Carolina Day!

It’s Carolina Day, a day to be celebrated by all Americans because it marks the first major victory over the ‘red-coats’ during the Revolutionary War. 230 years ago, the world’s most powerful navy came into Charleston harbor to regulate the unruly “colonists” and establish order for the crown. You can imagine the bravado of those British ships, the best in the business, flying the ‘Union Jack’ on their masts sailing off the South Carolina coast line only to see a small fort made of palmetto logs (where we got the nickname the Palmetto State) with a rag-tag group of ruffians to guard the crown's richest jewel of the South (and the colonies), the harbor of America's 4th largest city, Charleston.

Battle of Sullivan's Island
The bombardment would last for more than 9 hours, but the Patriots would stand their ground against the Empire’s finest, the small fort with the soft wood of the palmettos would ‘catch’ the crown’s cannonballs and the Palmetto Patriots would fire their own ammunition right back at the British. The Patriots lead by Col. William Moultrie would literally beat the pants off (Sir Peter Parker did indeed have the rear of his pants shot off during the battle) the greatest Navy in the world. This victory would inspire our nation to fight tenaciously to throw off the yoke of the crown and win our freedom! A freedom so contagious, so moving, that it has inspired political thinkers, leaders and movements to this very day! This my friends is why we celebrate Carolina Day!

Facts about Carolina Day

• South Carolina is known as the Palmetto state because of the Palmetto logs used to build Fort Moultrie.
  
• The fort on Sullivans Island was named for Col. William Moultrie, who led the fight against the British.
  
• Sgt. Jasper made his historical raising of the flag to give the boys inspiration during the battle. We erected a statue in White Point Gardens and named an apartment building after Jasper in his honor.
  
• The victory on this date in 1776, 6 days before the Declaration of Independence, was the first major victory in the Revolutionary War.
  
• Stan Lee did not name Spiderman's alter ego after Sir Peter Parker, but it would be a lot cooler if he did.
  
• Carolina Day and Independence Day (July 4th) are the only two days any American is legally permitted to kick the arse of any limey bastard who calls said American a colonists. (Not true, but if ever elected, I will push this Bill through Congress.)
  
• Other South Carolina victories include: King's Mountain in York County (1781), Daniel Morgan and (George's cousin) Gen. William Washington's famous victory at Cowpens & Pickens-the British were forced north to Guildford Courthouse (N.C.) and then Cornwallis withdrew to the final defeat and surrender at Yorktown, Virginia.
  

(Photos compliments of the South Carolina Historical Society, please visit their site to learn more.)