Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1912-05-08
Sketch of Gov. Milledge L
Bonham.

Ok6CCn Oh AOV. NAnlCdSS As
Bonham.
James Bonham, the father of NJ.
L. Bonham came from Maryland
to Edgefeld and settled near the
river in what is now Saluda county,
during the early part of the nine
teenth century.
His mother was Sophia Smith, a
grand daughter of that Jacob Smith
I think, who settled and named
Mount Willing. She was woman
of great culture and refinement, of
rare intelligence from whom her
noted son and her hardly less noted
grandson, the present Gen. Milledge
Bonham, have doubtless, inherited
their intellectual ability. A woman
noted for the extraordinarily fine,
even old world manners. She was
very old when 1 knew her, but 1
never saw her lacking in any of the
little essential of a lady. She lived
here with her son, Gov. Bonham
until she died.
Milledge L. Bonham was the
youngest son of his parents. He
was considered a very plous young
man and even used to preach. I
remember him we'll, man of fine
personality and of a striking militia
ry bearing.
In the 25th year of his age he
graduated at the South Carolina
College, read law and became while
still young man very successful
practitioner at the Edgefeld bar.
He was made one of the circuit So,
licitors and was a member of con-
gress when the state of South Caro-.
lima seeded. He was created a
Brigadier General in the Confeder,
ate army, was elected to the Con
federate Congress in Richmond
then Governor of his state to sue
ceed Francis w. Pickens and held
that position for two years during
the war. After the war he held
different public Offices and died
while in the service of his state.
1t is of Bonham as military mar
and as a brigade commander that
wish to write.
He had been military man, had
fought against the Seminoles in
Florida in 1885. Had served in the
United States army in Mexico as
Colonel in command of regiment,
so it seemed but natural that at the
first call to arms for the defense of
the principles of his state he should
have responded, and no less natural
that the Powers behind the Confed-
crate army should have singled him
out to be one of their Brigade lead
ers. So, in 1861 he was placed in
charge of a Brigade composed of
the second, third, seventh and eighth
regiments of South Carolina volun-
teers. This body Of soldiers did
valiant service around Charleston
and in Virginia in the first battle
of Manassas.
After the battle of Manassas he
was cleo ted member of the Confed-
crate congress at Richmond 1861.
He was Governor from ls62-ls64,
during which time he showed great
interest in the Confederate cause
and in sending soldiers from South
Carolina to fight in Virginia and
Mississippi.
He has been somewhat criticized
for this because he had a great bat
tie in progress in his own state at
that time. The Federal army was
trying with all their might and
main, both on land and at sea to
capture Charleston, in which at
tempt they were never successful. 1t
was not until Sherman's great army
came over from Georgia that the
Confederates withdrew from Char.
lesion. Bonham throughout all
these trying times proved himself a
War Governor indeed. Cheering
on his countrymsn while they fought
and died."
Proud Edgefeld! lift thy banner
high!
Shout loud through ages hoary
Give echo to the song that sWeils.
Of all thy we'll earned glory!
4 IIL lxa