at the end of the war in 1782, the For more than nine hours, Moultrie’s regiments withMoultrie flag was raised again. stood bombardment from the British fleet’s 300 cannons. There may be more for us to absorb in the coming years, Their defense was aided by the unique physical properties but we should continue to be inspired by South Carolina’s rich of the fort’s walls, made from sand and Sabal palmetto logs. Revolutionary War heritage. Keep breathing, keep hoping, and Instead of shattering from the impact, the soft but sturdy logs stand proud under our common banner. absorbed the iron cannonballs. At one point, the flag was shot down, but Sgt. William Jasper restored the banner while under enemy fire. Jasper would add to his legend with more heroics during the war. Although he left no descendants, his legacy and name live on. South Carolina’s Jasper County, along with numerous other MIKE COUICK communities across the nation, are named for him. President and CEO, The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina AN INTERNET SEARCH OF “THE BEST STATE FLAGS” yields dozens
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SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | JUNE 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP