History of the Partisan Monument - Part 1

The research concerning the Partisan Monument is taking much longer than expected.  Of all of the information about our history that I have, the references to the Partisan Monument are just that, brief tidbits of information.  From my research of Sara Richardson, I have the legislation that allowed us to place the monument on the State House grounds.  I have the reason why the monument had to be passed on twice.  I have the information about Mayes who wanted her project to be a mountain school which we now call our beloved Tamassee and what she did to see to it the monument was finished during her administration.  This effort allowed for Tamassee to move forward.  That information is just a tidbit of the monument’s history.  I have been digging and hunting for information since the conclusion of the re-dedication of the forest.  I have discovered information that has uncovered a clue which sent me in a different direction or has presented me with another question needing an answer.  Unfortunately, there are references to more information which I just cannot locate in order to provide an in-depth comprehensive history.

Because the history of the monument spans so many years and other things come into play, its history will be presented in multiple blog posts.  If you know me, you know I like to include pictures in my posts to enhance what I am presenting.  Unfortunately, there are not many pictures available.  My hope is that my writing will paint the picture of the monument’s history when pictures are not available.  With this in mind, let’s begin learning about the Partisan Monument.

Rebecca Pickens Bacon was bothered by the fact that all wars were represented on the grounds of the State House except the American Revolution.  Upon her election as State Regent, her goal was to see a monument representing the American Revolution placed on the State House grounds.  This monument would essentially become our state society’s first state project which we now refer to as the State Regent’s Project; however, the monument would not be completed and dedicated until 1913 during the administration of our fifth elected state regent. 

The process to erect a monument seems to have begun in 1892 with a bill passed in the United States Senate to appropriate funds to erect an equestrian monument dedicated to Francis Marion.  Senator Matthew Calbraith Butler (Major General CSA) states that he took interest in procuring a monument to Marion to properly recognize the brilliant services of this distinguished South Carolina “character” of the revolution.   At this time, I have been unable to ascertain the reason for a monument solely to Marion.  I can say that in Bacon’s address to the state society in the fall of 1893 explaining the reason the lineage for DAR membership is lineal and not collateral, Bacon pointed out that Marion did not have a lineal descent.  As a result of not having children to carry on his name or legacy, the name was nearly extinct and she feared he and his role in the American Revolution would be forgotten.  Could this have been the reason that Butler pursued a monument to Marion?  With the available information, that assumption can be made but not determined with certainty.

Senator Matthew Cailbraith Butler (Major General CSA) - Library of Congress

1892 Mar 11 The State

On March 10, Senator Butler introduced a bill appropriating $50,000 for a monument to General Francis Marion.

1892 Mar 20 The State

Governor Tillman received word concerning the aforementioned bill.

1892 March 30 The State

Senator Quay of Pennsylvania presented a favorable report concerning the bill.

Francis Marion

1893 Dec 21 The State

On December 20, the Senate committee on library authorized “favorable reports” upon two bills.  One of those was for the erection of the equestrian statue to General Francis Marion which was to be erected in Columbia.

1894 Mar 22 The State

On March 20, the Senate passed the bill appropriating $40,000 for an equestrian statue to General Francis Marion in Columbia.

1895 Jun 4 The State

On June 4, 1895, an article was published with the title “Our Three Great Captains.”  It’s first paragraph begins by stating that it is appropriate to the day and hour to recall the memories “of those who made the history of the country and to whose persistent effort we owe its redemption from British rule, we bring to the apprehension of the people the work done by some of these men, and place them in proper relation to that work.” 

Andrew Pickens

The article then gives a brief history of Marion, Pickens, and Sumter.  In its conclusion, it encourages a tribute lasting longer than words to all three men.  “A group in marble or bronze of the noble three, joining their arms in support and defense of their country, would symbolize the perfect accord and combination in the work of these great captains, Sumter, Marion and Pickens, and be a fitting tribute to those to whose efforts we owe, in such large measure, the blessing of independence.”

Thomas Sumter

It would be two years later before any further mention of the monument would be found.  This was a direct result of Butler losing his reelection bid in 1895.  His successor, former Governor Benjamin Tillman, apparently did not take up the cause of the monument during his term.  It is at that point, the SCDAR comes fully into the picture.