The APG Board of Directors has approve a project to fund the preservation of the Civil War frock coat of Capt. E. B. Canty 6th SCV. Board member Kurt Hollar is leading the project. Total cost for the work if $5000. The coat, now in the care of the South Carolina Relic Room and Museum in Columbia, SC. We will be soliciting funds for the preservation from now until May 31st.
If you would like to donate, you can submit your contribution to, the APG 2221 Hunters Rd SW Roanoke, VA 24015 or you can donate through PayPal to infomikeapg@aol.com. All funds contributed will go to the South Carolina Relic Room and Museum for this project.
E.B. Cantey Bio
Edward Brevard Cantey was born in Camden, South Carolina on May 28, 1836. Often known as “E.B. Cantey” or “Ned” to his family and friends, he descended from a distinguished South Carolina family. His father was James W. Cantey and his mother was Mary Boykin Cantey. He enlisted as the Captain of Company C, 6th SCVI on July 2, 1861 at the age of 25. Cantey led his company through battle at Williamsburg and Seven Pines, but was unable to participate in Seven Days Battles due to illness. He was still weak at the Battle of Second Manassas, but he took charge of the company in spite of his poor health. He continued to command the company through the fighting at Boonsboro and Sharpsburg. Cantey was a casualty of the brutal fighting on September 17th; he was hit four times in the legs by Minié balls. His wounds healed poorly, and he was rendered unfit for active duty. He served as an enrollment officer until the end of the war. After applying to the Secretary of War for a promotion, he was granted the rank of Major on August 27, 1863.
He married Mary Whitaker Boykin on December 10, 1862. After the war he worked as a planter, county treasurer, and at the turn of the century, a life insurance agent. He was praised for his success in all of his endeavors and is consistently characterized by others as amiable, chivalrous, and a man who faithfully dedicated himself to all of his ventures. He died on April 1, 1916 and is described in his obituary as a “genial, courteous gentleman.” Those who knew his loyal military service asserted that there was “no truer or braver soldier following the Confederate battle flag than Major Cantey.”
Cantey’s uniform coat was donated to the SC Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum in the early twentieth century by a “Mr. Van Tusco.” It is a double-breasted butternut jean or satinet frock with black cuffs, collar, and trim at the tails of the skirt. There is gold braiding above each sleeve cuff and at the collar. Approximately 15 buttons are intact with about 12 missing (Palmetto tree buttons with the phrase- “Animis Opibusque Parati”). The interior of the frock is lined with a brownish cotton blend material that is quilted at the chest, back, and shoulders.
This image of Cantey appeared in The Atlanta Constitution, February 19, 1896.
Written by Chelsea Grayburn, Registrar, SC Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum
