History of Aiken, (Aiken County) South Carolina United States of America

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Local History Notes:

Aiken, S. C., Feb. 11, 1865. 3d Cavalry Division, Sherman's Army. Early in the morning, the 2nd brigade, 3d cavalry division, Military division of the Mississippi, Under Command of Gen. Atkins, accompanied by Gen. Kilpatrick, moved Toward Aiken, the advance driving the Confederates to the east side of the town. The 92nd Ill., Under Lieut.-Col. Van Buskirk, charged into Aiken, which appeared to have been vacated, only to find it held in force by the Enemy Under Hampton and Wheeler. A Confederate division in the Woods on the Federal right charged in the rear of the 92nd and formed in line. Leaving a skirmish line to hold the enemy in Front, Van Buskirk faced the regiment to the rear, charged through the Confederates and rejoined his brigade, which had formed a line of battle with the 9th Mich. on the left of the road and railroad, the 9th Ohio on the right, supporting Lieut. Clark's Section of artillery some distance in the rear, and the 10th Ohio in reserve. The 92nd came up to this line so mixed up with the enemy as to make it impossible for the remainder of the brigade to fire. Federals and Confederates alike were claiming their enemies as prisoners and pulling them off their horses. Neither side was armed with sabers. Two Confederates were killed and another was knocked off his horse by Van Buskirk, who used his empty pistol as a club. As soon as firing was possible the Confederate advance was checked by a volley from the Federal line. The 9th Ohio Under Col. Hamilton charged the enemy on the right of the road and most of the 92nd Ill. charged back with it. Maj. McBride of the 9th Mich. charged with his battalion on the left, and the Confederates were driven back into Aiken. The Federals then fell back to their fortified position at Johnson's Station and, though pursued and attacked on their flanks, repeatedly repelled the enemy's charges by a well directed fire. The Federal loss was 53 killed, wounded and missing, Confederate- loss 72 killed.

SOURCE: The Union Army A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-65 -- Records of the Regiments in the Union Army -- Cyclopedia of Battles -- Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. 8 vols. Madison: Federal Publishing, 1908.

Biographies:

Robert C. De large, representative, was born in Aiken, S.C., March 15, 1842. He was brought up as a farmer and after the civil war was appointed agent of the Freedmen's bureau, serving for one year from May, 1867. In 1868 he was a member of the state constitutional convention and represented his district in the state legislature, 1868-70. He was commissioner of the state sinking fund and state land commissioner, 1870-71; Republican representative from Charleston in the 42d congress, 1871-78, and trial justice for several years. He died in Charleston, S.C., Feb. 15, 1874.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor