The Bronze Stars on the State House Building
		On the west wall of the State House there are six bronze and two plaques carved into the granite. The stars mark the places where the State House was hit by Sherman's artillery shells. The inscriptions carved into the granite wall read:
		February 16, 1865, Sherman's artillery from the hills on the south side of the Congaree, got the range of the city by firing on this building then under construction, registering six hits which are separately marked by stars.
		Construction on this State House was begun in 1855 and continued uninterruptedly to February 17, 1865 when Sherman burned Columbia. Work was resumed in 1867 and carried on irregularly to 1900.
	Last Updated: 9/11/01 3:28 PM