News of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island in the Netherlands
“The inhabitants were resolved to defend the city and oppose his landing”
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
On this Carolina Day we share how the news was first reported in the Netherlands where the Dutch newspapers, several printed by Huguenot printers, were known for reporting all the news of the known world. The Dutch papers were also especially good about reporting the entire struggle for independence in America. This report of August 20, 1776 follows reports of the Admiralty printed in the London Gazette.
Gazette de Leyde du Aug 20, 1776
An early report of the Battle of Sullivan’s Island
As for General Clinton, whose junction with his Army Mr. Howe seems to expect, we have here opinions to the effect that, “this commander, having advanced with his corps of troops toward Charles Town—the capital of South Carolina—had first sent an officer to summon the inhabitants to swear allegiance to the King and to propose terms of accommodation before commencing hostilities; but that the only response he received was that the inhabitants were resolved to defend the city and oppose his landing; that, consequently, his initial plan was to land his forces near the city; and that a 50-gun ship, intended to cover the troops, had run aground while attempting to cross the bar for that purpose.” This is the only detail added regarding this undertaking; otherwise, both its date and its outcome remain unknown.
As provided by Presse18, the Gazette de Leyde printed issues in French and Dutch.
“The paper was published by Jean (Johan) Luzac who was born in Leiden on August 2, 1746. His father was descended from a Huguenot family; his mother was Dutch and sister of L.C. Valckenaer, a famous classical scholar and professor at the University of Leiden. Jean Luzac was the nephew of Etienne Luzac, editor of the Gazette de Leiden from 1723 to 1772 and owner of the privilege for this sheet between 1738 and 1782. Elie Luzac, the journalist, writer, bookseller and lawyer, was descended from another branch of the same family (Knappert). L. (sic) (Luzac) married Maria Adriana van Persijn (1758-1806) in 1784. They had seven children, several of whom died in infancy. Luzac perished in Leiden on January 12, 1807, victim of the explosion of a powder ship (N.N.B.)”In a later edition of the paper is a description of the battle which we will provide in our next Blog as we continue to study Huguenot-printed papers in the Netherlands and their coverage of the key events of 1776 in America.