06/19/2026
**From Enslavement to Remembrance: The Story of Caleb Glover**
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and provides an opportunity to reflect on the lives of individuals who endured bo***ge and helped shape their communities. One such individual was Caleb Glover of St. Matthews, South Carolina.
Born into slavery around 1827, Glover likely became part of the Dantzler household through the marriage of Caroline Glover and Colonel Olin M. Dantzler. Though denied his freedom for much of his life, Glover earned the respect and admiration of those who knew him through his character, intelligence, and unwavering sense of duty.
During the Civil War, Glover accompanied Colonel Dantzler to Virginia. After Dantzler was mortally wounded at Bermuda Hundred on June 2, 1864, Glover undertook the difficult journey of bringing his body home for burial in St. Matthews. He also recovered and returned the body of Colonel Laurence M. Keitt, another prominent South Carolinian who died from wounds received at the Battle of Cold Harbor.
Dantzler taught Glover to read and write, an uncommon opportunity for an enslaved person in the antebellum South. Throughout his life, Glover became known as “Uncle Caleb,” a man remembered for his honesty, dependability, and strong moral character. Community members recalled that he was always truthful, reliable, and respectful.
In recognition of his service, Glover was awarded the Southern Cross of Honor by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, a distinction bestowed upon only a small number of African Americans. In the photograph displayed here, Glover can be seen wearing this honor.
After the war, Charles G. Dantzler, the eldest son of Colonel Dantzler, assisted in caring for Glover until his death on March 25, 1920.
Today, Caleb Glover rests in Bethel AME Church Cemetery. His grave is maintained by the Col. Olin M. Dantzler Camp No. 73 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. More than a century after his death, Glover's life serves as a reminder of the complex history of slavery, war, freedom, and memory in South Carolina. His story continues to connect present-day visitors with the people who lived through some of the nation's most transformative years.
