Flag of South Carolina facts for kids
 |
|
| Use | State flag  |
|---|---|
| Adopted | January 26, 1861 (modifications made on January 28, 1861) |
| Design | White palmetto tree on an indigo field. The canton contains a white crescent. |
The flag of South Carolina is a special symbol for the U.S. state of South Carolina. It has a blue background with a white palmetto tree and a white crescent shape. This flag design has been around since 1775. It was inspired by one of the very first flags used during the American Revolutionary War. Even though it has changed a little over the years, its main design has stayed the same.
Contents
The Story of the South Carolina Flag
.svg)
The Moultrie Flag: A Symbol of Liberty
In 1775, during the American Revolutionary War, Colonel William Moultrie was asked to create a flag for the South Carolina soldiers. Moultrie designed a flag that was blue, like the soldiers' uniforms. It also had a white crescent shape. This flag was first flown at Fort Johnson.
This famous flag was used to defend a new fort on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. Colonel Moultrie and his troops faced a powerful British fleet there. The British had not lost a battle in 100 years!
There is some discussion about what the crescent on the flag means. Colonel Moultrie wrote in his memories that the crescent was like the silver crescents worn on the caps of the soldiers.
During a long 16-hour battle on June 28, 1776, the flag was shot down. But a brave soldier named Sergeant William Jasper ran out into the open. He picked up the flag, raising it high to encourage his fellow soldiers. This heroic act helped save Charleston, South Carolina, from being captured for four more years. Because of this bravery, the flag became a strong symbol of the Revolution and freedom in South Carolina and the new nation.
This flag soon became known as the Liberty Flag or the Moultrie Flag. It was the main flag for the South Carolina militia. When Charleston was freed at the end of the war, Major General Nathanael Greene presented this flag. He said it was the first American flag to fly over the southern states.
The Palmetto Tree and the Civil War
In 1861, the palmetto tree was added to the flag. This was also a way to remember Colonel Moultrie's defense of Sullivan's Island. The fort he built was made with palmetto logs laid over sand walls. These palmetto logs were strong enough to withstand the British cannonballs!
After South Carolina decided to leave the Union, the state needed a new flag. They chose a design that already existed. It had an upward-facing crescent (called a gorget) on a blue background. They added a palmetto tree in the middle.
On January 26, 1861, the South Carolina General Assembly officially adopted a new flag. It had a golden palmetto tree inside a white circle. However, this flag was only used for two days! On January 28, the golden palmetto was changed to a simple white palmetto on the blue background.
Less than three months later, a version of the palmetto flag was flown over Fort Sumter. This happened on April 14, 1861, the day it was given to Confederate General Beauregard. This might have been the first Confederate flag flown over captured United States territory. This flag had a palmetto on a white background with a red star in the top left corner. It is often called "The Palmetto Guard Flag."
The "Sovereignty flag" was never an official flag of South Carolina. However, some say it was flown for a short time after South Carolina left the Union on December 20, 1860. Another important flag was the "South Carolina Secession Flag." The day after South Carolina left the Union, a red flag with two tails was raised over the Charleston Custom House. It had a large white star and an upside-down crescent moon near the flagpole. This flag then spread to other cities as a symbol of leaving the Union.
A similar flag, known as "Big Red," was flown by students from The Citadel in 1861. They were defending Morris Island against Union supply ships. This flag was red with a white palmetto tree and a crescent that faced inward. Today, after being found in storage, "Big Red" is flown by The Citadel's Corps of Cadets as their official spirit flag.
See also
In Spanish: Bandera de Carolina del Sur para niños
