236 Years Ago Today – Victory Day: The Evacuation of Charleston (12/14/1782)
December 14, 1782 at Charleston, South Carolina, The Evacuation of Charleston
On December 14, early in the morning, Major General Alexander Leslie, commanding the British forces in South Carolina, withdrew his forces from the advanced works on the Charleston peninsula. He marched them down to Gadsden’s Wharf.
Here, the British force embarked by sea. Along with the soldiers, the British command took with them some 3,380 Loyalists and 5,000 Negro slaves. This evacuation completed the British withdrawal of all troops from the Southern Colonies.
At 11:00 A.M., after the British evacuation, Major General Anthony Wayne and his Continental troops occupied the city.
The massive British evacuation of Charleston on Dec. 14, 1782 was effectively the conclusion of the American Revolution, and for many years was celebrated as a local holiday.
The Evacuation of Charleston by the British in 1782 by Joseph W. Barnwell – 26 pages
Victory Day Event – Sunday, December 16, 2018
Sunday, December 16, 2018
The Victory Day Parade celebrates the evacuation of the British from Charleston in 1782. Charleston was the last city to be evacuated and the last front of the American Revolution, and represented a symbol of American freedom.
This year, 2018, revives an annual celebration in Charleston that was celebrated here for the first fifty years of the Nation’s life. On December 14, 1782 British troops evacuated Charleston,the last city held captive by Britain. Within four months King George III agreed to grant the American Colonies their freedom.
The Victory Day event will take place in downtown Charleston on Sunday, December 16. Participating Groups will begin to form at the east quadrant of Marion Square on Sunday, December 16,2018 at 9:30am. Tables will be made available for groups whose history and purpose can be associated with Victory Day to distribute literature concerning their organizations and their connections to Charleston’s Revolutionary history. Please let us know as soon as possible of your needs. The celebration will continue through approximately 4:30PM.
Painting Provided by Charleston County Public Library
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