Slavery and The University

*September 4, 1836: Fifty-five year old William dies of cholera in Charleston. He is enslaved by A. H. Mazyck, future Quartermaster and Bursar of the Citadel.

December 20, 1842: The South Carolina Legislature passes an act establishing the South Carolina Military Academy.

*February 19, 1843: Twenty-four year old Carolina dies of smallpox in Charleston. She is enslaved by R. F. W. Alston, who would later become governor of South Carolina and a member of the Citadel Board of Visitors.

March 20, 1843: The first cadets report for duty in Charleston.

*1851: James Jonathan Lucas graduates from the Citadel. 

June 1850: As part of the decennial census, the federal government compiles a slave schedule to quantify slaveholding in the United States. At least eight Citadel faculty members are recorded as enslavers.

*1854: Asbury Coward graduated from The Citadel. 

*March 22, 1854: Seventeen year old Ben dies of tetanus in Charleston. He is enslaved by H. Boylston, Surgeon at the Citadel at the time of his death. Dr. Boylston is also the physician listed on Ben's death record.

*April 14, 1857: Thirty-seven year old Charlotte dies of "mania à potu" at Roper Hospital, a nineteenth century term for a mental disorder from alcoholism. She is enslaved by William Aiken Jr., former governor of South Carolina and former member of the Citadel Board of Visitors.

*April 26, 1857: Twelve year old Ralph dies of dropsy in Charleston. He is enslaved by A. H. Mazyck, future Quartermaster and Bursar of the Citadel.

*January 13 1858: Sixteen year old Phillis dies of consumption in Charleston. She is enslaved by William Aiken Jr., former governor of South Carolina and former member of the Citadel Board of Visitors.

June 1860: The United States creates a second slave schedule as part of the 1860 census. At least seven Citadel faculty members are recorded as enslavers.

December 20, 1860: South Carolina secedes from the Union, marking the beginning of the Civil War.

January 9, 1861: South Carolina Military Academy students fire upon the Star of the West, a steamer ship attempting to bring supplies to Fort Sumter. These are considered the first shots of the Civil War.

*March 23, 1861: John B. Patrick begins to chronicle his life during the Civil War in his journals. 

*December 21, 1861: Forty-six year old Nina dies of dropsy in Charleston. She is enslaved by A. H. Mazyck, Quartermaster and Bursar of the Citadel at the time of her death.

*July, 1862: Ellison Capers first writes in his diary recording events surrounding the Civil War. 

January 1, 1863: Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all enslaved people in Confederate States.

*July, 1863: Ellison Capers begins a pocket diary recording events he experienced during the Civil War. 

*October, 1863: Ellison Capers concludes entries in his pocket diary. 

*November, 1863: Ellison Capers concludes entries in his full-sized diary. 

*March 6, 1864: John B. Patrick concludes entries in his Civil War journal. 

February 18, 1865: The Citadel suspends operations as a college when Union troops enter Charleston and occupy the school.

April 9, 1865: The Civil War ends with Confederate surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia.

December 6, 1865: Georgia becomes the final state to ratify the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, officially ending slavery.

*1890: Asbury Coward is named Superintendent of The Citadel.  

*1908: Asbury Coward retires from the position of Superintendent of the Citadel. 

*1910: Asbury Coward begins to write his Memoirs.