1752

William De Brahm presented his fortification plan to Gov. Glen and the bill for his services. The Assembly, upset they had not been consulted, refused to pay the fee. Glen paid De Brahm out of his own pocket.

1765 – Stamp Act

The Assembly adopted a report by Christopher Gadsden which reflected the sentiments of the Stamp Act Congress, that taxes should only be enacted by the Assembly of each province. It also said:

Sincerely as we are attached to his Majesty, we insist that we are entitled to all inherent rights and liberties of his natural born subjects within the Kingdom of Great Britain.

The Gazette published that day on plain paper with the headline: No Stamped Paper to be had.

1782 – American Revolution

Henry Laurens arrived in Paris from Vigan, France, to help negotiate a peace treaty between the United States and Great Britain. The next day he signed the preliminary articles with John Jay, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams.

Benjamin West’s painting of the delegations at the Treaty of Paris: John Jay, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Laurens, and William Temple Franklin. The British delegation refused to pose, and the painting was never completed.

1864 – Bombardment of Charleston

Seventy-four shots landed in Charleston overnight, proving that the Federal authorities outside Charleston were willing to ignore the six-day old order to cease the bombardment. Paroled Federal prisoner Robert Sneden, traveling through Charleston on his way back up north, wrote:

During the night our forces … shelled Charleston … until daylight. I could see the trail of the burning fuses on the sky, and heard plainly the bursting shells, and the dull roar of the falling walls in Charleston. Two or three small fires were burning at the same time. King and Queen Streets seemed to have been favored … and no place is esteemed safe in the city … I kept indoors as much as possible.

Broad Street shelling. Harper’s Weekly