The Women in the Civil War Message Board

Lucy Holcombe Pickens

I have an interest in Confederate Treasury notes.There is a women on the Dec.2,1862 printing of the $100.00 note that was thought for years to be Mrs.Jefferson Davis.It was discovered that it was Lucy Holcombe Pickens.She was born Lucy Petway Holcombe in LaGrange ,TN.June 11,1832 was married to Francis Wilkinson Pickens at Marshall TX. in 1858. Mr.Pickens was a U.S.Congressman and was appointed to be the Minister to Russia which soon after they had their first child Frances Eugenia born in Russia to which the Empress of Russia added the names Olga and Neva two granddutchesses that acted as godmothers.Their friendship strengthened the good relationship between the two countries,however, Mr.Pickens was then recalled to become the Gov.of S.Carolina.Their Russian friendship didn't stop there. It was said Mrs. Pickens had a portrait of the Zsar presented by himself to her at their house at Edgewood. He was said to call her Lady Lucy or Queen of the Confederacy.William Bradbeer wrote in 1915,it is fitting the portrait of Mrs.Pickens that should be selected to adorn the money of the Confederacy.Her husband, a distinguished and influential man, was Gov. of the first state to seceed, and she herself was at the time undoubtedly the most widely known and popular women in the south and embodiment to the chivalry of that romantic section, of the beauty, charm and virtures of southern woman,and has the unique distinction of being the only women so honored.It was said CSA Sec.of Treasury C.G.Memminger also of South Carolina was an admirer and undoubtably was influential in her being on the bill.I find it fitting to be rehonored here .