Millwood (Richland County, South Carolina)
Encyclopedia
Millwood is the site and ruins of an antebellum plantation house at 6100 Garner's Ferry Road (US 76
), Columbia, South Carolina
. It was owned by Colonel Wade Hampton II
and was the boyhood home of the Confederate general, South Carolina governor, and U.S. Senator Wade Hampton III
. After the death of Wade Hampton II in 1858, the house went to his four unmarried daughters. On February 17, 1865, it was burned, probably by General Sherman's troops. On March 18, 1971, the ruins were named to the National Register of Historic Places
.
(1752–1835) was a lieutenant colonel in the American Revolutionary War
, brigadier general in the War of 1812
, a congressman
, and a wealthy planter. When he died in 1835, he was considered one of the wealthiest men in America with plantations in Mississippi
, Louisiana
, and South Carolina and the wealthiest planter in the Southern United States
.
Wade Hampton II (1791–1858) was called Colonel due to a commission in the South Carolina Militia. He served two terms in the South Carolina Senate
. Although he never sought another political office, he played a major role in South Carolina politics. He was an avid sportsmen, hunter, and horse breeder.
Wade Hampton III (1818–1902) was the first son of Wade Hampton II. He served in Confederate Army by leading Hampton's Legion
and rose to the rank of lieutenant general, was a governor of South Carolina, and was a U.S. Senator.
Wade Hampton II married his first wife, Ann Fitzsimons, in 1817. His father had given him his Mill Tract north of the present Garner's Ferry Road. His father's home was the original Woodlands south of the Garner's Ferry Road. Wade Hampton II built a raised, two-story cottage prior to the birth of Wade Hampton III in 1818. In 1837 or 1838, Millwood was remodeled in Greek Revival style by the architect Nathaniel Potter from Rhode Island. His plan had a wing on each side, six two-story columns at the center, and three smaller columns on each wing. The renovations took about two years. During this time, the family lived away including a resort near White Sulphur Springs
.
An artistic rendition of the house has been published. It shows the central, two-story section with the prostyle
, hexastyle portico. There were matching one-story wings fronted by three columns on either side. The central section of the sketch resembled the extant Millford Plantation
house, which was built by Hampton's youngest sister and brother-in-law in Sumter County, South Carolina. Millford and the renovations of Millwood had the same architect, Nathaniel Porter.
A conjectural floor plan of Millwood's first floor was published based on Hampton family accounts.. This shows that there was a central hall with two rooms on each side of the front of the house. With wide folding doors between these rooms, the entire width of the house could be open for entertaining and dancing. There was a cross hall behind these rooms that connected to the wings. There was a curving staircase to the second floor at the end of the main hall. The wings extended beyond the back of the central section.
and Daniel Webster
.
The inaugural party for Governor William Aiken, Jr. in 1844 was held at Millwood.
,_detail,_u.s._route_76_(garners_ferry_road),_columbia_vicinity_(richland_county,_south_carolina).jpg)
Before Sherman's troops arrived in the area, the family silver, china, crystal, and family portraits including their Troye
horse paintings were taken to York, South Carolina
for safety. The Hampton family plantations in the area including Millwood, the old Woodlands, and Diamond Hill were set ablaze. There is no proof that this was done under Sherman's orders, but the houses were probably too far from downtown Columbia to have been accidentally burned. The Hampton-Preston House
in Columbia was spared.
All that remained of the original Millwood were the twelve columns, the smoke house, the wing house, and a portion of the stable. Sometime later, the six shorter columns that were in front of the wings were torn down. Around 1930, one of the round columns toppled. Its base remains along with the three other round columns and two square columns.
The Miss Hamptons built a nearby cottage after the war. This was burned by arsonists after the bitterly contested gubernatorial election
that Wade Hampton III won in 1876. They rebuilt a new two-story house around the old kitchen and laundry near the ruins of the original Millwood.
U.S. Route 76
U.S. Route 76 is an east–west United States highway that runs for from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.-Tennessee:...
), Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
. It was owned by Colonel Wade Hampton II
Wade Hampton II
Wade Hampton II was an American plantation owner and soldier in the War of 1812. He was a member of the Hampton family, whose influence was strong in South Carolina politics and social circles for nearly 100 years....
and was the boyhood home of the Confederate general, South Carolina governor, and U.S. Senator Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton III was a Confederate cavalry leader during the American Civil War and afterward a politician from South Carolina, serving as its 77th Governor and as a U.S...
. After the death of Wade Hampton II in 1858, the house went to his four unmarried daughters. On February 17, 1865, it was burned, probably by General Sherman's troops. On March 18, 1971, the ruins were named to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Hampton family
Wade Hampton IWade Hampton I
Wade Hampton was a South Carolina soldier, politician, two-term U.S. Congressman, and wealthy plantation owner. He was the scion of the politically important Hampton family, which was influential in state politics almost into the 20th century...
(1752–1835) was a lieutenant colonel in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, brigadier general in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, a congressman
South Carolina's 4th congressional district
The 4th Congressional District of South Carolina is a congressional district in upstate South Carolina bordering North Carolina. It includes all of Greenville, Spartanburg and Union counties and a part of Laurens county. The district is characterized by the two major cities of Greenville and...
, and a wealthy planter. When he died in 1835, he was considered one of the wealthiest men in America with plantations in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, and South Carolina and the wealthiest planter in the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
.
Wade Hampton II (1791–1858) was called Colonel due to a commission in the South Carolina Militia. He served two terms in the South Carolina Senate
South Carolina Senate
The South Carolina Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives...
. Although he never sought another political office, he played a major role in South Carolina politics. He was an avid sportsmen, hunter, and horse breeder.
Wade Hampton III (1818–1902) was the first son of Wade Hampton II. He served in Confederate Army by leading Hampton's Legion
Hampton's Legion
Hampton's Legion was an American Civil War military unit of the Confederate States of America, organized and partially financed by wealthy South Carolina plantation owner Wade Hampton III...
and rose to the rank of lieutenant general, was a governor of South Carolina, and was a U.S. Senator.
Architecture
Various sources indicate that Millwood was constructed in 1817, 1830, or after 1815 and probably in the 1830s, Since many early houses were expanded over the years, it is possible that there is truth in all the statements.Wade Hampton II married his first wife, Ann Fitzsimons, in 1817. His father had given him his Mill Tract north of the present Garner's Ferry Road. His father's home was the original Woodlands south of the Garner's Ferry Road. Wade Hampton II built a raised, two-story cottage prior to the birth of Wade Hampton III in 1818. In 1837 or 1838, Millwood was remodeled in Greek Revival style by the architect Nathaniel Potter from Rhode Island. His plan had a wing on each side, six two-story columns at the center, and three smaller columns on each wing. The renovations took about two years. During this time, the family lived away including a resort near White Sulphur Springs
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
White Sulphur Springs is a city in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,444 at the 2010 census.-Geography:White Sulphur Springs is located at ....
.
An artistic rendition of the house has been published. It shows the central, two-story section with the prostyle
Prostyle
Prostyle is an architectural term defining free standing columns across the front of a building, as often in a portico. The term is often used as an adjective when referring to the portico of a classical building which projects from the main structure...
, hexastyle portico. There were matching one-story wings fronted by three columns on either side. The central section of the sketch resembled the extant Millford Plantation
Millford Plantation
Millford Plantation is an historic place located on SC 261 west of Pinewood, South Carolina. Its monumental two-story Greek Revival mansion built in 1839 for John L...
house, which was built by Hampton's youngest sister and brother-in-law in Sumter County, South Carolina. Millford and the renovations of Millwood had the same architect, Nathaniel Porter.
A conjectural floor plan of Millwood's first floor was published based on Hampton family accounts.. This shows that there was a central hall with two rooms on each side of the front of the house. With wide folding doors between these rooms, the entire width of the house could be open for entertaining and dancing. There was a cross hall behind these rooms that connected to the wings. There was a curving staircase to the second floor at the end of the main hall. The wings extended beyond the back of the central section.
Millwood's role in South Carolina
Because of the elegant entertaining and powerful guests, Millwood has been called the "social center of South Carolina" in the antebellum period. In addition to major South Carolina politicians, planters, and "aristocracy," national guests included Henry ClayHenry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
and Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster was a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil War. He first rose to regional prominence through his defense of New England shipping interests...
.
The inaugural party for Governor William Aiken, Jr. in 1844 was held at Millwood.
Destruction in 1865
Edward Troye
Edward Troye , was a painter of American Thoroughbred horses.-Travels:...
horse paintings were taken to York, South Carolina
York, South Carolina
York is a small city in York County, South Carolina, United States. The city of York is also the county seat of York County. The population was approximately 6,985 at the 2000 census and the 2009 population estimate for the city...
for safety. The Hampton family plantations in the area including Millwood, the old Woodlands, and Diamond Hill were set ablaze. There is no proof that this was done under Sherman's orders, but the houses were probably too far from downtown Columbia to have been accidentally burned. The Hampton-Preston House
Hampton-Preston House
The Hampton-Preston House located at 1615 Blanding Street in Columbia, South Carolina, is a historic mansion that was the home of members of the prominent Hampton family. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on July 29, 1969....
in Columbia was spared.
All that remained of the original Millwood were the twelve columns, the smoke house, the wing house, and a portion of the stable. Sometime later, the six shorter columns that were in front of the wings were torn down. Around 1930, one of the round columns toppled. Its base remains along with the three other round columns and two square columns.
The Miss Hamptons built a nearby cottage after the war. This was burned by arsonists after the bitterly contested gubernatorial election
South Carolina gubernatorial election, 1876
The 1876 South Carolina gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1876 to select the governor of the state of South Carolina. The election campaign was a referendum on the Radical Republican-led state government and their Reconstruction policies...
that Wade Hampton III won in 1876. They rebuilt a new two-story house around the old kitchen and laundry near the ruins of the original Millwood.