North Augusta in Aiken County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Meriwether Monument

Hero of the Hamburg Riot

Photographed by Mike Stroud, July 2008

1. Meriwether Monument Marker (south face)

North Augusta Historical Marker seen in background

Inscription.
(South face): Dec. 4,1852 - July 8, 1876
———
In Memory of Thomas McKie Meriwether. Who on 8th July 1876, gave his life that the civilization builded by his fathers might be preserved for their childrens children unimpaired.
(East face):
In youths clad mourning the unfinished years of manhood stretching before him, with clear knowledge and courageous willingness, he accepted death and found forever the grateful remembrance of all who know high and generous service in the maintaining of those civic and social institutions which the men and women of his race and struggled through the centuries to establish in South Carolina. — What more can a man do than to lay down his life.
(North face):
In life he exemplified the highest ideal of Anglo-Saxon civilization. By his death he assured to the children of his beloved land the supremacy of that ideal. — "As his flame of life was quenched, it lit the blaze of victory"
(West face):
This memorial is erected to the young hero of the Hamburg Riot, by the state, under an act of the general assembly,

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Erected 1916 by South Carolina General Assembly.

Topics. This historical marker and monument is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is July 8, 1876.

Location. 33° 29.859′ N, 81° 58.172′ W. Marker is in North Augusta, South Carolina, in Aiken County. It is on Carolina Avenue near W. Forest Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: North Augusta SC 29841, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker and monument is in Greater Augusta

and in the Midlands.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: History of Hamburg (a few steps from this marker); The Hamburg Massacre (a few steps from this

Meriwether Monument Marker </b>(south face close-up) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, July 25, 2008

2. Meriwether Monument Marker (south face close-up)

marker); a different marker also named The Meriwether Monument (a few steps from this marker); North Augusta (within shouting distance of this marker); Lookaway Hall / Walter Mixer Jackson (within shouting distance of this marker); James Urquhart Jackson (within shouting distance of this marker); Hampton Terrace Hotel (approx. 0.3 miles away); North Augusta Trolley Station (approx. 0.4 miles away); Grenada • Panama • Persian Gulf Tribute (approx. 0.4 miles away); Viet Nam War Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North Augusta.

Also see . . . Wikipedia entry for the Hamburg Massacre. The Hamburg Massacre (or Hamburg Riot) was a key event of South Carolina Reconstruction. (Submitted on August 12, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Additional commentary.
1. Monument only lists one of the individuals who died in the incident the marker commerates.
While Mr. Meriwether was indeed killed in the fighting commemorated by this obelisk, he was one of at least seven citizens killed in this incident (alternatively remembered as a 'riot' or 'massacre' depending on

Meriwether Monument Marker </b>(east face) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, July 25, 2008

3. Meriwether Monument Marker (east face)

point of view). Mr. Meriwether was the only 'white' citizen to die as a result. The other six casualties were not. Further information can be found in Wikipedia (link provided above) or in the historian Stephen Budiansky's account of the incident in his book The Bloody Shirt - Terror After The Civil War. Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor

— Submitted January 19, 2009, by Bob Smith of Fairfax, Vermont.

Meriwether Monument Marker </b>(north face) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, July 25, 2008

4. Meriwether Monument Marker (north face)

Meriwether Monument Marker </b>(west face) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, July 25, 2008

5. Meriwether Monument Marker (west face)

Meriwether Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, April 10, 2025

6. Meriwether Monument

Additional markers have been added. One explains: "Inscriptions on the monument reflect attitudes of people during that period. Those words do not represent the attitudes of the people of North Augusta today.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, April 10, 2025

7. Meriwether Monument

Credits. This page was last revised on June 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 5,703 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 12, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 6, 7. submitted on May 30, 2025, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.