Near Chester in Chesterfield County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Olin Miller Dantzler
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, February 9, 2009
1. Olin Miller Dantzler SCV Marker
Inscription.
Olin Miller Dantzler (1826-1824) was a native of South Carolina. He graduated from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia in 1846. He married Caroline Clover on July 10, 1850, and they had five children. Prior to the war Dantzler served as a South Carolina state representative and state senator. He resigned from the South Carolina Senate in October 1861 and accepted a commission in the Confederate army. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 20th Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers on Jan. 11, 1862, while stationed near Charleston. In April 1864, Dantzler was promoted to colonel of the 22nd South Carolina Regiment and was called to Virginia in May. On June 2, 1864, near present day Howlett Line Park, Col. Dantzler led his regiment in an assault against Redoubt Dutton, which was manned by Company L, First Connecticut Heavy Artillery. During the attack, devastating canister shot killed Col. Dantzler along with 16 of his men. On June 13, 1864, Gen P.G.T. Beauregard issued General Orders No. 12 naming the fort at this site Battery Dantzler in the colonel’s honor., Dantzler and Laurence Keitt , Col. Olin Dantzler and Col. Laurence Keitt grew up near each other in South Carolina and were political rivals. Prior to the war, their disagreements even led to a duel in which Keitt was wounded. Ironically, both men would die on the same day within miles of each other in Virginia on June 2, 1864, Keitt at Cold Harbor, Dantzler in Chesterfield. Dantzler’s servant and friend, Caleb Clover, collected both bodies and took them back to South Carolina., Dantzler and the Hunley , At Charleston, Dantzler was in command of Battery Marshall, where the Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley was stationed. The Hunley was lost after sinking the U.S.S. Housatonic on Feb. 17, 1864. It was the first submarine to successfully attack an enemy vessel. , “HEADQUARTERS BATTERY MARSHALL, Sullivan’s Island, February 19, 1864. , LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report that the torpedo boat stationed at this post went out on the night of the 17th instant (Wednesday) and has not yet returned. The signals agreed upon to be given in case the boat wished a light to be exposed at this post as a guide for its return were observed and answered…” , O. M. DANTZLER, This sign was sponsored by The Chester Station Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia.
Olin Miller Dantzler (1826-1824) was a native of South Carolina. He graduated from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia in 1846. He married Caroline Clover on July 10, 1850, and they had five children. Prior to the war Dantzler served as a South Carolina state representative and state senator. He resigned from the South Carolina Senate in October 1861 and accepted a commission in the Confederate army. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 20th Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers on Jan. 11, 1862, while stationed near Charleston. In April 1864, Dantzler was promoted to colonel of the 22nd South Carolina Regiment and was called to Virginia in May. On June 2, 1864, near present day Howlett Line Park, Col. Dantzler led his regiment in an assault against Redoubt Dutton, which was manned by Company L, First Connecticut Heavy Artillery. During the attack, devastating canister shot killed Col. Dantzler along with 16 of his men. On June 13, 1864, Gen P.G.T. Beauregard issued General Orders No. 12 naming the fort at this site Battery Dantzler in the colonel’s honor.
Dantzler and Laurence Keitt
Col. Olin Dantzler and Col. Laurence Keitt grew up near each other in South Carolina and were political rivals. Prior to the war, their disagreements even led to a duel in which Keitt was wounded. Ironically, both men would die
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on the same day within miles of each other in Virginia on June 2, 1864, Keitt at Cold Harbor, Dantzler in Chesterfield. Dantzler’s servant and friend, Caleb Clover, collected both bodies and took them back to South Carolina.
Dantzler and the Hunley At Charleston, Dantzler was in command of Battery Marshall, where the Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley was stationed. The Hunley was lost after sinking the U.S.S. Housatonic on Feb. 17, 1864. It was the first submarine to successfully attack an enemy vessel. “HEADQUARTERS BATTERY MARSHALL, Sullivan’s Island, February 19, 1864. LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report that the torpedo boat stationed at this post went out on the night of the 17th instant (Wednesday) and has not yet returned. The signals agreed upon to be given in case the boat wished a light to be exposed at this post as a guide for its return were observed and answered…” O. M. DANTZLER
This sign was sponsored by The Chester Station Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia.
Erected by Sons of Confederate Veterans and Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia.
Location. 37° 21.488′ N, 77° 23.525′ W. Marker is near Chester, Virginia, in Chesterfield County. Marker is on Battery Dantzler Road, 0.2 miles east of Old Stage Road, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chester VA 23836, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regarding Olin Miller Dantzler. On the lower left is a photo of "Col. Laurence M. Keitt Photo- Calhoun County S.C Museum and Cultural Center St. Mathews, S.C."
On the upper right is a photo of "Col. Olin Miller Dantzler Photo- Calhoun County S.C. Museum and Cultural Center St. Mathews, S.C."
On the lower right is a sketch of The H. L. Hunley.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 11, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 11, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,388 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on February 11, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.