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

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Biographies:

William Elliott, representative, was born in Beaufort, S.C., Sept. 3, 1838; son of the Rev. Stephen and Ann Hutson (Habersham) Elliott, grandson of William and Phoebe (Waight) Elliott, and of John and Ann (Barnwell) Habersham, and a descendant of Thomas Elliott. He attended Beaufort college, Harvard college and the University of Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in Charleston, S.C., in 1861, and at once entered the Confederate army, serving throughout the civil war, and being at the surrender assistant adjutant-general of Gen. Stephen D. Lee's corps. He was engaged in the capture of Fort Sumter, first battle of Manassas, the battles of Williamsburg, Ellerson's Mill, Cold Harbor, and White Oak Swamp, the fight at Waterloo Bridge, and the battles of second Manassas, Sharpsburg, first Fredericksburg, Champion's Hill, Vicksburg, Harrisonburg, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin, Nashville, Kinston and Bentonville. He returned to South Carolina to find his property destroyed through the ravages of war, and the slaves freedmen with no just conception of what freedom meant. He set about to recuperate the fortune of his native state by taking part in the elections and standing for office when so many remained inactive. He served in the state legislature in 1866, was a delegate to the Democratic national conventions in 1876 and 1888, was a presidential elector for the state at large in 1880, and a representative in the 50th, 51st, 52d, 54th,. 55th, 56th and 57th congresses, 1887-93, 1895-1903.

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

Stephen Elliott, soldier, was born in Beaufort, S.C., Oct. 26, 1830; son of the Rev. Stephen and Ann Hutson (Habersham) Elliott; grandson of William and Phoebe (Waight) Elliott, and of John and Ann (Barnwell) Habersham; and great-grandson of William and Mary Gibbes (Barnwell) Elliott. He went to Harvard in 1846 and thence to the South Carolina college, from which he was graduated in 1850. He engaged in planting with marked success. At the outbreak of the civil war he entered the Confederate service as captain of artillery; was in command of Fort Beauregard at the battle of Port Royal, Nov. 7, 1861; was actively engaged in service on the coast of South Carolina; commanded the attack on Pinckney's Island in August, 1862, capturing many prisoners; commanded the Confederate artillery at the fight at Pocataligo, Oct. 22, 1862; and was promoted to the rank of major. He was selected by General Beauregard to hold Fort Sumter which had been battered into a mass of almost shapeless ruin, and was the first to demonstrate that the fort could still be held. Entering upon his command on the night of Sept. 4, 1863, he repulsed the naval attack on the night of Sept. 7, taking one hundred and thirty prisoners, many of whom became his firm friends after the war. He was rapidly promoted through the several grades to that of brigadier-general; was in command in 1864 of that part of the Confederate line at Petersburg that was blown up by the explosion of the mine, and while rallying his men to the bloody repulse which followed he was shot through the body and his left arm was paralyzed. He was afterward in command of James Island, S.C., and commanded a brigade in the battle of Bentonville, in which he was severely injured. At the close of the war he returned to his home to find it in the possession of the Federal army. He took up his residence with his family in a small building on the seashore which had formerly found use as a rough shelter in his fishing expeditions, and for a time earned his living as a fisherman. After the war, at his own request, he was pardoned by President Johnson, and in 1865 he was an unsuccessful candidate for representative in congress, his opponent being ex-Governor Aiken. He removed to Aiken, S.C., where he died Feb. 21, 1866.

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

William John Grayson, representative, was born in Beaufort, S.C., Nov. 10, 1788. He was graduated at the College of Charleston in 1809, studied law and practised in Beaufort county. He was appointed a commissioner in equity; was a representative in the state legislature, 1813; a state senator, 1831; a representative in the 23d and 24th congresses, 1833-37; and collector of the U.S. customs at Charleston, S.C., by appointment of President Taylor, 1849-53. He was married to Sarah Matilda Somarstall, and their son, William John (1819-1861), was a lawyer and planter. His open letter, written to Gov. W. B. Seabrook in 1850 in which he deprecated the secession movement, was extensively published. He contributed to the Southern Review and published: The Hireling and Slave, a poem (1854); Chicora (1856); Life of James Lewis Petigru (1866) He died in Newberry, S.C., Oct. 14, 1863.

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

Richard Herron Anderson, soldier, was born in Statesburgh, S.C., Oct. 7, 1821. He was graduated from West Point in 1842, and commissioned brevet 2d lieutenant of 1st dragoons. After serving at the cavalry school for practice in Carlisle, Pa., he was assigned to frontier duty in Arkansas and Iowa. In 1844 he was transferred to the 2d dragoons, and during 1845-'46 was in military occupation of Texas and on recruiting service. He served from 1846-'48 in the Mexican war, being engaged in the siege of Vera Cruz in March, 1847, the skirmish of La Hoya in June, the battle of Contreras in August, the skirmish at San Augustine in August, the battle of Molino del Rey, and the capture of the city of Mexico in September. He was brevetted 1st lieutenant for gallant conduct at San Augustine, and in July, 1848, he was promoted full lieutenant. In 1849-'50 he was on recruiting service and at the cavalry school for practice at Carlisle, Pa. On March 3, 1855, he was promoted to the rank of captain, and served until 1857 on frontier duty. He resigned his commission March 3, 1861, and joined the Confederate army, where he was made brigadier-general. The following year he was promoted major-general, and after fighting gallantly in many important engagements, he won by promotion the rank of lieutenant-general. He lived quietly at his home in Beaufort, S.C., from the close of the war until the time of his death, which occurred June 26, 1879.

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