was severely felt. But for this, judging from the effects of the fire
from the fort, the British Commodore must have struck, or his fleet
must have been destroyed. So slow, at one time, were the discharges --
so great the interval of time between them, -- that the British
were of opinion that the place was abandoned. But a new supply of powder
was obtained by Marion, who, with a small party, leaving the fort,
proceeded to the armed schooner Defence, lying in Stop Gap Creek,
and seized upon her powder, by which the fire was kept up
until a supply of five hundred weight was received from the city.*5*
This caused a renewal of the conflict in all its fury.
The garrison fought with a coolness which would have done honor to veterans.
The day was very warm, and the men partially stripped to it.
Moultrie says, "When the action begun (it being a warm day), some of the men
took off their coats and threw them upon the top of the merlons.
I saw a shot take one of them and throw it into a small tree
behind the platform. It was noticed by our men, and they cried out,
"look at the coat!" A little incident that speaks volumes for their coolness.
Moultrie himself and several of his officers smoked their pipes during
the action, only removing them when it became necessary to issue orders.
In the hottest fire of the battle the flag of the fort was shot away,
and fell without the fort. Jasper, with whom we have already brought
the reader acquainted as one of Marion's men, instantly sprang after it
upon the beach, between the ramparts and the enemy, and binding it
to a sponge staff, restored it to its place, and succeeded
in regaining his own in safety. We shall hear more hereafter,
of this gallant fellow.*6* The coolness -- nay the cavalier indifference --
displayed by the Carolinians throughout the combat, is not its least
remarkable feature. There is something chivalric in such deportment,
which speaks for larger courage than belongs to ordinary valor.
Mere bull-dog resolution and endurance is here lifted,