American Soldier. He was a free black man and a veteran battlefield drummer serving in the Mexican, Civil, and Spanish-American Wars. Henry had Southern loyalties all his life. In civilian life, he was a successful brick mason and owned a great deal of land in Darlington, South Carolina, with holdings that reached from Timmonsville Hwy to Ponderosa Drive, and Hwy 401 to High Hill Road. During the Civil War, Henry enlisted as a drummer in 21st South Carolina Regiment, Company H of the Confederate Army in July 1861 and served for the rest of the war. One of his accomplishments was capturing a pair of Union Army drumsticks. He was a member of the Darlington Guards (South Carolina) from 1878-1907. At his death, Henry was described as “a man of rare true worth.” Henry Brown passed away after a long illness, and was laid to rest beside his wife, Laura. A 15-foot obelisk marks his final resting place on Jeffrey Street in Darlington. Newspaper accounts estimate that at least one-third of those attending his funeral were white, and his grave was completely covered in flowers and gifts from friends and admirers. One white reverend, D.M. Fulton, and one black reverend, J.J. Jefferson, conducted the ceremony, and the Darlington Guards bugler, Angus Gainey played “Taps” while the company fired three rounds over their grave.
American Soldier. He was a free black man and a veteran battlefield drummer serving in the Mexican, Civil, and Spanish-American Wars. Henry had Southern loyalties all his life. In civilian life, he was a successful brick mason and owned a great deal of land in Darlington, South Carolina, with holdings that reached from Timmonsville Hwy to Ponderosa Drive, and Hwy 401 to High Hill Road. During the Civil War, Henry enlisted as a drummer in 21st South Carolina Regiment, Company H of the Confederate Army in July 1861 and served for the rest of the war. One of his accomplishments was capturing a pair of Union Army drumsticks. He was a member of the Darlington Guards (South Carolina) from 1878-1907. At his death, Henry was described as “a man of rare true worth.” Henry Brown passed away after a long illness, and was laid to rest beside his wife, Laura. A 15-foot obelisk marks his final resting place on Jeffrey Street in Darlington. Newspaper accounts estimate that at least one-third of those attending his funeral were white, and his grave was completely covered in flowers and gifts from friends and admirers. One white reverend, D.M. Fulton, and one black reverend, J.J. Jefferson, conducted the ceremony, and the Darlington Guards bugler, Angus Gainey played “Taps” while the company fired three rounds over their grave.
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