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==President of South Carolina==

==President of South Carolina==

After serving in both the [[First Continental Congress]] and the [[Second Continental Congress]], he returned to Charleston in the beginning of that year and was elected president and commander-in-chief of Carolina on the 26th of March 1776. His duties henceforward were executive. He employed himself diligently in arranging the new government, and particularly in preparing for the defence of the state against an expected invasion by the British. Their attack on Sullivan's Island(now Fort Moultrie) has been already related. On this occasion John Rutledge rendered his country important service. General Charles Lee, who commanded the Continental troops, pronounced Sullivan's Island to be a "slaughter pen," and either gave orders or was disposed to give orders for its evacuation. The zeal of the state, and the energy of its chief magistrate, prevented this measure. Carolina had raised troops before congress had declared independence. These remained subject to the authority of the state, and were at this early period not immediately under the command of the officers of congress. To prevent the evacuation of the fort on Sullivan's Island, John Rutledge, shortly before the commencement of the action on the 28th of June, 1776, wrote the following laconic note to General Moultrie, who commanded on the island. "General Lee wishes you to evacuate the fort. You will not without an order from me. I would sooner cut off my hand than write one. J- Rutledge."

After serving in both the [[First Continental Congress]] and the [[Second Continental Congress]], he returned to Charleston in the beginning of that year and was elected president and commander-in-chief of Carolina on the 26th of March 1776. His duties henceforward were executive. He employed himself diligently in arranging the new government, and particularly in preparing for the defence of the state against an expected invasion by the British. Their attack on Sullivan's Island (now Fort Moultrie) has been already related. On this occasion John Rutledge rendered his country important service. General Charles Lee, who commanded the Continental troops, pronounced Sullivan's Island to be a "slaughter pen," and either gave orders or was disposed to give orders for its evacuation. The zeal of the state, and the energy of its chief magistrate, prevented this measure. Carolina had raised troops before congress had declared independence. These remained subject to the authority of the state, and were at this early period not immediately under the command of the officers of congress. To prevent the evacuation of the fort on Sullivan's Island, John Rutledge, shortly before the commencement of the action on the 28th of June, 1776, wrote the following laconic note to General Moultrie, who commanded on the island. "General Lee wishes you to evacuate the fort. You will not without an order from me. I would sooner cut off my hand than write one. J- Rutledge."

The consequences which would probably have followed from the evacuation of the fort, may in some measure be conjectured from the events of 1780; when the British, grown wiser, passed the same fort without engaging it.  Additionally, "Carolina Day"<ref>[https://www.palmettosociety.org/overview Palmetto Society Overview]</ref> is celebrated on June 28th every year to mark the event, and the current "Palmetto Flag" of South Carolina contains the moon crescent symbol that is also seen on the Moultrie Flag.

The consequences which would probably have followed from the evacuation of the fort, may in some measure be conjectured from the events of 1780; when the British, grown wiser, passed the same fort without engaging it.  Additionally, "Carolina Day"<ref>[https://www.palmettosociety.org/overview Palmetto Society Overview]</ref> is celebrated on June 28th every year to mark the event, and the current "Palmetto Flag" of South Carolina contains the moon crescent symbol that is also seen on the Moultrie Flag.