Calhoun County Museum
Come and enjoy the history of Calhoun County and South Carolina presented with a personal southern touch.
This impressive home, located within the town limits of St. Matthews, was built by Colonel James Arthur Banks, Sr., about 1893. Probably in 1909 the large Corinthian columns and the small straight columns were added. They were designed with Ionic capitals and supported a decorated frieze, both examples of Classic Revival architecture.
Colonel Banks was the second Senator of Calhoun County. Also, he was President of the Home Bank, President of the State Fair Association, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee when he served as a member of the S. C. House of Representatives from Orangeburg County, and Mayor of the town of St Matthews.
This British garrison consisted of field works around a large mansion house belonging to Mrs. Rebecca Motte. Opposite the garrison, to the north, stood another hill where Mrs. Motte resided in a farmhouse. On this height, Colonel Lee took post with his troops, while Marion occupied the eastern declivity of the ridge. The large mansion located in the center, left but a few yards uncovered. Marion and Lee decided to set fire to the building in the fort and force a surrender. Mrs. Motte was informed of the intended action and not only assented, but declared that she was “gratified with the opportunity of contributing to the good of her country, and would view the approaching scene with delight.” She obtained bows and arrows, which are reported to have been given to her brother, Miles Brewton, by the captain of an East Indian man-o-war. Mrs. Motte then gave permission for General Lee’s men to make fire-arrows and thus fire her own home. The British sent a party to the loft of the house to knock off the burning shingles, but the continentals raked the loft from one end to the other and drove the soldiers down. The gallant British officers were sent off to Lord Rawdon, who had retreated from Camden and reached a position opposite Fort Motte and encamped on the highest ground there. The other British troops were placed under security as prisoners.
On February 19, 1781, General Thomas Sumter attacked Fort Granby on the Congaree, the British stockade below Columbia. On February 21, he advanced to the British Post at Colonel Thomson’s Plantation, near present-day Fort Motte. The American troops advanced through an open field under heavy fire, reaching a part of the British defenses and setting fire to the houses. The defenders succeeded in extinguishing the flames and resisted every assault. The attack was then abandoned, but the investment was continued. Sumter encamped at Manigault’s Ferry, two miles below Thomson’s, refreshing part of his troops while a strong detachment maintained the investment of the post. He had sent out several smaller detachments for various purposes, so that he had with him not more than a hundred men. Early on the morning of the 23rd he received information that the enemy was approaching with a considerable number of troops and several wagons. He formed quickly for their reception on a well-chosen piece of ground half a mile below his encampment.
Calhoun County Historical Sites (cont.)
Colonel James Arthur Banks House - Dantzler Street, St. Matthews, SC
Battle of Thomson’s Plantation - February 23, 1781
Property of Calhoun County Museum Archives.
Not to be used without written consent.
