Flag of South Carolina

Last updated

South Carolina
Flag of South Carolina.svg
Use State flag FIAV 010000.svg IFIS Mirror.svg
Proportion2:3
AdoptedJanuary 26, 1861 (1861-01-26) (modifications made on January 28, 1861)
DesignA white palmetto tree on an indigo field. The canton contains a white crescent.

The flag of South Carolina is a symbol of the U.S. state of South Carolina consisting of a blue field with a white palmetto tree and white crescent. Roots of this design have existed in some form since 1775, being based on one of the first American Revolutionary War flags. While keeping most of its design intact since its adoption, it has varied over the years. [1]

Contents

South Carolina's placement in a 2001 survey of U.S. and Canadian subdivisional flags by the North American Vexillological Association is 10th out of 72 - 6th out of 50 U.S. states. [2]

History

Moultrie Flag

The Moultrie Flag (also known as the "Liberty Flag") Flag of Fort Moultrie, South Carolina.svg
The Moultrie Flag (also known as the "Liberty Flag") FIAV historical.svg

In 1775, Colonel William Moultrie was asked by the Revolutionary Council of Safety to design a flag for the South Carolina troops to use during the American Revolutionary War. Moultrie's design had the blue of the militia's uniforms and a crescent taken from their cap insignia. It was first flown at Fort Johnson. [3]

This flag was famously flown in the defense of a new fortress on Sullivan's Island, when Moultrie faced off against a British fleet that had not lost a battle in a century. In the 16-hour battle on June 28, 1776, the flag was shot down, but Sergeant William Jasper ran out into the open, raising it and rallying the troops until it could be mounted again. This gesture was considered to be so heroic, saving Charleston from conquest for four years, that the flag came to be the symbol of the Revolution, and liberty, in the state and the new nation.[ citation needed ]

Soon popularly known as either the Liberty Flag or Moultrie Flag, it became the standard of the South Carolinian militia and was presented in Charleston by Major General Nathanael Greene when the city was liberated at the end of the war. Greene described it as having been the first American flag to fly over the South.

American Civil War

The palmetto was added in 1861, also a reference to Moultrie's defense of Sullivan's Island; the fortress he had constructed had survived largely because the palmettos, laid over sand walls, were able to withstand British cannon.

Following its declaration of secession from the Union, the newly independent state of South Carolina considered many designs for its "National Flag", with the first official draft for a flag being finalized on January 21, which was a white ensign with a green palmetto, and a blue canton with a white increscent. [4] After a week of debate, they decided on an existing unofficial state flag with an upward facing crescent on a blue field, modifying it by adding a palmetto at the center of the field. [5] On January 26, 1861, the South Carolina General Assembly adopted a new flag by adding a golden palmetto encircled with a white background. This flag has become known as the "2-day flag" because the golden palmetto was changed to its current design after two days on January 28 to a simple white palmetto on the blue background. [6]

The Palmetto Flag quickly became a symbol of the secessionist movement. During the secession winter, it was unfurled at various places around the country, even as far away as Nebraska City, Nebraska, by pockets of Southern partisans. Less than three months after its adoption, a variation of the palmetto flag unfurled over Fort Sumter on April 14, 1861, the day it was occupied by the Confederate Army, making it the first of the Confederate flags to replace the Stars and Stripes of the United States of America, from which the Confederacy had seceded. [7] The flag consisted of a palmetto on an entirely white background with a red star in the upper left quadrant and is commonly known as "The Palmetto Guard Flag.

The Sovereignty flag was never recognized as an official flag in South Carolina, but there are also claims that it was flown for a short period of time in South Carolina after its secession on December 20, 1860. Another significant flag is the "South Carolina Secession Flag"; the day after South Carolina seceded, a red flag with two tails, a large white star and a down-right facing crescent at the top by the flag staff was raised over the Charleston Custom House. It then spread to other cities as a symbol of secession. [8] At the beginning of the American Civil War a similar flag was flown at Morris Island by cadets from The Citadel as they fired upon United States supply ships.

Origin of the crescent

William Moultrie states in his memoirs: "A little time after we were in possession of Fort Johnson, it was thought necessary to have a flag for the purpose of signals: (as there was no national or state flag at that time) I was desired by the council of safety to have one made, upon which, as the state troops were clothed in blue, and the fort was garrisoned by the first and second regiments, who wore a silver crescent on the front of their caps; I had a large blue flag made with a crescent in the dexter corner, to be in uniform with the troops ..." [9]

Moultrie's original design placed the crescent vertically, with the opening directing upward. The 1860s flag also shows the crescent with upward pointing cusps. However, in 1910—for reasons that he did not document—Alexander Samuel Salley Jr., secretary of the state's Historical Commission, angled the crescent to its current orientation.

Design standardization

South Carolinian flag underneath U.S. flag South Carolina Flag under American Flag.jpg
South Carolinian flag underneath U.S. flag

While the flag invariably includes a white palmetto and crescent design on a blue background, state law since 1940 has not provided "specifications for the shape, size, design or placement" of the symbols, or the exact color of the background. [10] [11] As a result, flags from different manufacturers may have different appearances. A committee of the South Carolina Senate held a hearing on the issue in January 2018 but did not immediately advance a bill to standardize the design. [10] [11]

A standardized design was revealed in 2020 but was immediately met with major backlash from the public for its perceived poor design and aesthetics. [1] [12] Two other designs were then proposed, one of which will become the official standardized version. [13] [14]

Commercial use

Shirts, belts, shoes, wallets, koozies, holiday decorations and other accessories featuring the flag's palmetto and crescent are popular throughout South Carolina and other southeastern states as a symbol of the state's long-standing heritage.[ citation needed ] It is also common for alumni and supporters of the state's main universities (the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, Coastal Carolina University, Furman University, the College of Charleston, Winthrop University, Wofford College, and The Citadel) to display the state flag in their school colors.

See also

Related Research Articles

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Fort Sumter is a sea fort built on an artificial island near Charleston, South Carolina to defend the region from a naval invasion. It was built after British forces captured and occupied Washington during the War of 1812 via a naval attack. The fort was still incomplete in 1861 when the Battle of Fort Sumter occurred, sparking the American Civil War. It was severely damaged during the battle and left in ruins. Although there were some efforts at reconstruction after the war, the fort as conceived was never completed. Since the middle of the 20th century, Fort Sumter has been open to the public as part of the Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, operated by the National Park Service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sullivan's Island, South Carolina</span> Town in South Carolina, United States

Sullivan's Island, historically known as O'Sullivan's Island, is a town and island in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States, at the entrance to Charleston Harbor, with a population of 1,791 at the 2010 census, and 1,891 people in 2020. The town is part of the Charleston metropolitan area, and is considered a very affluent suburb of Charleston.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Moultrie</span> American politician

William Moultrie was an American slaveowning planter and politician who became a general in the American Revolutionary War. As colonel leading a state militia, in 1776 he prevented the British from taking Charleston, and Fort Moultrie was named in his honor.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Moultrie</span> United States historic place

Fort Moultrie is a series of fortifications on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, built to protect the city of Charleston, South Carolina. The first fort, formerly named Fort Sullivan, built of palmetto logs, inspired the flag and nickname of South Carolina, as "The Palmetto State". The fort was renamed for the U.S. patriot commander in the Battle of Sullivan's Island, General William Moultrie. During British occupation, in 1780–1782, the fort was known as Fort Arbuthnot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seal of South Carolina</span> Official government emblem of the U.S. state of South Carolina

The Great Seal of the State of South Carolina was adopted in 1776. South Carolina's seal is made up of two elliptical areas, linked by branches of the palmetto tree. The image on the left is dominated by a tall palmetto tree and an oak tree, fallen and broken. This scene represents the battle fought on June 28, 1776, between defenders of the unfinished fort on Sullivan's Island, and the British Fleet. The standing palmetto represents the victorious defenders, and the fallen oak is the British Fleet. Banded together on the palmetto with the motto Quis separabit?, are 12 spears that represent the other original 12 states of the Union. Beneath that is enscrolled another of the alternate state mottoes, "Meliorem Lapsa Locavit" with the date of 1776. Surrounding the image, at the top, is "South Carolina", and below, is Animis opibusque parati. The other image on the seal depicts the Roman goddess Spes walking along a shore that is littered with weapons. The goddess grasps a branch of laurel as the sun rises behind her. Below her image is her name, Spes, Latin for 'hope', and over the image is the motto Dum spiro spero, meaning 'While I breathe, I hope'.

The 2nd South Carolina Regiment was raised on June 6, 1775, at Charleston, South Carolina, for service with the Continental Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Carolina in the American Civil War</span> Involvement of the Confederate state of South Carolina in the American Civil War

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charleston in the American Civil War</span> U.S. city in the American Civil War

Charleston, South Carolina, was a hotbed of secession at the start of the American Civil War and an important Atlantic Ocean port city for the fledgling Confederate States of America. The first shots against the Federal government were those fired there by cadets of the Citadel to stop a ship from resupplying the Federally held Fort Sumter. Three months later, the bombardment of Fort Sumter triggered a massive call for Federal troops to put down the rebellion. Although the city and its surrounding fortifications were repeatedly targeted by the Union Army and Navy, Charleston did not fall to Federal forces until the last months of the war. Charleston was devastated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Sullivan's Island</span> 1776 American Revolutionary War battle

The Battle of Sullivan's Island or the Battle of Fort Sullivan was fought on June 28, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. It took place near Charleston, South Carolina, during the first British attempt to capture the city from American forces. It is also sometimes referred to as the first siege of Charleston, owing to a more successful British siege in 1780.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floating Battery of Charleston Harbor</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moultrie Flag</span> Flag of the American Revolution

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of The Citadel</span>

The History of The Citadel began in the early 1820s with the formation of a militia and state arsenal in response to an alleged slave revolt in 1822. By 1842 the arsenal grew into an academy, with the Legislature establishing it as the South Carolina Military Academy. Cadets played a key role in the Civil War, by assisting in the battalion firing upon a federal ship three months before the war began. Many Confederate officers attended the school. Renamed in 1910 as The Citadel, the school's academic reputation grew. After moving the campus near Hampton Park in 1922, the college has grown substantially. Sixteen years after legal segregation ended in public schools, the Citadel saw the graduation of its first Black student, Charles D. Foster, in 1970. The first woman to graduate from The Citadel, Maxine Hudson, received her degree from the graduate program in 1969. Maxine was a distinguished and beloved teacher in Charleston for over 50 years. After a rocky journey, The Citadel graduated its first female Cadet from the Corps of Cadets program at the school, future congresswoman Nancy Mace, in 1999. The school has produced many military officers, business, and political leaders throughout its history.

<i>The Defenders of Fort Moultrie</i> Monument in Charleston, South Carolina, US

The Defenders of Fort Moultrie, also commonly known as the Jasper Monument, is a monument in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Located in White Point Garden, the monument depicts Sergeant William Jasper and was dedicated in 1877 to all South Carolina militiamen involved in the Battle of Sullivan's Island during the American Revolutionary War.

References

  1. 1 2 Fortier-Bensen, Tony (December 30, 2020). "Historians propose new South Carolina state flag design". WCIV. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  2. Kaye, Edward B. (June 10, 2001). "2001 State/Provincial Flag Survey" (PDF). Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  3. "Fort Johnson/Powder Magazine, Charleston County (James Island)". National Register Properties in South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  4. Hicks, Brian (January 27, 2011) [last updated 2016-12-08]. "Birth of a flag: Newspaper editor's design chosen 150 years ago today". Charleston Post and Courier . Archived from the original on June 26, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  5. "South Carolina State Flag – About the South Carolina Flag, its adoption and history". netstate.com. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  6. "South Carolina State and Secession Flags". freeuk.net. Archived from the original on June 25, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  7. "Fort Sumter". nps.gov. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  8. "South Carolina State, and Secession Flags". Archived from the original on July 1, 2015.
  9. "Memoirs of the American Revolution, Vol. I," William Moultrie, p. 90
  10. 1 2 Wilks, Avery G. (January 24, 2018). "SC has no official state flag design, so flag makers make it up. That could change". thestate. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  11. 1 2 Shain, Andy (January 24, 2018). "Can South Carolina fix its state flag? What color blue? What design of tree?". Post and Courier. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  12. Aitken, Peter (December 31, 2020). "South Carolina debuts new state flag and the public hates it". Fox News. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  13. South Carolina State Flag Study Committee (March 4, 2021). "Report of the South Carolina State Flag Study Committee" (PDF).
  14. South Carolina State Flag Study Committee (March 4, 2021). "Addendum to the Report of the South Carolina State Flag Study Committee" (PDF).

Further reading