Killed at Cold Harbor, Va. in 1864!

(1824-64) A lawyer by occupation, he served as a Democratic Congressman from South Carolina 1853-60, and was one of the South's most outspoken advocates of secession. In 1856, he accompanied fellow South Carolinian Preston Brooks to the Senate chamber when Brooks beat Senator Charles Sumner senseless. During the fray, Keitt used his own cane to keep away others who tried to come to Sumner's defense. He was elected a delegate to South Carolina's secession convention, and resigned his seat in the U.S. Congress the day the convention met in Columbia. In 1862, he raised, organized and trained a regiment of volunteers, and was elected their colonel. This regiment became the 20th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry. On June 1, 1864, at Cold Harbor, Va., Keitt was shot off his horse by a Union marksman, dying the next day.

Wet plate, albumen carte de visite photograph, mounted to 2 3/8 x 4 card. Half view pose. Backmark: E. & H.T. Anthony, New York. Very fine.