civil war sesquicentennial

Civil war sesquicentennial: The South Carolina Historical Society will host a cocktail reception and digital exhibit that highlights the secession. There will also be a silent auction with rare Civil War books, among other items. Dr. Walter Edgar will deliver an address at the seated dinner.

A brief but solemn service was held in Hampton Park (Charleston, SC) on Sunday, April 19 th. It took place at 3pm. The park was crowded with small numbers to remember those who lost their lives in the American Civil War. The service began with an invocation by Lieutenant Colonel Joel Harris, Chaplain of the Corps of Cadets in the Citadel. Next, David Blight, the Yale University Professor of History Class of 1954, addressed the audience about Hampton Park’s historical significance.

He spoke of what might have been America’s first Memorial Days on May 1, 1865. This ceremony was where more than 200 Union prisoners of war were reburied at Charleston’s mass grave. It included a parade that featured African-American troops from the 54 th Massachusetts, construction of a monument for the dead, sermons, readings from Scripture, feasting, and games. Blight was proud that we were able to gather in the same place almost 150 years later to remember and honor the Civil War dead. The Choir led a singing rendition of “America the Beautiful,” and Rev. Clementa Pinckney (pastor of Emanuel A.M.E., Charleston) gave a homily.

He read the nineteenth chapter from Second Samuel in which King David grieves the loss of Absalom, his rebel son. Pinckney encouraged the audience to not only remember the ultimate sacrifice made by so many but also to continue to strive for the ideals set forth by Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address. The Choir led the audience in singing the “Navy Hymn,” “Eternal Father Strong to Save,” and then there was a moment of silence so that everyone could ponder and pray for all those who lost their lives during the war. As the audience continued to think, a member of the Choir played “Taps.” Rev. Harris concluded the service with a final prayer, which reflected the solemnity and conciliatory tone that the ceremony had taken.