On the 13th of Sept., 1775, Col. Moultrie received an order from the council of safety for taking Fort Johnson on James island, S.C., and a flag being thought necessary Col. Moultrie was requested to procure one by the council, and had a large blue flag made, with a crescent in the dexter corner to be uniform with the troops of the garrison who were clothed in blue and wore silver crescents in front of their caps, inscribed “Liberty or Death.” He said "This was the first American flag displayed in the south."