This post is really about the Valkyrie ride through the country side
to Laurens where they observed Confederate Memorial Day today...
I've ridden to Laurens for Confederate Memorial Day several other
times, I look forward to it. We gather on the square, then replace
the flags at the soldier's graves in the city cemetery, then go
over to a Big Southern House owned by a UDC lady and one of my
SCV camp members for BBQ.
It rained all night and was overcast with spotty rain forcast as I left
this morning at 8:00... I started out on the roads I used to get to work...
There's a big old GIN operation behind the house ahead, and Chicken Houses and
other agricultural activity still on the property. I don't think anyone lives in the house
any more, but recently I noticed a window was busted and they fixed it, so at least
they aren't letting the house rot down...
I had to go past Grits and Groceries and NOT STOP!
Laurens has a cool old main street... the victorian house belongs to a member of my SCV camp,
we've met over there a few times, even though it is on Main Street, there a large property
behind it and he has barns and horses...
I rolled onto the square at Laurens, and I could see that stuff was getting ready...
Here's the UDC ladies laying the wreaths...
The whole Soldier's monument, and the historic Laurens County Court House...
Here's the folks leaving... That's Scott Watts, our former camp chaplain walking towards me.
Robert Roper, our current camp commander, and today's speaker, the South Carolina division
Chaplain, behind Scott. Senator Danny Verdin is wearing a bow tie back there in the middle. Over
to the right is the only person the fake media would have spoken to, if they had been there
Whenever I'm on the Laurens square, I can't help thinking about how it is there today, and how it
must have been at various times in the past. I've read numerous accounts of the 1870 "Laurens Riot"
that happened on the square, during the middle of Reconstruction. There was this scalawag named
Joe Crews...
Laurensville Gazette
October 20, 1870
A member of the Black militia named Johnson, who was a democrat, and a white
officer in the state constabulary were the ones to start the riot between
the armed whites and the black militia.
After the encounter, whites from surrounding areas descended on the town.
Background Information
Republican Governor Robert K. Scott organized the black militia in the
summer of 1870. It was clearly organized for political motivations and
was most active in the upstate counties, such as Laurens, where the
republican population was less than it was elsewhere in the state.
Joseph Crews was the leader of the militia in Laurens.
I read a book, "A Voice from South Carolina" by John Leyland, who
was a particpant, or at least present... he describes Joe Crews as
a state legislator, and the owner of a steam‑powered saw and grist
mill in Clinton. After the war, Crews led Radical Republican agendas
in Laurens County to help elevate the freed slaves in society and
subjugate the white Democrats.
LeLand's description of the riot:
There was quite a sprinkling of men on the square, and yet 'nobody was
hurt.' This is easily accounted for. These bold militiamen thought their
only agency was in 'cocking the gun and pulling the trigger,' and that
the blood‑thirsty bullet would itself seek its victim independently of
all aim. The effect of the volley on the scattered crowd was startling
enough. A hornet's nest suddenly turned over, and could not have produced
more flying to and fro, or more rage.A fellow from Massachusetts was also there. The different viewpoints of
what was going on is very interesting to me. Erastus Watson Everson had
traveled to Laurens county to purchase a horse for his boss. He overheard
local whites talking about their plans to disrupt the following day's
elections. He reported what he heard to both the army colonel and his
troops stationed in the town, as well as a note of warning to Mr. Crews,
a politician who led the local armed colored militia.
Anywho... the rain was beginning to threaten, a guy showed me a big blob that was headed our
way on his cell phone. I skipped the flag replacement and the BBQ and headed back
up home towards Oconee, no blobs there.
I can't resist fields full of round hay bales...
I went home past Donalds and towards Due West...
Erskine College is in Due West...
Its good to be at Due West, because its just down the road from...
GRITS AND GROCERIES
Then back towards home...
When I got most of the way home, it drizzled a little, a good and cool ride
-Mike
