People have the wrong idea about the Sumner/Brooks caning incident, which was decidedly NOT an affair of honor between two gentlemen. Brooks snuck up behind Sumner while he sat at his desk writing, and brained him with a metal-topped cane. It was the sort of cowardly attack you might expect from someone who supports slavery.
Lots of history here, William. We still have Tillman Hall at Clemson University and another Tillman Hall at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC. "Pitchfork" Ben Tillman led a reign of terror in the state, without a doubt. Here is an interesting follow up read for you if you haven't come across it. https://www.upcountryhistorical.org/items/show/75#:~:text=Clemson%20trustees%20changed%20Old%20Main's,anniversary%20of%20the%20institution's%20opening. I am not sure we will ever shake Ben Tillman from our lives in SC. But as our state motto Dum Spiro Spero notes "While I breathe, I hope."
I hope as well. Thanks for the info.
Of course, these men from Edgefield preceded the most famous of them all - Strom Thurmond. His Edgefield roots ran deep.
People have the wrong idea about the Sumner/Brooks caning incident, which was decidedly NOT an affair of honor between two gentlemen. Brooks snuck up behind Sumner while he sat at his desk writing, and brained him with a metal-topped cane. It was the sort of cowardly attack you might expect from someone who supports slavery.