5 Days
Born: February 23, 1823, Columbia, Pennsylvania
Died: May 17, 1900, Kingstree, South Carolina
South Carolina State Senator 1867-1878
On 18 April 1865, Stephen Atkins Swails rose to 1st Lieutenant—a ‘first’ for a Black man in the US military. After the war, he became active in politics in South Carolina where decided to live. Stephen became an agent for the Freedmen’s Bureau and practiced law in Kingstree, SC. In 1873, Swails was appointed to Major General, commanding the 1st Division National Guard for the State of South Carolina.
In 1878, he survived two assassination attempts, forcing him to limit time in the state. Despite continued threats, Swails returned to South Carolina in 1884 to run for Congress. Unable to campaign due to the danger, he lost the election.
Source: (https://www.nps.gov/people/stephen-swails.htm) (https://columbiahistory.org/stephen-atkins-swails/)