CS Con Keitt, Laurence M. - C.S. Delegate, SC

Laurence Massillon Keitt
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Born: October 4, 1824

Birthplace: Orangeburg County, South Carolina

Father: George Keitt 1794 – 1861

(Buried: Tabernacle Cemetery, Saint Matthews, South Carolina)​

Mother: Mary Magdalene Wannamaker 1805 – 1848

(Buried: Tabernacle Cemetery, Saint Matthews, South Carolina)​

Wife: Susanna Mandeville Sparks 1834 – 1915

(Buried: West End Cemetery, Saint Matthews, South Carolina)​

Children:

Anna Keitt 1860 – 1919​

(Buried: West End Cemetery, Saint Matthews, South Carolina)​

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Stella Keitt 1861 – 1869​

(Buried: West End Cemetery, Saint Matthews, South Carolina)​

Education:

1843: Graduated from South Carolina College​

Occupation before War:

1843 – 1848: Attorney in Orangeburg, South Carolina​

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1848 – 1853: South Carolina State Representative​

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1853 – 1860: United States Congressman from South Carolina​

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1856: Censured by U.S. Congress for his role in assault on Sumner​

Civil War Career:

1860: Delegate to South Carolina State Secession Convention​

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1861 – 1862: Delegate to Confederate Provincial Congress​

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1862 – 1864: Colonel of 20th​ South Carolina Infantry Regiment​

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1863: Participated in the Second Battle of Charleston Harbor, South Carolina​

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1864: Mortally wounded during Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia​

Died: June 4, 1864

Place of Death: Richmond, Virginia

Cause of Death: Wounds received at Cold Harbor

Age at time of Death: 39 years old

Burial Place: West Side Cemetery, Saint Matthews, South Carolina

 

[Pollaco]

When Preston Brooks attacked Senator Sumner in with a cane in 1856, Keitt assisted Brooks by brandishing a pistol and cane to prevent the other Senators from coming to Sumner's aid. In 1858 he attacked and attempted to choke Representative Galusha Grow (R-Ma.) during an argument on the floor of the U. S. Senate.

 

[Pollaco]

When general Kershaw went on to command a division Keitt succeeded to command of his old Brigade. His mortal wounding was on June 1, 1864.

 

[Luke Freet]

Keitt I believe commanded ad hoc brigade-sized units at Charleston before his 20th South Carolina went north to join Kershaw's old brigade.
When he did join Kershaw's Brigade, he superceded Col. John Henagan as senior Colonel and commanded the brigade at the start of Cold Harbor, before being killed.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Record as Delegate to Provisional Congress:​

He preferred Howell Cobb for President soon pronounced "Jeff Davis a failure and his cabinet a farce" He was a conscious nation maker and withheld from the new government only the right to preempt from the states the appointment of militia officers. Keitt was one of the earliest to advocate the strategic use of cotton. In July 1861 he suggested an embargo on all cotton, tobacco, and naval stores; he also hoped that the government would buy all cotton and use it for credit and for leverage in diplomatic matters. He did not seek election to the regular congress.


Happy Birthday (October 4th) Colonel/Provisional Delegate Laurence M. Keitt! Salutes remembering you on your birthday.

 

[Pollaco]

When Preston Brooks attacked Senator Sumner in with a cane in 1856, Keitt assisted Brooks by brandishing a pistol and cane to prevent the other Senators from coming to Sumner's aid. In 1858 he attacked and attempted to choke Representative Galusha Grow (R-Ma.) during an argument on the floor of the U. S. Senate.

The caning event didn't just spontaniously happen.Brooks and Keitt consulted each other before the attack. A duel with Sumner had been considered but Brooks kind of thought that duels were reserved for gentlemen and Sumner didn't qualify as a gentleman.

 

[lelliott19]

...his 20th South Carolina went north to join Kershaw's old brigade. When he did join Kershaw's Brigade

When the 20th SC arrived to join Kershaw, the other regiments in the brigade had been dramatically reduced in numbers from hard campaigning - officers and enlisted. The 20th SC had been at Charleston and arrived with a full complement of officers and enlisted. Their number amounted to more than all the the balance of the brigade.(!) The men of the other regiments in Kershaw's brigade (at least; maybe the entire division) jokingly referred to Keitt's regiment as the 20th SC Army Corps.

The Herald and News. (Newberry, SC), May 12, 1911, page 7.