The Lancaster Ledger

Lancasterville, SC – Wed. A.M. Oct. 1, 1862

We regret exceedingly to learn that Col Barnes of the 12th SC Regiment was severely wounded at the battle of Sharpsburg on Wednesday the 17th, Oct. We learned that he was shot in both knees - the ball passing through one knee and lodging in the other and it was feared that amputation of one or both limbs would be necessary. Col. Barnes has been through all the late battles and has won with his gallant Regiment now reduced to a mere handful of (can't read) honors. His loss to the service will be severely felt.

The Lancaster Ledger, Lancasterville, SC Wed. Oct. 15, 1862

It became out painful duty to record the death of Colonel Dixon Barnes of the 12th South Carolina Regiment, who died at Charleston, Virginia on the 27th ultimo (sic), from the effects of wounds received in the battle of Sharpsburg, Maryland on the 17th ultimo.

Since the commencement of this unholy war our district has sustained the loss of many worthy and useful citizens, but none who filled so large a sphere of usefullness, and none who occupied so prominent a place in her confidence, as the one who deceased she is called upon now to mourn. His death creates a void which cannot be easily filled, and causes a gloom throughout the District, the like of which has not been occasioned by any prior event of this war -- well may the district be shrouded in mourning, for she has indeed lost her most honored representative whether in the councils of her State or in the armies of her county. And not only the District of Lancaster is bereaved, but the State of South Carolina loses one of her ablest councellors, and the Confederate Government sustains in his death the loss of a gallant and efficient military officer.

Colonel Barnes occupied at an early period in life a prominent place in the confidence of the people of Lancaster; At the Fall elections in 1844 he was elected a Representative in the legislature – then but 28 years of age. It was remarked that he was elected a younger man and received a larger vote than many of his predecessors. He was elected in 1846; and in 1848 was elected to the State Senate, over very prominent and popular opponent. In 1852 he was not a candidate, but in 1854 he was elected to a vacancy in the Senate, occasioned by the death of Col. Huey. In 1858 he again declined to become a candidate. In 1860 at the solicitation of the people, he consented to served them and was elected senator without opposition, which position he filled up to the period of his death.

Colonel Barnes had long been identified with the States; Rights party, in South Carolina and was among those who early advocated secession as the only remedy for the growing encroachments of the North upon the South. In 1861 he was the nominee of the secession party to represent his Congressional District in the proposed Southern Congress. The voice of the State, as ascertained through that election, was adverse to the policy which he advocated, and he yielded indifference to the decision of the people, but nevertheless against his own convictions of right and expediency. In 1860 when Abraham was elected president of the United States, upon principles avowedly antagonistic to the interest of the South, Col. Barnes again advocated secession as the only means of shielding the State from the degradation and ultimate ruin which a submission to Lincoln’s administration would inevitable entail upon her. Before the meeting of the legislature in 1860 he openly advocated the call of a Convention, and after the meeting of that body of which he was a member he was prominently forward in the measure which resulted in the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union.

Col. Barnes did not urge this important measure without a due appreciation of the dangers incident to it, and when his native State was threatened with the coercing power of the Federal Government, and the people in this hour of peril, looked to him as a leader, he did not forsake them or shrink from the duties before him. Nobly has he vindicated on the field of battle the principles which he advocated in the time of peace. He was unanimously elected Captain of the first volunteer company raised in the District after the secession of South Carolina and when the companies were formed into Regiments, he was elected Major of the 2^nd South Carolina Regiment of State troops. In the Changes which ensued upon the transfer of the State troops to Confederate service, Col. Barnes was left without a command; but not satisfied to remain inactive while his country was in danger, he returned home, raised a company for “the war” , was unanimously elected Captain; and when the 12^th South Carolina Regiment, in which his company was embraced, was formed, he was unanimously elected Lieutenant Colonel. Subsequently, upon the resignation of Colonel Dunovant, he was promoted to the Colonelcy.

Early in the struggle Colonel Barnes exhibited evidence of a high order of military talent. As a tactician he had but few equals, and his Regiment while on the coast in the State, deservedly sustained the reputation of being one of the best drilled and disciplined in the service. As a cool chivalric, and brave officer, his conduct in the fight at Port Royal, in the severer contests before Richmond, in the bloody Battle of Manassas, and in the trying conflicts in Maryland afford abundant and honorable proofs. His Regiment which formed a part of the Brigade of General Gregg, was ordered from the South Carolina coast to Virginia in April last. It was then a noble command, numbering over a thousand men, but alas, the casualties of war have reduced it to a mere semblance of what it once was. Its leader shared all the privations and dangers to which his command was exposed, and the longer they remained in service, the greater became the attachment of his men for him and the higher their confidence in him. In one of the Battles’ before Richmond in which is Regiment was prominently engaged and suffered heavy loss, he received a slight wound, not however incapacitating him from duty. Again in the Battle of Manassas where the 12^th Regiment has won imperishable honors at the sacrifice of many noble lives, he was slightly wounded, but not disabled from duty. At the desperate conflict of Sharpsburg he again led the remnant of his command into action, and while cheering them on to new deeds of heroism – adding new luster to their already bright fame – he received a wound in both knees – the ball passing through one knee and lodging in the other – from the effects of which he died, as stated on the 27^th ultimo. His remains were brought home and interred in the churchyard at Camp Creek, on Friday last, attended by a large number of sorrowing friends. He died in the 46^th year of his age.

The life of Colonel Barnes affords a noble instance of the patriotic statesman and the high tones gentleman. His great popularity was due not to any efforts of his own to seek office or position, but to the unlimited confidence which the people had in his ability and integrity. Possessed of a large dignity, with high self-respect he would descend to none of the common arts by which politicians usually court po0pularity; and yet the highest honors within the gift of the people of his native District were always open to his acceptance. He was on the road to still higher preferment and usefulness, but short as his career was, he leaves behind him a record which posterity will regard with pride and reverence.

Bio of Colonel Dixon Barnes

Colonel Dixon Barnes was born of Scotch-Irish ancestry on his father’s estate of Cedar Creek, Kershaw District, South Carolina in 1816. He entered the South Carolina College, returned home for several years, but again entered the college and was graduated in 1838. He then read law and was admitted to the bar. In 1840 he was married to Charlotte R., eldest daughter of John and Tirza McDonald Brown (buried Camp Creek). Thereafter he moved to his plantation in Lancaster District. His domestic happiness was of short duration, however for in 1847 he lost his young wife and then gave his daughter into care of her maternal grandmother, continuing his residence on his estate.

A few years prior to the war his daughter was graduated from school and spent much time of her time with her father in his home and accompanying him in winter to Columbia while he was there in attendance upon the sittings of the legislature.

But once again his home peace was interrupted and at his country’s first call to arms he gathered a company, offered his services, and went into the field in Gregg’s brigade. That commander considered him the finest officer in the whole Southern Army and many believed that had life been granted he would have risen many ranks higher in command.

The only portrait extant of him, though it cannot be called a good one, has been loaned to the Lancaster U.D.C. and I believe, hangs in the State House among other Confederate relics. It may be added that when Sherman’s men on their march to the sea passed his home they dropped coals of fire among his private papers, a fact of which the scarred and blackened front of his old secretary will attest, and then seizing his portrait ripped it from its framings by sword thrusts and trampled it in the mud. It was rescued there from after their attention had been turned to new subjects of destruction.