Opis: A Memoir of Gen. Christopher Gadsden - Porcher F. A.

Excerpt from A Memoir of Gen. Christopher Gadsden: Read Before the South Carolina Historical Society

As I pass in review the history of South Carolina and the illustrious men whose precepts, but still more whose examples made her what she was, I have always regarded Christopher Gadsden as one of the noblest of that noble band. His was the stern virtue which we were long taught lo believe, characterized the ancient Spartan, tempered by the mild influences of the modern Christian. He was perhaps, what in our degenerate days would be called an impracticable man; that is, a man who could not bend from the dictate of principle to that of policy, and could therefore, be neither a good party leader, nor even a good party man. He followed always the impulse of incorruptible honesty, and was the impersonation of the most exalted chivalry. Fear and favor were alike foreign to Ills nature. He respected himself, and reverenced his Creator. Duty had no more obedient follower; truth no more devoted servant. Enthusiastic even to, rashness in the cause of American Independence, his capacious heart beat as keenly for the wrongs of Massachusetts as for the insults to Carolina. He served his whole country with his whole heart, and when he died and his remains were committed to the keeping of his mother earth, she closed upon the noblest heart that ever beat with love for his country's virtues, or bled at witnessing the outrages which were heaped upon her devoted bosom.

More than seventy years have passed since lie was removed from the sight of man, and few memorials are left to record his acts. A meagre account of his life is to be found in the chapter of biographical notices in Ramsay's History of South Carolina, and tradition has preserved a few anecdotes. In essaying at this time to trace the history of his life, I cannot promise to add anything new. I can incorporate into the memoir some of the anecdotes, and a fortunate chance has put me in possession of some letters( which shed a bright, but a transient light upon a portion of his history. While in this Centennial year men are everywhere celebrating the praises of the dead of old times, no titter theme can be selected for Charleston than Christopher Gadsden, and in the humble hope of reviving his memory, I offer to the Historical Society this contribution to the history of our State, as exemplified in the life of one of her illustrious sons.

Christopher Gadsden was born in Charlestown, in 1724. His father was Thomas Gadsden, a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, and the King's Collector for the Port of Charleston.

Sent to England for instruction, he received a classical education, to which he subsequently added a knowledge of some of the oriental tongues. Returning from England as a passenger on board a King's ship, the purser died, and Mr. Gadsden was appointed to take his place, and continued to hold it for about two years. He then left the service and devoted himself to mercantile life, which he followed with great success in Charleston. Like many other merchants of this time and place, he was also engaged in the occupation of a planter. It was whilst engaged in these pursuits that he constructed the wharf which still bears his name. This kind of architecture seems to have pleased him, and to have called out his mechanical powers. In 1776, when Gen. Lee insisted on the necessity of having a bridge from Sullivan's Island to Haddrell's Point, so as to furnish an escape for the troops under Moultrie and Thompson in case of disaster, Mr. Gadsden, then Colonel Gadsden, in command at Port Johnson, undertook the work, and from his own resources and his own money, in a very few days, completed the desired work.

In 1759 when Governor Lyttleton made bis expedition against the Cherokees, there was not a single field piece mounted in all Carolina. Mr. Gadsden, who was a member of the Legislature, obtained the passage of an act for raising a company of artillery. H

Szczegóły: A Memoir of Gen. Christopher Gadsden - Porcher F. A.

Nazwa: A Memoir of Gen. Christopher Gadsden Read Before the South Carolina Historical Society (Classic Reprint)
Autor: Porcher F. A.
Wydawnictwo: FB &c Ltd
Kod paskowy: 9781331674511
Języki: angielski
Ilość stron: 20
Format: 15.2x22.9cm
Oprawa: Miękka

Recenzje: A Memoir of Gen. Christopher Gadsden - Porcher F. A.