The South Carolinian Campaign: Part 6
After the fall of Franklinburg, no major battles took place in South Carolina. DeRensis’ Grand Army of Pennsylvania and Maryland arrived in Franklinburg on June 26, 15 days after the Battle of Camden. It had taken several days to bury all of the bodies, and afterwards DeRensis had given his remaining 24,000 men a well deserved rest. A slow march south signified the “Pennsylvania Gamecock’s” less than eagerness for talking to the man who had stolen his military glory. When he did arrive, Taylor didn’t take long to show his off his victory. The city was his, and he still had 40,000 men.
General Wade Hampton III of South Carolina
On the South Carolinian side, things were desperate. Hampton had left Camden with only 7,000 men, a bloodied, broken army. With Taylor outside Franklinburg, Hampton had the chance to assault his rear. But he chose against this; his men were tired and would not risk it. He marched further south to St. Mathews, arriving there on June 17. After his men made camp, Hampton walked onto a poorly made platform. There he gave a speech that has gone down as one of the most famous of the war:
“Men, its been a long war. It’s been a tough war. You have fought bravely and proudly for your country. You are a special group. You have found in one another a bond that exists only in combat. You’re all brothers here. You’ve shared trenches, held each other in dire moments. You’ve seen death and suffered together more than any man should. But as much as it pains me, I must ask a little more.
I was appointed to lead this army by President Francis Marion IV. At the time we numbered over 50,000 strong. That time seems like a long lost dream, but it was in fact only ten months ago. Since then we have won battles and we have lost battles. And now our capital has fallen. But the war is not over. President Marion remains safe. More than half the country remains free. Most importantly, we remain. And brothers, I have no mind to surrender just yet.
I know not what others may do, but I am going to fight on till this war is over, win or lose. The choice is yours; follow me, or go back to your homes; or at least what remains of them. You will be given two days rations, and be allowed to keep your arms and your horses. You have fought bravely and honorably, and you should feel no shame in leaving. Or you can stay and see the end of the war by my side.”
All in all, roughly 200 men left the camp the next morning. The rest stayed; that same day, Bonham’s army of 10,000 arrived in St. Mathews. Together, the South Carolinians numbered 17,000 men. There would be no more reinforcements. Marion was in an undisclosed location in the wilderness, along with Chief Minister Robert Rhett. More Americans marched into South Carolina everyday to begin the long occupation that would follow. Disheveled, broken, abandoned, and alone, but still united behind the Snake Flag, General Wade Hampton led his men over the South Carolinian-Georgian border on July 1.
American General John F. Reynolds
Since being separated from DeRensis’ main force in late May, General John F. Reynolds and his corps of 30,000 had been going roughshod over the South Carolinian landscape. The corps formed a long line of men sweeping across the land, planting the American flag wherever they appeared. On July 2, part of his army, roughly 500 cavalry, arrived outside Charleston. Their orders were to scout out positions for the next battle to capture the port city which had famously been American for a day the previous year. That means it came as a shock when upon seeing them, the city surrendered without a shot. With the capital fallen and Marion unseen for so long, the leaders of the city agreed to surrender as long as the city was spared destruction. Reynolds agreed to their terms, and marched into the city victorious on July 7.
American Marshal Zachary Taylor shortly before his death.
Unfortunately, Marshal Taylor never received word of this victory. For the past week he had been suffering some stomach ailments, and eventually had taken to the sick bed. Doctors had several guesses at what it might be, ranging from cholera to dysentery. Whatever it was, it was too much for the old man; Zachary Taylor died on July 9, at the age of 65. Rumors immediately spread that he had been poisoned; he was old, but he had always been so strong and fit. And of course his biggest rival, Marshal DeRensis, had only recently arrived in the city. Not only that, but Taylor had stolen DeRensis’ prize victory, received credit from the capital, and been appointed Governor-General of South Carolina. No one had the gaul to mention anything to DeRensis’ face of course, but behind his back they whispered all the same. He showed remorse at Taylor’s passing, saying the URAS had lost “one of its most skilled commanders.” It did not help the situation when word reached Franklinburg that the Duke of Winterfell was now the new Governor-General. Modern historians don’t give much credence to the assassination theory; Taylor was old, the disease was clearly real, and there were too many holes in claiming DeRensis was the killer. Not to mention Taylor’s fate had ultimately been at the fault of his doctors, who bled him to death attempting to cure his stomach ailment. After consulting with his family, it was decided that Marshal Taylor would be buried in Franklinburg, the site of his death and greatest military victory.
American Marshal Hunter DeRensis. Despite the war only being a year old, the harsh fighting and stress of command had taken its toll on the 72 year old DeRensis.
Following his new appointment, DeRensis got to work. All land that was once known as the Democracy of South Carolina was now under the control of the American Army (at least on paper). A curfew was put in place for 7:30 pm, and South Carolinian citizens had to keep army issued identification cards at all times. When found, rifles were to be seized; the South Carolinians were allowed to keep their pistols. Searches could take place at any time. All those arrested would be put before military tribunals and given the proper sentence. Except in the case of taking up arms against the American government. If three witnesses could prove that a person had attacked or threatened an American soldier or military property, they would be sentenced to death on the spot and hanged. Anti-American speech or literature was banned, and reading, possessing, or distributing such material was a crime. The Grand Army of Virginia was put on occupation duty, and Joseph E. Johnston was raised to the rank of Marshal to command it.
Native South Carolinian Andrew Butler, Chief Minister to the Governor-General of South Carolina
DeRensis decided that it would be best to have a civilian advisor. That was why he appointed Andrew Butler as the first Chief Minister to the Governor-General of South Carolina on August 3. A long title, but the Marshal thought it was necessary. The new Chief Minister (using the same title as the one in the old South Carolinian government) would act a representative to the South Carolinian people. He would act as their voice, and give advice to the Governor-General. The Chief Minister was appointed, and could be dismissed at any time. Butler was 54 years old, and had a long history in the South Carolinian government. He had acted as an advisor and a judge. An ardent advocate of slavery, Butler had also favored the war against the URAS. He had fled along with the rest of the government out of Franklinburg, but had willingly surrendered after the fall of the capital. He had agreed that the war was lost, and believed it was his duty as a patriot to make the coming occupation as painless as possible. Everyone else considered him a traitor, but DeRensis considered him a brave man for accepting his offer.
Robert Rhett, the last official Chief Minister of the Democracy of South Carolina
While Butler’s star was rising, his counterpart’s was falling. On September 2, a dozen American patrols on horseback came across five ragged men in hooded cloaks out after the curfew. When asked to identify themselves, three pulled pistols and began to fire as two others attempted to run. The shooters were quickly taken care of, as two horsemen went after the runners. One of them was run down by a soldier’s horse, while the other patrol lifted his rifle and aimed. The shot hit home, and its target fell. There, lying dead in the mud, was Robert Rhett, Chief Minister of the Democracy of South Carolina. Rhett was 49 years old, a fire-eater in politics for many years in the country. Since 1845, he had been the Chief Minister. President Francis Marion III had died in 1847, and amazingly Francis Marion IV had kept him in office instead of seeking a new one. Rhett had favored the war, and had provided able advice to the somewhat inexperienced President. But now Robert Rhett lay dead on the road, a huge victory for the Americans at the expense of five dead patrols.
Francis Marion IV, the last official President of the Democracy of South Carolina
On September 11, 1850, the first anniversary of the start of the war, President Francis Marion IV crossed the border into the Republic of Georgia; he would never again set foot on his native land. It is on this day that historians agree that the true occupation of South Carolina began. And it would begin with a boom....
