Hagood Mill Historic Site was the location for the Saturday, September 26, 2026 birthday celebration for Revolutionary War hero General Andrew Pickens, for whom our county is named and who was born in September of 1739.

Carolyn Nations, Chair of the Pickens County America 250 Committee, welcomed everyone to the event. “We are so happy that all of you are here with us,” she said.

Siblings Harry Mays, Jr., Dianne Mays Crooks, and Julie Mays Thompson, descendants of General Andrew Pickens, led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mays is a member of the General Andrew Pickens Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), and Crooks and Thompson are members of the Fort Prince George Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Joyce Hansel, Regent of the Fort Prince George DAR Chapter, gave the invocation. “Please join me in prayer. Father, we thank you for the privilege of gathering here together at the historic Hagood Mill to celebrate the life and legacy of General Andrew Pickens. We are grateful for those who came before us, men and women who faced uncertainty with courage, who served their communities, and who helped lay the foundations of the nation we enjoy today. As we remember General Pickens, we give thanks for his service as a soldier, as a statesman, and as a leader in the Carolina backcountry. May his example remind us that liberty carries with it responsibility, that leadership requires character, and that each generation is called to preserve the blessings entrusted to it. Lord, bless all who have gathered here today, those who have worked to make this celebration possible, and the children and families who will carry these stories into the future. May this day be a day of fellowship, remembrance, and gratitude. In your precious name we pray, Amen.”

“Once again, let me say welcome,” said Nations. “We’re glad you’re here. There are some names we hear so often that we almost forget that there was once a person behind them. For those of us who call Pickens County home, Pickens is such a name. It’s the name of our county and our community. We see it every day, but, today, we have gathered to remember something more. Today, we remember the man behind the name. Andrew Pickens lived a life that carried him from the Carolina backcountry through the struggle for American independence, to service in the new nation that emerged from that struggle. He became a general, a statesman, and a man whose knowledge and judgment were called upon by President George Washington.

“Our speaker will share much more of that remarkable story today, but, before we hear it, it is fitting that the Pickens County America 250 Committee formally honors this man whose name our county has carried for generations.” She then read a proclamation on behalf of the Pickens County America 250 Committee in honor of General Andrew Pickens, who ‘became one of the distinguished patriot leaders of the South Carolina backcountry during the struggle for American independence. And, whereas, through courage, perseverance, and devotion to the cause of liberty, Andrew Pickens rose from militia officer to Brigadier General and gave years of military service to South Carolina and the cause of American independence, and, whereas, when the fighting was over, his service to his country continued as a legislator, statesman, member of the United States Congress, and public servant in the young nation he had helped to establish, and, whereas, his knowledge of native peoples and the Carolina frontier was so highly regarded that President George Washington called upon him to serve as a federal commissioner in negotiations with native nations, entrusting him with the difficult work of seeking peace in the new republic, and, whereas, generations later, the county that proudly bears his name remains a lasting reminder that history is not simply something we read, it is something we inherit, preserve, and pass forward, and, whereas, our nation commemorates the 250^th anniversary of American independence, we are called once again to remember those whose courage, sacrifice, leadership, and service helped secure the liberty handed down to us, Now, therefore, the Pickens County America 250 Committee does hereby commemorate the 287^th birthday of General Andrew Pickens and honors a life of extraordinary service to South Carolina and to the United States of America. Today, here at Historic Hagood Mill, in the county that bears his name, we do more than remember a soldier, a general, a statesman, or a figure from our past. We remember the man behind the name. And may we preserve his story, so that generations yet to come will understand not only whose name our county bears, but why that name is worthy of remembrance, Proclaimed this 26^th day of September, 2026 by the Pickens County America 250 Committee.’ Thank you.”

Militia reenactors then shouted, “Three cheers for General Andrew Pickens! Hip, hip, hurrah!”

A celebratory cannon volley by Robert Watson was followed by the screeching of an alarmed rooster, who bolted across the yard, amid the laughter of the crowd.

Bud Starnes, a member of the Pickens County America 250 Committee and the President of the General Andrew Pickens SAR Chapter, joked, “Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.” He then welcomed everyone to the event and said, “I wanted to recognize some participating organizations and point you in the direction of some demonstrators, one of which you just noticed. I’d like to thank Billy Crawford for hosting us here at Hagood Mill Historic Site. Please come back again. There is a lot to see. I want to welcome and thank the Pickens County Historical Society for their support, the Pickens Chamber of Commerce, the Daughters of the American Revolution, also known as DAR. We have representatives from Fort Prince George and Andrew Pickens Chapters. Also, as I mentioned, I’m part of the Sons of the American Revolution. And we have Clemson University Historic Properties here with us today. And we have booths there between the mill and the petroglyph building. There are also several demonstrators here. We have corn husk doll making that was handed down to us from the Cherokee. We’ve got a setup, a kitchen, for Rev War style of cooking. You heard the cannon volley. We also have South Carolina Rangers for musket volley presentation, broom making, and wood working. You see the fabric weaving and sewing on the front of the log cabin. And blacksmithing was going to take place over in the blacksmith building. We also have a food vendor here. So, take your time to go and visit all of the demonstrators that are here for you to learn from, and, at this time, I’d like to introduce our keynote speaker today, Dr. Otis Pickett. He is the Clemson University historian.”

As Pickett came to the podium, he said, “Good morning,” and joked, “I’ll tell you what, as an old tiger, I love seeing a Gamecock run. How about y’all? That was pretty good. That’s a good way to start the day.”

To listen to Dr. Otis Pickett’s entire speech, click on the play button on the audio player below.