All For Liberty

The Heroes

Captain Felder is portrayed in All for Liberty by his sixth great-grandson, nationally known actor/writer/director/ producer, Clarence Felder, who was unaware of his Revolutionary War hero ancestor until the age of 56 when he moved back to his home state from Hollywood, California. He is the executive producer, co-writer and leading actor for the film. Clarence Felder’s long career in the entertainment industry spans five decades as a lead actor in films, television and Broadway. His numerous roles include a two year run on ABC’s hit series Hooperman and films such as The Last Boy Scout, Ruthless People, After Hours, and others. Felder co-starred in ten productions on Broadway, performing with such stars as Christopher Walken, Glenn Close and Meryl Streep. His American theatre appearances include over 160 productions, including starring roles in most of Shakespeare’s plays. A prolific writer/ producer, Felder co-founded Actors Theater of South Carolina with his wife, Chris Weatherhead. Felder was commissioned to write a play about his sixth great-grandfather, Captain Felder’s Cannon, which became the basis for the film All for Liberty. The screenplay was adapted by his wife, Chris Weatherhead and Ron Mangravite.

John Rutledge – Patriot, jurist and served as both President and Governor under the SC Constitution of March 1776 and throughout the War for Independence, until 1782

and then South Carolina’s first governor under the SC Constitution of 1778. Later, Rutledge was one of the original associate justices of the US Supreme Court and the second chief justice. John Rutledge is the narrator of the docudrama as he shares the story of how he went from Charleston to the midlands to recruit Henry Felder to inspire the Backcountry people to the cause for independence and create a militia from colonial farmers and merchants.

MICHAEL EASLER portrays Governor John Rutledge in All for Liberty, and is the narrator of the story. A veteran actor of over 140 theater and film productions, Michael has co-starred in numerous roles for Actors’ Theatre of South Carolina. He portrays Governor John Rutledge in the award-winning docudramas, All for Liberty, Thomas Jefferson in John Laurens’ War and Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox in Echoes of Glory: Heroes from the American Revolution, the Apostle Paul in John at Patmos, An Allegory.  He also portrayed General Beauregard in the National Geographic Special: Secret Weapon of the Confederacy, co-starred as Dr. Walsh in Cold Soldiers and has been featured other films, including Chattahoochie with Dennis Hopper and Gary Oldman, as well as  television series and documentaries. He spent several years in residence at Greenville’s Café And Then Some Comedy Dinner Theatre as an actor, writer and musician. He has starred in notable plays such as Breaker Morant, The Little Foxes, and Cabaret.

Henry Felder, Jr (1748-1803) – Patriot

One of the seven sons of Henry Felder. He fought extensively in the South Carolina militia and after the Revolution was responsible for Henry Felder’s family, his deceased brother’s family as well as his own.

TREVOR ERICKSON, CINEMATOGRAPHER/Co-DIRECTOR, EDITOR  – Portrayed Henry Felder, Jr.

John Felder (1751- c.1780) – Patriot

John was one of Henry Felder’s seven sons. He fought in the SC militia and served under Colonel William Washington, Continental Dragoons, in some capacity as an officer. He was captured by the British and died attempting to escape.

ROB GORMAN portrays John Felder.  He was nominated four times by the Young Artist Foundation in Hollywood, California for his work as a young actor in numerous films, television movies and prime time series during the 1980’s and 90’s, working with Mel Gibson in  Forever Young, George Clooney’s film, Leatherheads, with many top stars, and regular roles on Falcon Crest and Joe’s Life. His many other credits include Full House, Quantum Leap, Surface and One Tree Hill. He took a break from Hollywood in 1996, to enjoy attending Wake Forest University. Robert is married with children and is a wealth manager at The Gorman Financial Group.

General Thomas Sumter (1734 – 1832) – Patriot

Later US Congressman and Senator. Sumter lived in St. Mark’s Parish and attained the rank of Colonel in the army before the fall of Charlestown in May 1780. After the surrender of the Continental Army in 1780, Sumter successfully organized militia to oppose the British occupation.

RICHARD SMITH portrayed General Sumter – Mr. Smith worked with many acting companies in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, such as Actors’ Theater of South Carolina, Workshop Theater and Camden Players, in leading roles for various productions including, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, Wind in the Willows and The Dayporch. 

Fictional Characters

Edward Green – Freeman, Capt. Felder Adjutant

Mr. Green is a fictional character based on a portion of the population during the war comprised of free black men who were abducted in the north and carried south to be sold as slaves. Captain Henry Felder did not believe in slavery so it was decided by the writers to create the character and story of Edward Green to make that clear. In All for Liberty he is rescued from being sold as a slave and becomes the foreman on Captain Henry Felder’s farm as well as a sharp shooter in his militia. The friendship and wisdom shared with Swiss-German Captain Felder and Edward Green is an important aspect of the story.

CHARLES VENNING portrayed “Edward Green” – Mr. Venning grew up in Charleston, South Carolina and spent twelve years as professional actor. He played the lead in The Thomas Lawrence Story, a docudrama for Almes Productions. His many leading roles touring for Actors’ Theatre of South Carolina include six different characters in the Piccolo International Theatre Festival hit production, Whispers & Dreams, Voices of Carolina Slave Children. Charles also played leads in several plays including Driving Miss Daisy for companies throughout the state. Mr. Venning was a Veteran, who served in the U.S. Air Force in the Korean War.

Sawgrass – Catawba Warrior

The Catawba Nation supported the Patriot cause. A company of Catawba fought in the 1776 Battle of Sullivan’s Island and in other engagements during the American Revolution.

In the docudrama, Sawgrass is a brave patriot warrior, a scout for Captain Felder’s militia as well as a long-time friend of Felder and his family.

JIM SAWGRASS portrayed Catawba scout, “Sawgrass “

Jim Sawgrass is a native Floridian and Muskogee descendant, but is a native American historian, who portrays a Catawba scout for the patriots in All for Liberty. He has vast knowledge about various Southeastern deep forest tribes of the United States. He has shared his skills and knowledge across the southeast for many decades to assemblies of all ages, performing at re-enactments, schools, churches, and libraries with his group, Deep Forest Historical Native American Program. 

Miss Alice – A tavern owner in Charleston

Her character represents the economic opportunities for urban women and one of the roles such women could play during the Revolution. In the film, Alice risks her life to help Captain Felder and pays a high price for it.

BOO SHEPPARD portrays “Alice Golightly” – Boo Sheppard is an actress, writer and director. For nineteen years she produced and hosted Time Warner’s cable television show Orangeburg Inside/Out. As an actress in theaters across the state of South Carolina, she starred in various plays, including Hello Dolly. At the Piccolo Spoleto International Theatre Festival, Sheppard co-wrote and starred in Isn’t It Lovely?, and co-starred in Southern Men as well as Lowcountry Delights. Boo has produced and directed numerous musical theater productions and received South Carolina Governor’s Order of the Palmetto Award and the Distinguished Service Award from South Carolina State University.

Miss Molly – A spy in Charleston

Both Patriot and British forces relied on unofficial sources for information. For example, General George Washington relied on the Cupler Spy Ring, which operated successfully in the New York area for five years.

LISA MORELLI – portrayed “Molly”. Ms. Morelli starred in the indie short, Angel Eyes, and was featured in the film Rich In Love as well as daytime series’ General Hospital, Days of Our Lives and as Rebecca Simms in Documenting the Grey Man. She also toured in various theater productions for Actors’ Theatre of South Carolina. A veteran of commercials, music videos and voiceovers, Lisa is also a country singer, and was featured on the Charlie Daniels Show for TNN.

British and Loyalist Characters

Captain James Wemyss (1748-1833) – British officer

Captain, 4^th Regiment of Foot. Fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill; Major, 63th Regiment of Foot. With 63th, Wemyss served under Sir Henry Clinton during the siege and capture of Charlestown, the capital of South Carolina in May, 1780. In June, Charles, Lord Cornwallis, who succeeded Clinton as commander in SC, sent Wemyss into the Georgetown area to secure Patriot paroles, recruit men for Loyalist service and pacify the South Carolina backcountry. In August, Cornwallis gave Wemyss an independent command to raise a force to contain Brig. General Francis Marion. This appointment gave Wemyss the authority to burn Patriot homes, farms and businesses. According to William Dobein James, writing in 1821, Wemyss ordered the execution of Adam Cusack. Wounded and captured by Thomas Sumter during the Battle of Fishdam Ford, Wemyss was exchanged.

CURTIS WORTHINGTON portrays “Captain Weymss” – actor/author, Mr. Worthington had a recurring role as the Trauma Doctor on Lifetimes’ series Army Wives and Professor Adkins in Mehdi Norowzian’s film Leo, starring Joseph Fiennes, also Dr. Lewis in the TV series Mr. Mercedes, and the Doctor in Vice Principals. He has also performed leading roles in industrial films and commercials. On stage, Mr. Worthington has starred in Shakespearean and modern plays and performed with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. As an author, he edited, Literary Charleston, A Lowcountry Reader, an anthology of writing about Charleston, South Carolina.  

Charles Cornwallis, First Marquess Cornwallis (1738-1805) – British Officer

Cornwallis fought in the Seven Years War and served in Parliament. After Sir Henry Clinton’s departure, Cornwallis commanded British forces in South Carolina. He led the British to victory at the Battles of Camden and Guilford Courthouse but surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown in October 1781. Later he served as a colonial administrator in India and Ireland.

Bill Jenkins – a fictional Loyalist and neighbor of Henry Felder.

This character is based on William Cunningham (1756-1787) an infamous Loyalist known as “Bloody Bill” Cunningham.

DAVID REED – Portrayed  “Bill Jenkins”

Mr. Reed, who created the role of “Bloody Bill” in All for Liberty, has appeared in numerous independent films and spent over 35 years in radio broadcasting and production, including a few years at South Carolina Educational Radio for the Blind. He’s appeared in over 90 theatre productions, including 2:Goering at Nuremburg, which was performed at Piccolo Spoleto International Theatre Festival. For nearly 30 years he’s been a leading actor throughout the state of South Carolina in modern and classical theatre, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Crucible. He starred as Cameron in “Cameron” a film based on the book, “A Demand of Blood; The Cherokee War of 1776”  by Nadia Dean.

Alexia Jones Helsley, (historical profiles)

Currently, Senior Instructor in History and University Archivist, University of South Carolina Aiken.  Educated at Furman University and USC, Helsley is the recipient of the SC Governor’s Archives Award and  SCDAR’s Bobby Gilmer Moss Award.

General enemies our heroes fought against…

KING GEORGE III

THE BRITISH ARMIES OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH

GENERALS AND THEIR OFFICERS

LOYALIST MILITIAS

EUROPEAN MERCENARIES

“THE KINGS’ MEN”

Historical profiles provided by Alexia Jones Helsley

Text From

Address & Declaration of Separation From the English King by Henry Felder

At a court of general session for the District of Orangeburgh, Monday, the 20th day of May, before the Honorable William Henry Drayton, Esq, Chief Justice of the Colony of South Carolina.

The Address & Declaration of the Grand Jury of said district to his Honor the Chief Justice.

May it please your Honor,

Whilst engaged in an arduous but glorious Struggle for the Preservation of those invaluable Right and Liberties, which, by the Laws of Reason, and of Nature, all men have a right to possess, and without the Possession of which Life itself would be a Burthen; it was matter of no small Grief to us that any Men should be found amongst us ready to add to the Distress of an oppressed and injured People, by endeavoring to Introduce Anarchy and Confusion and thereby to light up the Flames of Civil Discord in the Bowels of this once happy Country.— We are fully convinced that those must have been the nefarious intentions and base Hopes which induced the King’s Judges to refuse the Execution of their Offices, and by so doing to put a Stop to the Administration of Justice in the Courts under their Jurisdiction; to the great Danger of the Lives, Liberties and Properties of the good People of this Colony.
But, however great our Grief, we cannot say that we are surprised at their Conduct—Strangers in this Land as they are, and induced by no Ties of Affection to this Country, or its Inhabitants, they acted as may ever be expected from the wretched Hirelings of an arbitrary and despotic Power. We trust they are the last Officers of the Kind this Colony will ever Know, and hope it will be an additional Cause for us hereafter to rejoice that we resisted, that we thereby became sensible of the true Interest of America in this, as well as many other Respects. To the Base Conduct of our late Judges, among other Causes, we owe however the excellent Constitution lately established amongst us: a Constitution evidently framed for the Good, Welfare and Happiness of those who are to live under it. We declare, that as we do most heartily approve of, so we are determined with our Lives and Fortunes to support, maintain and defend it.

And to that End, we will to the utmost of our Power, endeavor to make known its Excellency to all around us, to promote and encourage Peace, Harmony and good Will among the People; and whilst we treat with the tender Hand of Pity and Compassion those few, if any, of our Brethren, who from the Want of Information or the artful Designs and Intrigues of Wicked Men, may be found at present unfriendly to the sacred Cause in which we are now engaged. We will use our utmost Efforts to teach and instruct them, what and how many Grievances we labour under; the dutiful, humble, and we cannot help. now thinking too submissive, Petitions and Remonstrances, we have vainly submitted for Redress; the appeal made by our oppressors to the Sword, and driven as we are by dire necessity, the becoming and spirited Measures we have pursued and are now pursuing for a vigorous, manly, and virtuous Defense of the Liberties of ourselves and, which are still dearer to us, our Posterity. Thus acting, we doubt not but that we shall be able to create such an Union among them, as if extended over the whole Colony, will with the Assistance     of that gracious Providence which has hereto manifested itself in our Favor; the Goodness of our Cause, the Advantage of our Situation, our Use to Arms, and our Equality, if not Superiority in other respects to those who are, or may be sent against us, insure us, if called to Action, both Victory and Peace.

Great Britain has forced us into a new Form of Government; she may continue the Sword so long unsheathed that by observing its Superiority over the old, we may be unwilling to part with it. We now have Rulers of our free Choice and Judges of our own Election; a full and equal Representation in the Government; Blessings we hope we should never lose, and which the Wisdom of the Continental Congress will enable us long to keep Possession of.

In our present Situation it would be needless for us to present any Grievances to this Court. From the Joy we are in, and the Pleasures we feel in Observing the Attention paid to the Interests of the Colony, at the first Session of the Assembly under the present constitution, by the Law for the once more opening of the Courts of Justice amongst us, and, the many other excellent Laws passed in that Session, we can think of none we labour under; Should there be any, we have the greatest Confidence that your Honor would lay proper Attention to them, were they pointed out, and that the Legislature will at all Times be ready to provide adequate Remedies, when they are.

Henry Felder,
George King, Michael Leitner, William Heatly, Garrit FitzPatrick, Adam Snell, Gaspar Brown, John M’Williams, Henry Rickenbacker, Henry Whetstone, Henry Crum, Godfred Drelve, Jonas Beard