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~ 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.
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