STORIES OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIERS

• Navigation Menu

William Jasper

" William Jasper was a brave sergeant in the division of General Moultrie. For personal bravery and shrewdness he had few equals. In the heat of the attack upon Fort Moultrie the flag staff was shot off by a cannon ball. The banner fell outside of the works. Amidst a storm of iron hail Jasper leaped from one of the embrasures, recovered the flag, mounted it on his spontoon staff and unfurled it to the breeze. He was promoted to the highest rank he would accept. He often brought in prisoners before General Moultrie was aware of his absence. On one occasion several prisoners were ironed and put under a guard of eight soldiers with a corporal and sergeant and started for Savannah with a fair prospect of the hemp. One was a Mr. Jones whose young wife was in great agony on his account and followed him with their only child, and a lovely boy five years of age. Jasper and his kindred spirit Sergeant Newton, resolved on their rescue. Within two miles of Savannah in a copse of wood is a spring of excellent water about six rods from the road. There Jasper and Newton lay in ambush. When the party arrived eight of them laid down their guns in the road and went to the fountain to drink, leaving two to guard their prisoners. The next moment the two on guard slumbered in death, and the rest of the British party were all made prisoners; the Americans released and the whole arrived at the American camp the next morning at Perrysburg. The distressed wife had no intimation of the heroic adventure until the crack of the two guns from Jasper and Newton. The next moment she clasped her fond husband to her convulsed bosom. Her joy may be faintly imagined, and not described. Governor Rutledge presented Jasper with an elegant sword for his noble daring at Fort Moultrie. Soon after the brave defence of Fort Moultrie Mrs. Elliott presented a splendid stand of colors to Colonel Moultrie's regiment that composed the force in that action." At the storming of Savannah two officers fell in an attempt to plant these colors upon a redoubt of the enemy. When a retreat was ordered Jasper was mortally wounded while in the act of rescuing this standard from the enemy. After the retreat Major Horry called to see him and was made the bearer of the following message. "I have got my furlough. That sword was presented to me by Governor Rutledge for my services in defense of Fort Moultrie. Give it to my father and tell him I wore it in honor. If the old man should weep tell him his son died in hope of a better life. Tell Mrs. Elliott I lost my life in supporting the colors she presented to our regiment. Should you ever see Jones, wife and son; tell them Jasper is gone but the remembrance of that battle which he fought for them brought a secret joy in my heart when it was about to stop its motion for ever." In a few moments after he closed this message his noble soul soared to heaven."

Source: The Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution by L. Carroll Judson