Why South Carolina is called the Palmetto State?

Answer 1

The palmetto is a short, pretty, welll-shaped, broad-topped palm tree very common along the South Carolina coast. It's the state tree and on the state flag.

SC is called the Palmettto State because of the prevalence of these trees in the coastal regions and because of the palmetto's role in repelling a British attempt to seize Charleston Harbor (called Charles Towne Harbor then) during the American Revolution.

Charleston was the major and richest city of the southern United States and control of its harbor, then the second biggest port of the new nation, was critical to the patriots' cause. Charleston could not be allowed to fall or the fight could be over in the south before it had hardly begun.

When the South Carolinians learned of the British approach, they hastily built a new fort on Sullivan's Island, past which the fleet must pass to enter the harbor and the city. From here the defenders would fire their cannon on the enemy ships and block their passage.

The fort was constructed of Palmetto trees, which stood in abundance in the area, shortening the time necessary to get building materials. Even so, when the British navy arrived, the fort was so incomplete that it didn't even yet have a rear wall. Worse, the defenders were very low on ammo, but even in compensating for the ammo shortage, the palmetto log walls at the front and sides of the fort played a part.

The British ships pounded the fort relentlessly all day with their cannon and could come in dangerously close, because the South Carolinians, having to preserve their ammo, fired only to drive the ships back when they were at close range. The SC flag was shot down again and again, but each time a Sgt William Jasper returned it under fire, to show SC defiance and refusal to surrender.

In spite of the close range, the British naval guns couldn't destroy the fort, because the palmetto walls were strong, but soft and spongy. They absorbed the beating, rather than being blown to bits as most wood, brick, or stone would have been, and held hour after hour under the furious assault.

Eventually, the British saw they couldn't succeed, that their naval guns couldn't destroy the simple wood fort, and at dusk they withdrew and retreated.

Charleston remained free for several more years - thanks to the palmetto - giving time for the new nation to get on its military feet with an army that would eventually win and send the British home.

Answer 2

The palmetto is a short, pretty, welll-shaped, broad-topped palm tree very common along the South Carolina coast. It's the state tree and on the state flag.

SC is called the Palmettto State because of the prevalence of these trees in the coastal regions and because of the palmetto's role in repelling a British attempt to seize Charleston Harbor (called Charles Towne Harbor then) during the American Revolution.

Charleston was the major and richest city of the southern United States and control of its harbor, then the second biggest port of the new nation, was critical to the patriots' cause. Charleston could not be allowed to fall or the fight could be over in the south before it had hardly begun.

When the South Carolinians learned of the British approach, they hastily built a new fort on Sullivan's Island, past which the fleet must pass to enter the harbor and the city. From here the defenders would fire their cannon on the enemy ships and block their passage.

The fort was constructed of Palmetto trees, which stood in abundance in the area, shortening the time necessary to get building materials. Even so, when the British navy arrived, the fort was so incomplete that it didn't even yet have a rear wall. Worse, the defenders were very low on ammo, but even in compensating for the ammo shortage, the palmetto log walls at the front and sides of the fort played a part.

The British ships pounded the fort relentlessly all day with their cannon and could come in dangerously close, because the South Carolinians, having to preserve their ammo, fired only to drive the ships back when they were at close range. The SC flag was shot down again and again, but each time a Sgt William Jasper returned it under fire, to show SC defiance and refusal to surrender.

In spite of the close range, the British naval guns couldn't destroy the fort, because the palmetto walls were strong, but soft and spongy. They absorbed the beating, rather than being blown to bits as most wood, brick, or stone would have been, and held hour after hour under the furious assault.

Eventually, the British saw they couldn't succeed, that their naval guns couldn't destroy the simple wood fort, and at dusk they withdrew and retreated.

Charleston remained free for several more years - thanks to the palmetto - giving time for the new nation to get on its military feet with an army that would eventually win and send the British home.