The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-08-11
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
His Professional and Official Career
His Record as u Soldier.

His Record as Il ldi
Copied from the Cyclopedia of Eminent and
Represen tative Men of the Carolinas:
or the many prominent representative men
OF South Carolina, few. II any, have played a
more conspicuous part In the late history Of
the old Palmetto state than Judge Samuel
MCGOWAN. OF Abbeville. who has distinguish
ed himself alike as a soldier, lawyer, Jurist,
and Judge. and who now occupies an honored
place on the supreme bench OF that state.
Samuel MCGOWAN was born OF Scotch-1rish
parents in Laurens county, =. c., on October
9th, 1919. He graduated with distinction In
at Abbeville with his friend, Col. T. c. Perrin,
who at once took him into partnership and
Invited him to share equally his large prac-
tice. He soon gave promise OF being distin,
guished In his profession. but In 1916, filled
with the fire Of patriotism, he entered the IA
nous Palmetto regiment, and started for the
Mexican war as q private soldier.
HIS RECORD IN MEXIco.
He was, soon after enlistment, relieved
from that position by the president OF
the United States (James K. Polk, who 40.
pointed him on the general q~uartermaster's
In which capacity he served for the whole
war-tirst on the staff of Gen. Quitman, and
after successfully on that OF Gen. Worth
and Gen as TWiggs. Of the e regular ECU army; He
the storming Of Chepultapec and The capture
of the GariLa de Belen leading into the city
Of Mexico, and was complline1ted for bis gal
liant services on that occasion. After the
treaty OF Guadalupe Hidalgo, which termi-
mated the war, he returned and resumed the
practice OF the law with Mr.. Perrin, at Able.
Vile. He married the eldest daughter OF
Judge D.. l.. Wardlaw, OF that town acquired
an excellenta and lucrative practice; became
major-general of the first division Of South
Carolina militia, and represented The old dis
trict of Abbeville for twelve consecutive
years in the lower house of the state legisla-
t%ure-part of the time being chairman OF the
committee on education, and part as chair.
man Of the committee on the military, en-
bracing a supervision OF the affairs OF the
state military academy.
AS A CONFEDERATE OLDER.
On the secession Of South Carolina, in 1850.
ten volunteer regiments Of Infantry were
fense, and divided into four brigades. The
subject Of sketch was appointed by Gov.
Pickens TO the OF one OF these
brIgades, and In that capacity he assisted
Gen. Beauregard In the capture of Fort Sum-
ter, in April, 1861. Soon after this, his state
commission, lapsing by the transfer OF his
command 10 Confederate service, he Joined
Brig.-Gen. Bonham, at Centrevillc, Va, as
aide de camp. and served with him in the
battles or Bull Run and Manassas Plains.
Immediately after these battles be returned
to South Carolina, where he Was elected lieu
tenant-colonel Of The Fourteenth South Caro-
lima volunteers. In the spring of 1862, on the
coast Of South Carolina, Col. James Jones,
the commander of the regiment (Fourteenth),
resigned his commission, and Lieut.-Col. Nc
Gowan was promoted TO the colonelcy. Soon
after he carried his regiment TO Virginia and
thenceforth 1t became an integral part OF the
famous army OF northern Virginia.
BATTLES BEFORE RICHMOND.
Colonel MCGOWAN was In all the battles
around Richmond In which his regiment was
engaged. He was wounded ut Cold Haroor,
but did not leave his regiment until after the
subsequent battle OF Malvern Hills. He was
recommended for promotion by Gen. Gregg,
for his gallantry In these battles. In his Of
fetal report OF the battle OF Cold Harbor,
Gen. Gregg says: THE Fourteenth regiment,
the moment 1t was 80 greatly needed, stopp-
Ing the fire of Crenshaw's battery Tor a short
time. To allow a passage through the guns, l
ordered the Fourteenth forward. Tired az
they were by two days and three nights oil
outpost duty, and by a rapid march under a
burning sun, they recovered strength at once
and advanced, with u cheer, at the double
quick. Leading his regiment to the right OF
the Thirteenth, across the hollow, Col. Nc
Gowan arrived just In time To repulse The ad-
vancing enemy, and prevent them from es-
tablishlng a battery on the edge OF the open
ground on the brow of the hill. The Four
teenth maintained its position gallantry to
the end OF the battle" etc.
TRIBUTES FROM BROTHER OFFICERS.
General Hill says of the same battle: "Des-
peTal6 DuG uudNdllluB dLleupts W IOlCo Iuo
enemy's position were made. The Four
teenth South Carolina, Col. MCGOWAN thav-
ing hurried up from pickle duty on the other
side Of the Chickahominy and arriving In the
thick OF the hghtl, made several daring
charges" At Frazier's Farm, Gen. Hill says:
T b brigade of Gen. Featherstone having be-
come very much scattered and forced back.
Col. MCGOWAN, of the Fourteenth South Caro-
lima, retrieved our ground"
BECAME BRIGADIER-GENERAL.
Colonel MCGOWAN was In the campaign Of
Cedar Run and that of Second Manassas, In
which last battle hs was wounded. Return
ing 10 his regiment in the autumn, he remain
ed with 1t during the march from the valley,
and was present at the battle OF Fredericks-
burg, where Gen. Gregg, commanding the
brigade, was killed. Col. McGowan's regi.
ment being q part OF the brigade, he was ap-
pointed brigadier-general until the end OF the
war, being several times wounded and very
severely, especially at the battle Of Chancel-
louisville and In the bloody angle at Spottsyl'
vauia Court House.
THE promotion Of Col. MCGOWAN was very
complimentary to him, as 1t was made with
out any special application, and there were
other gallant officers In the brigade who
ranked him. After AppoInatox Gen. Nc
Gowan returned home, and again resumed
the practice of the law at Abbeville with
William H. Parker, Esq, and this partner