This article was contributed by Steve Batson, © 1999
A native of Charleston, Barnard Elliot Bee was appointed, at large, to West Point. His father was the Secretary of State of the Republic of Texas. Bee graduated from West Point in 1845 and was twice brevetted for gallantry in Mexico and honored by South Carolina for his services there. In 1861, he was appointed Brigadier General and was in command of his brigade at Manassas Junction. Bee was killed in action there. His saddle was on display in the museum in the old jail in Pickens County and prior to that in the Pickens County Courthouse.
Older brother of Barnard Bee, Hamilton Prioleau Bee relocated with his father to Texas where he served as a Texas Ranger. He was also a member of the Texas Legislature and Speaker of the Texas house. He was appointed Brigadier General in the Confederate Army in 1862. He served in Texas for most of the war and went to Mexico following the war. He is buried in the Confederate Cemetery in San Antoinio.
Born in Liberty South Carolina, May 6, 1823. Thomas H. Boggs was a farmer in the Pickens District. He served as a Captain in Moore's Second South Carolina Rifles. He was promoted to the rank of Major and Lieutenant Colonel within the unit. He died at home in the summer of 1862. He is buried at Carmel Presbyterian Church.
Bowen was born on September 8, 1830. Served as a Lieutenant, Captain, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel of the Second South Carolina Rifles. He was wounded at Wauhatchie. Served in the South Carolina legislature both during and after the War Between the States. He was a trustee of Clemson University and was a farmer in Pickens County.
Chastain was born in Pickens County on September 25, 1813. He served as an Officer in the Seminole War. Chastain was elected to the Georgia legislature and served through the 1840's. A United States Congressmen in the 1850's, he was also a member of the Georgia Secession Convention. During the war he served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the First Georgia and as a Colonel in the Georgia State Troops. He is buried in Morganton, Georgia.
Dendy was born in Pickens District on May 28, 1839. He attended South Carolina College and served as a Lieutenant, Captain and Major in Moore's Rifles. He married Alice E. Sitton. He served as a judge in Walhalla and in the South Carolina State legislature following the war. He is buried in Westview Cemetery in Walhalla.
Easley was born in the Pickens District on January 28, 1825. He practiced law in Pickens and married Carolina Sloan. He served as a representative to the South Carolina Secession Convention. He organized Easley's Cavalry, a Company that joined the Fourth Cavalry Battalion. Easley would serve as the Major commanding that unit. In 1862, that unit would join the mounted units of the Hampton Legion to form the Second South Carolina Cavalry. At that time, Easley became the Lieutenant Colonel of the unit. He resigned as Lieutenant Colonel in August of 1862. Easley is buried in Crosswell, Georgia. His first company, Easley's Cavalry, would eventually become Company F, Second South Carolina Cavalry.
Goodlett was born in Greenville County on April 20, 1831. He served as Colonel of the Twenty-second South Carolina and is thought of as being from Greenville. He is best remembered for his on-going war with General Nathan "Shank" Evans. This resulted in his dismissal from Confederate Service following the battle at Kinston, N.C. He practiced law in Pickens and Greenville County and died in 1874. He is buried in Greenville County.
Maxcy Gregg was born near Columbia South Carolina on August 1, 1814. He was admitted to the bar in 1839 and served as a major in the 12th Infantry during the Mexican War. Known as an eccentric genius he was a great supporter of states rights. He organized and was commissioned Colonel of the Gregg's First South Carolina Infantry and was promoted to brigadier general in December of 1861. His deafness may have contributed to his death at Fredricksburg, where he failed to hear or was unclear concerning his orders from Jackson. This resulted in a gap in the line and his men being caught with arms stacked. Gregg immediately charged to the front and rallied his men, saving the day, but at the cost of his life. He commanded many men from Pickens County.
Hadden was born and lived in Pickens County where he practiced law. He served as a Lieutenant, Captain, Major and Lieutenant Colonel of Orr's Rifles. He was killed in action during the fighting at Deep Bottom in Grant's Overland Campaign. He was commanding the unit at the time of his death.
The Prince of Edisto, was born on December 1, 1835, on the island. He graduated from the South Carolina Military Academy, which would later become known as the Citadel. He founded Kings Mountain Military Academy and is one of four graduates of the Citadel to become a General Officer of the Confederacy. He was colonel of the Fifth South Carolina and was considered General Longstreet's right hand man. Promoted to Brigadier General in July of 1862, he was severely wounded at Second Manassas. He commanded Hood's Division during Chickamauga. He was killed and General Longstreet severely wounded at the Wilderness, near where Jackson had died a year earlier. Many of the men Jenkins commanded were from Pickens County.
McGowan was born in Laurens District on October 9, 1819. He was the son of immigrants and one of the most remarkable men in the Army of Northern Virginia. HE graduated form South Carolina College and was admitted to the bar. He served in the South Carolina house prior to the war and was commended for bravery in the Mexican war. He was in command of a brigade during the attack on Fort Sumter and he became the Colonel of the Fourteenth South Carolina Volunteer Infantry in Gregg's Brigade. He was wounded four times during the war and was promoted after the death of General Gregg. He was a leader in the Hampton movement of 76 and was elected to the legislature in 1878. He then sat on the South Carolina Supreme Court for many years. He is buried in Abbeville County.
Moore was born on March 22, 1835. He attended the University of Virginia and married Clara J. Jones. He was a Lawyer at Anderson and served as both a Captain and the Major of the First South Carolina Rifles. He served in the South Carolina legislature during reconstruction and left the state following an incident with his successor.
Moore was the editor of the True Carolinian and was mortally wounded in the Battle of Second Manassas. He commanded Moore's Rifles or the Second South Carolina Rifles. The units name is a tribute to his service and death. Moore was a resident of Anderson County.
Orr was born in Anderson County on May 12, 1822. He attended local schools and the University of Virginia. He was admitted to the bar at age 21. He was editor of the Anderson Gazette. Orr served in the South Carolina legislature and the United States Congress before the war and was Speaker of the House. Considered a moderate on the issue of secession, Orr eventually came in line with more radical members of the caucus. He signed the Articles of Secession and was one of the commissioners that attempted to negotiate for possession of the forts in Charleston Harbor. He organized Orr's First South Carolina Rifles and was appointed to the Provisional Congress to replace T.J. Withers. He was elected to the Confederate Senate and served as chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Rules committees. By 1865, he was a leader of the peace movement in the Confederate Senate. Following the fall of the Confederacy, Orr was elected reconstruction Governor of the state. When the radicals took over reconstruction, Orr again joined them and was rewarded with a circuit Court Judgeship and eventually was appointed as U.S. Minister to Russia. Like John Randolph, an earlier speaker, he found himself beyond the pale, in a cold and distant land. Orr died in Russia and is buried in Anderson, S.C.
Rogers was a blacksmith in Pickens District who served as a Lieutenant, Captain, and Major of Orr's First Rifles. He was captured at Spotsylvania. He is buried in Walhalla.
Sharp was born in Pickens District on March 6, 1828. He relocated to Cherokee County, Georgia and served in the Twenty-third Georgia. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was wounded at Sharpsburg and Bentonville. He also served in the Georgia legislature.
Stewart was born in Pickens on May 16, 1839. He served as a Captain and a Major in the Twenty-second South Carolina. He was dismissed from the service as a result of his performance at Sharpsburg. He served as a county officer in Pickens County. Following the war he became a Baptist minister. He is buried in Pickens County.
Thompson was born in Pickens on June 13, 1828. He served in the South Carolina Secession Convention and was both a Captain and a Major in the Second South Carolina Rifles. He resigned his commission in 1863 to serve as Commissioner of Equity in Pickens District. He died in Walhalla in 1914.
Thomson was born in Tarbolton, Scotland on June 5, 1813. He was a lawyer in Charleston, South Carolina and served in the South Carolina Legislature. He served in all ranks from Captain to Colonel in the Second South Carolina Rifles and resigned in December of 1863 when he was elected to the S.C. Senate. He died and is buried in Abbeville.
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