Robert Gray
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2012
Harvey Cogswell and his brother-in-law, Benjamin F. Evans, organized and operated the printing firm of Evans & Cogswell in Charleston (SC).
In the days leading up to secession, the Evans & Cogswell Printing Company was retained as printers to the Secession Convention, and daily printed the minutes of the Convention. The Ordinance of Secession, one of the most fateful documents in America's history, was lithographed by Evans & Cogswell.
During the Civil War, Evans & Cogswell printed small denomination Confederate currency, Government bonds, the Soldier's Prayer Book, books on war tactics, stamps, and medical books.
Their company had been established in Charleston, but was moved to Columbia (SC) in 1864 for protection from invading Union forces under General William T. Sherman.
Subsequently, Columbia, and the Evans & Cogswell printing plant there, were extensively damaged by fire in February 1865 during the course of General Sherman's march northward through South Carolina.
Because of this devastating loss, the company went into bankruptcy, but was reorganized in 1866 with the addition of C. Irvin Walker, a distinguished Confederate veteran, and the company was renamed Walker, Evans & Cogswell.
Harvey Cogswell's rebuilt Columbia printing plant was listed Number One among "South Carolina's 11 most endangered sites" by The Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation.
From an article by Ron Cogswell.
West Virginia Wesleyon College Library, Rare Book Collection.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
In the days leading up to secession, the Evans & Cogswell Printing Company was retained as printers to the Secession Convention, and daily printed the minutes of the Convention. The Ordinance of Secession, one of the most fateful documents in America's history, was lithographed by Evans & Cogswell.
During the Civil War, Evans & Cogswell printed small denomination Confederate currency, Government bonds, the Soldier's Prayer Book, books on war tactics, stamps, and medical books.
Their company had been established in Charleston, but was moved to Columbia (SC) in 1864 for protection from invading Union forces under General William T. Sherman.
Subsequently, Columbia, and the Evans & Cogswell printing plant there, were extensively damaged by fire in February 1865 during the course of General Sherman's march northward through South Carolina.
Because of this devastating loss, the company went into bankruptcy, but was reorganized in 1866 with the addition of C. Irvin Walker, a distinguished Confederate veteran, and the company was renamed Walker, Evans & Cogswell.
Harvey Cogswell's rebuilt Columbia printing plant was listed Number One among "South Carolina's 11 most endangered sites" by The Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation.
From an article by Ron Cogswell.
West Virginia Wesleyon College Library, Rare Book Collection.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.