1. In 1864, Union forces under General William T. Sherman captured the city of Columbia, South Carolina, and burned much of it to the ground. The destruction of Columbia was one of the most controversial actions taken by Sherman during his march through the South.

2. December 6, 1774, was the day that the First Provincial Congress of South Carolina met in Charleston. This congress was significant because it was the first meeting of elected representatives from all parts of the colony, and it helped to lay the groundwork for the revolutionary movement in South Carolina.

3. On December 6, 1956, the University of South Carolina officially desegregated, admitting its first African American students, Henrie Monteith, Robert Anderson, and James Solomon. The three students pushed for integration by applying for admission to the university in 1955, and after a year of legal battles and protests, they were finally allowed to enroll.

4. In 1888, the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free Masons of South Carolina was founded on December 6. Freemasonry was an important part of South Carolina society in the 19th century, and the Grand Lodge helped to organize and regulate the many Masonic lodges throughout the state.

5. On December 6, 1942, the USS South Carolina, a World War II battleship, was decommissioned after more than 25 years of service. The ship was the first in the U.S. Navy to be named after the state of South Carolina and had seen action in both World War I and World War II. Today, the USS South Carolina is remembered as an important part of South Carolina's military history.