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Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012

Relic Room gets Battle of River’s Bridge artifacts

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The S.C. Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum has been deeded 14 items from the Battle of River’s Bridge.

The February 1865 battle was one of the final Confederate attempts to halt Union Gen. William T. Sherman’s march through South Carolina. During the brief skirmish, Confederates soldiers blocked the River’s Bridge crossing, now on U.S. 601 in Bamberg County. They only managed to delay Federal troops for a day as they quickly waded through the swamp, swept by the Confederate forces, and pressed on toward Columbia.

In January, the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism deeded the artifacts to the museum. The items were once on display at River’s Bridge State Park, but were stored away because of security concerns.

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The collection contains mostly Civil War-era pieces, including a frock coat worn by Capt. Benjamin Williams whose unit was at the River’s Bridge battle, a rare uniform and canteen belonging to 17-year-old Samuel Powell, who was killed as the war ended, and a swallow-tailed flag carried by Co. D, 2nd South Carolina Cavalry, which features a palmetto tree, crescent moon, and the state motto.

The collection also includes objects from the Reconstruction era, Spanish American War, and World War I. The artifacts will be briefly displayed May 11, and then removed for conservation. The museum is seeking donations for their conservation.

-- Jeff Wilkinson

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