he was very exact; and, in such a degree had he improved the officers and men
immediately under his charge, that they were very soon regarded as a model
for all the rest. He was called the "architect of the Second Regiment".
Weems, speaking for Col. Horry, says, "Indeed, I am not afraid to say
that Marion was the ARCHITECT of the Second Regiment, and laid
the foundation of that excellent discipline and confidence in themselves,
which gained them such reputation whenever they were brought to face
their enemies." The value of this training was very soon to be subjected
to the most thorough of all possible tests. He was ordered with his Regiment,
under command of Col. Wm. Moultrie, to take post at Fort Sullivan,
on the island of that name, which stands at the entrance of Charleston harbor,
and within point blank shot of the channel. The difficulties and deficiencies
of this post, furnished some admirable preparatory lessons
for the great conflict which was to follow. They imposed the necessity
of diligent industry and hard labor, equally on men and soldiers.
This was one of the famous schools of Roman discipline.
Fort Sullivan, better known as Fort Moultrie -- was yet to be built.
When the Second Regiment entered it, it was little more than an outline.
Its shape was described upon the sand, and the palmetto rafts lay around it,
waiting to be moulded into form. The structure was an inartificial one --
a simple wall, behind which young beginners might train guns to do mischief
to a veteran enemy in front. Its form was square, with a bastion
at each angle, sufficiently large, when finished, to cover a thousand men.
It was built of logs, laid one upon another in parallel rows,
at a distance of sixteen feet, bound together at frequent intervals
with timber, dovetailed and bolted into the logs. The spaces between
were filled up with sand. The merlons were walled entirely by palmetto logs,
notched into one another at the angles, well bolted together and strengthened
with pieces of massy timber. Such was the plan of the work;
but, with all the diligence of the officers, and all the industry of the men,