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South Carolina Division

 

United Daughters of the Confederacy

By (Mrs. Robert Downs) Eloise Welch Wright.

1896-1923

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Part I

Prepared by Request for the Program

HISTORICAL EVENING
U. D. C. CONVENTION

FLORENCE, DEC, 5, 1917.

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Part II

Prepared by Request for the Program

HISTORICAL EVENING
U. D. C. CONVENTION

NEWBERRY, DEC. 6, 1923.MRS. R. D. WRIGHT.PREFACE

This book is a preservation of our history as an organization.
“By their works shall ye know them”: May the Dauzhter of the
Confederacy who reads these pages be inspired to greater achieve-
ments in each line of work for which we are banded together.
As a matter of record we wish to say the cuts used are the prop-
erty of the S. C. Division. They, with the cut of the Secession
table printed in the Division “Catechism of S. C. History’, are
deposited with the Historical Department and may be used at
future times.

The South Carolina Division, United Daughters of the Confed-
eracy, is fortunate in having for the author of this book one
who is thoroughly conversant with the past and present work
of the South Carolina Division and General U. D. C.

Because of our universal love and interest in each South Caro-
lina Daughter of the Confederacy, a short biographical sketch of
the author is herewith given:

MES, R.. D. WRIGHT.

Eloise Welch Wright is the daughter of Spencer Glasgow Welch
and Cordelia Strother Welch. She was born and reared in New-
berry, S. C.

Her father enlisted in the Confederate service with the first
volunteers, as a private in Company D., S. C. Regiment, but was
promoted until made surgeon of that regiment serving with it
eontinually from Fort Manassas until the surrender at Appomat-
tox. His soldier experiences have been published in book form by
Mrs. Wright.

This loyal Daughter of the Confederacy had five uncles who
fought for the Confederate cause.

She is a member of the D. A. R. and has served as an officer
in a number of clubs and organizations of her town and State.

Having served as vice-president, historian and president of the
S. C. Division and as Secretary General, U. D. C., she is now
editor of the U. D. C. Department of the ‘“‘Confederate Veteran.”

She is the justly proud possessor of the U. D. C. War Relief.
badge as Director of War Relief in South Carolina during the
World War.

Mrs. Wright has spent her life in Newberry, Mr. Wright being
connected with the Newberry Cotton Mills. Their home is blessed
with two children, a winsome girl of 19 and a bright boy of 11.

(Mrs. J. Frost) Cornelia Greer Walker,
Historian 8. C. Division U. D. C.A Short History of the S. C. Division,
United Daughters of the Confederacy.

 

PART I.
1896-1917.

 

Birthdays are always auspicious occasions, whether
of individuals, organizations, or nations. Especially is
the attaining of one’s majority an event deserving of
special note—a time when the rainbow of promise spans
the future of possibilities. It should also be the time for
making recapitulation of the years that have passed,
a summing up of their failures and their successes, 2
time to turn resolutely to the future, and, profiting by
the lessons learned, determine to accomplish things
greater and yet greater.

The year 1917 finds the S C. Division U. D. C. pass-
ing the 21st milestone in its career. For a little while,
let us look back and see if, as an organization, it has
proven during these years that its existence has been
really worth while.

Through the interest of the late Mrs. L. H. Raines,
of Savannah, the first chapter organized in the State was
the Charleston Chapter (whose charter holds the number
of four in the General organization), on Nov. 17, 1894,
with Miss Murdock as temporary chairman and Miss Mar-
tha Washington as temporary secretary. It was not until
May 18, 1896, that efforts towards the formation of a
Division were successful. On that day a little band of
devoted women gathered in the historic State Capitol
and set in motion the machinery that has produced the
systematized organization of today. Every one of those
women knew from personal experience what those years
from ’61 to ’65 were. With a few exceptions, notably
Mrs. A. T. Smythe, of Charleston, the first president
of the Division, later one of the most capable Presidents
General that ever held that position ; and Mrs. Thomas
Taylor, of Columbia, who was the fourth president of2 A SHORT HISTORY OF S. C. DIVISION U. D. C.

the Division, these splendid women have passed into the
Great Beyond, leaving to us a priceless heritage of devo-
tion to duty, and love for the members of a righteous
cause. How have we used this heritage? In its twenty-
first birthyear the Division is 90 chapters strong with
4,339 bona fide members. That many women inspired
by the faith of our mothers and by their example shoul |
accomplish great things.

Now, let us see what we have done in the great cO-Op-
erative efforts of the General U. D.C. The first of these
for which our help was solicited was the magnificent
monument to President Davis in Richmond, at a cost
of $70,000 “a fitting recognition of the indomitable spirit
of an heroic man, whose sorrows and trials were the
crowning end of hig life.” It was at the Richmond Con-
vention in 1899, that the Hon. J. Taylor Eliyson, Treas-
urer of the Veterans’ Jefferson Davis Monument Asso-
ciation appeared before the convention and asked the
General U. D. C. to assume the responsibility of this
work which the Veterans had not been able to fulfill.
The convention voted to accept the responsibility and
during the next eight years our then small Division con-
tributed $3,700. Under the leadership of Mrs. A. T.
Smythe as Director for South Carolina, the State stood
fourth in contributions. This was a remarkable show-
Ing, representing ceaseless efforts on the part of the
Directors, and hard work by the chapters. But the mag-
nificent result more than repaid the effort.

In 1906, the opportunity came to the General U. D. C.
to erect a monument in Arlington National Cemetery
in a plot where lay the Confederate dead. Some funds
for this purpose had been collected through the Arling-
ton Memorial Association, composed of all Confederate
organizations in the District of Columbia. At the Nor-
folk Convention Col. Hilary Herbert, the chairman, him-
self a native of South Carolina, presented the matter to
the General U. D. C., and this body decided to undertake
the work. Permission from Ex-President Taft, then
Secretary of War, to do this was a signal for heartyA SHORT HISTORY OF S. C. DIVISION U. D. C. 3

 

co-operation on the part of South Carolina chapters and
individuals. At the Chester Convention this work was
formally assumed by the Division, and Mrs. T. W. Keitt
was appointed Director for Arlington and later at the
General Convention at Gulfport, South Carolina was
honored in having Mrs. Keitt appointed one of seven on
the Committee of Design. At the beginning of the
work, Mrs. Keitt was ably assisted by Mrs. J. A. Burton,
of Newberry and Mrs. J. A. Vandiver, from Anderson.
Mrs. Burton worked earnestly for the cause until claimed
by death. She originated and published at her own ex-
pense a chart in leaflet form for the convenience of
U. D. C. workers, the sales from which she lovingly ded-
icated to the Arlington Monument fund. Mrs. Vandiver
labored faithfully until the work was completed. As
time passed it was found necessary to increase the num-
ber on the committee. On June 3, 1914, it was Mrs.
Keitt’s privilege to lay the Division’s handsome floral
tribute at the base of the monument, on the occasion
of its unveiling, the most beautiful monument in the
United States, a work that embodies the very soul of its
Confederate Veteran sculptor, one of the boy heroes of
New Market, Sir Moses Ezekiel. For this South Caro-
lina contributed $4,144.48, being surpassed by Virginia
only.

The next call was for Shiloh. The idea of a U. D. C.
Confederate Monument. on Shiloh battlefield originated
with the Shiloh Chapter U. D. C. at Savannah, Tenn.
In 1905, Mrs. A. B. White, of Tennessee, asked the Gen-
eral U. D. C. to undertake this work and they agreed at
San Francisco to do so. Miss Poppenheim, then Presi-
dent of the S. C. Division, appointed Miss Genie English
as chairman of this committee. At the Greenville Con-
vention pledges were made from the floor for Shiloh,
South Carolina’s first work for the monument. At the
General Convention in Norfolk it was decided to form
a permanent U. D. C. committee to be composed of one
director from each State. Miss English having married
and moved from the State, the Division president, Miss4 A SHORT HISTORY OF S. C. DIVISION U. D..C.

 

Poppenheim, filled out her term, later being appointed
director for South Carolina and holding the position until
the committee of directors was formally dismissed at
Chattanooga. South Carolina was recognized in the
work of the committee by having her director a member
of the inscription committee; and being ‘invited to be
present and introduce to the audience at the unveiling
exercises, Shiloh’s artist, Mr. Frederick C. Hibbard.
This unusual and artistic monument has for its subject
“Victory Defeated by Death and Night,’ commemorat-
ing the occasion when on this bloody field the long line
of Gray, and masterful, drove the Federal line to the
very brink of the Tennessee River. Here 10,000 Con-
federates were killed, and here in one single trench sleep
4,000, a separate grave being denied them by the horrors
of that fearful battle. At Chattanooga the committee
reported that not only was the monument built and paid
for, $50,000 contributed entirely by the U. D.C. but that
5700 remained in the hands of the treasurer with which
to erect a boulder to mark this trench. To this fund
South Carolina gave $2,794.54 being surpassed only by
Tennessee and Virginia. Perhaps it is interesting to
record that South Carolina had no troops in this battle.
This is probably the last great monument in stone that
the U. D. C. will build for many years to come, but it is
a fitting climax to a wonderful series of monuments that
the women of the South have built in honor and in com-
memmoration of the services and sacrifices of the. men
whose names they hold dearest in their hearts and in
their homes.

Another great co-operative work which’has engaged
our attention, but which demands increased interest on
the part of chapters is the Confederate Museum in Rich-
mond, the home of President Davis, now a storehouse
for things Confederate. The city of Richmond gave to
the Confederate Memorial Literary Society this build-
ing, one of the handsomest in the city. It has been
made as nearly fireproof ag it is possible for a building
to be. Twelve rooms and three large halls are used forA SHORT HISTORY OF S. C. DIVISION: U. D.

displaying all articles sent for presentation.

these rooms belongs to South Carolina, and w

have sent museum relics, documents, portraits, a
memorials, there is much yet to be done.

 

C. 5

One of
hile we
nd other

Thousands

of tourists register there every year, and remarkable is

the interest they show in these priceless treasures.
the library are more than 20,000 documents, well labeled

In

and easily handled, so that when the historian of the
South shall come he will find everything ready. The
association is striving to have each room endowed at a
cost of $3,000, thereby making its care a permanency.
South Carolina lacks almost $1,000 of the amount neces-
sary. Let every chapter make a contribution this year,
not only in memorials to the room, but in money for the

endowment.

Two years ago when the General U. D. C. decided to
place a Memorial Window to the Women of the South in
the beautiful Red Cross building in Washington, at a
cost of $5,000, again South Carolina did her share in

contributions amounting to more than 5300.

So much for our work abroad; what are some of the
things that we have been doing at home in these 21
years? What have we done for those who should be
the first object of our tenderest care, the Confederate
Veterans? Every chapter reports the care of needy Vet-
erans and their wives, of prime consideration. For

many years South Carolina had the stigma of p

roviding

no home for its infirm Veterans. Largely through our
interest, influence, and financial aid was the Confederate

Infirmary in Columbia made possible, a hom

e where

many a helpless and otherwise homeless Veteran is

spending his few remaining years in comfort.

At one

time when the fate of the Infirmary hung in the balance;
in fact, when the necessary appropriation had been lost

in the House of Representatives, in response to

B70. St

calls from friends of the measure in the Senate, the
Division President, Mrs. R. D. Wright, appeared before
the Senate Finance Committee, and through their help,

the Infirmary was saved, with the promise on her part6 A SHORT HISTORY OF S. C. DIVISION U. D. C.

 

that the Chapters furnish the interior of the home.
Within a few weeks more than $1,000 came in for this
purpose.

On living Veterans we bestow the Southern Cross of
Honor. The idea of bestowing the Cross originated with
Mrs. Mary Ann Cobb Erwin of Athens, and the design
was offered by Mrs. S. E. Gabbett, of Atlanta. The
S. C. Division had no such office as Recorder of Crosses
prior to 1907, so that the number of Crosses bestowed
by the chapters between the years 1900 and 1907 is not
recorded in the books of the Division, yet it was a large
number. At Greenville, Miss Mary B. Poppenheim, as
president, recommended the creation of this very neces-
sary office, and Mrs. T. W. Keitt was elected the first
Recorder of Crosses in the Division. Since that time
9,370 crosses have been recorded as they are bestowed.
After chapters have done all possible for these heroes
while they live, when they die, a laurel wreath tied with
the red and white is placed on their caskets, and mark-
ers are put over their last resting places.

In almost every town in the State, a monument, a
tablet, or a memorial blazons to the world Southern hero-
ism, and our devotion to this memory. Besides these
memorials of stone and bronze to our dead, we are build-
ing even greater ones of living monuments in the educa-
tion we are giving to the boys and girls of our State—
lineal descendants of Confederate Veterans. A step in
this direction was recommended by Miss Poppenheim,
President, at the Greenville Convention, when she ad-
vised, for a trial, a 8-year course for a girl in some wo-
man’s college in the State. The chapters saw, through
her direction, the wonderful possibilities for service in
this new field, and, from that one scholarship at Winthrop
the educational work has grown to be one of the most im-
portant in the division. In the 10 years of the Education
committee’s existence, 41 scholarships have been owned,
to the amount of $4,133. Some of these are given by the
Division, some by Districts, some by chapters, and one
by an individual. Since the committee on education hasA SHORT HISTORY OF S. C. DIVISION: U. D. C. 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

under its direction anything that helps schools, or school
attendance, or that will spread a knowledge of the Con-
federacy and the South, in adition to scholarships, they
report 165 prizes and medals at a value of $550. Libra-
ries have been assisted at an estimated value of $215,
with miscellaneous assistance to educational] purposes,
to the extent of $313; total expenditure in the Division
for educational purpose $5,505. But what are these dol-
lars compared with the influence of the boys and girls
who thus go out equipped for life’s paths? Miss Pop-
penheim organized the department and served as its
chairman for five years, Miss Armida Moses succeeded
her and continues to hold the chairmanship.

It was not until 1907 that work among the children
began to engage the interest of the chapters. Up to that
time there were two or three children’s chapters in the
Division, doing good work, notably the Bonnie Blue Flaz
of Anderson and the Beauregard of Sumter; but in that
year under the direction of Mrs. C. C. Featherstone five
auxiliaries were formed. Under Mrs. Leonidas Cam’s
guidance that number increased to 22. It was during
Mrs. Frances Pimberton’s chairmanship that the chil-
dren were first accorded an hour on the Division Con-
vention program, an hour that has given much pleasure
at each succeeding convention.

It was at the Edgefield Convention that the Division
moved to set aside $10 every year for a gold medal to the
member of a children’s chapter writing the best essay
on an assigned subject. This handsome medal was de-
signed by Miss Frances Fembertson, and the first one
was won by John Floyd of Newberry.

Under Mrs. J. S. Rhame, the present chairman the
children’s chapters now number 31, with a membership
of 801. Under competent directors from the parent
chapters, these children are being trained for efficiency
in the various lines of work that their mothers are en-
deavoring to do, and at the same time they are learning
many facts in Confederate history that they do not see
mentioned in the histories that are provided in the school8 A SHORT HISTORY OF S. C. DIVISION U. D. C.

 

curricula by boards of education composed of men who
seem entirely indifferent as to whether or not these books
do justice even to the South. The children’s chapters
have taken as their line of work the placing of a scholar-
ship in the Citadel Academy in Charleston.

Especially proud are we of the work that has been
done along: historical lines in the Division. This de-
partment was organized by Miss Poppenheim in 1889,
she serving as chairman for nine years. In’ 190382 at
Camden was the first time that an evening during a con-
vention was given over to an historical program. In fact
this was the second historical meeting ever held by a
Division, Texas being the first, Since then the second
night of the convention, ‘Historical Evening,” is always
one of pleasure and profit. South Carolina antedated
the General U. D. C. in this work by ten years. During
the years since 99, the labors of the committee have as-
humed various lines, making outlines of courses of study
for chapters, collecting Rolls of Honor and placing
bound copies of these in the Confederate Museum in
Richmond, placing Confederate pictures in schools, in-
specting histories, literature, and readers, preserving
historic flags, and filing and indexing hundereds of val-
uable original manuscripts. The Rose Loving Cup, a
much coverted prize was won by aS. C, Daughter, Mrs.
J. R. Vandiver, for the best essay on a given subject.
And the Raines Banner, for best historical work, was
won by S. C. under the Chairmanship of Mrs. C. McC.
Patrick. In 1917, all former records for original papers
have been broken, 450 being the number sent in this year.

In 1902 some of the leading spirits among the older
members who had lived the days of ’61-’65, felt that the
experiences of those years should be recorded before it
was too late. Through the efforts of three successive
chairmen Mrs. A. T. Smythe, Mrs. Thomas Taylor, and
Mrs. James Connor with able helpers, two volumes,
South Carolina Women in the Confederacy, came from
the press. The Division has done no greater historical

work than this.A SHORT HISTORY OF S. C. DIVISION U. D. C. 9

 

A few years ago when old Blandford Church at Peters-
burg, Va., was being restored through the efforts of
some devoted women there—the old church that was on
the firing line between Federals and Confederates, and
practically demolished—when this association of women
asked each Confederate State to take one of the windows
as a memorial to its dead who fell there, South Carolina
responded, and within 18 months after the Division had
so pledged itself, the entire amount necessary, $400, was
in the bank at Petersburg through the hard work of a
committee headed by Miss S. A. Smythe of Charleston.
Now South Carolina is recorded in that holy shrine by
this beautiful stained glass Tiffany Window.

In 1907 when a communication was received telling of
the neglected condition of the grave of Gen. Abner Per-
rin in Federicksburg, Va., than whom none braver ever
wore the gray, a soldier conspicious for gallantry in 27
battles, steps were at once taken for placing a suitable
marker over his grave. Miss May Robertson at Abbe-
ville was chairman of a committee that did this at a
cost of $150.

A few years ago the Division placed a large and strik-
ing portrait of Gen. Wade Hampton in the 8. C. room in
the Museum in Richmond. Sometime later the portraiv
of another peerless South Carolinian, Gen. Johnson Ha-
good, was unveiled by the Division in the State Capitol
in Columbia.

It was eight years ago at the Newberry Convention
that the president, Mrs. Robert D. Wright, recommended
the division of the State into districts, each to be under
the supervision of one of the vice-presidents, each dis-
trict in a small way, a replica of the Division. Under
the leadership of her successor, the splendid and capable
Mrs. August Kohn, this plan was worked out in detalii,
proving entirely practicable; so that now there are four
districts, located as their names imply—Piedmont, Fee
Dee, Ridge, and Kdisto, each accomplishing in its vari-
ous activities as much as the entire Division did in its

early years. When, not long after the close of Mrs.10 A| SHORT HISTORY OF/S. C. DIVISION U. D. C.

 

Kohn’s constructive term of office, we, her friends and
co-workers, stood with bowed heads and tear-dimmed
eyes, when the memorial to her beautiful life was read,
the recollection came to us that it was she who, from the
abundance of her loyal and sympathetic nature had pro-
posed at the Orangeburg Convention that one hour be set
aside at each convention to do honor to the memory of
our fellow-workers who had left us during the year.

A history of the Division would be incomplete with-
out a word about an interesting publication that for 14
years was our official organ. This was the Keystone,
published in Charleston, the owners and editors being
the Misses Poppenheim. Because of the fact that the
magazine went into nearly every chapter in the State,
communication between chapter presidents and Division
officers was comparatively easy. Much of the success in
the earlier years of the Division was due to the medium
of this paper.

And , now Daughters of the Confederacy of South
Carolina, truly our future seems spanned with the rain-
bow of promise and of great possibilities. For the sec-
ond time in the history of the Division, South Carolina
has come into her own, one of her Daughters entrusted
with the highest honor and the greatest responsibility in
the keeping of the General U. D. C. Then let us see to
it that the next two years are an epoch making period in
our Division, with every Daughter doing her very best,
with every chapter standing squarely behind our Presi-
dent General, thus making her own Division one to
which she may point with pride as being in the forefront
In every line of endeavor. We have added 400 new

names to our rolls this year; let 1918 see that number
doubled.

PART II.

 

1917-1928.

It was in Florence six years ago that the 8S. C. Divis-
ion passed the 21st milestone in its history; and, on His-A SHORT HISTORY OF S. C. DIVISION U. D. C. 11

 

torical Evening, there was presented to the Convention
an account in detail of the various activities that had
engaged the thoughts and energies of the chapters dur-
ing those years. That history showed that in every great
co-operative effort of the General organization, South
Carolina was always near the front. The Arlington, Shi-
loh and Davis Monument in Richmond, as well as in small-
er undertakings, the Memorial Window to the Women of
the South in the Red Cross Building in Washington, the
Memorial Windows in Blandford Church at Petersburg,
and the endowing of a room in the Confederate Museum
in Richmond. During those years the Division had set
an example along historical and educational lines that
other Divisions honored in following. When the 1917
convention adjourned at Florence to meet one year later,
little did those present dream that all plans would be al-
tered as a result of that dreadful scourge—influenza. So
great was the distress that prevailed and so strict were
the health regulations that only an Executive Committee
meeting was held in 1918. This was in Columbia; and,
with the approval of the President General, the Com-
mittee decided to call the convention to meet in April at
Darlington, subsequent to the General U. D. C. conven-
tion in Louisville.

Now let us turn back the pages of the records of these
six years and for a little while forget the present in re-
calling the past,

It was on that 21st anniversary that South Carolina’s
own Miss Mary B. Poppenheim made her first official ap-
pearance as President General of the United Daughters of
the Confederacy, having been elected without opposition,
at Chattanooga three weeks previous. Never before in the
23 years of the history of the General organization did a
President General face such tasks as confronted Miss
Poppenheim. But with the determination that by the
help of God and the co-operation of the Divisions, she
would overcome every obstacle, she bravely assumed the
responsibility with the result that, in addition to the al-
most unbelievable amount of War Relief accomplished,12 A SHORT HISTORY OF S. C. DIVISION U. D. C.

 

the organization not only wonderfully advanced in every
line of work already assumed: but, under her wise guid-
ance sustained by an exalted vision, advanced confident -
ly into new fields.

In April preceding the Florence convention, the U. S.
had entered the World War. The Division President,
Mrs. J. L. McWhirter, had at once profferred to Gover-
nor Manning the services of the Daughters of S. C. as a
Red Cross Unit, the offer being immediately accepted. In
this the Division has the honor of being the first organi-
zation of women in the state to offer for Service, It was
at Florence that a convention of Daughters heard for the
first time a report of its own activities as a Red Cross
Unit, Mrs. John Cart, Chairman.

Under instructions later from the General U. Di Cy the
president of every Division was empowered to appoint a
Director of War Relief to be assisted by a Committee
from the Division. These instructions were carried out
at Florence with the appointment of Mrs. R. D. Wright
as Director, with a Committee consisting of Mrs. Eugene
Buckingham, Mrs. A. G. Sinclair, Mrs. E. J. Adair, and
Mrs. L. D. Childs. Later Misg Alice Earle was appoint-
ed to fill the vacancy caused by the untimely death of
Mrs. Childs.

The first co-operative measure directed by the Gen.
U. D. C. was the endowment of beds jn the American
Military Hospital No. 1, near Paris, each bed to have a
brass plate bearing the name of a Confederate hero or
the descendant of one. The §S. C. Division was the first
to report funds in hand for a bed, named for Gen. Wade
Hampton. The endowments for 3 others quickly follow-
ed—one by the Ellenton Chapter; another by Mrs. J. L.
McWhirter in memory of her son, Lieut. Ernest Fripp
McWhirter ; and the 3rd, by the Carry On Club of Orange.
burg, thru the Division. Seventy beds, each with an an-
nual endowment of $600, represented the efforts of the
U. D. C. in this one phase of war work.

-Besides this, the Division Director was instructed to
keep a record of all work done by members in Red CrossA SHORT HISTORY OF S. ¢. DIVISION U. D. C. 13

Se

 

chapters and cantonments; to keep a record of Liberty
Bonds and War Saving Stamps bought and sold by chap-
ters and members; and to compile the Confederate lin-
eage of soldiers in the service. Of these there were re-
ported 270 sons, and 252 brothers-of chapter members.
This, however, is a meager report.

It was impossible to get reports from all chapters, but
those sent to the Committee showed totals in which ev-
ery one of us feels a glow of pride:

Liberty Bonds (not including Victory Loan)

boushihy (Maushiters), dus oveih sco wsvtriestc $396,000.09
Liberty Bonds (not including Victory Loan)

Sela. by Maagittens «wid ws A! yet tl wav Bes 460,000.00
War Savings Stamps bought by Daughters__ 174,000.00
War Savings Stamps sold by Daughters____ 147,000.06
Novot Hospital Garnaernteys ac) ise. 16,000
Nosotdinitted Garment: inns) odut 8,000

Besides these there were thousands of surgical dressings;
and $27,000 was reported in response to appeals for
Eastern People, support of orphans, etc.

When Miss Poppenheim left the Chairmanship of the
Gen. U. D. C. Educational Committee to assume the office
of Pres. Gen., she made a recommendation that showed
her confidence in the patriotism of Daughters of the Con-
federacy, viz., that the organization proceed at once to the
raising of $50,000 to be known as the “1917-1918 Hero
Fund,” the interest from which was to be used as schol
arships for returned soldiers, descendants of Confeder-
ate Veterans. Only a brave heart could inspire such a
vision at a time when war clouds were darkest, when ev-
ery woman was strung to the highest pitch to provide
for the physical comforts of our boys, It had taken %
years to raise this same amount for Arlington; 12 years
to raise $50,000 for Shiloh, and in neither case was the
country in the throes of war. How was the opportunity
met? It was just three years from the‘time the recom-
mendation was made, that, on the floor of the Gen. Con-
vention in Asheville, Mrs. St. J. A. Lawton, Pres. of the
Division, presented to the Treasurer General a check14 A SHORT HISTORY OF S. C. DIVISION U. D. C.

 

covering the remaining amount due on South Carolina’s
quota—the first Division to go over the top in this glor-
ious undertaking. It was a year later in the Convention
hall at St. Louis, on Armistice Day—the day on which
the body of the Unknown Soldier was to be laid in Ar-
lington—just as the Treasurer-General finished reading
her report announcing the last dollar of $50,000 in hand
for this Memorial to our boys—the clock struck the hour
that called a nation to prayer. $50,000 in four years!
That is what Daughters of the Confederacy can do when
it means equipping our boys and girls with educationc!
advantages.

After the efforts that had been put forth in War Re-
lief and in raising the Hero Fund, it would seem that
there would have been a rest period, but not so. At this
same St. Louis Convention, the Veterans came asking
that the U. D. C. take over from them and finish the
monument to Jefferson Davis at his birthplace in Ken-
tucky ; a work that their increasing years prevented their
finishing. The convention accepted the request—to com-
plete an obelisk to stand 376 feet—the highest shaft
in America except the Washington monument. In two
years South Carolina has contributed $1500 of the $30,-
000 asked for.

At the same convention, the authorities of Washing-
ton and Lee University, the one built during Gen. Lee’s
presidency of the University being entirely too small
for the assembling of even the student body. This, too,
the U. D. C. agreed to undertake. So much preliminary
work was necessary in the way of Committee confer-
ences with architects and University authorities that
only recently has an agreement been reached among all
concerned ; consequently the Division has not been urged
to contribute largely to this. However the chapters have
contributed to date nearly $1,000.

For 21 years, the delegates attending a Division con-
vention were not so many but that they could be accom:
modated in the homes of the hostess chapter or chap-
ters; but by 1917, the increasing number of chaptersA SHORT HISTORY OF §. C. DIVISION: U. D. C. 15

re ee ee ee
was such that Mrs. McWhirter, the retiring president,
recommended that hereafter the Division hold its con-
vention in some place centrally located and where dele-
gates might be accommodated at hotels. This plan has
been followed since and the result has proven the wisdom
of its sponsors.

For years the Division has worked towards complet-
ing the endowment fund for its room in the Confed-
erate Museum in Richmond. At first the amount was
$1,000 and when the completion of that was in sight, it
was increased to $3,000. Again when the goal was near
there was an increase to $5,000. However, under the
regency of Miss Alice Earle, of Columbia, who was ap-
pointed at the Greenville convention, the chapters have
been most generous in their contributions so that the
endowment is now complete.

The South Carolina room is a shrine which South Car-
olinians stopping in Richmond will visit.

Each Confederate State has a room in which the
precious mementos of the old South and especially of the
War Between the States are preserved. South Carolina’s
room is the first to the right on the second floor of the
handsome mansion.

The portrait of General Wade Hampton over the man-
tle was presented by the South Carolina U. D. C. through
that valiant leader, the late Miss Isabella D. Martin, of
Columbia. The portrait of Gen. M. C. Butler, promi-
nently in view in the above picture, was presented by
the M. C. Butler Chapter, U. D. C., of Columbia, of which
Mrs. U. R .Brooks is the president.

At the convention of 1920 through resolutions intro-
duced by Mrs. Sophie Swindell, a movement was launched
whereby the influence of the Division was brought to
bear upon the Legislature with the result that a law
passed that body providing for four Daughters of the
Confederacy to serve on a Board of nine members, hav-
ing under its supervision the affairs of the Confederate
Home in Columbia. Adequate appropriations have been
continued by the Legislature; chapters have respondedSOUTH CAROLINA ROOM IN CONFEDERATE MUSEUM.A SHORT HISTORY OF S. C. DIVISION: U. D. C. i

 

most generously when called upon, so that now the Home
is a matter for pride in the Division and to the State of
South Carolina.

It was at the Columbia Convention of 1919, that the
Cheraw Chapter reported its attention having been
called to the fact that, in Lee Hall in Richmond, among
the portraits of many Southern leaders, there was only a
small steel engraving of Gen. Wade Hampton. The Di-
vision at once took the matter in hand, a Committee was
appointed, and so successful were its efforts that at the
succeeding convention, Mrs. J. H. Kinsey, of Cheraw.
the charman, reported more than $800 in hand. The
artist selected was Miss Clara Barrett-Strait, of Lan-
caster. The portrait was displayed in Darlington for the
pleasure of the South Carolina Veterans at their Re-
union of Veterans and now hangs in the beautiful “Battle
Abbey” with all the portraits formerly in Lee Memorial
Hall.

A review of the Historical Department of the Division
shows that the Daughters of South Carolina are vitally
interested in everything pertaining to Southern History.
Each year they delve into old records, finding a valuable
bit here and another there, weaving these into a con-
crete whole, and filing them where others may use
the information. With the same painstaking care they
write hundreds of reminiscences recounted to them by
the men and women who lived before, during, and after
the ’60’s. Annually, valuable prizes are offered to adults
and to children to stimulate research and study. Dur-
ing the six years, Mrs. St. J. A. Lawton and Mrs. J. H.
West as Division Historians achieved remarkable results
through their enthusiasm, interest and energy, and this
past year Mrs. J. Frost Walker has spared neither time
nor effort to have South Carolina continue to lead along
historical lines. In the past six years there have been filed
historical lines. In six years there have been filed in fire-
in bookeases in the Library of the South Carolina Uni-
versity :

12 Vols. containing 912 original typed Historical18

A SHORT HISTORY OF S. C. DIVISION U. D. C.

   

 

papers.

12 Printed Volumes.

30 Historical Pamphlets.

6 Scrap Books.

59 Magazines,

15 Newspapers published during the War Between the

States.

These are easy of access to anyone desiring informa-
tion at first hand.

The Historical report of 1923 is given below because
it gained for South Carolina the niche of one of the “Big
4” States in U. D. C. historical work:

Number

99

bs

9

99
9?
99

99

of Typewritten Pages

9?

9?

99

99

99

SOUTH CAROLINA DIVISION
RAINES BANNER REPORT

Written Pages
Frinted Pages 96 and 1000 clippings

or 4 Scrap Books
Essays in Schools and State Contests_-_-_
Essays Received for U. D. C. Contests
Essays sent to Historian General
Pictures placed in Schools during Year
War Relics collected during year
Books placed in Libraries during year

145, Pamphlets 565, total
Granite Markers erected during year

£3, iron 139, Total
Medals given to schools during year __-
Reminiscences secured during year __-
Scholarships secured during year
Historical Meetings held during year_-_

Four State Flags presented ;

History of South Carolina Division brought up to date;

Division Year Book (with Confederate History pro-
grams) distributed, two to each Chapter ;

Yearly file of “Confederate Veteran” preserved ;

Complete Book-Case of Confederate History kept in

State University ;

230

710

152
27
465
16
175A SHORT HISTORY OF S. C. DIVISION U. D. C. 19

 

Historical Evening at State Convention;

One Chapter Historian has one hour at Public Schools
twice a month for Historical Work;

Set of “Southern Literature” presented by a Chapter
Member to Public Library; also Hall’s Bible Stories—5
volumes;

One Chapter is acting as distributor of 107 Rutherford
Pamphlets sent by Miss Carter of Virginia;

On account of original writing being hard to read,
practically all contributions of War Letters, etc., (ex-
cept real relics) have been typed.

A very valuable contribution to Confederate History
was made when Gen. C. I. Walker rescued from oblivion
many facts in the life of South Carolina’s ranking Con-
federate General, Richard Heron Anderson, and pre-
sented them in convenient and tangible form. The His-
torical Department was privileged to assist to the ex-
tent of making possible the publication of Gen. Walker’s
book entitled “The Life of Gen. Richard H, Anderson.”

Besides these enumerated lines of work, the Histori-
cal Committee has labored in season and out of season
that our children shall be taught correct Southern His-
tory. Errors in school histories have been pointed out.
Earnest efforts were put forth by the Historical Com-
mittee to influence the State Board of Education in its
adoption of books in 1922. Lists of objectional books
have been given wide publicity, a Catechism of South
Carolina Confederate History has been compiled, books
and pamphlets on Southern subjects have been placed
in public libraries, acceptable books substituted for
objectional ones in many instances. Our Division has
had the opportunity to contribute books to the
History Department of the Ottawa Public Li-
brary, to that of the Sorbonne in Faris, and to the Ox-
ford University Library. A matter for congratulation
is that when the professor of American History in Ox-
ford wanted recently a set of John C. Calhoun’s works,
he knew at once to whom to make the appeal; and the
S.C. Division President, Mrs. C. J. Milling, had the priv-20 A SHORT HISTORY OF S. C. DIVISION U. D. C.

 

ilege of presenting to the Historian General at the Wash-
ington Convention the complete works of South Caro-
lina’s greatest statesman, to be placed in the Oxford
Library.

Not only have the Daughters of South Carolina done
fine historical work at home, but some of them have
brought back trophies from the General U. D. C. The
beautiful Rose Loving Cup has come this year for its
fifth time. Miss Armida Moses, Mrs. J. R. Vandiver,
Mrs. Nellie Elierbe for two consecutive years, and Miss
Marion Salley are the Daughters to whom the Division
is indebted for this honor. In 1922, Miss Marion Jones, of
Newberry, won the Anna Robinson Andrews medal for
the best review of “The Women of the South in War
Times.” At Washington Mrs. E. J. Burch was awarded
second prize in the contest for filing the greatest number
of records of World War Soldiers.

The South Carolina Division has tried very hard to
bestow a Southern Cross of Honor on every one of its
soldiers of the ’60’s. The total so far is 9229. Each year
the number bestowed has grown smaller; and now when
it seems that the Daughters have just about completed
this mark of honor for Veterans, plans are perfected for
presenting to each son and grandson of these heroes
of ’61-’65, a Cross of Service that shall tell to the
world that he proved himself in the service of his coun-
try, a worthy descendant of a noble sire, fighting in
Flanders Field, in the Argonne, at Belleau’ Wood, or
along the Hindenberg line, just as that Confederate fath-
er or grandfather had fought at Spottsylvania, Chicka-
mauga, Gettysburg, or the Wilderness. When this in-
signia for World War Heroes was first announced, South
Carolina pledged itself for 2000 Crosses of the first in-
stallment—beyond the pledge of any other Division.

The Chapters of the Division have done fine work in
trying to place the records of the Confederate Soldiers
of this State where they will be available for reference
in years to come. In the Confederate Museum in Rich-
mond there are now 68 volumes of “Rolls of Honor” ofA SHORT HISTORY OF S. C. DIVISION UuD: €. 21

 

South Carolina soldiers, each, volume containing 200
records, making a total of 13,600 named with records
on file. Under the enthusiastic leadership of. Mrs. W. H.
Herndon, additional rolls are being sent to Richmond
every year. : |

Up to this time there have been filed in the Director’s
office the complete records of 675 lineal descendants of
Confederate Veterans .entitling each to a Cross of
Service to be bestowed on January 14, January 19, June
3, September 27, and November 11, representing respec-
‘tively the birthdays. of Gen. Lee, Matthew Fontaine
Maury, President Davis, Admiral Raphael Semmes, and
Armistice Day. |

The work of training our children in Chapters. of
their own has increased from year to year to the extent
that the 3rd Vice President General is also now Director-
General of the C. of C.—an entire department of the
General organization devoted to this, with its head a
member of the Executive Board. The fruit from this
planting is now being gathered, many of these girls
passing to the mother chapters at the age of 18, in other
cases organizing chapters of their own. Notable among
these is the J. F. J. Caldwell, of Newberry, its member-
ship being composed almost entirely of girls trained in
the Dickert-Schumpert Chapter, C. of C. The children,
too, of the South Carolina Division have brought home
prizes from the General organization—Agnes Morgan
Rice of Union and Gabrief McCall of Darlington medals
for the best essays on given subjects; and Elizabeth Lott
of Edgefield, $15 as second prize for answers to a list of
historical questions.

Under Miss Miss Poppenheim’s Chairmanship of edu-
cational work in the Division, South Carolina long ago
set the pace along this line for other Divisions; and
under the leadership of Miss Armida Moses, Miss Mary
Williams and Mrs. P. C. Brunson, the scope has ever
widened. Besides the Division’s contribution to the Hero
Fund, mentioned before, during these six years we have
contributed $20,000 in scholarships alone for boys and22 A SHORT HISTORY OF S. C. DIVISION U. D. C.

 

girls of Confederate lineage. No monument of marble
or bronze can compare with that. Besides these scholar-
ships, 42 historical pictures, valued at $209, have been
placed in schools, 352 books, valued at $569, have been
contributed to libraries, 181 prizes and medals, valued at
$1200, have been bestowed for excellence along various
educational lines.

It was also during the epoch-making administration
of Miss Poppenheim as President General that the Gen-
eral U. D. C. accepted a suggestion made to them by Dr.
Matthew Page Andrews, the historian, that, as a
memorial to our mothers and grandmothers—the Women
of the ’60’s—the U. D. C. publish a volume of sketches
and reminiscences of these women, setting forth to the
world the sacrifices and deprivations suffered by these
women as well as their heroic efforts in being of service
to those at the front. The book was published under the
title “Women of the South in War Times,” and its distri-
bution has been phenomenal—not only have thousands of
copies been sold in the United States, but people on every
continent, even Australia and Africa, have been given
an opportunity to read these books in their leading
libraries. Miss Marion Salley, South Carolina’s Dis-
tributor for the book, has been so enterprising that last
year she was awarded the handsome hand-tooled leather
bound copy offered each year by Mr. Norman of Balti-
more to the Division that leads in sale of books; and
again for 1923, Miss Salley wins the prize in this work.

For several years Committees in the States through
which the Jefferson Davis Highway will pass have been
at work under the direction of a General U. D. C. Com-
mittee looking to the completion of an all-the-year route
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, named for the only pres-
ident of the Confederate States. This year, under the
chairmanship of Miss Leila Shannon of Camden, the
South Carolina Highway Commission has thus officially
designated Route No. 50, from Cheraw to Columbia,
and Route No. 12, from: Columbia to North Augusta.
U. D. C. Chapters have contributed liberally to the fundPPAR Se AS

 

JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY BOULDER
At Columbia, S. C., Erected by Columbia U. D. C.24 A SHORT HISTORY OF S. C. DIVISION U. D. C.

for marking the route. The three Columbia Chapters,
namely, “Wade Hampton”, “M. C. Butler” and “Colum-
bia” have placed a handsome six-foot granite boulder,
properly inscribed, to mark the location of the Highway
in our Capital City.

Of all the delightful experiences enjoyed by South Car-
olina Daughters, in connection with the recent conven-
tion in Washington, none equalled the trip to Petersburg
and the exercises in connection with the unveiling of
their Boulder to commemorate the heroism and sacrifice
of the 250 South Carolinians who lost their lives in the
Crater. The placing of this Boulder—made of Winns-
boro, S. C., granite—is the realization of an earnest de-
sire that has possessed the heart and mind of Mrs. C. J.
Milling ever since she was elected president of the Di-
vision two years ago. However, agitation of this subject
was begun several years ago by the Ellison Capers Chap-
ter of Florence, a fund being set aside for the purpose.
Let us record our sincere appreciation and thanks to this
Chapter and to Miss Armida Moses, the chairman, and t«
Mrs. C. J. Milling, for their untiring efforts in this con-
summation of a long-deferred honor to South Carolina’s
noble dead-—the first Confederate State to place a marker
on this historic spot. On the bronze tablet, at. the left
of which appears the emblem of the U. D. C., is the fol-
lowing inscription ;

ON THIS HILL FOR ONE MONTH
SOUTH CAROLINA TROOPS GUARDED THE ENTRANCE
TO PETERSBURG AND HERE JULY 30, 1864
SUFFERED DEATH FROM A MINE EXPLODED BY THE FEDERALS
HERE THE SURVIVING CAROLINIANS
UNDER THE COMMAND OF
STEPHEN ELLIOTT
BY THEIR VALOR
™URNED A DREADFUL DISASTER INTO A GLORIOUS VICTORY
Erected by
The South Carolina Division
United Daughters of the Confederacy
1923hoses
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“°26 A SHORT HISTORY OFS. C. DIVISION U. D. C.

In these six years, our Division has had continuous
representation on the Executive Board of the General
me: Dea.
The year that closed Miss Poppenheim’s term as Pres-
ident General saw South Carolina receive recognition in
‘that one of its members, Mrs. R. D. Wright, was elected
Recording Secretary General, which position she held for
three years. At the expiration of her term, Mrs, St. J.
A. Lawton was elected Historian-General. Mrs. Lawton
‘enjoys a distinction unique among the. 75,000 Daughters
‘of the Confederacy, in that she has been honored with
the presidency of two Divisions—of Virginia when she
was Miss Ruth Jennings, and of South Carolina as Mrs.
Lawton. In addition to these officers, South Carolina
furnished for two years of this time a most efficient
Chairman of Education—the Committee of greatest im-
portance in the General U. D. C.—Miss Armida Moses;
and when Miss Moses resigned that position she was
made Chairman of another General Committee—the
Award of a University Prize Essay. At present, too,
South Carolina is honored with the editoriship of the
U. D. GC. Department of the Confederate Veteran, Mrs.
R. D. Wright entering upon her second year in this posi-
tion. |
And now that we have passed in review the outstand-
ing features of six more years work, with 9,864 South
Carolina registered members to our credit, in an organi-
zation that has registered 100,307 bona fide members
what are our impressions? Have we done the best pos-
sible under the circumstances? Or might we have ac-
‘complished more? Whether or not the individual chap-
ters have done their very best, certain it is that the record
is one in which we may feel pardonable pride, and the
accomplishments such as will spur us to greater effort

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