so greatly divided in public feeling and opinion. The battle preceded
the declaration of Independence, and, though not generally known
to have taken place before that decisive measure was resolved upon,
it came seasonably to confirm the patriots in those principles which
they had so solemnly and recently avowed. Its farther effect was to dissipate
that spell of invincibility, which, in the minds of the Americans,
seemed to hover about a British armament; -- to heighten the courage
of the militia, and to convince the most sceptical, that it needed
only confidence and practice, to make the American people as good soldiers
as any in the world. The Carolina riflemen were not a little elated
to discover that they could handle twenty-six pounders as efficiently as
the smaller implements of death, to which their hands were better accustomed.
To the defenders of the fortress, their victory brought imperishable laurels.
They had shown the courage and the skill of veterans, and their countrymen
gloried in the reputation in which they necessarily shared.
Moultrie received the thanks of Congress, of the Commander-in-Chief,
and of his fellow citizens. The fort was thenceforth called by his name,
and he was made a Brigadier-General. His Major, Marion,
necessarily had his share in these public honors, and was raised by Congress
to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel in the regular service.
Two days after the battle, General Lee reviewed the garrison at Fort Moultrie,
and thanked them "for their gallant defence of the fort against
a fleet of eight men-of-war and a bomb, during a cannonade of eleven hours,
and a bombardment of seven." At the same time, Mrs. Barnard Elliott
presented an elegant pair of embroidered colors to the Second Regiment,
with a brief address, in which she expressed her conviction that
they would "stand by them as long as they can wave in the air of liberty."
It was in fulfilling the pledge made by General Moultrie, on this occasion,
in behalf of the regiment, that the brave Jasper lost his life
before the walls of Savannah.