American Revolution
Along with his brother John, Rutledge represented South Carolina in the Continental Congress. He worked to have African Americans expelled from the Continental Army. Although a firm supporter of colonial rights, he (as a delegate) was instructed initially to oppose Lee's Resolution of independence; South Carolina's leaders were unsure that the time was "ripe." By early July, 1776, he was instructed to vote in favor. Contrary to popular opinion, there is no evidence that he opposed the supposed "anti-slavery" clause in the Declaration (which in fact was an anti-emancipation clause, opposing England's freeing of slaves in exchange for army service). At age 26 he was the youngest to sign the Declaration of Independence.
He returned home in November 1776 to take a seat in the South Carolina Assembly. He served as a captain of artillery in the South Carolina militia, and fought at the Battle of Beaufort in 1779. The next year he was captured by the British in the fall of Charleston, and held prisoner until July 1781.
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