The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1919-12-17
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and Of such ia Clarendon's history
made up.
A desire to bring this sketch with
the bounds Of limited length pre-
cludes my enlarging upon that perior
which perhaps plays the NEST i'm
portant part in the history of our
county and twon. The five years
from 1860 to 1866, were important
years, perhaps the most important
that the past, the present, or future
generations for centuries to come will
ever witness, and the result Of those
five years. struggle has since been,
and is today being felt by the peo-
pie Of the eouAty. Clarenaon County
and the Town OF Manning were not
wanting in making history then.
Many noble sons, inspired by that
patriotism which is only known
among Southerners and Carolinians,
sacrificed their all upon the altar Of
their country, and gace their lives for
patriotic sons Of Clarendon gave
noble services to a beloved but lost
cause, and through the wisdom of an
unerring Providence were spared
their lives to return and serve their
people and their county in places of
honor. Clarendon furnished several
gallant companies to the Confederacy.
The Manning Guards, for instance,
formed part of the Hampton Le-
gion, and was captained by that noble
young patriot, who was gallant al
most unto observation-disclosures
Manning-with G. Allen Huggins
and John Haynesworth RS first and
second lieutenants. They did splen-
did service, and upon many battle
fields did the deeds Of this command
reflect the bravery and the patriotism
Of their town and county. Let the
sons and daughters Of members of
this noble command ever cherish
their memory.
The organization known as Keel's
Company also contained some of
Clarendon's young men who we're
willing to volunteer for their country's
cause, but perhaps the largest COM
battle TO rthe cause which was finally
lost was Company l., Of the 23rd
Regiment. This gallant command was
usually full to the limit. It was made
up principally Of the sturdy yeomany,
which is the bone and sincw of the
land itself. Its first captain when
organized for active service was H.
L. Benbow, with H. H. Lesesne, r.
B. Harvin and Thomas N. Slawson as
first, second and third lieutenants,
respectively. Our townsman, Capt.
Bradham, was orderly sergeant. Be-
ing in possession Of a lot of war re-
cords, the writer could elaborate upon
this command with perhaps interest,
but must forbear. Many promotions
were made from its ranks from the
beginning to the close of the war.
At its close Capt. Benbow was Col
onel OF the regiment; Liuetenant
Lcsesne was Major Of the card, and
Lieutcnants Harvin and Slawson had
received deserved promotions or
were transferred to other posts of
service. Sergeant Bradham having
service upon the field, had rendered
services at home among the reserves.
On the 9th Of April 1865, when the
officers of this command, with the
immortal Lee at Appomottox, gave
up their swords and yielded to a
force only superior in numbers, they
were followed by many of Claren-
don's noble sons. All honor to their
bravery! All praise to their noble
service! All glory to their chivalry!-
They had won for Manning, for Clar-
endon, and for Carolina a noble dis
tinction, and one which we, as their
sons and their daughters, should ever
cherish in hallowed remembrance.
The Town of Manning was named
in honor of Governor John l.. Man
ming and its age almost simultaneous
with that of the county. 1t has much
history. Granny's Hill, near the old
graveyard just back Of the Thames
place at the head Of Brooks street,
was the home Of an old woman by
the name of Granny Ridgeway, and
was a small settlement when the
town was built. 1t has been trad
itionally said that the place was so
healthy that Granny had to move
away before she would die, and per-
haps this helps to account for the
health of our delightful town. 1t is
also said that many decades ago, in
colonial times IAN Englishman, whose
name is not now known, made a set
tlement near where is now the cem-
etery. But the oldest house stand
ing in town is the Dickson house.
This place was cleared up by the
Ridgeways, and the house was built
by Capt. Burgess. The two Drs.
Huggins came here at the beginning
or soon after the town was COM
menced, and DR.. Allen Huggins set
tied what is now the Levi place. Mr..
Levi built what was the original
Rigby house, and DR.. Dinkins lived