Fort Mill in York County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

To the Faithful Slaves

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, November 25, 2009

1. West side

Inscription.
[West Side]: 1860
Dedicated to
the faithful slaves
who, loyal to a sacred trust,
toiled for the support
of the army, with matchless
devotion, and sterling
fidelity guarded our defenseless
homes, women and children, during
the struggle for the principles
of our "Confederate States of
America."
1865
[East Side]: 1895
Erected by Sam'l E. White
in grateful memory of earlier
days. With approval of the
Jefferson Davis
Memorial Association.
Among the many faithful:
Nelson White - Anthony White
Sandy White - Jim White
Warren White - Henry White
Silas White - Nathan Springs
Handy White - Solomon Spratt

Erected 1895 by Samuel E. White and the Jefferson Davis Memorial Association.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Heroes • War, US Civil.

Location. 35° 0.46′ N, 80° 56.691′ W. Marker is in Fort Mill, South Carolina, in York County. Memorial is at the intersection of Main Street (State Highway 160) and Academy Street, on the left when traveling east on Main Street. Touch for map.

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Marker is at or near this postal address: 183 Main St, Fort Mill SC 29715, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Catawba Indian Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Women of the Confederacy Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Fort Mill Confederate Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Confederate Park (within shouting distance of this marker); 1LT Elliott White Springs (within shouting distance of this marker); Millstone Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Mill (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Catawba Fort (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Mill.

Additional commentary.
1. Faithful Slaves Monument
The third monument, also erected in 1895 in Fort Mill's Confederate Park, commemorates the faithful slaves of wartime. The thirteen-foot monument rests on a marble base, which is supported by four steps of masonry. The square shaft is a tapering obelisk of pure white marble. It is a tribute to the "faithfulness of the Southern negro to the women and children of the South during the war...probably the only one of its kind in the South." Samuel Elliott White purchased and unveiled this monument on May 10, 1900. John McKee Spratt, who was preparing

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, November 25, 2009

2. South Side

to join the Confederate army at age sixteen when the Confederacy collapsed, helped White with the purchase. Spratt, the great grandson of "Old Kanahwa," had interests in farming, lumber, fertilizer, and the cotton mill in Fort Mill after the war.

(Source: A Guide to Confederate Monuments in South Carolina: "Passing the Silent Cup" by Robert S. Seigler (1997), pgs 338.)

— Submitted January 9, 2010, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, November 25, 2009

3. East side

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, November 25, 2009

4. North side

Monument to the Faithful Slaves image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, November 25, 2009

5. Monument to the Faithful Slaves

Credits. This page was last revised on September 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 25, 2009, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 25,098 times since then and 312 times this year. Last updated on December 31, 2020, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 25, 2009, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.