Preston Brooks
Preston Brooks, a native of Ninety Six, lived on a plantation just outside of Ninety Six in Edgefield County. He had commanded the “Ninety Six Guards” in the Palmetto Regiment in the Mexican War.
As sectional differences over slavery grew between North and South, Preston Brooks featured in a dispute tearing the country apart.
In 1856, it was reported that Preston Brooks, like a craven dog, assaulted abolitionist Charles Sumner of Massachusetts (with a walking cane) on the Senate floor for a speech insulting to Brooks’ kinsman and the state of South Carolina.
A crowd estimated at 10,000, the largest ever to have assembled in Ninety Six, was in our small town on October 03, 1856, to honor Brooks.
Brooks had the support of the people in his district and they came from miles around to listen to five hours of oratory; and to partake of a free barbecue dinner that day.
Special trains were run from Greenville and Columbia bringing dignitaries and ordinary citizens. The New York Times sent a reporter and his account of the event covered the ‘Times’ front page just a few days later. This historical event was reported as ‘the largest gathering ever in the upcountry’.
Brooks received a wagon load of canes to replace the one he had destroyed beating Sumner.
