Scotch-Irish, Welsh and Germans--people from the sturdiest and most
progressive countries of the world. Their experiences in their new
environment tended to make them independent and self-reliant. Their
years of hardships and strifes only served to make them more vigorous.
They increased rapidly in population and built up an active trade.
South Carolina became one of the most prosperous of the colonies. The
colonists of the lower country were people of learning and culture. The
settlers of the middle and upper country were energetic, patriotic,
and noble. There was no aristocracy. There were quite a number of able
clergymen, skilled physicians, and well trained lawyers among the
South Carolinians. They had wealth without luxury. They suffered no
religious restraint. Every circumstance helped to develop them into a
distinctive, independent people.
The injustice and selfishness of British authority at once aroused
the anger of these spirited settlers. The Stamp Act met with general
opposition. South Carolina at once protested against this unjust law
and would not allow the stamps to be sold. After the repeal of the
Stamp Act Great Britain made a second attempt to obtain money from the
colonists by placing a tax upon glass, wine, oil, paper, painter's
colors and tea. The vigorous objections of the colonists caused her to
withdraw the tax from everything except tea. But the colonists were
unwilling to accept anything but full justice from the hands of Great
Britain.
The South Carolinians had many determined and active leaders in their
opposition to British tyranny and in the avowal of their rights to
govern themselves. Christopher Gadsen, William Henry Drayton, Arthur
Middleton and David Ramsay impressed upon the people the necessity
of fighting for their liberty and urged them to prepare for a war
with England. Christopher Gadsen, Thomas Lynch, John Rutledge, Arthur
Middleton and Edward Rutledge were chosen by the South Carolinians
to represent them at the first continental congress at Philadelphia
in 1774. These men had had a prominent part in that meeting. The
broad-minded, far-sighted Christopher Gadsen was the first man to see
that independence must eventually come. At this meeting he was the
first to suggest absolute independence. William Henry Drayton concluded
one of his speeches in South Carolina with this excellent advice: "Let
us offer ourselves to be used as instruments of God in this work in
order that South Carolina may become a great, a free, a pious and a
happy people."
On March 26, 1776, the provincial congress adopted a new Constitution
and South Carolina became a free and independent state. She was the
first of the thirteen colonies to set up a government of her own. John
Rutledge was made president and Henry vice-president.
The first battle of the Revolution was fought November 12, 1775,
when two British war vessels made an unsuccessful attack on a South
Carolina vessel. The British suffered their first complete defeat in
America at Charles Town, June 28, 1776. Under Sir Peter Parker the
enemy attacked Ft. Moultrie. Under the blue Carolina flag with its
crescent and the word "Liberty," upon it, the patriots, with Col.
Moultrie as leader, courageously resisted the attack. In this battle
the immortal Jasper braved the enemy's fire in rescuing the fallen flag
and replacing it upon the fort. The splendid victory at Ft. Moultrie
gave more confidence to the colonists and inspired them with new zeal.
The colonists under William Thompson defeated the British in a second
attempt to take Charles Town in June, 1776.
For about two years following this battle the British army abandoned
their attempt to conquer South Carolina. However, she was far from
being peaceful during this period. Her settlers were not a homogeneous
people. No bond of sympathy united them in fighting for a common cause.
Bands of Tories had formed in the interior and were as difficult to
overcome as the British themselves. Under Fletchall and Cunningham they
committed many bloody outrages and did an incalculable amount of harm.
They stirred up strife among the Indians and acquired their aid in
fighting the patriots. Some of the severest struggles of the Revolution
took place between the opposing factions in South Carolina. Andrew
Williamson, James Williams and Andrew Pickens were active in defending
the upland country against the Tories and Indians.
In April and May of 1780 the British under Gen. Clinton again attacked
Charles Town. For three months four thousand ill-fed, ill-clad, and
undisciplined patriots withstood the attacks of twelve thousand of the
best of the British troops. Finally, the South Carolinians were forced
to surrender. Fast following this defeat came pillage, devastations
and repeated disasters. In the upper country the British under cruel
Tarleton followed up their victories with bloody outrages. Clinton
left Cornwallis in command of the British forces in the south. The
cruelties of this officer greatly aroused the anger of the Carolinians.
Sumter, Marion and Pickens suddenly appeared upon the scene of
battle. They rallied the scattered forces and began their peculiar
mode of warfare. By means of the ingenuity and indomitable courage of
Sumter, the spirited "Game Cock," the enemy was harassed and numerous
little victories were won from them. These successes were a great
encouragement to the Carolinians. Sumter, aided by patriot bands under
John Thomas, Thomas Brandon and Edward Hampton, succeeded in driving
the British out of northern Carolina.
About this time, Gates and DeKalb were sent to the relief of the
South. On account of the poor generalship of Gates the Americans were
defeated at Camden, August 16, 1780, by the enemy under the command
of Cornwallis. Francis Marion, the elusive "Swamp Fox," made repeated
attacks upon the British forces and with the help of Sumter, Harden
and McDonald, again gained control of the upper country. On October 7,
1780, Sumter's men led by Lacey, Williams, and Hill helped to win a
battle from the enemy under Ferguson at Kings Mountain.
In January, 1781, Gen. Daniel Morgan of Virginia, aided by Andrew
Pickens with his body of riflemen, won a complete victory over the
British at Cowpens. Gen. Greene had brought some troops into South
Carolina. The combined forces of Sumter, Pickens, Marion, Lee and
Greene gradually drove the British into Charles Town. Charles Town was
evacuated December 14, 1782.
South Carolina's activities were not confined to her own borders.
On several occasions she had sent troops to Georgia to help defend
this feeble colony. The South Carolinians had captured a supply of
powder in the early part of the war and sent it north to Washington
at the critical point where his supply had given out. It was a South
Carolinian who had secured aid from France for the patriots. This
was exceedingly important since the French army and fleet played an
important part in the capture of Cornwallis at Yorktown.
In the great fight for independence South Carolina did her share
of the fighting and more than this. Besides furnishing brilliant
leaders and brave soldiers for the battlefield, she produced eloquent
orators and wise statesmen to help manage the affairs of the colonists
during this trying period. Among the foremost of her statesmen was
Henry Laurens. In 1777 he succeeded John Hancock as president of the
continental congress. He proved himself an efficient and wise officer.
On his way to seek aid from the Dutch he was captured by the British
and imprisoned in the Tower of London. At the close of the war he was
exchanged for Cornwallis. He then went to Paris, where he was one of
the commissioners who signed the treaty of peace between Great Britain
and the United States.
John Laurens, a son of Henry Laurens, was also prominent in the
management of the civil affairs of the colonists. It was he who secured
aid from France. Never has anyone been sent from America to Europe on
so important mission. By his tact and unusual abilities he succeeded
in the task in which Franklin had failed.
Christopher Gadsen, Arthur Middleton, William Henry Drayton, and David
Ramsey were the great orators of South Carolina during the Revolution
period. At the beginning of the war they accomplished much by inspiring
their fellow-countrymen with patriotism and courage.
John Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney and Thomas Pinckney had much
to do with managing the affairs of the province during the war. The
distinguished generals, Sumter, Pickens, Marion and Hampton rendered
valuable service as statesmen--services which are apt to be overlooked
on account of these men being such efficient partisan officers. The
men who signed the Declaration of Independence for South Carolina were
Thomas Heyward, Thomas Lynch, Arthur Middleton and Edward Rutledge.
South Carolina's women were as loyal, devoted, and heroic as her men.
They supplied the soldiers with many comforts by knitting and weaving
garments for them. In some instances they took an active part in the
struggle. Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Dillard made perilous rides to warn
the patriots of impending attacks of the enemy. We will long remember
the patriotic spirit and self-sacrifice exhibited by Mrs. Motte when
she showed the Americans how to set fire to her own house in which
the British were fortified. Mrs. Bratton nursed some wounded British
soldiers who had threatened to kill her the day before. Our state has
sufficient cause to be proud of her noble women of the Revolution.
The difficulties under which South Carolina labored throughout the
long struggle only add to her glory and honor. Next to Georgia she was
the feeblest of the colonies. At the beginning of the war she had only
ten thousand available men. There were heavy drains upon her limited
resources. Much of the ammunition used during the war was captured
from the British. Reaping hooks and mowing scythes were used for
weapons when the supply of guns was inadequate. Saws were taken from
sawmills to be made into swords. Lead was removed from the housetops
and churches to be run into bullets. The soldiers had not half enough
tents, camp kettles, and canteens. Clothes, food and medicines were
often lacking. Added to all this were the strifes created by the
insurgent Royalists and Indians. When we view the remarkable successes
of the South Carolinians in the light of all these conditions, we can
but agree with the great historian Bancroft in his opinion that "the
sons of South Carolina suffered more, dared more and achieved more than
the men of any other state."
LYMAN HALL.
Lyman Hall, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was
born in Wallingford, Conn., April 12, 1724. He was the son of Hon.
John Hall and Mary Street. In 1747 Lyman Hall was graduated from Yale
College in a class of twenty-eight members. He then studied Theology.
In the twenty-eighth year of his age he moved to Dorchester, S. C., and
for many years ministered to the needs of those sturdy people.
Many of these settlers removed to Liberty County, Georgia. Along with
the second stream of immigration came Lyman Hall.
When the storm of the Revolution began to lower, Dr. Hall promptly
took sides with the patriots and to them he was a tower of strength.
Dr. Hall was chairman of the meeting at Midway, February 9th, 1775,
which sent delegates to the meeting at Charleston. He was elected to
represent the people of St. John's Parish in the Continental Congress,
March 21, 1775.
When the Declaration of Independence was signed, Lyman Hall, Button
Gwinnett and George Walton, in behalf of the inhabitants of Georgia,
affixed their names to the famous document.
When the British troops overran Georgia, the property of those who
had espoused the patriot cause was confiscated and destroyed, and
Dr. Hall's residence at Sunbury and his plantation near Midway were
despoiled. With his family he removed to the North where he resided
till 1782, when he returned to Georgia and settled in Savannah.
In 1783 Dr. Hall was elected Governor of Georgia and his administration
was one of the most important in the history of the State. After the
expiration of his term of office as Governor, he returned to Savannah
and again took up the practice of medicine. He removed to Burke County
in 1790 and settled upon a fine plantation near Shell Bluff. Here he
died, October 19, 1790, at the age of sixty-seven, and was buried in a
brick vault on a bold bluff overlooking the river.
In 1848 his remains were removed to Augusta and placed with those of
George Walton beneath the monument erected by patriotic citizens in
front of the Court House.
In person, Dr. Hall was six feet tall and finely proportioned. He was
a man of great courage and discretion, and withal gentle and easy in
manner.
He was fitted to guide the ship of State in the storm of the
Revolution, and though he never bore arms, or won distinction as an
orator, the people felt safe with his hand at the helm. The State of
Georgia has fittingly perpetuated his memory by naming one of its
counties for him, and, so long as liberty and patriotism shall live, so
long shall the name of Lyman Hall be remembered.--_Compiled from "Men
of Mark of Georgia."_
A ROMANCE OF REVOLUTIONARY TIMES.
About 1768, the only son of Sir John Stirling, of Scotland, was sent
to one of the West India Islands to look after some property. If he
needed money he was to write home for it, putting a private mark on his
letters. A serious illness caused him to forget the private mark, so no
attention was paid to his letters with request for money. So he found
himself stranded among strangers without money and without health.
A kindly sea captain, whom he met, offered to take him in his vessel
to Connecticut without money. He gladly accepted the offer and sailed
for a more healthful climate. Shortly after he left the West Indies,
letters were received there from his father inquiring for him. The
answer was sent to the father that his son had been very ill, and as
he had disappeared they supposed he was dead. In the meantime young
Stirling had gone to Stratford, Connecticut, where he taught school as
a means of support. He soon fell in love with one of his pupils, pretty
Glorianna Folsom, the beauty and belle of the village. Her father
was a prosperous farmer. They were married in 1772. After the birth
of their first child, a young minister, who was going to Scotland to
be ordained, offered to hunt up his family if he would give him the
necessary proofs of his identity. He did so, though reluctantly and
hopelessly. The minister sailed for Scotland and soon found the family
who were in deep mourning for the son they had supposed dead. They were
overjoyed to hear he was alive, and at once wrote him to come home by
the first vessel, not waiting for his wife and child to get ready; that
they would send for them later. He did so, and his sudden departure
caused the gossips to decide that Glorianna and her little daughters
(for the second one was born after he left) had been deserted. It may
have seemed a long period, but after he had had time to prepare a home
for her and a quantity of beautiful clothing, he sent a ship to New
York for her and she was requested to embark immediately. She found
everything provided for her comfort and convenience and a servant
to wait on her. They lived near Stirling Castle and afterwards in
Edinborough and young Stirling succeeded to the honors and estates of
the Baronet in due time.
Glorianna was a woman of remarkable character as well as beauty,
and was the mother of eighteen children.--_Grace Martin, Piedmont
Continental Chapter, D. A. R._
"FT. MOTTE."
"As unto the bow the cord is,
So unto the man is woman,
Tho' she bends him she obeys him,
Tho' she draws him, yet she follows,
Useless each without the other."
We have in our county of Orangeburg an historic spot which rightly in
name is a monument to the self-sacrifice and heroism of Mrs. Rebecca
Motte, the wife of Col. Isaac Motte.
This family had moved from Charleston to St. Matthew's Parish and owned
a beautiful plantation home on the Congaree river, about where the
present town of Fort Motte stands.
As Nathaniel Greene, aided by the partisan leaders, drove the British
from post to post back into Charleston, the British fortified Motte's,
the chief part of the post being Mrs. Rebecca Motte's home. The family
had been driven out by the British and were living in the neighborhood.
Lee's and Marion's men built a mound of earth, which is still to be
seen, from which the riflemen could command the inside of the fort, but
the house protected the enemy still. It was found necessary to burn it.
They informed Mrs. Motte that they would probably have to burn her
home, which stood in the center of the fort; she begged them that
they would not consider her house of any consequence in the general
cause and with great patriotism and firmness presented them with a bow
and quiver of arrows and showing them how to set fire to the house,
requested that they should burn it quickly.
By this means the Whigs threw fire on the roof, compelling the garrison
commanded by Lieutenant McPherson to surrender or be roasted. Mrs.
Motte was extremely rejoiced when she saw the garrison surrender.
Lee's and Marion's men extinguished the flames and the house was
afterwards rebuilt.
Some authorities say that the bow and arrows were a present sent Mrs.
Motte from India, others that they were borrowed of a negro boy.
However this may be the mound of earth is all that is now visible as a
reminder of Mrs. Motte's sacrifice.
The place where the house stood is at present a cotton field and owned
by Mrs. A. T. Darby.
Time, the eradicator, will eventually wipe out the mound and all that
will commemorate this brave deed will be the name, "Fort Motte," on the
written page.--MRS. BESSIE GOGGANS OWEN, Vice-Regent Moultrie Chapter,
_in American Monthly_.
PETER STROZIER.
About the year 1748, Peter Strozier, the hero of our story, was born in
Germany. We know nothing of his childhood or early life, but in manhood
we know him as our worthy ancestor and find him bravely fighting for
American independence. He was married to Margaret Dozier in his native
land and he, with four brothers, came to America about the time of the
out-break of the Revolutionary War and settled in Virginia.
To the call of the country that he had come to share its reverses as
well as its prosperity, and in the spirit of liberty he was ready
to draw the sword when the iron heel of oppression was set upon its
cherished rights.
During the seven years of faithful service he gave to his country, his
wife and five children were left alone in a country home, where their
lives were in constant danger. But God, in His all wise providence
had sent into their home an orphan boy who was left to care, as best
he could, for the family. This orphan boy, whose name was Captain
Paddy Carr, was reared by our worthy ancestor, and during his life
his gratitude never waned for his benefactor and benefactress. In
the meantime Captain Carr moved the family to Georgia but found the
condition of affairs even worse than in Virginia. The Tories at this
time held full sway in Georgia and in no other state were they so
wicked and cruel. The people were divided into two parties, the Tories
and the Patriots. The Tories were those who took the oath of allegience
to the King, and those who refused to take the oath and would rather
suffer and fight for American Independence, were called Patriots. So
the Tories and Patriots hated each other with a bitter hatred. While
these Patriots, brave and liberty loving men, were fighting for their
independence, the Tories were left unmolested in their homes. The
Patriots were forced to leave their property and helpless families to
the mercy of the British and Tories. The Tories were far worse than
the British. They formed themselves into companies, roving over the
country, committing all kinds of outrages; robbing and burning houses,
throwing old grayheaded fathers and grandfathers into prison and
driving helpless wives and children from their homes, showing mercy to
no one who favored the American cause.
One venerable great grandmother, Margaret Strozier, fell a victim
to a band of these Tories, who robbed and burned her home and drove
her away. She walked with five children to South Carolina. When the
young Patriot, Captain Carr, heard of the robbery and burning, his
fiery blood boiled in his veins and he swore vengeance on all Tories.
Henceforth he lost no opportunity to avenge the wrong done to the woman
who was the only mother God had given him, and to children who were his
only brothers and sisters. Tradition tells us that at the point of his
own gun, he captured at one time five Tories and held them until his
Company came up, and to them he showed no mercy.
Having gone through the Revolutionary War, which closed in 1782, Peter
Strozier, with his family, settled in Wilkes County, Georgia. Tradition
also tells us that he was a man of noble traits, with great force and
dignity of character. His last days were passed under a silver-lined
cloud, and in the old county of Wilkes he lies buried today. After his
death, his wife, Margaret Dozier Strozier, who had shared with him the
sufferings and hardships of the cruel war, moved to Meriwether County,
Georgia, with her son Reuben Strozier, and she lies buried in the old
family graveyard about four miles west of Greenville, Georgia, near the
old Strozier homestead.
We can say by tradition, from generation to generation, that there
sleep today no truer, no purer, no nobler ones than Peter and Margaret
Strozier. How we love and cherish the memory of our fore-fathers! So
will generations, after generations, and may we never tire in our
efforts to preserve the records of the lives and struggles of those who
fought and bled and died for our freedom.--NANNIE STROZIER THRASH.
INDEPENDENCE DAY.
Oh, happy Independence Day,
We love thy honored name,
Dear happy Independence Day
Is with us once again.
Over a hundred years ago,
This day first won its fame,
And tho' the long years come and go,
'Tis remembered just the same.
We are a band of people true,
We love our native home,
Its environments, its skies of blue,
From it we'll never roam.
Let us forget the soldiers never,
Who battle to be free,
Who fought King George's army,
From far across the sea.
They left their dear beloved home
To chase the cruel foe,
O'er deserted battle fields to roam
Midst suffering, pain and woe.
Those soldiers now are sleeping
To chase the cruel foe,
O'er deserted battle fields to roam
Midst suffering pain and woe.
Those soldiers now are sleeping
On plain, and hill, and shore,
Their titles we are keeping,
But they'll be here no more.
When wars wild note was sounded
When the cry for freedom came,
England's hosts had landed
To win her glorious fame.
Alas, the British finally knew
They could no longer stay,
They left our brave and daring few
And quickly sailed away.
Alas, those dreadful days are gone,
No one remains to tell,
Of struggles made, and burdens bore,
For the land we love so well.
We love the mother country yet,
Her name we still adore,
Her kindness we can ne'r forget,
But we'll be bound no more.
Oh, happy Independence Day
How dear to us the name!
Oh, happy Independence Day
Is with us once again.
--_By Mamie Crosby._
SARAH GILLIAM WILLIAMSON.
The most remarkable woman who lived in Georgia during the Revolutionary
War, perhaps, was Sarah Gilliam Williamson. Considering her loyalty
to the cause of the colonies, her courage in managing the plantation
and large number of negro slaves during the absence of her husband in
the army, her sufferings at the hands of the enemy, together with the
success of her descendants, she stands ahead of any of the Georgia
women of her day.
Sarah Gilliam was born in Virginia about the year 1735. Her father
was William Gilliam, and her mother Mary Jarrett, the sister of Rev.
Devereau Jarrett, the distinguished Episcopal minister.
Sarah Gilliam married Micajah Williamson, a young man of Scotch-Irish
parentage. In 1768 the young couple moved to Wilkes County, Georgia,
and settled on a fine body of land. It was while living here in
peace and abundance, with their growing family around them, that the
difference between the mother country and the colonies began.
Sarah Williamson and her husband both warmly espoused the cause of
the colonies, and when hostilities commenced a Georgia regiment took
the field with Elijah Clarke as Colonel, and Micajah Williamson as
Lieutenant-Colonel. Micajah Williamson was present in all the conflicts
of this regiment and in the battle of Kettle Creek Col. Clarke gave him
full credit for his part in winning the victory.