South Carolina. Their hope was to get possession of the city; but Colonel Moultrie, aided by such heroes as Sergeant Jasper, defended this log fort with such energy that the enemy were not sorry to withdraw. Thereafter the fort was called Fort Moultrie in honor of its brave commander. 166. "Common Sense " ; the Americans decide to separate from Great Britain. -Up to 1776 the Americans had been fighting in defence of their rights as British subjects. Washington said: "When I first took command of the Continental army I abhorred the idea of independence." But in January, 1776, the king's proclamation reached Congress. In it he called for troops to put down "the rebellion" in America. That was the only answer he gave to their humble petition1 for justice. Congress now saw that there Reduced Copy of the Gold Medal was no hope of reconciliation. The presented to Washington by Convery day that proclamation came a re gress. markable pamphlet was published in Philadelphia. It was entitled "Common Sense." The writer withheld his name, but he boldly said that the time had come for a "final separation" from England, and that "arms must decide the contest." The pamphlet sold by tens of thousands, because it gave voice to what tens of thousands were thinking. The English people would not volunteer to fight the Americans, and the king had to hire, in all, nearly thirty thousand Hessians for the work. The knowledge 1 See note I on page 156. 3 2 The writer was Thomas Paine, an Englishman who had come to this country and espoused the cause of American liberty. 8 Hessians: Germans from the province of Hesse and vicinity. The Prince of of that fact cut the last thread that held us bound to the mother country. The Americans had not sought separation; the king -not the English people The Old State House ("Independence Hall ") Philadelphia, as it appeared in 1776. And for the support of this declaration ] mutually pledge to each other our lives our fortunes, & our sacred honour Sam John Hancou am Adams Blud. Livingstor Reduced Copy of the last line of the Declaration of Independence (in Jefferson's hand writing) with the first three signatures. Hesse sold their services to the English king. The Germans had no voice in the matter, and had to go and fight where they were sent. Eighteen thousand were sent over the first year and eleven thousand afterward. |