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Carolina Day
Charleston celebrates a significant day in American history

June 28, 2005 – Today marked the 229th anniversary of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island, which proved to be a most significant victory against the British. June 28, 1776 has come to be commemorated as “Carolina Day,” and South Carolinians all over the state were preparing to celebrate this important victory, despite the heavy rains and miserable weather.

During the Battle of Sullivan’s Island, 2200 British forces tried to cross what we now know as Breach Inlet (and we all now know how dangerous Breach Inlet is!) at night from Long Island, or what is now Isle of Palms. Those who made it across were faced with hundreds of Patriot forces, and the battle eventually proceeded to Fort Sullivan on the Island, and although the fort was not completed at the time, it withstood British fire with the help of the palmetto logs which made up its construction. General Moultrie and his South Carolina patriots eventually won the battle of Ft. Sullivan was the first Patriot victory during the Revolutionary War, and was won six days before the official signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Many heroes were born from this battle and from the War in general, including General Moultrie (for whom Fort Sullivan was renamed), Sgt. William Jasper (a Georgian who was recruited by Francis Marion), General Charles Lee, and Sgt. James McDaniel who was wounded during the Battle. In fact, General Moultrie was so revered, he went on to serve two terms as Governor of South Carolina.

The Palmetto Society was founded in 1777 to commemorate Carolina Day, and the organization still exists today. It is the 13th oldest organization in the state of South Carolina. Events planned to commemorate this day included a service at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church (downtown), tours at the Gibbes Museum of Art, a procession form Washington Park to White Point Gardens, wreath laying at White Point Gardens, and a ceremony at Fort Moultrie.

Submitted by Amy Riley, Keyway Editor