Page 10 CHARLESTON MERCURY January 13, 2011 championships in debate and civic organizations. It won’t be declamation and participated Lowcountry Lives long before you hear more in extra-curricular, church about how he is enriching our and civic activities, usually in community. a leadership position. He P.S. Did I forget to men- served as class and student Friend of Danger, tion that Doug is a direct body president and attended descendant of the intrepid Boys State in Charleston and Danger Thomson? Boys Nation in Washington, DC, where he met Senator continued from page 1 Peg Eastman recently pub- . job market in Atlanta and victory on Sullivan’s Island, colonials successfully repelled trainer for professional ath- lished “Hidden History of Old Is it any wonder that built a successful career in Doug thought that “some- the invasion, freeing Charles letes, Carter, an actor, and Charleston” with Edward F. Hollings appointed Doug to information technology. body has got to publicize how Town from occupation for Stew, a video editor. Keep an Good and has written several the U.S. Military Academy at Working in a growing indus- instrumental the Breach Inlet the next four years of the war. eye on Doug. In addition to other books about the West Point? However, all was try provided great opportuni- engagement was to the victo- Colonel Thomson was a being a history buff, he is Charleston scene. not good fortune for that ties for an industrious over- ry.” gentleman planter who lived active in First Scots and many year’s eager young plebes who achiever armed with an MBA A man of action, Doug in what is now known as arrived on campus in the and post-graduate studies at quickly began to investigate Calhoun County. A hunter summer of 1969. Most peo- Stanford, Harvard and and discovered that there was and a crack shot, he had ple remember that summer as Wharton. In time the a lot of mythology and miss- fought in the Cherokee War the time of men on the MacIntyre family moved to ing information. Intrigued, he with William Moultrie. His moon, Woodstock, Charles Cape Cod where he ran one began to research how the militiamen dubbed him “Old Manson and of the fastest-growing compa- battle at Breach Inlet con- Danger,” due to his expert Chappaquiddick. The Class nies in America. The family tributed to the stunning vic- marksmanship. For his service of ’73 never even knew some got into boating and felt quite tory of hastily assembled he received land grants in of this was going on. They at home living in an area that troops against the seasoned Amelia and Orangeburg remember Beast Barracks and cherished its proud traditions forces of the mighty British townships and St. Matthew’s the start of Plebe Year. They and close-knit family ties that Empire. Unfortunately, the Parish; he made his home at may remember the dated back to the Mayflower. Breach Inlet part of the battle Belleville Plantation where he Woodstock Music Festival Another corporate change had nearly been lost in histo- grew indigo, a lucrative cash only because incoming plebes of ownership brought Doug ry. Even the new bridge over crop, before the Revolution. were required to read the New back to Atlanta, where he was the treacherous waters sepa- A born leader, he was popular York Times every morning and hired as the CEO of Dun & rating Sullivan’s Island and in the backcountry and was A 1776 map from the collection of British Major General Henry Clinton, report to an upperclassman Bradstreet Software, a global the Isle of Palms is no longer elected to serve 15 terms in commander of the army beaten at Breach Inlet. Note the inlet was why they were glad to be at business with 2,000 employ- named for William Thomson, various state legislatures. In more than a mile wide 235 years ago. West Point instead of listen- ees and operations in 50 hero of the battle. 1772 Thomson became the ing to loud music while sit- countries. He turned the Why was this all-but-for- first sheriff of Orangeburg ting in the mud at company’s profits around and gotten part of the Battle of District. Woodstock drinking booze grew revenues above $350 Sullivan’s Island so important? Because of his previous with half-naked women. million. He went on to work Doug assembled a group military experience, “Danger” Doug went on to become as CEO or chairman of other of historians linked with was placed in charge of the president of his class and regi- companies, and served as SCAR (Southern Campaigns Third Regiment of South mental commander in the president of the American of the ) Carolina who participated in corps of cadets, graduating in Software Association. to research with him. What the successful Snow the class of 1973 and missing In 1999, at age 47, Doug they uncovered was fascinat- Campaign against the back- service in Vietnam by two retired from full-time corpo- ing. Myths have been dis- country loyalists in late 1775. years. He married his high rate employment. Highly pelled and new historical tid- His Rangers were sent to school sweetheart, Elizabeth energetic, he has not stopped bits have been gleaned from Charles Town to assist in the Wallace, after graduation. keeping his finger on the original source materials. defense of Fort Sullivan in Hundreds of people attended pulse of high tech industry In June 1776, before the June of the following year. the wedding reception in the through board memberships Declaration of Independence Thomson paid a heavy Wallace home in Marion, and and as chairman of SC was signed, the British decid- price for his politics and mili- one of the guests was Fritz Launch, an affiliate of SCRA. ed to claim an easy victory in tary activities. After the fall of Hollings. The newlyweds Once Doug retired, the the South by capturing its Charles Town, he was twice went to Ft. Benning, Georgia, MacIntyres sold their home richest seaport city, Charles incarcerated in the notorious A visual example from Doug MacIntyre's presentation about the battle and after infantry officer in Atlanta and ultimately Town. Their battle plan was Provost Dungeon in the Old training, Doug was stationed at Breach Inlet showing troop positions. He relates the story of this bought a home in Charleston. quite simple: take the unfin- Exchange Building at the east important but forgotten fight with historically-minded organizations. in Aschaffenberg, a pictur- It has been a happy choice, ished fort on Sullivan’s Island end of Broad Street. His plan- esque town in Northern for they have enjoyed the and seal up the port. With a tation was ruined when the Bavaria near Frankfort am Holy City’s ambiance, great fleet of mighty men of war British fortified it as a garri- Main. Before the children restaurants and proximity to and a land force of 3,000, the son, stole his slaves and killed arrived, the young couple their family. quickest way to achieve victo- his livestock. After the enjoyed touring Europe. The MacIntyres attended ry seemed sound: a frontal Revolution, indigo declined Doug returned to the United the three-year Walter Edgar attack by sea and a simultane- as a cash crop and Thomson States and completed his Lecture Series hosted by the ous land assault at the rear of later grew export cotton. He Army commitment as a cap- Historical the fort. Unfortunately for served in the new state gov- tain. Society. When Edgar got to the British, due to poor ernment and was a delegate Doug entered the civilian the sensational 1776 patriot reconnaissance and delays, the to the South Carolina con- vention that ratified the Constitution in 1788. With the groundwork all but completed, Doug’s next challenge is to translate the findings into an interesting, visually appealing roadside park to commemorate the battle of Breach Inlet. Calling themselves “Friends of Danger,” he and his fellow enthusiasts have created a Website that includes maps At the visitor center, Doug MacIntyre points to Breach and a detailed history of the Inlet between Sullivan's Island and the Isle of Palms. Doug is raising battle and the events that led money to commemorate the battle at the site occupied by American up to it. Now they are getting troops led by Colonel William “Danger” Thomson. the word out through lectures and other programs. They need to raise at least $20,000 to implement the park vision. If this voyage of rediscov- ery interests you, gifts desig- nated for Thomson Park may be made to the - Fort Moultrie Historical Trust, 40 East Bay Street, Charleston, SC 29401. For those who wish to volunteer, please contact Doug at the Web site: hhtp://thomson- park.wordpress.com. Doug stands on the low-tide sands at Breach Inlet on New Year's Eve. On a personal note Doug The hummock in the background was an oyster bank that shielded and Liz MacIntyre have three British artillery and infantry during the ten-day battle. grown sons: Rob, a strength

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