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FEB 23 1921

Bulletins of the Historical Commission of
South Carolina. — No. 2

The Flag
OFTHE
State of South Carolina

By A. S. SALLEY, Jr.
Secretary of the Commission

Printed for the Commission
by The State Company
Columbia, S. C.
1915

STATE FLAG OF SOUTH CAROLINA

There are two early representations of this flag known to the author of
this pamphlet. Lieutenant Henry Gray, of the Second Regiment, an ama
teur artist, painted two scenes of Fort Moultrie in 1776, with the flag fly
ing above it. These pictures are now in the Glbbes Art Gallery. Charleston.
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas James, of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, pub
lished in London, August 10, 1776, a ¥ieu- of the Fort on the Western end of
Xiilifon's Island . during the Atta<'lc on the 28th of .June, 1776, and he
has the blue flag with white crescent flying over the fort.

Bulletins of the Historical Commission of
South Carolina. — No. 2

The Flag
OFTHE
State of South Carolina

By A. S. SALLEY, Jr.
Secretary of the Commission

Printed for the Commission
by The State Company
Columbia, S. C.
1915

The history of the origin of the flag of the State
of South Carolina is best told in the words of the
man who originated it. In his Memoirs of the
A'merican Revolution, volume 1, pages 90-91,
General William Moultrie says:
A little time after we were in possession of Fort Johnson,^
it was thought necessary to have a flag for the purpose of
signals : (as there was no national or state flag at that time)
I was desired by the council of safety to have one made,
upon which, as the state troops were clothed in blue, and
the fort was garrisoned by the first and second regiments,
who wore a silver cresent on the front of their caps; 1 had
a large blue flag made with a cresent in the dexter corner,
to be in uniform with the troops : This was the first Amer
ican flag which was displayed in South-Carolina: On its
being first hoisted, it gave some uneasiness to our timid
friends, who were looking forward to a reconciliation:
They said it had the appearance of a declaration of War;
and Capt. Thomborough, in the Tamer sloop of war, lying
in Eebellion-road would look upon it as an insult, and a
flag of defiance, and he would. certainly attack the fort; but
he knew his own force, and knew the weight of our metal ;
he therefore kept his station and contented himself with
spying us.
That was the flag which floated over the unfin
ished and unnamed fort (subsequently named Fort
Moultrie) on Sullivan's Island, when a British
fleet, under Sir Peter Parker, bombarded it with
disastrous results to the fleet, June 28, 1776.
During the progress of the battle the flag was shot
down and fell on the outside of the fort, upon
which Sergeant William Jasper, an enlisted man
iFort Johnson was taken possession of by Lieutenant Colonel Isaac
Motte, commanding a detachment of the regular troops of South Caro
lina, before daylight on the morning of September 15, 1775.

of the Second Regiment of the regular troops of
South Carohna, leaped over the wall of the fort
and rescued it, and, fastening it upon a sponge
staff, replaced it over the works.
The following account of Sergeant Jasper and
his brave act is taken from the entry for July 4,
1776, in the diary of Barnard Elliott, who was
first a captain in the Second Regiment of the reg
ular troops of South Carolina and subsequently,
major, lieutenant colonel and colonel, successively,
of the Fourth Regiment and who enlisted Jasper
and brought him to South Carolina:
This Jasper was enlisted by Capt. Elliott of the grenadiers
of the second regiment, in Halifax County, Georgia, as a
common soldier, but his extraordinary sobriety, his punctu
ality and readiness in obeying all orders while a private
recommended him to his captain as a proper man for a ser
geant; accordingly he appointed him to that office in Octo
ber last, while he had the command of the battery at Fort
Johnson. On the day of the engagement between the King
of England's fleet and Fort Sullivan's where he is with the
company and the regiment he belongs to, he signalized him
self in the following manner, viz : The flag staff being shot
down and the staff falling to the ground in the heat of the
action, Jasper called to his Colonel, Moultrie, "Colonel, don't
let us fight without our colour." "How can you help it,"
replied the Colonel, "the staff is gone?" "Then I will replace
it," said Jasper, upon which he leaped over the wall, took
the flag and tied it to a sponge staff and stuck it upon the
merlon of the bastion near the enemy, gave three huzzas
in the dangerous place he stood, and retired to his gun
where he fought with his gallant company to the end of the
battle. The President, John Rutledge, this day returning
his thanks to the Sullivan's Island garrison for their gallant
conduct and behavior in defence of the fortress, and taking
his own sword from his side, presented it to Sergeant Jasper,
and no doubt he will soon compliment him with a commis
sion.^ lYear Book, City of Charleston, 1889, pages 221-222. "

The blue flag with the silver crescent in the dex
ter upper corner and the palmetto logs in the con
struction of the fort had played such important
parts in the great battle before Charles Town that
the General Assembly of South Carolina adopted
that flag, amended by the placing of a silver
(white in heraldry) palmetto tree" upright in the
centre thereof.
When South Carohna seceded from the Union
and became a separate republic it became neces
sary to adopt a national flag. The following
extracts from the journals of the two houses of
the General Assembly show that the original State
flag was then adopted as the national flag of South
Carolina, although vigorous efforts were made to
effect changes therein :
Journal of the House of Representatives, Fri
day, December 21, 1860 :
Mr. WESTON introduced the following resolution, which
was considered immediately, and was agreed to :
Whereas South Carolina hath declared herself to be a
sovereign and independent Commonwealth; and whereas it
is right and customary for all nations to have some dis
tinguishing ensign or flag as the symbol of their sovereignty
and independence.
Resolved., That a message be sent to the Senate, to ask
for their concurrence in the appointment of a joint Com
mittee of seven, to consider and report upon the flag or
ensign proper to be borne as the National Flag or Ensign
of South Carolina.
Journal of the House of Representatives, Satur
day, January 5, 1861 :
The SPEAKER announced the following Committee, on
the part of this House, pursuant to a resolution passed on
the 21st ultimo, to consider and report upon the Flag or
Ensign proper to be borne as the national Flag or Ensign
of South Carolina :

Messrs. Weston, Lowndes, Rhett, Ryan, J. H. Williams,
Wallace and Bookter.
Journal of the Senate, Thursday, January 17,
1861: The following message was received from the House of
Representatives :
House or Representatives, January 17, 1861.
Mr. President., and Gentlemen of the Senate:
This House respectfully asks of your body the appoint
ment of a Committee, to act jointly with a Committee of
this House, consisting of Messrs. Weston, Lowndes, Rhett,
Ryan, J. H. Williams, Wallace and Bookter, to consider
and report upon the Flag or Ensign proper to be borne as
the National Flag or Ensign of South Carolina.
By order of the House,
S. McGOWAN, Speaker, fro tem.
The Senate concurred, Messrs. Moses, Dantzler, Hampton,
Lesesne and Manning were appointed the Committee, and a
message was returned accordingly.
Journal of the House of Representatives,
Thursday, January 17, 1861:
The following message was received from the Senate :
In the Senate, January 17, 1861.
Mr. Sfeaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Representa
tives :
The Senate respectfully informs the House that Messrs.
Moses, Dantzler, Hampton, Lesesne and Manning have been
appointed a Committee to act jointly with the Committee of
the House, consisting of Messrs. Weston, Lowndes, Rhett,
Ryan, J. H. Williams, Wallace and Bookter, to consider
and report upon the flag or ensign proper to be borne as
the national flag or ensign of South Carolina.
By order the Senate,
W. D. PORTER, President.

Journal of the House of Representatives,
Monday, January 21, 1861 :
Mr. WESTON, from the Special Committee on the
National Flag or Ensign, made a report, and submitted the
following resolutions:
Resolved, That from and after the passage of this resolu
tion, the National Flag or Ensign of South Carolina shall
be white, with a green palmetto tree upright thereon; and
the union blue, with a white increscent.
2. Resolved, That these resolutions be communicated to
his Excellency the Governor, and that he be requested to
publish and declare this National Flag or Ensign of South
Carolina to all whom it may concern.
Mr. RHETT moved to amend, by striking out all after
the word Resolved, and inserting the following: "That
from and after the passage of this resolution, the National
Flag or Ensign of South Carolina shall be blue, with a
white palmetto tree upright thereon, and a white crescent
in the upper corner.
2. Resolved, That these resolutions be communicated to
his Excellency the Governor, and that he be requested to
publish and declare the National Flag or Ensign of South
Carolina to all whom it may concern."
Mr. WESTON moved to lay the amendment on the table,
and the question being put, Will the House agree to the
motion ? it passed in the negative.
Messrs. Boyd and Duryea were appointed Tellers.
Yeas, 32; Nays, 37.
So the House refused to lay the amendment on the table.
The question being put. Will the House agree to the
amendment? it passed in the affirmative.
Yeas, 49 ; Nays, 32.
The yeas and nays were requested, and are as follows :
Those who voted in the affirmative, are :
Messrs. Aldrich, Messrs. Lowndes,
Blackwell, Lowry,
Buist, Maxwell,
Butler, McCants,
Carew, McGowan,

Coffin,

Mobley,

Cook,

Murray,
Counts,
Peake,
Davis,
Prince,
DeSaussure,
Jno. M.
Quattlebaum,
DeSaussure,
W. G.
Read,
Eason,
Rhett,
Edwards,
Richardson,
Fort,
Screven,
Fraser,
Shannon,
Frederick,
Sheridan,
Glover,
Stokes,
Gooding
Tracy,
Hayne,
Wallace,
Henegan,
Whaley, William
Hoke,
Whetstone,
Jennings,
Williams, John
Kennedy,
Williams, J. J.
Lide,
Winsmith.
Lipscomb,
Those who voted in the negative, are :
Hon. James Simons,
Speaker,
and
Messrs. Adams,
Messrs,
. Jones,
Bates,
Keller,
Black, Wm.
Kirk,
Bookter,
Mattison,
Boylston,
Miller, J. C.
Bradley,
Pulliam,
Byrd,
Ryan,
Carter,
Sarvis,
Chick,
Thomson,
Craig,
Vaught,
Duryea,
Ware,
Foster,
Weston,
Gary,
Whitner,
Gibbes,
Wilson,
Gilmore,
Yeadon.
Hendricks,
So the report and resolutions, as amended, were ordered
to be sent to the Senate.
Journal of the Senate, Monday, January 21,
1861: Mr. MOSES submitted the report of the Special Joint
Committee, on the part of the Senate, in relation to a
National Flag for the State of South Carolina; which, on
motion of Mr. ALLEN, was considered, and agreed to, and
was sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence.
Journal of the Senate, Tuesday, January 22,
1861, mentioning matters received from the House
of Representatives :
The report of the Special Joint Committee, on the Flag
of South Carolina, and resolutions; which was referred to
the Special Committee on the Flag, consisting of Messrs.
Moses, Hampton, Manning, Lesesne and Dantzler.
Journal of the House of Representatives,
Thursday, January 24, 1861 :
Mr. WESTON, from the Special Committee on the
National Flag, made a report ; which was considered imme
diately, was agreed to, and was ordered to be sent to the
Senate for concurrence.
Journal of the Senate, Wednesday, January 23,
1861: Mr. MOSES submitted the report of the Special Com
mittee of the Senate,
On the report and resolutions of the Joint Committee on
the part of the House of Representatives, on the Flag of
South Carolina; which was ordered for consideration
to-morrow. Journal of the Senate, Thursday, Januarv 24,
1861:

10

Mr. MOSES submitted the report of the Special Com
mittee of the Senate,
On the resolution of the House as to a national flag.
Journal of the Senate, Friday, January 25, 1861 :
The following reports were ordered to lie on the table :
m * *.* * * * * * *
The two reports of the Special Committee of the Senate,
On the report and resolutions of the House of Represen
tatives, on the National Flag of South Carolina.
A message was sent to the House of Representatives,
asking leave to amend the report of the Special Committee
of that House, on the Flag, as follows: strike out all after
the words "shall be," in the first resolution, and insert "Red,
with Palmetto of natural color, upright in the centre — Blue
Union, with white increscent."
Journal of the House of Representatives, Fri
day, January 25, 1861 :
The following message was received from the Senate :
In the Senate, January 25, 1861.
Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Representa
tives:
The Senate respectfully ask leave of your House to amend
the report of the joint Committee appointed to consider
what should be the Flag or Ensign of South Carolina, by
striking out all in the first resolution after the words "shall
be," and inserting the following, to wit: "Red, with Pal
metto of natural color upright in centre — Blue Union with
white increscent thereon." By order of the Senate,
W. D. PORTER, President.
And the question being put. Will the House grant leave
to Senate to amend in the -particular indicated ? it passed
in the affirmative.
Messrs. Jennings and Suber were appointed Tellers.
Yeas, 30; Nays, 28.
So leave was granted to the Senate to amend, and a mes
sage was sent accordingly.

11
On motion of Mr. COFFIN, the House reconsidered the
vote granting leave to the Senate to amend the report of
the Special Committee on the National Flag or Ensign ; and,
On motion of Mr. COFFIN, a message was sent to the
Senate refusing to grant leave to amend, as indicated in
their message.
Journal of the Senate, Friday, January 25, 1861 :
The following message was received from the House of
Representatives, House of Representatives, January 25, 1861.
Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Senate:
This House respectfully refuses to grant leave to your
body to amend the report of the Joint Committee, appointed
to consider what should be the Flag or Ensign of South
Carolina, by striking out all in the first resolution after the
words "shall be," and inserting the following, to wit : "Red,
with Palmetto of natural color, upright in centre — Blue
Union, with white increscent thereon."
By order of the House,
JAMES SIMONS, Speaker.
The Senate returned a message, insisting on asking leave.
The Senate also appointed a Committee of Conference, con
sisting of Messrs. Moses, Manning, Lesesne, Dantzler and
Hampton, and requested the Hbuse to appoint a similar
committee. Journal of the House of Representatives, Sat
urday, January 26, 1861 :
The following message was received from the Senate:
In the Senate, January 25, 1861.
Mr. Speaker, and GeTiMemen of the House of Representa
tives :
The Senate respectfully insists on amending the report
of the Joint Committee appointed to consider what should
be the Flag or Ensign of South Carolina, by striking out
all in the first resolution after the words "shall be," and
inserting the following, to wit: "Red, with Palmetto of
natural color, upright in the centre ; blue union, with white

12

increscent thereon." The Senate have appointed Messrs.
Moses, Manning, Lesesne, Dantzler and Hampton a Com
mittee of Conference, to act with a Committee of your House
on the subject, and ask the appointment of a similar Com
mittee on the part of ypur House.
By order of the Senate,
W. D. PORTER, President.
On motion of Mr. WESTON, a message, insisting on
refusing to grant leave, and consenting to the appointment
of a Committee of Conference, was sent to the Senate.
Whereupon the SPEAKER announced the following gen
tlemen the Committee on the part of the House:
Messrs. Weston, Rhett, Screven, Read and Coffin.
Journal of the Senate, Saturday, January 26,
1861: The following message was received from the House of
Representatives :
House of Representatives, January 26, 1861.
Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Senate:
This House respectfully insists upon refusing leave to your
body to amend the report of the Joint Committee appointed
"to consider what should be the Flag or Ensign of South
Carolina," by striking out all in the first resolution after the
words "shall be," and inserting the following, to wit : "Red,
with Palmetto of natural color, upright in centre — ^blue
Union, with white increscent thereon."
House has appointed Messrs. Weston, Rhett, Screven,
Read and Coffin, a Committee to act jointly with the Com
mittee of the Senate, in conference on this subject.
By order of the House,
JAMES SIMONS, Speaker.
Journal of the House of Representatives, Satur
day, January 26, 1861 :
Mr. WESTON, from the Committee of Conference on the
National Flag or Ensign, made a report, which was agreed
to ; and a message was sent to the Senate, granting leave to
amend in conformity with said report.

13

Journal of the Senate, Saturday, January 26.
1861: Mr. MOSES submitted the following report :
The Committee of Conference, on the part of the two
Houses, appointed to determine what shall be the national
flag or ensign proper to be borne by the State of South
Carolina, have performed the duty assigned to them, and
beg leave to report the following resolutions:
1. Resolved, That from and after the adoption of these
resolutions the national flag or ensign of South Carolina
shall be blue, with a golden palmetto upright upon a white
oval in the centre thereof, and a white increscent in the
upper flag-staff corner of the flag.
2. Resolved, That these resolutions be communicated to
his Excellency the Governor, and that he be respectfully
requested to publish and declare this national flag or ensign
to all whom it may concern.
Immediately thereafter, a message was received from the
House of Representatives informing the Senate that the
House had adopted the report of the Committee on that
subject. The resolution was then amended, and concurred
in, and returned to the House of Representatives.
Journal of the House of Representatives, Mon
day, January 28, 1861 :
Mr. READ introduced the following resolution :
Resolved, That a message be sent to the Senate, request
ing that body to consent to the alteration of the Flag, lately
adopted by this General Assembly, so as to dispense with
the white medallion and golden Palmetto, and in their place
to insert a w.hite Palmetto;
Which was considered immediately, and agreed to, and a
message was accordingly sent to the Senate.
Journal of the Senate, Monday, January 28,
1861: The following message was received from the House of
Representatives :

14

House of Representatives, January 28, 1861.
Mr. President, and Gentlenven of the Senate:
This House respectfully requests the concurrence of your
body in the following alteration of the flag lately adopted
by this General Assembly, to wit : to dispense with the white
medallion and golden palmetto, and in their place to insert
a white palmetto. By order of the House,
JAMES SIMONS, Speaker.
The Senate concurred, and returned a message accord
ingly. Journal of the House of Representatives, Mon
day, January 28, 1861:
The following message was received from the Senate :
In the Senate, January 28, 1861.
Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Represen
tatives:
The Senate respectfully concur in the following alteration
of the flag lately adopted by this General Assembly, to wit :
"To dispense with the white medallion and golden Palmetto,
and in their place to insert a white Palmetto.
By order of the Senate,
W. D. PORTER, President.
When South Carolina entered the union known
as the Confederate States of America the former
State flag, then officially the national flag, again
became the State flag, and when South Carolina
was readmitted into the union known as the
United States the same flag continued to be the
State flag.

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