The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-05-29
MONUMENT
TO THE SLAVES.
A NOTABLE UNWILLING AT FORT
MILL.
Captain Samuel f. Whites Patriotic
DonatiOns-rO the Women aud the
Slaves OF the South.


The first company organized for what
was afterwards tho Confederate army,
was the York County Guards, of York
County, South Carolina, which was
organized in 1850, even before seces-
sion, and when that command marched
to the front there was in it, as u young
lieutenant, Samuel E. White, of Fort
Mill, who left behind him on the old
plantation, those who were near est and
dearest to him, under tho protection
OF the slaves in the quarter. And
Thursday, as token of his apprecia-
tion Of their fidelity to their trust,
there was unveiled ON the brow of II
hill to the left OF the main street of tho
thriving little town Of Fort Mill,
which, since tho war, he has made his
home, n monument of pure marble,
erected by him to the faithful slaves of
the South, and near it, little higher
up the hill, r"lother to the noble women
OF the South, to whom they were so
loyal.
Captain White, who Is one of tho
most patriotic of Carolina's sous con-
ceived the idea of erecting these nor
uments some months ago, and began
quietly making arrangements for put
ting his project into effect. But his
efforts to make the matter only a quiet
neighborhood one were frustrated by
the people who heard of it, and hailed
it with such enthusiasm that when the
proceedings were opened there was
present one of the largest crowds ever
assembled in Fort Mill, among which
were prominent many of the comrades
of Captain White, who came from far
and near to testify their approval of
his generous act ind be found himself,
to his surprise, tho idol of the occa-
sion.
The proceedings of the day were
opened with prayer at the First Pres
byterian Church 10y the Rev. DIR. j. III.
Ihornwell, chaplain of the Jefferson
Davis Memorial Association, who,
with m eloQuence and fervcncy that
are peculiar to him, invoked the divine
blessings on the occasion.
The roll of the Jefferson Davis Me-
mortal association was read, and then,
amid an awed and sacred silence, tho
roll of the dead heroes who lie in the
Fort Mill cemetery was called. y pro.
cession was then formed to the Gene
terry, where floral tributes were laid
upon the graves of those who have
gone to join Lee and Jackson and Hill
and Bragg and the knightly Stuart and
the gallant Pelham" in the eternal
camping ground beyond the river.
The audience having assembled
by now, the young ladies representing
the Confederacy, sang "Old South
State" at the conclusion of which DR..
Thornwell advanced to the front OF the
stand, and presented to Captain White,
IN the name of the ladies' OF the Me-
mortal association, the flag of the First
South Carolina cavalry, which was or
ganiZed III 1850, reading ut the same
time the resolutions from the Indies
and the ex-slaves expressing their APP
probation Of the tribute which he had
paid them.
Captain White was unprcpared for
this. He had not put it down on the
programme, but it did not find him
without ready and touching reply.
He said that thanks were not due to
him, but to God, who had given him
the means and put into his heart the
idea.
The two monuments were then I'M
veiled simultaneously, SIX of the ladies'
of the assoclation drawing the cords OF
the Confederate WOmen's monument,
and six gray haired ex slaves, uncoy-
ering that which had been erected in
memory of their loyalty and trustworth-
iness. These four were: Jim Springs,
Nelson White, Warren White and
Simon Thompson-four hard and
wrinkled veterans who seemed deeply
affected, but proudly conscious Of the
honor imposed upon them.
The Womnn's monument bears tho
following inscriptions, one on each of
its four sides
1895.
Respectfully donated
by
Samuel +. White,