Burt, Armistead, House
a.k.a. The Burt (Stark) House
306 N. Main St., Abbeville, SCThe Burt House has its chief historic significance as the location of Jefferson Davis's last Council of War.
Here, at the home of his personal friend, Major Armistead Burt, President Davis and his official company stopped overnight, May 2, 1865. The stop was one of many made by the evacuating Confederate government following General Lee's withdrawal from Petersburg, Virginia, and the ensuing Confederate surrender at Appomattox, on April 9, 1865. Accompanying Davis from Richmond were members of the Confederate cabinet, his personal staff, and departmental attaches. They were attended by Confederate Cavalry.
By the time the party reached Abbeville, two of the Cabinet had resigned, the military situation appeared hopeless, and the hope of President Davis to reach Mississippi and re-vitalize Confederate forces appeared equally hopeless.
Attending the Burt House Council of War, in addition to the one cabinet officer not serving as a general, were President Davis, Gen. Ferguson of Mississippi, Generals Dibrell and Vaughan of Tennessee, Col. W.C.P. Breckinridge and Gen. Basil Duke of Kentucky, Gen. John C. Breckinridge, cavalry commander, and Geri. Bragg, senior General of the Army (Lee, Johnston, and Beauregard having surrendered).
Here was made the decision to "abandon all hope of effecting any other purpose than Mr. Davis's escape to the west."
It was this final meeting of Confederate leaders that gives substance to Abbeville's claim of being the "Grave of the Confederacy" as well as its "Birthplace" (because of its historic Secession Hill site). As the setting for the final Council of War, the Burt House itself has become a historic landmark.
The Burt House is also considered extremely valuable as an example of antebellum mansion architecture and atmosphere. Both it's exterior and interior appearance typifies the period known popularly as the "old South."
Built by Armistead Burt, following his move from Pendleton to Abbeville and his marriage to Martha Calhoun - both in 1828, the house has remained in the same family ever since. The present owner and occupant is Burt's great-great niece, Mrs. Mary Stark Davis. Burt himself was a distinguished Abbeville lawyer who served in both the United States and Confederate Congresses.
It is especially important that the house achieve National Register status at this time since Mrs. Davis plans a bequest that, at her death, the house and all its furnishings shall become the property of the Abbeville County Historic Preservation Commission. The property must be maintained as a historic house and may be used as the Commission deems best.
The Burt House is already a historic shrine, its importance increased by its location in South Carolina's importantly historic Abbeville district, and in Abbeville town, a spot of great charm that retains a number of other important historic landmarks.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.