Charleston in Berkeley County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Star of the West
In the early dawn of January 9, 1861, the first shot of the War Between the States was fired from Morris Island by Citadel cadets under the command of Major Peter Fayssoux Stevens. The cadets opened fire with 24 pound siege guns on a Federal ship, The Star of the West. The ship was driven off and prevented from relieving Union forces on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, and the defense of the South became real.
This monument is erected by the Class of 1961 and by friends and loyal alumni of the Citadel to commemorate this great event in American history and to pay tribute to the courage and leadership of all men of this great institution who have fought and died with honor in defense of their ideals.
Best Drilled Cadets
Star of the West
Medal Winners
1886 J. T. Coleman 1887 W. C. Davis 1888 J. R. Rutledge 1889 P. K. McCully 1890 W. Z. McGhee 1891 A. G. Ethridge 1892 J. R. Verdier 1893 R. I. Leghre 1894 Abram Levy 1895 J. D. Dial 1896 A. Idsey 1897 F. B. Dalley 1898 D. C. Pate 1899 L. B. Steele 1900 &nbap; A. H. Cross 1901 T. C. Marshall 1902 A. E. Hutchinson 1903 J. F. OMara 1904 E. C. Register 1905 W. W. Dick 1906 W. W. Benson 1907 A. T. Carcaraa 1908 E. D. Smith 1909 B. W. Gaston 1910 F. Y. Legare 1911 Thomas Richardson 1912 J. M. Arthur 1913 J. H. Holmes 1914 James Anderson 1915 J. G. M. Nichols 1916 F. R. Rogers 1917 H. L. Cunningham 1918 T. W. Williamson 1919 J. L. Whitten 1920 E. A. Pollock 1921 J. D. Frost 1922 E. T. Moore 1923 Walter Allan 1924 J. J. Mackay 1925 C. H. Rosson 1926 F. G. Burnett 1927 F. B. Fishburne 1928 W. M. Roberts 1929 R. K. Walker 1930 J. W. Blevins 1931 R. R. Zobel 1932 R. H. Ammerman 1933 A. B. Sundin 1934 A. L. Leonard 1935 S. P. Browne 1936 S. P. Browne 1937 J. R. Lyons 1938 W. H. McIntyre 1939 F. S. Conroy 1940 D. T. Harris 1941 W. T. Bether 1942 C. J. West 1943 L. C. Emerson 1944 C. C. Williams 1945 R. R. Willis 1946 G. M. Moore 1947 S. D. Falsodomy 1948 L. P. Sullivan 1949 H. O. Stoddard 1950 C. J. Easler 1951 L. O. Allen 1952 S. C. Mills 1953 J. R. Patterson 1954 R. W. Lockridge 1955 P. D. Warren 1956 G. F. Marschalk 1957 J. B. Taylor 1958 B. L. Spivey 1959 Iredell Jones 1960 R. L. Lupton 1961 W. B. Sansom 1962 B. J. Bohn 1963 G. R. Wilson 1964 R. C. Johnson 1965 R. W. Briistol 1966 J. E. Morgan 1967 V. P. Hambright, III 1968 V. P. Hambright, III 1969 W. D. Archer 1970 J. E. Onuschak 1971 D. J. ONeal 1972 A. D. Griffin 1973 W. F. Clewe, III 1974 W. F. Clewe, III 1975 C. H. Boardman, III 1976 C. H. Boardman, III 1977 T. C. Slider 1978 R. A, Risher 1979 D. C. Seaman 1980 V. B. Edmonds 1981 B. L. Morgan 1982 I. F. Henson, Jr. 1983 Herman W. Stehmeiler 1984 B. T. Smith, III 1985 1985 C. A. Bell 1986 R. M. Williams, II 1987 M. S. Crippen 1988 T. C. Alaksa
Erected 1961 by Citadel Class of 1961.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1886.
Location. 32° 47.792′ N, 79° 57.59′ W. Marker is in Charleston, South Carolina, in Berkeley County. Marker is on Lee Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Marker is on the grounds of the Citadel, at the south end of Summerall Field. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Charleston SC 29409, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. AH 1 Cobra (within shouting distance of this marker); LTC Charles Chad H. Buehring (within shouting distance of this marker); Lt. Frank Elwood Bloomenshine and Lt. James Futrell Exley (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Thunderbolt (about 800 feet away); Citadel Flag (about 800 feet away); Anchor of the U.S.S. Coral Sea (about 800 feet away); McDonnell F-4C Phantom II (approx. 0.2 miles away); CPT Christopher James Kenny (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charleston.
More about this marker. Monument consists of a granite block with a bronze plaque depicting the Citadel cadets firing on the Union ship. Inscribed on the monument are the names of Citadel cadets who have won the Star of the West Medal for individual drill competition.
Additional commentary.
1. Request for photo of the Star of the West Medal.
I'm a Citadel graduate, aware of the Star of the West, but I've never seen the actual medal awarded to recipients. I've heard, but suspect it's legend, a small piece of the ship (Star of the West) is attached to the medal. I searched the internet attempting to locate an image, without success. Posting a photograph of the medal would make your page complete. Thanks
— Submitted March 23, 2017, by Doug Powell of Fayetteville, Georgia.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2017. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,633 times since then and 85 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 18, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.