1909 Jan 6 The State
The central committee met last Saturday (January 2) at
the home of chairman, Mrs. Robertson. It
was decided that Ruckstuhl would be given the contract “according to the
resolution adopted by the State convention in session at Sumter last
November.” He submitted a new design
which was accepted by the State convention [beginning November 17]. The broken column was found to be unavailable
according to the plan and would be sold with its proceeds going to the erection
of the proposed monument. “The broken column, while being entirely
unsuitable for a monument to the victorious soldiers of the Revolution, would
be most eminently fitted for a symbol of the ‘Lost Cause,’ and doubtless there
are towns in the State which would be glad to have it for a Confederate
monument.”
Bids would be taken for the column. The designs would be given at a later date
and an interesting program would be arranged.
Ruckstuhl’s reputation as a sculptor did not need comment.
1909 Feb 9 The
State and the The Daily Record
Ruckstuhl was in Columbia to present pictures of his clay
model of the Calhoun statue with the recommended changes. He will meet with the monument committee
concerning the Winged Victory for the monument.
1909 Feb 10 The State
The central committee met with Ruckstuhl. Mrs. Bratton [then state regent] was in
attendance. It was decided to defer action concerning the
contract for the monument until after the next state conference which would be
held in Greenwood in November [beginning November 10]. Ruckstuhl submitted a “very graceful design.”
The SCDAR was still not in a position to erect the
monument and based on the wording of the article the location on the State
House grounds had not yet been decided.
1910 Jan 14 The State
The Rebecca Motte Chapter annually held a masked
ball. On Tuesday evening next, the ball
would be held in Hibernian Hall. Cards
of admission could be obtained from chapter members for $1.The article state
that every year the Rebecca Motte Chapter arranges for the ball to enable them
to send contributions for the Partisan Monument. It goes on to say that it would be a good
plan for the Columbia and William Capers Chapters to arrange for a similar ball
in Columbia stating that it would be a brilliant social event and a good way to
raise funds for the monument. (If anyone in Charleston would review the local newspaper archives, I would love anymore information about this. Pictures are always appreciated!)
1910 Jul 3 The State
The central committee met at the home of Mrs.
Roberston and came to some important decisions concerning the monument. Readers were reminded that the legislature
had donated one of the great carved columns which had lain on the grounds ever
since Sherman’s soldiers rendered it useless by mutilation. Finding it unsuitable to use with the design
of Ruckstuhl, it was decided to sell the shaft to some other patriotic society
in South Carolina and to use the money from its sale for the monument. Advertisements for its sale were appearing in
all leading newspapers of the state this morning. The committee felt hopeful that work on the
monument would begin next fall and a state wide interest would be felt in the
undertaking.
 |
| State House after Sherman's March to the Sea |
1910 Nov 20 The State
Our first elected state regent, Rebecca Pickens Bacon, who
was also the great-granddaughter of General Andrew Pickens, and the daughter of
Governor Pickens made an appearance at the state conference in Orangeburg
despite her advanced years. She read her
tribute before the members in attendance.
This tribute will be presented in its entirety as written in the
article.
“The three
partisan generals, Marion, Sumter, and Pickens.”
“The names
of this triumvirate of great soldiers, the partisan leaders of the unpaid
gentlemen of South Carolina, will ever live in the history and romance of the
Revolution as occupying a peculiar and unique position. After the war they formed an alliance which
was never broken. There is as yet in
existence no tablet, trophy, pillar, monument, or memorial of any kind to
commemorate the valiant achievements or preserve the memory of those three
partisan heroes of the Revolution who in many bloody battles did their duty so
well and nobly – Marion in the low country, Sumter in the middle, and Pickens
in the up-country, where at the battle of Cowpens the final victory was
won. The historian, Ramsey, says ‘Never
was a victory more complete.’
“Pickens,
who led the militia, received in person the sword of Gen. McArthur and pursued
Tarleton through South Carolina.
“Not being
in the regular army of the United States, these partisans never received any
public recognition of their services by the government. Says the historian, McCrady, ‘While nothing
was done for Marion, Sumter or Pickens,
honors were heaped upon Gen. Green and others with pecuniary reward, still the
Jacksonboro assembly added this much to the praise of the brave militia under
command of the partisan generals – Marion, Sumter, and Pickens – those virtuous
citizens who did not despair of the commonwealth are deserving of highest
commendation.’ Cornwallis said, ‘If it were not for Andrew Pickens we would
have no trouble in South Carolina.’ Pickens
was, however, presented with a sword by congress ‘as a testimonial of your
spirited conduct in the action of Cowpens, I have the honor of transmitting
this invaluable memorial of your merit and of the approbation of the
country. The glory of the reward will
induce others to emulate your bravery and courage.’
“After the
evacuation of Charleston to the British Gen. Rutledge and cabinet took refuge
in North Carolina and the British were in possession of South Carolina. In congress there was made a proposition to
deliver up South Carolina and Georgia to the British and thus end the war, but
these heroic partisan leaders – Marion, Sumter and Pickens – determined to hold
the State and with great success bent their every energy to collect a band of
soldiers and repulse the British and finally drove them out of the State.
“Many of
our battles in the State have not attained the historical notoriety of those of
similar magnitude at the North. So much
more has been done by the people of those States to commemorate them and so
much written concerning Revolutionary incidents that the present generation,
living in the neighborhood of Cowpens, King’s Mountain and Eutaw Springs and
other fields of battle in our State, know more about Bunker Hill and Lexington;
more of Stark and Putnam than of Sumter, Marion and Pickens. It should be the duty of our organization,
the patriotic D.A.R., to see to it that the history taught to the children of
our schools should set forth truthfully the heroic deeds of their ancestors and
teach them to emulate them.
“It is
duty also, and should be the pleasure of the D.A.R. of South Carolina to erect
to the memory of those partisan generals and their brave followers a monument
worthy of their immortal heroism in the cause of liberty in their State.”
No comments:
Post a Comment