Eutaw Plantation

EUTAW PLANTATION Sinkler Family By Mr. F. M. Kirk

3 Black & White

The following feature story appeared in the News and Courier of Charleston and is reprinted by ermission.

The fourth and fifth generations of Sinklers live at Eutaw in the house built by William Sinkler in 1808. If plans materialize for the construction of the Santee-Cooper development, the present generation will be the last to live in the historic house, for it will have to be abandoned and torn down to make way for the red waters of Santee.

Eutaw is located three miles east of Eutawville, and one mile west from the battle field of Eutaw Springs. The house is built on the bluff of the creek flowing from the springs.

The plantation is a part of the tract secured by James Sinkler, of Old Santee, St. James Parish, when he was granted lands in St. John's, probably shortly before the revolution. On part of his grant he built his plantation, Belvidere, still in possession of the Sinkler family.

James Sinkler was the son of the Scot emigrant who settled at Tucker's plantation near Bonneau. After the emigrant's death the family moved to Lifeland, which belonged to Peter, the brother of James. James lived later at his own plantation, Old Santee, after acquiring Belvidere, and building the mansion there that still stands.

Like Captain Peter Gaillard, of the Rocks, he made early experiments in cotton, which will be discussed in another article of this series.

Always in Same Family

Eutaw was built for William, son of James, at the time of the former's marriage. The name Henry was added to a son of the same name. The middle name was continued, and the third and fourth Sinkler men of the same name now live in the house, and cultivate the lands that have never passed out of the hands of the family.

Located on the bluff of Eutaw creek at the end of a long avenue, the house presents a striking picture as one approaches it. Through Spanish moss, draped from low-hanging branches, one sees a large, roomy house, set high from the ground on graceful, arched brick work. The roof is low, for the main body of the building is only a story and a half. Dormer windows in the red roof give light and ventilation to the comfortable rooms in the half-story, and add to the attractiveness of the house.

An eastern wing was added in 1820, and a corresponding wing was added to the west in 1838. The piazza is wide, and runs around the sides of the house to connect with the wings.

The history of Eutaw is closely connected with that of the South Carolina turf. The Sinklers were horse lovers, and some of the finest race horses in the South were bred at Eutaw and Belvidere. When William Sinkler moved to Eutaw, one of the first things he did was to build a mile race track east of the avenue in front of the house. There, under the expert supervision of his trainer, Hercules, horses were trained for some of the biggest races in the country.

Trophies of the Race

There are many trophies at Eutaw to attest the success of William Sinkler's blooded horses. A jockey costume, in the Sinkler colors, more than a hundred years old, is still in possession of the family.

Hercules was as valuable a possession to William Sinkler as was his stable of thoroughbreds. The trainer's reputation, "The History of South Carolina Turf," tells us, was widespread, and he was well known in Virginia. It was Hercules who trained Albine, finest of South Carolina horses.

Albine, bred by Colonel James Ferguson, of Dockon Plantation Cooper River, was raced against the Virginia bred Planet, then considered the finest race horse in America. The race was run on the Charleston course in February 1861, and consisted of two four-mile heats.

Both heats were won by Albine. The time made by the mare was the fastest ever made on the Charleston track and in America. It has never been equaled. The first heat was run in seven minutes thirty- six and one-half seconds; the second in seven minutes forty-two and one half seconds.

The plantation naturally derives its name from its location on Eutaw Creek, flowing from Eutaw Springs. The name Eutaw comes from the Indian tribe of that name, which used this section as a hunting ground. Dr. David Duncan Wallace, in his recent "History of Eutaws, sometimes known as the Etiwans, were of the Cusabo group, and were of the Muskogean stock.

Few families suffered more during the Revolutionary and Confederate wars than did the Sinklers. During the Revolution practically all the property of Peter of Lifeland, and James of Old Santee (later of Belvidere) was destroyed by the British.

Through the treachery of one of his tenants, Peter Sinkler was betrayed into the hands of the British and was first compelled to witness the destruction of his property at Lifeland. He was then taken to Charleston, without being allowed to take leave of his wife and daughters. At Charleston he was imprisoned in the old Exchange building without a change of clothing and without bedding.

Typhus fever broke out in the unsanitary prison, and Peter Sinkler soon died.

It is said that South Carolina owes the heirs of James and Peter Sinkler almost one hundred thousand dollars which was advanced by the brothers as a loan to the state during the Revolution.

Hospital for Federals

When General Hartwell led his raid through this section toward the close of the War Between the States, Eutaw was made his headquarters. The women of the house were compelled to move to the upper story of the house, leaving the lower floor to General Hartwell and his staff.

One of the outbuildings was made into a hospital and there were treated Northern soldiers wounded in the many skirmishes with Confederate scouts during the raid, and two of Hartwell's soldiers are said to be buried there.

General Hartwell was newly commissioned to his rank. Wishing to make himself popular with his men, he exerted little authority over them, and his stay at Eutaw was one of horror to the defenseless women upstairs.

From their dormer windows they could see the long lines of troops camped on both sides of the long avenue. From those windows they could see and hear the revelry of undisciplined soldiers and half- crazed Negroes. Every evening the band would play in the avenue would dance the plantation Negroes, little understanding this freedom so suddenly thrust upon them. And on the board piazza would sit the general and his staff, looking with amusement upon the tragic scene. From those same dormer windows, the women of the house could witness the destruction of their household goods. Thirty-four chests of clothes and valuable had been buried under the blacksmith shop. They were discovered and destroyed.

How King Was Taken

In former days the old garden at Eutaw was famous. Only vestiges remain to remind one of its former glory. One of the garden workers was said to have been a grandson of an African king, whose descendants still live on the plantation. The grandson seemed to have been quite amused at the trick played on his princely grandsire.

When a slave ship appeared off the coast of the king's domain, he gladly rounded up a party of his tribesmen and took them down to sell to the white men aboard. When the sale was completed to the mutual satisfaction of both parties, the black king was invited aboard by his white customers. No sooner was the guest aboard than his hosts promptly weighed anchor and sailed away with him.

EUTAW PLANTATION Sinkler Family Sinkler Plantation at Eutaw Lies in Part of Development