his is a magnificent figure in American history. No one exhibited more perfect devotion to the great cause than this broad-minded, self-sacrificing, and far-seeing man. When the statesmen of Massachusetts and Virginia, Adams, Otis, Washington, and Henry, were shocked at the suggestion of independence, Gadsden declared with distinctness and frankness that to this it must come at last. It is more remarkable still that he belonged to the merchant, and not the lawyer, class in South Carolina. And when sectionalism was so universal and rampant that union seemed impossible, it was he who first declared there must be no New Englander, no Virginian, but all must be Americans if we would sucseed in the fight against British oppressors. Gadsden gave Carolinians early and inspiring instruction in a patriotism as broad as the Union, which should stand them in good stead today in re-establishing connections that were temporarily severed.

First Independent Government.-And let it not be forgotten that South Carolina was the first English colony to adopt an independent form of government, which was drafted by Gadsden, and by his persuasion adopted. Here we have independent State action united with cordial Federal relations.

CHAPTER X

CLASH OF ARMS

Battle of Fort Moultrie.-Not counting the insignificant and nondescript affair at Alamance, North Carolina, which is not properly a part of the Revolutionary War,

we may say that the conflict of arms began at Lexington, Massachusetts. From the leading part which that State had taken in bringing on the war and the pre-eminence of the Virginia leaders, it would naturally have been expected that most of the fighting would take place in those two States, but far different was the fact. In March, 1776, the British left Massachusetts to return no more, and in the following June, made the first attempt to conquer South Carolina. On June 28, 1776, Sir Peter Parker, commanding ten warships, attempted to enter Charles Town harbor. General Moultrie, commanding at Fort Sullivan, resisted this invasion with such courage, devotion, and firmness, and the result of the victory had such

SIR PETER PARKER

influence on the final issue of the great struggle for American liberty that the battle holds a conspicuous place in the history of the Revolution. It was our first clear victory over the British, and won over one of England's most distinguished naval officers, and it came

LORD RAWDON.

at a time when the need of encouragement to the colonies was greatest, when defeats in the North were depressing very greatly the spirit of our people. The Declaration of Independence was signed six days after this brilliant victory, and if news of another defeat had gone with the bad news from other quarters, there might have been not only one, but many refusals on the part of the States to accept the Declaration. So, taken all in all, this victory at Fort Sullivan, since called, in honor of the successful commander, Fort Moultrie, influenced in the happiest manner the conduct of the war with England. The battle was fought, in the main, by Carolinians, the only blood shed that day was shed by South Carolinians, and the fight took place on Carolina soil, under the leadership of a South Carolina officer. So it has justly been called "Carolina Day," or "Palmetto Day," and it is certainly one of the great days in American history, the memory of which still warms the affection for the cause