But, as Stroup points out, a glance at the dictionary definition of "crescent" tells one that a crescent is a quarter, or three-quarter, moon. It is still kept at the Historical Society of Iowa, which should be willing to give back the property of a sister state (after all Iowa, wasn’t the Union “preserved” by those troops?) Both men say they don't mind if people call it a moon (as if they could stop it), but more important is the history the symbol represents. Crescent is Gorget Posted on May 14, 2011 ... South Carolina’s “palmetto flag” was officially made the state banner in 1861. Last modified: 2015-04-25 by rick wyattKeywords: united states | moultrie | south carolina | Links: FOTW homepage |search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors image by Randy Young, 31 January 2001 1. Bull Family Crest. A gorget, which debuted on medieval battlefields to protect the wearer’s throat, is actually what is represented on the South Carolina state flag—not a crescent moon. South Carolina Focus is a production of South Carolina Public Radio. 2013. Then there's the gorget argument. Surprising but true. SC was became the eighth state in the United states on May 23, 1788. The word gorget means a piece of armor worn around the throat in battle. The flag of the state of South Carolina has, in some form, existed since 1775, being based on one of the first Revolutionary War flags. South Carolina’s new flag design seemed like a fine idea — right up until everyone actually saw it. Liberty at Bottom - Wrong! South Carolina is widely acknowledged to have one of the most beautiful state flags in the country. South Carolina's flag was ranked as the 10th best designed state or provincial flag in North America by the North American Vexillological Association in 2001. Historian Rodger Stroup says flag originated with Col. William Moultrie, who took the blue of his soldiers' coats and the crescent shape from their hats to fashion a signal to let the city of Charleston know if and when the British were coming during the Battle of Sullivan's Island prior to the Revolutionary War. Historian Rodger Stroup says flag originated with Col. William Moultrie, who took the blue of his soldiers' coats and the crescent shape from their hats to fashion a signal to let the city of Charleston know if and when the British were coming during the Battle of Sullivan's Island prior to the Revolutionary War. It was first flown at Fort Johnson.. The canton contains a white crescent (gorget). Created by Col. William Moultrie, the flag features a palmetto tree, which became a beloved icon of the state. South Carolina officially adopted the flag with palmetto and crescent in January 1861, shortly after it seceded from the Union. But a lot of people will tell you that it’s not a moon at all– but a crescent-shaped piece of armor worn across the throat called a “ gorget.” Some argue that the gorget symbol was worn on the hats of soldiers as a way of paying tribute to the days of wearing body armor. Any resemblance to Islamic symbolism in our state flag is coincidence - there was no Islamic influence whatsoever in its design. Some confusion has been caused by the fact that the crescent on the state flag was tilted in the 1890’s to resemble the moon. At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, William Moultrie was commissioned to design a flag to signal South Carolina … U.S. In the 2001 North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) flag survey of United States and Canada flags, the flag of South Carolina was ranked 10th out of 72. The other choice seems to make a lot of sense too, though. tours@charlestonfootprints.com. It is a a piece of body armor worn by knights of old, appropriate for a jousting tournament. S.C. Colonial/Rev. People routinely call it a moon, which Emerson understands, but doesn’t technically agree with. The Crescent on South Carolina's Flag: Is it a Moon or Not? "Gorget Distilling’s name has a unique tie to both South Carolina and the birth of our country as a nation. In fact, South Carolina hasn’t had an official flag for 80 years. A gorget for an officer of the South Carolina Infantry Regiment The crescent, positioned over in the top left corner , seems to welcome the comparison of a moon shining over a palmetto tree . As it turns out, people hate it. ... Stroup tells us that some people believe the crescent to be an homage to the gorget, a piece left over from the era when armor was in use. It looks familiar with its indigo background and crescent in the upper left corner. There is no obvious reason to place a throat protector on a cap. In 1775, Colonel William Moultrie was asked by the Revolutionary Council of Safety to design a flag for the South Carolina troops to use during the American Revolutionary War.Moultrie's design had the blue of the militia's uniforms and a crescent taken from their cap insignia. Thus far, no offering from Iowa, so the old flag remains in limbo. The reason for the redesign is that there is no official state flag. The exact nature of the crescent which adorns the corner of the South Carolina state flag has been the subject of debate for years. No LibertySee also: 1. With the secession crisis of 1860-1861, these symbols are finally encoded as the official flag of the Republic of South Carolina after its secession from America in December, 1860. And it's ancient origins are in a moon. Fortunately, one of the original flgas (and perhaps THE original state flag) still exists from the 1860’s. Moultrie is credited with designing a crescent flag as a symbol of his troops in 1775, and he later wrote that it conformed to the crescent symbol worn on their caps. The crescent, which they insist is not a moon, was angled the right way. South Carolina’s “palmetto flag” was officially made the state banner in 1861. Description 2. -- Dr. Eric Emerson, Director and State Historic Preservation Officer the S.C. Department of Archives and History. The palmetto tree is a much more known symbol in the state today than the crescent. He quotes Moultrie's diary, which says the design is simply a crescent, which is fellow historian Eric Emerson's view. War Flags 2. (Source: South Carolina State Flag Study Committee) The color looked right. Although the crescent is recognized to be a symbol of the troops and not the moon, some disagreement persists as to its origin. But what about that crescent shape in the corner? South Carolina Public Radio News and Talk, South Carolina Public Radio News and Music. But a lot of people will tell you that it’s not a moon at all, but a crescent-shaped piece of armor worn across the throat called a “ gorget.” Troops wearing the crescent symbol on their caps built a fort of palmetto logs overlooking the city’s harbor entrance on Sullivan’s Island, and their famous victory over the British on June 28, 1776 was largely attributed to the soft palmetto core that absorbed and smothered English cannonballs. Through the 19th century, the crescent on the state flag also appeared wit… The crescent and tree symbolize the defense of Charleston in 1776, shortly after the colony of South Carolina had declared its independence from England. The crescent and tree … This chain of evidence far outweighs anything that can be offered in opposition to this theory, and why I firmly stand by the research that proves the crescent comes from the gorget. Historical flags 4. S.C. lawmakers need a little longer to figure out what South Carolina’s state flag should look like. The design under consideration (bottom) was brought forth by a panel of historians. The state flag derives from a flag designed by Colonel William Moultriein 1775 with a blue ground and crescent based on the uniforms of the Second South Carolina Regiment, who wore a crescent with the tips pointing up on their hats. The word gorget means a piece of armor worn around the throat in battle. But that tree…well, if you look at this image and then scroll up to the cover image for this post, you’ll see a difference. United States of America Governor by King George in 1755, and who personally designed the uniforms of a newly-reorganized South Carolina militia in 1760, adding the gorget symbol to their caps. The gorget is a valid guess because of similarity, but the upturned tips were where the chain was attached and placed around the neck. Over the past fifteen years, I have seen many, many organizations in South Carolina refer to the crescent on the state flag as having been a depiction of a "gorget," a relic of medieval neck armor that, by the time of the American Revolution, had evolved into an officer's symbol of rank. 3. Your email address will not be published. 1860’s Flag. Your email address will not be published. It, of course, remains the state's flag today. Stroup tells us that some people believe the crescent to be an homage to the gorget, a piece left over from the era when armor was in use. Is it a moon, as many people say? Ironically, this flag was stolen from the state capitol in Columbia in 1865 by Iowa troops under Sherman, who burned and ransacked that city. He took the blue from the soldier’s uniform and the crescent … This illustration of a medieval gorget in no way resembles the crescent found on the state flag. 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