1904 Jan 10 The State
The designs submitted for the monument did not excite the
members of the DAR. Several designs cut
off too much of the column. Of the
remaining choices, the design liked best combined many patriotic emblems and
saved as much of the column as possible; however, the competition was still
open to other architects and designs.
The article then reminded the members how quickly a monument was placed
to “our beloved wearers of gray who fought to preserve from tyranny and
oppression with the same valor and chivalry which inspired the blue and buff to
endure hardships and defeats for many years finally gaining a victory our men
of the sixties were denied.” It goes on to
point out that were it not for history that we would not even have a
country. She encouraged a rapid
completion of the monument and pleaded with the chapters which had not sent
funds for the monument to do so at once and pointed out that if the DAR showed
that it was behind the monument with funds that proved interest the
legislature may provide funds as well.
She ended by saying that “this monument will be an ornament to the
capitol grounds,” and encouraged each chapter to appoint a special committee to
ask their respective legislators to look favorably to giving a sum for the
monument. As she said, “South Carolina
men have never been known to refuse South Carolina women anything for a
righteous cause.”
1904 Feb 17 The State
One of the fundraisers planned by the Columbia
Chapter for the monument was the Silver Tea.
The tea was planned for February 22 at the State House. (Can you guess why February 22 was
chosen?) This article introduced the tea
by stating that guests would be received by three great generals and their
dames and would be served tea by young girls in colonial dress, paint, and
patches. The entertainment was to be
entirely unique. The regent of the
Columbia chapter appointed committees and this list was published in the
article. The home of Mrs. Robertson was
the headquarters for the week, and the committees were asked to meet on Thursday
afternoon to plan. The committees included
decoration, refreshments, invitations, relics, advertisement, and press.
1904 Feb 18 The State
The next day a brief article was published
stating that the tea and committee meetings had been postponed due to the death
of Rev. Mr. Saterlee out of respect for him.
On March 8, 1904, Senator J. G. Marshall
fathered the bill which donated the column and allowed the monument to be
placed on the State House grounds and appropriated funds for it. No. 404 was
a joint resolution of the General Assembly. The SCDAR now had permission to place the monument on the grounds of the State House as well as an appropriation of $500 to aid in the completion of the monument.
1904 Apr 4 The State
The Silver Tea was rescheduled for April 8. Several of the relatives of the generals would
be in costume to represent the families and would receive the guests. Tea and cakes would be served by young
ladies in colonial dress. The same
committees were still in place and would meet Monday afternoon to plan. The monument committee would serve as the
hostesses and would receive the company.
Mrs. Robertson, Mrs. Richardson, Mrs. Gantt, Miss Martin, and Mrs.
Waring were the members of the committee at this time.
1904 Apr 5 The State
Even though the event was called the Silver Tea, young
ladies from both colleges had been invited to attend. With a colonial event, tea and sandwiches had
to be the menu; however, the ladies took into account that students were not very
fond of tea. To meet their palate,
delightful fruit punch and cakes would be provided for them. The same invitations printed for Feb 22 with
the date changed were to be sent out all over the city. However, even if a notification was not received, all were invited to attend.
1904 Apr 8 The State
The tea was to take place in the State House lobby
upstairs from 6-9 P.M. Refreshment were
to be served by the DAR members of relatives of the three generals in
costume. Relics had been loaned by the
relatives in the city and would be on exhibition. One relic of note was the sword that Pickens
received from the British commander upon his surrender at the battle of
Cowpens. Relatives of the three generals
who had contributed toward the monument would be wearing a special badge with
the name of the ancestor. In addition,
all relatives would be given a badge by the doorkeeper.
1904 April “American Monthly Magazine”
In the state conference report held on October 28, 1903
in the council chamber of City Hall in Columbia, one of the most interesting
reports was given concerning the monument.
Unfortunately, no details of the report were included except to
reiterate that the monument commemorating the deeds of Marion, Sumter, and
Pickens was hoped to be erected soon.
1904 Jun 1 The State
State Regent Sara Richardson wrote an article about an
address given by Mr. Washington A. Clark, a lawyer, at Winthrop College [given
on May 19] for the benefit of the monument.
She stated that his impressive address which beautifully portrayed the
influence of women in the Revolutionary War was a splendid tribute to them that
would inspire deeper interest in patriotic endeavor. She went on to express her thanks to the
President of the College, Mr. Johnson, the students and teachers who attended
and donated a sum to the monument fund.
She thanks the Regent and members of the Catawba Chapter for assisting
in putting the event together and thanked the delegation from the King’s
Mountain chapter for attending.
This article would be printed in the Edgefield
Advertiser and the Fort Mill Times on Jun 15 and in The County
Record on June 16.
It would not be until the end of 1906 before we would find
mention of the Partisan Monument. If you
remember your DAR history, you will know that the Daughters from around the
nation were called to build our beautiful Memorial Continental Hall. The stories that go along with this are
wonderful. I look forward to sharing
these with you soon.
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