Douschka Pickens
Encyclopedia
Francis Eugenia Olga Neva "Douschka" Pickens Dugas was the daughter of Governor Francis Wilkinson Pickens
and Lucy Holcombe Pickens, wife of George Couvier Dugas. She was born in 1859 in Russia
and rumour was that she was actually Tzar Alexander II
's daughter. After the American Civil War
she was the dashing female leader in Edgefield County, South Carolina in the Red Shirts movement. Douschka often wore a red cape and a red feathered plume in her hair. The Red Shirts blocked the polls to override the newly freed slaves votes in South Carolina to elect General Wade Hampton III
in the 1876 governor election. She was nicknamed the "Joan of Arc of Carolina" for her leadership in the elections.
Governor Francis Wilkinson Pickens and his third wife, Lucy Holcombe, were married just before he left the United States as Minister to Russia in 1858. Francis W. Pickens and his wife were both very popular at the court of the Tzar of Russia. While at Saint Petersburg
, their only child, a daughter, was born, and she has always been known as Douschka Pickens. It is said that Douschka is the Russian language means "little darling" and was only a pet name, her real name is Francis Eugenia, along with Olga and Neva, which the Tzarina gave her at her christening. Douschka died in 1893 after a sudden illness.
Francis Wilkinson Pickens
Francis Wilkinson Pickens was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 69th Governor of South Carolina when the state seceded from the United States during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
and Lucy Holcombe Pickens, wife of George Couvier Dugas. She was born in 1859 in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and rumour was that she was actually Tzar Alexander II
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
's daughter. After the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
she was the dashing female leader in Edgefield County, South Carolina in the Red Shirts movement. Douschka often wore a red cape and a red feathered plume in her hair. The Red Shirts blocked the polls to override the newly freed slaves votes in South Carolina to elect General Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton III
Wade Hampton III was a Confederate cavalry leader during the American Civil War and afterward a politician from South Carolina, serving as its 77th Governor and as a U.S...
in the 1876 governor election. She was nicknamed the "Joan of Arc of Carolina" for her leadership in the elections.
Governor Francis Wilkinson Pickens and his third wife, Lucy Holcombe, were married just before he left the United States as Minister to Russia in 1858. Francis W. Pickens and his wife were both very popular at the court of the Tzar of Russia. While at Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, their only child, a daughter, was born, and she has always been known as Douschka Pickens. It is said that Douschka is the Russian language means "little darling" and was only a pet name, her real name is Francis Eugenia, along with Olga and Neva, which the Tzarina gave her at her christening. Douschka died in 1893 after a sudden illness.