significant center of the free Afro-American community in the 19th Century.' �206 JOURNAL Bethel A.M.E. Church is the largest church of its denomination in Lan- caster County — there being A.M.E. churches in Marietta and Columbia as well. The fact that Bethel"s membership is almost six times greater than the

was again able to return to Washington, D.C." Efforts to educate Blacks in Columbia began quite early. As noted above the Columbia Abolition Society and the Sabbath School Society operated schools for Blacks prior to 1820. There is very little documentary evidence of the efforts put forth by Columbia

The Defense of Columbia June 1863 By Patrick M. McSherry Late June 1863 was not a very inspiring time for the Union. In the last two years the Army of the Potomac had four different commanders. Its men and officers had learned the meaning of defeat first hand at Fredericksburg. Murfreesboro and