~ General Baron DeKalb ~

• General Baron DeKalb, one of the distinguished Europeans who contributed so much to the American war effort, came to this country with Marquis de Lafayette.  They put into port at Georgetown, S. C. on June 13, 1777.  He was commissioned a Major General in the Continental Army in 1777 and joined the main army in New Jersey, under George Washington shortly afterward.
• General DeKalb was mortally wounded on August 16, 1780 at the battle of Camden, South Carolina and died three days later.  He was buried August 20, 1780 by his victorious adversaries, among whom there were many Free Masons, with military and Masonic honors.
• On March 8, 1825, his remains were moved to the front lawn of the Bethesda Presbyterian Church on DeKalb Street and re-interred.  On the occasion the cornerstone for a monument over his grave was laid by General Marquis de Lafayette under the direction of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina.