South Carolina General Assembly
116th Session, 2005-2006

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Bill 269

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COMMITTEE REPORT

January 19, 2005

S. 269

Introduced by Senator Verdin

S. Printed 1/19/05--S.

Read the first time January 13, 2005.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (S. 269) to request the Governor by proclamation to confirm the rank of Brigadier General James Williams bestowed upon him by act of the South Carolina Provincial Congress during the American Revolution, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:

W. GREG RYBERG for Committee.

            

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO REQUEST THE GOVERNOR BY PROCLAMATION TO CONFIRM THE RANK OF BRIGADIER GENERAL JAMES WILLIAMS BESTOWED UPON HIM BY ACT OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA PROVINCIAL CONGRESS DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO NAME THE LITTLE RIVER BRIDGE ON SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 560 IN LAURENS COUNTY AS THE "JAMES WILLIAMS MEMORIAL BRIDGE" TO HONOR THIS REVOLUTIONARY WAR HERO.

Whereas, there is not and has not been a South Carolina state monument to Laurens County's Brigadier General James Williams; and

Whereas, his family cemetery and his plantation known as "Mount Pleasant" are located at the southwest corner of the Little River Bridge on South Carolina Highway 560 in Laurens County. This sizeable parcel was also his home and the site of two Revolutionary battles, the Battles of Fort Williams and Mud Lick Creek; and

Whereas, General Williams was a Revolutionary War hero who gave his life to ensure the liberty and freedom of the United States of America. He led the victorious forces from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia at the battle of Musgrove's Mill; and

Whereas, he was promoted by act of the South Carolina Provincial Congress, which was signed by Governor Rutledge and South Carolina Chief Justice Drayton, to the rank of Brigadier General but died of battle wounds just hours before the orders and commission arrived. Some observers maintain that the promotion was not official because he never received it; and

Whereas, during the course of the American Revolution, he gave to South Carolina:

(1)    the equipment and supplies for a regiment of the Little River Mounted Rifles Regiment, which he also commanded until his heroic death; and

(2)    two month's pay for his regiment, food supplies, generous amounts of shot and powder, plus one hundred fifty gallons of whiskey for the foragers to use to pay for hams, chickens, and fodder from local farmers; and

(3)    his life, having been mortally wounded leading the local men up the seemingly impossible sides of King's Mountain, in the movement that ultimately won the battle for both Carolinas and indeed for all thirteen of the original colonies; and

Whereas, after his death, local Tories, before departing for the Caribbean, also killed his two older sons, ages fourteen and seventeen, and burned his plantation house, leaving his wife and small children to live in the barns and cribs of the farmyard; and

Whereas, this brave and courageous hero of the American Revolution deserves to be honored by his beloved South Carolina in order to recognize and remember his contributions to and sacrifices for his State and country. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, request the Governor by proclamation to confirm the rank of Brigadier General James Williams bestowed upon him by act of the South Carolina Provincial Congress during the American Revolution.

Be it further resolved that the members of the General Assembly further request the Department of Transportation to name the Little River Bridge on South Carolina Highway 560 in Laurens County as the "James Williams Memorial Bridge" in his honor and bestow appropriate markers to reflect this name.

Be it further resolved that the Department of Transportation is requested to plan and conduct an appropriate ceremony to celebrate the naming of this bridge for Brigadier General Williams and to coordinate the ceremony with members of the Henry Laurens Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Clinton High School JROTC, and local clergy and civic leaders.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the South Carolina Department of Transportation and Governor Mark Sanford.

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