Flag of South Carolina

U.S. state flag

South Carolina

Use| State flag
Proportion| 2:3
Adopted| January 26, 1861; 164 years ago (1861-01-26) (modifications made on January 28, 1861)
Design| A white palmetto tree on an indigo field. The canton contains a white crescent.

The flag of South Carolina is a symbol of the U.S. state of South Carolina consisting of an indigo field with a white palmetto tree and a white crescent. Roots of this design have existed in some form since 1775, being based on one of the first American Revolutionary War flags. While keeping most of its design intact since its adoption, it has varied over the years.[1]

## History

[edit]

### Moultrie Flag

[edit]

See also: Moultrie Flag

The Moultrie Flag (also known as the "Liberty Flag")

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. It was first flown at Fort Johnson.[2]

This flag was famously flown in the defense of a new fortress on Sullivan's Island, when Moultrie faced off against a British fleet. In the 16-hour battle on June 28, 1776, the flag was shot down, but Sergeant William Jasper ran out into the open, raising it and rallying the troops until it could be mounted again. This gesture was considered to be so heroic, saving Charleston from conquest for four years, that the flag became a symbol of the Revolution and of liberty in the state and in the new nation.[3]

Soon popularly known as either the Liberty Flag or Moultrie Flag, it became the standard of the South Carolinian militia and was presented in Charleston by Major General Nathanael Greene when the city was liberated at the end of the war. Greene described it as having been the first American flag to fly over the South.

When South Carolina adopted its state flag in 1861, the palmetto was added onto the Moultrie flag in reference to Moultrie's fortress having survived largely because the palmettos, laid over sand walls, were able to withstand British cannon fire.[4]

* Flag History
* The earliest South Carolina palmetto flag (1830–1860)[5]

* First official draft for a state flag. This flag was never adopted.

* First official flag of South Carolina. Used from January 26 to January 28, 1861.

* Second official flag of South Carolina, adopted January 28, 1861.

### American Civil War

[edit]

Following its declaration of secession from the Union, the newly independent state of South Carolina considered many designs for its "national flag", with the first official draft for a flag being finalized on January 21, which was a white ensign with a green palmetto, and a blue canton with a white crescent.[6] After a week of debate, the state decided to use a Moultrie flag with an upward facing crescent on a blue field, modifying it by adding the palmetto at the center of the field.[7] On January 26, 1861, the South Carolina General Assembly adopted the new flag by adding a golden palmetto encircled with a white background. This flag has become known as the "2-day flag" because the golden palmetto was changed after two days on January 28 to a simple white palmetto on the blue background.[8]

The Palmetto Flag quickly became a symbol of the secessionist movement. During the following winter, it was unfurled at various places around the country, even as far away as Nebraska City, Nebraska, by pockets of Southern partisans. Less than three months after its adoption, a variation of the palmetto flag unfurled over Fort Sumter on April 14, 1861, the day it was occupied by the Confederate Army, making it the first of the Confederate flags to replace the Stars and Stripes of the United States of America, from which the Confederacy had seceded.[9] The flag consisted of a palmetto on an entirely white background with a red star in the upper left quadrant and is commonly known as "The Palmetto Guard Flag.

The Sovereignty flag was never recognized as an official flag in South Carolina, but there are also claims that it was flown for a short period of time in South Carolina after its secession on December 20, 1860. The South Carolina Sovereignty flag is considered to be the inspiration for the Confederate battle flag. Another significant flag is the "South Carolina Secession Flag"; the day after South Carolina seceded, a red flag with two tails, a large white star and a down-right facing crescent was raised over the Charleston Custom House. It then spread to other cities as a symbol of secession.[10] At the beginning of the American Civil War, a similar flag was flown at Morris Island by cadets from The Citadel as they fired upon United States supply ships.

* Sovereignty/Secession Flag

* South Carolina Secession Flag

* South Carolina naval ensign during Revolutionary and Civil Wars

* The flag flown by Citadel cadets over Morris Island, South Carolina during the American Civil War

## Origin of the crescent

[edit]

South Carolinia flag under the U.S. flag.

William Moultrie states in his memoirs: "A little time after we were in possession of Fort Johnson, it was thought necessary to have a flag for the purpose of signals: (as there was no national or state flag at that time) I was desired by the council of safety to have one made, upon which, as the state troops were clothed in blue, and the fort was garrisoned by the first and second regiments, who wore a silver crescent on the front of their caps; I had a large blue flag made with a crescent in the dexter corner, to be in uniform with the troops ..."[11]

Moultrie's original design placed the crescent vertically, with the opening directing upward. The 1860s flag also shows the crescent with upward pointing cusps. However, in 1910—for reasons that he did not document—Alexander Samuel Salley Jr., secretary of the state's Historical Commission, angled the crescent to its current orientation.

## Design standardization

[edit]

While the flag invariably includes a white palmetto and crescent design on a blue background, state law since 1940 has not provided "specifications for the shape, size, design or placement" of the symbols, or the exact color of the background.[12][13] As a result, flags from different manufacturers may have different appearances. A committee of the South Carolina Senate held a hearing on the issue in January 2018 but did not immediately advance a bill to standardize the design.[12][13]

A standardized design was revealed in 2020 but was immediately met with major backlash from the public for its perceived poor design and aesthetics.[1][14] Two other designs were then proposed, one of which will possibly become the official standardized version.[15][16] However, as of 2023[update], legislation has been procedurally roadblocked, with State Senator Brad Hutto being a core oppositional force to design standardization.[17]

The standardization of the flag would make Pantone 282 C the official shade of indigo to be used on the flag.[15]

* The initial proposed flag

* Proposed Standard A

* Proposed Standard B

### Design variations

[edit]

* Flag of South Carolina (1861)

* Flag of South Carolina (1861–1910)

* Flag of South Carolina (1910–1940)

## Reception

[edit]

The South Carolina state flag is considered by flag experts as one of the top state flags in the United States.[18] [19] In a 2001 survey of U.S. and Canadian subdivisional flags by the North American Vexillological Association the South Carolina flag ranked 10th out of 72—6th out of 50 U.S. states.[20][21]

### Commercial use

[edit]

The South Carolina state flag as depicted in the 1976 bicentennial postage stamp series.

Shirts, belts, shoes, wallets, koozies, holiday decorations and other accessories featuring the flag's palmetto and crescent are popular throughout South Carolina and other southeastern states as a symbol of the state's long-standing heritage.[citation needed] It is also common for alumni and supporters of the state's main universities (the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, Coastal Carolina University, Furman University, the College of Charleston, Winthrop University, Wofford College, and The Citadel) to display the state flag in their school colors.

## Gallery

[edit]

* The state flag that was placed on the bier of Jefferson Davis, 1893.[22]

* The state flag as depicted in a 1963 greetings card.

* The state flag as depicted in a 1970 6-cent stamp commemorating the tricentennial of South Carolina.

* 2008 South Carolina license plate with the state flag.

## See also

[edit]

* Heraldry portal
* United States portal

* List of South Carolina state symbols
* Seal of South Carolina

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Fortier-Bensen, Tony (December 30, 2020). "Historians propose new South Carolina state flag design". WCIV. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
2. ^ "Fort Johnson/Powder Magazine, Charleston County (James Island)". National Register Properties in South Carolina, South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
3. ^ "Appletons' cyclopædia of American biography;". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
4. ^ Heisser, David C.R. (June 20, 2016). "Palmetto". South Carolina Encyclopedia. University of South Carolina, Institute for Southern Studies. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
5. ^ "General Philip D. Cook Antique Flag". jeffbridgman.com/. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
6. ^ Hicks, Brian (January 27, 2011) [last updated December 8, 2016]. "Birth of a flag: Newspaper editor's design chosen 150 years ago today". Charleston The Post and Courier. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
7. ^ "South Carolina State Flag – About the South Carolina Flag, its adoption and history". netstate.com. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
8. ^ "South Carolina State and Secession Flags". freeuk.net. Archived from the original on June 25, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
9. ^ "Fort Sumter". National Park Service. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
10. ^ "South Carolina State, and Secession Flags". Archived from the original on July 1, 2015.
11. ^ "Memoirs of the American Revolution, Vol. I," William Moultrie, p. 90
12. ^ a b Wilks, Avery G. (January 24, 2018). "SC has no official state flag design, so flag makers make it up. That could change". The State. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
13. ^ a b Shain, Andy (January 24, 2018). "Can South Carolina fix its state flag? What color blue? What design of tree?". Post and Courier. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
14. ^ Aitken, Peter (December 31, 2020). "South Carolina debuts new state flag and the public hates it". Fox News. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
15. ^ a b South Carolina State Flag Study Committee (March 4, 2021). "Report of the South Carolina State Flag Study Committee" (PDF).
16. ^ South Carolina State Flag Study Committee (March 4, 2021). "Addendum to the Report of the South Carolina State Flag Study Committee" (PDF).
17. ^ Thompson, Alexander (January 4, 2023). "Run it up the flagpole: Advocates try again to standardize SC's palmetto tree flag". The Post and Courier. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
18. ^ McCandless, Caroline (July 30, 2015). "Ranking all 50 U.S. state flags, from best to worst". Yahoo News. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
19. ^ Crann, Tom; Bui, Ngoc (December 19, 2023). "Flag expert calls new Minnesota state flag 'outstanding,' top 10 in the country". MPR News. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
20. ^ Kaye, Edward B. (June 10, 2001). "2001 State/Provincial Flag Survey" (PDF). Retrieved February 3, 2024.
21. ^ Hall, Matthew (August 12, 2024). "The 10 best state flags (and why South Carolina isn't No. 1)". The State. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
22. ^ Sarah Laskow. "The Museum That Keeps Now-Obscure Confederate Flags". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved March 23, 2025.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Cannon, Devereaux D. Jr. (2005) [1st pub. St. Lukes Press:1988]. "Chapter 7: State Flags". The Flags of the Confederacy: An Illustrated History. Cover design by Larry Pardue. Gretna: Pelican Publishing Company. pp. 34–48\. ISBN 978-1-565-54109-2. OCLC 970744690.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flags of South Carolina.

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