Secession Hill
ABBEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA
Regaining its Rightful Place in History
...Jenifer Sawyer
In Abbeville, South Carolina lies a 1.9 acre tract of land known today as Secession Hill. It is named for the event of November 22, 1860 which took place there. This event forever changed the course of history for the union of states known as the United States and particularly the Southern States of America. For it was there on that date that over 3000 people gathered to hear what have become known as the secession speeches. The South Carolina legislature, which had ratified the US Constitution, believed that if it had agreed to join the union of states, then it could leave that same union if so desired. After the election of Abraham Lincoln, the SC Legislature sent word to each district to elect delegates from each for the Secession Convention to be held in Columbia in December of that year. Abbeville is given credit for holding the first of these meetings, although similar meetings were held throughout the state that month.
In the 1840’s and 1850’s, South Carolina had made many attempts to no avail to have other Southern States join her in leaving the union. Many considered South Carolina “too small to be a republic,” a quote from the unionist lawyer Louise Pettigru of Charleston, and did not want to join the “hotbed” of secession. Although she is the smallest of Southern States, South Carolina is about the size of Ireland, Scotland, and Austria. However, in the War Between the States which followed secession, South Carolina gave more men to the cause than any other state and was the only Southern State that had no organized body of troops which fought for the Union.
And so, after the announcement by the SC Legislature calling for the appointment of delegates, posters went up all over the town of Abbeville as in other small South Carolina towns. Citizens were called to convene for the election of delegates. On the morning of November 22, around 3000 townspeople met in front of the courthouse in Abbeville to hear secession speeches. Cannons were booming, banners were flying, and bands were playing as the entire town and surrounding area turned out for the festive event. About three blocks away, near the old town magazine, a speakers’ stand had been built. The crowd moved to that area where Thomas Chiles Perrin chaired the meeting. A nominating committee of twenty-one selected the the six delegates to represent Abbeville District to the Secession Convention in Columbia the following month. They were John A. Calhoun (nephew of the late John C. Calhoun), Edward Noble, Thomas C. Perrin, Thomas Thomson, David L. Wardlaw, and John H. Wilson - all lawyers.
When the Secession Convention convened in Columbia, South Carolina on December 17, 1860 with 169 delegates from all districts, it became apparent that a smallpox outbreak was imminent in the city. All 169 delegates boarded a train for Charleston, South Carolina where the Secession Convention reconvened on December 20, 1860. South Carolina delegates laid down their very lives as their ancestors had done in 1776 when they signed the Ordinance of Secession and South Carolina officially left the union. General David Flavel Jamison, President of the Secession Convention, gave the following charge to the delegates: “To dare, to dare, and again I say to dare.” The vote that day was unanimous with all 169 delegates voting to leave the union.
Over the next one hundred and forty-four years Secession Hill fell to private hands. A house of about 2000 square feet was built circa 1894 and a smaller house built later. The area was over-run with vines, underbrush, and thousands of glass bottles and cans littered the area. Secession Hill was simply a piece of forgotten property and had little or no historical significance to Abbeville. In fact, most residents of the area didn’t really know where Secession Hill was located in the town.
In 2001, Robert Hayes moved to Abbeville and opened a shop called the “Southern Patriot Shop.” One day in November of 2001, he overheard a conversation between two men in his shop in which one man said he owned the tract of land known as Secession Hill. This man was Jack Mattison of Columbia. Mr. Hayes immediately began discussion and negotiation to purchase that land from Mr. Mattison. The property had been zoned for multi-housing by the city of Abbeville and Mr. Hayes and others feared that it could fall into the hands of a developer and be gone forever.
In April of 2004, Mr. Hayes and the Southern Cultural Centre purchased the 1.9 acre tract and began a journey of clearing and preparing the property for Secession Memorial Park. Thousands of man-hours went into the clearing of the two houses, vines, bottles, trees, debris and most of that work was done by Mr. Hayes himself. The grave of an unknown Alabama soldier was located on the property and marked. This soldier had died on a train passing through Abbeville, his remains removed and buried on Secession Hill. In addition, “Secession Rock” which holds a bronze marker, placed their by the United Daughters of the Confederacy circa 1950, was moved across the line from the remaining private property and placed at the sight of the platform where the speeches were given. No specific date is on the plaque which simply reads “This stone marks the spot where the first secession speeches were made.” A beautiful flag pole also adorns the grounds of the Memorial Park.
During the period from 2004-2005 three beautiful hardwood trees on the property were lost due to storms or other reasons. Mr. Hayes harvested the wood and has produced beautiful hand-crafted sculptures which he sells in his shop. All proceeds go toward the development of the planned Secession Memorial Park. The Southern Cultural Center hopes to have a Wall of Honour on which the names of the 18,666 South Carolina Confederate dead are inscribed. Individuals may purchase pavers and have the names of their ancestors inscribed on each for later placement in the park. In addition, the original Confederate Monument given to Abbeville by the UDC in 1906 will be given a new home in the Memorial Park. This monument was damaged by fire in 1991. It was taken to Elberton, Georgia where it was used as a template for the monument now in place on the courthouse square in Abbeville. The original monument, however, will be placed in the Memorial Park in the future. Also, there are plans to erect a monument to honor John C. Calhoun who was born ten miles outside of Abbeville but practiced law there. Contributions to Secession Hill Memorial Park may be made to The Southern Cultural Centre, c/o Robert Hayes, 107 North Main Street, Abbeville, SC 29620.
On November 20, 2010, Secession Hill was officially dedicated as a Memorial Park. A beautiful bronze highway marker was unveiled with several hundred in attendance. Among those attending were the South Carolina Division President Eloise Verdin, the South Carolina Division Third Vice President Carol Leake, and the Chaplain of General of the Children of the Confederacy Charlotte Mitchell. Among others attending were descendants of the Signers of the Ordinance of Secession from the Abbeville District. One of those attending the ceremony was Mr. David Rutledge, descendant of General David Flavel Jamison who gave the charge “To dare, to dare, and again I say to dare.” Mr. Rutledge and Miss Mitchell had the distinct honor of unveiling the beautiful marker giving Secession Hill its rightful place in South Carolina history once more.
Secession Hill
- Robert Hayes
I am pleased to announce to our supporters and friends that on 22 April 2004 the historic property in Abbeville, South Carolina known as Secession Hill was purchased by the Southern Cultural Centre. This site was the gathering place on 22 November 1860 of local citizens at which time delegates were selected to attend a secession convention in Columbia, South Carolina on 17 December 1860. The event that took place on this site was the first of many such events that followed throughout South Carolina and the other Southern states. The decisions made at this site had a profound effect on the course of history and the results are felt even to this day.
The property, with your help, will be developed into a park with scenic walkways and benches as a place for Southern people to celebrate our culture and history and to increase our understanding of the state’s sovereign nature. A landscape architect will be needed to develop a layout that can be used for Southern cultural events such as musical performances, speeches, plays, picnics, and etc., while keeping the historical significance of the site in tact. The site will be used to display a large number of historical items in keeping with its function. The park will contain the rock monument relocated to its proper place where the speaker’s platform was originally located, the original Abbeville Confederate monument, and the grave of an unknown Confederate soldier. Other items will be considered as the project progresses.
The original 1906 Confederate monument was donated to the Southern Cultural Centre by the local chapters of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. It was damaged by fire from a Christmas tree display in 1991 and was replaced by the City of Abbeville and the UDC. One part of the monument is in Abbeville and the other parts are in Elberton, Georgia. If at all possible, the monument will be reclaimed and placed on Secession Hill.
From a newspaper account in a 1936 issue of the Abbeville Press and Banner it has been learned that an unknown Confederate soldier was buried on Secession Hill. An extensive search of the property was made and a circle of large rocks resembling a gravesite was found in the identified location.
Funds must be raised to pay for Secession Hill and its development. Donations are not sought at this time as plans are not finalized and the cost is not defined. We do expect to provide something to contributors as a keepsake and a reminder of our culture. Announcements will be provided in the near future as to how you may contribute to this endeavor.
For a free South Carolina,
Robert B. Hayes - Director Southern Cultural Centre
