New officers for the Moultrie-McNeill UDC Chapter are, from left, Margaret Griner, historian; Faye Bridwell, president; Janice Barry, vice president; Francine Rossman, treasurer; and Myra Dykes, recorder. Not shown are Irene Godwin, registrar; and Julia Dorminey, chaplain.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — The new year for the Moultrie-McNeill UDC began in September with a new slate of officers and a year lined up for programs and projects.

The November meeting about Gen. William Moultrie, namesake of our city was brought to us by guest speaker, Dr. C. L. Bragg, who is an anesthesiologist at the Thomasville hospital and author of three books due to his love for history. While in South Carolina researching his family genealogy, he discovered there was very little known about a famous Revolutionary War hero, Gen. William Moultrie, which piqued his interest and began the challenge to find out more about him which became a book titled, “Crescent Moon over Carolina, William Moultrie & American Liberty.”

William Moultrie was born in 1730 to Scottish emigrant Dr. John Moultrie, who married Lucretia Cooper in South Carolina. William was their second son therefore was not in line to inherit any family fortune. Instead, at the young age of 19, he married into a well-off family. It was 1749, William married Damaris Elizabeth de St. Julien, (French Huguenot) six years his senior. They had a daughter who died at the age of 13 and their son, William Jr., served alongside his father in the Continental Army but predeceased his father in later years.

Moultrie and Damaris obtained well over 1,000 acres and began to grow rice and indigo gaining Moultrie unprecedented prosperity in colonial South Carolina.

He became involved with politics in 1752, at the age of 21, in the Commons House of Assembly. His introduction to the military began with militia duty as a member of an expeditionary force against the Cherokees that eventually, in 1760, brought about raising a regiment of foot soldiers that placed Moultrie in command of a company. Francis Marion (the Swamp Fox) became his lieutenant. They participated in three campaigns. Moultrie received the rank of colonel in 1774.

Staying involved with politics, Moultrie experienced the escalating tension over home-rule and the authority of a distant legislative body imposing its will on its colonial citizens whose resentment grew over taxation without representation.

In 1775, the South Carolina Provincial Congress authorized the formation of two infantry regiments of which Moultrie was appointed to lead the Second Regiment. He was involved with creating and fortifying as many defenses as possible to protect entrances on the coast to Charleston from British invasions. It was deemed necessary to build an additional fort on Sullivan’s Island where Moultrie had 435 men to begin construction. During this time, his wife died.

Before the fort was completed, a fleet of British warships approached and anchored 350 to 400 yards from the fort and attacked on June 28th. Only 12 to 15 cannons at the fort functioned to compare with the British 270 guns! Running short on gun powder, Moultrie received 500 lbs. more to continue the battle. At day’s end, the miracle turned in America’s favor, against all odds, this battle was termed America’s first absolute victory. Oddly enough, during this same time, a draft of the Declaration of Independence was being brought before the Continental Congress      that would be adopted on July 4th, 1776, a few weeks later.

Moultrie took time to re-marry, in 1779, Hannah Motte Lynch (a widow) whose son, Thomas Lynch Jr., was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Savannah, Ga., fell to the British Oct. 1779, who then set their goal to take Charleston, S.C., changing their strategic goals in 1780. Moultrie was sent with 600 men to impede their advance through the bridges and canals. After discovering the enemy of about 1,000, in February, by March 1, this force was enroute but Moultrie was too sick and was sent for convalescing March 9, being replaced on the front. By March 30, the Redcoats were in front of Charleston’s defenses. April 13th, the British opened a fierce 15-hour bombardment.

April 24, the colonists launched a surprise attack, attempting to turn the tables, which sent the redcoats reeling back in their tracks but this attempt took the life of Moultrie’s brother, Capt. Thomas Moultrie. May 4, the British landed 500 sailors on Sullivan’s Island and Moultrie had to witness the capture of his Fort Moultrie and the British flag posted. Next came the surrender of Charleston and Gen. Moultrie with the Southern Continental Army, May 12, 1780. Moultrie was devastated.

While a P.O.W., Moultrie became an advocate for his fellow soldiers and citizens due to inhumane treatment and suggested prisoner exchanges. Some were held in cramped prison ships where conditions were abhorrent.

Gen. Moultrie was offered a deal from an old acquaintance in high places, the opportunity to leave the country by enlisting in the British Army to fight in a war in Jamaica, then later return to his plantation once the British had won the war. Gen. Moultrie returned a scathing letter of refusal to the friend who made this offer.

In February 1782, Gen. Moultrie was exchanged. He received the rank of Major-Gen. by Congress in Oct. that same year, being South Carolina’s highest ranking officer of the Revolutionary War.

The British evacuated Charleston in Dec. 1782 and he was there to see them leave.

Moultrie’s second wife, Hannah, passed away in 1789.

He was elected governor of South Carolina December 1792 and served two terms, leaving office in December 1794, bringing about retirement from public life. His only son, William, Jr., passed away at the age of 44.

Moultrie resorted to writing his memoirs of the Revolutionary War which, when sold, helped with his badly needed finances.    

Gen. Moultrie died of natural causes Sept 27, 1805. Over the years, his gravesite became lost. It wasn’t found until 1977, the 201st anniversary of his victory at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island, where he was re-interred June 28, 1978.

For our town, in south Georgia to bear his name, it’s felt that many of our early pioneer settlers were from South Carolina. They most likely convinced the powers-to-be to name our town, which is the county seat, in honor of Gen. William Moultrie, even though he never lived here. So, after being Ocklockney for a year, the name was changed to Moultrie.

After the program presentation, UDC members received an update from the state convention that the local chapter placed third in the state for outstanding Patriotic Activities because of outstanding support from the community and the work and generosity of members to send Christmas gifts for veterans in the Lake City, Fla., V. A. Hospital and coupon clipping for our troops and families.