Shots heard 'round the world fired near Charleston
Think the American War for Independence was fought and won in the North? That's because most textbooks were written and published there. Here's a bit of history all Southerners can be proud of:
Most American school children have heard stirring stories of the battles of Concord Bridge and Lexington Green, relatively minor skirmishes fought by the Minutemen of Revolutionary lore. These were fought in April 1775, and at Concord Bridge was fired the "shot heard 'round the world." But it was at an unfinished, palmetto-log fort on Sullivan's Island where the cannon shots heard 'round the world were fired. There, 425 Americans fought off a British invasion fleet of 20 ships, foiling an early attempt to occupy Charleston, then the largest and most important city in the colonies south of Philadelphia.
The Battle of Fort Sullivan marked the first American victory over a substantial British force in the Revolution.
The last such victory was at Yorktown, Virginia, 7 months after Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina.
posted by Michael Tuggle @ Saturday, June 28, 2008
5 Comments
5 Comments:
Amen!Mike!
My son Scott is a newly hired tour guide for the tourism set in Charleston. He drives a carriage and gives lectures on the "sights".
His questions (always it seems are from "THOSE" people..ie. yankees) center arond the WBTS.
He focuses his tour mainly on the Revolutionary War and the Holy City's contribution..
This does 2 things.. It reinforces what you said about the events at Sullivan's island and also how the 1861 turn of events were a REPEAT!
PS Even the yankees have adopted a mentality of what if?
They all to a person so far have enjoyed his tours with comments of a FRESH perspective.. or they never knew!
PPS Let us not forget the "Over the Mountain Men' at King's Mountain" or the Mecklinburg "First in Freedom" that really sealed the deal in the Backcountry or UPCOUNTRY as we prefer to say in the "hills" BY GOD!
Pawmetto said...
He focuses his tour mainly on the Revolutionary War and the Holy City's contribution..
Forgive me, I'm a product of the public school system, but What is the Holy City and how did it get holy?
Mike,
Well said.
Also, Southerners delivered the two most devastating defeats (in percentage terms)to British-lead troops: King's Mountain and Cowpens. At King's, EVERY "loyalist" soldier was either killed, wounded, or captured. At Cowpens, Tarleton escaped with about 30 cavalrymen out of a total force of 1000 to 1200.
pawmetto,
I've been on one of those tours, and have noticed how well-attended they are. That's an incredible opportunity for promoting the Cause.
d brinson,
Yes, and I wish more folks knew about those battles so they could appreciate their Southern heritage.
I toured Cowpens, which is near my home in Charlotte, and was amazed at what Morgan accomplished with the forces he had. It was a smaller version of what Hannibal did at Cannae.
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