USA > South Carolina > School history of South Carolina > Part 12
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5. Colonel Maham in a few days with logs and timbers cut from the neighboring forest erected a tower much higher than the fort. From this eminence the American sharp- shooters fired into the fort with such execution that the men in the garrison could not show themselves without being either killed or wounded. In this condition they concluded that discretion was the better part of valor, and that there was no good in being starved to death or shot to death, one by one. On April 23, six days after the beginning of the siege, the garrison of 114 surrendered themselves prisoners of war.
6. The British army at Camden consisted of about 900 men
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commanded by Lord Rawlon. The place was strongly for. tified. The American army, which had only about 700 meu. was too weak to take the place by storm, or even to com- pletely invest it. The goperal therefore took a good position: at Hobkirk. Hill, about a mile distart. waiting for a favor able turn to events and Loping to alure the garrison from their defences. In a short time Lord Rawilos, having armed all his musicians. drummers, and every boy that was able to carry a Arelock, sollied out with great spirit on the 25th. An engagement eusued and victory for awhile seemed to incline to favor the Americans, but the scale turned and the British were able to hold the field. though the Americans were not badly beaten.
7. Colonel Washington, who had been sent to turn the right flank of the enemy and charge them in the rear, at one time had about 200 prisoners, but. seeing the retreat of the Americans, he releasel his prisoners, parolel the officer; on the field of battle. collected his men, who had been sepa- rated into small parties, wheeled about and made gool Lis retreat. carrying off about 50 prisoners. He lost three men. The American loss in this battle was about 200, killed. wounded, and missing. The British had one officer killed and 11 taken prisoners. General Greene retreated in good order to Gun Swamp, about five miles from the field of battle.
. During the evening after the battle Colonel Washington. with 50 of the cavalrymen, rode up within a mile of the British army, and, sending forward a small parts. concealed the others in the woods. As soon as this small party was seen by the British. Major Coffin at the head of 40 Irish gave them chase. Just after they passed the troops concealed in the woods they were charged upon by thom so impetuously that they lost upwards of twenty of their number. This spirited conduct of Washington prevented the enemy from pursmug his good fortune and saved Americans from suffering from further injury at that particular period of time.
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0. On May 10 the British evacuated Camden. after burn- ing the jail, the mills, many private houses, and a great deal of their own baggage. They retired to the South of the Santee. On the day after the extention of Camden the gar- rison at Orangeburg surrendered to General Sumter. The next day Fort Motte surrenderel Two days afterwards the British evacuated the post at Nelson's Ferry, blew up the fort and destroyed the stores of supplies. The next day Fort Granby surrendered. Colonel Taylor had previously so har- rassed the garrison with the regiment of militia, that on the firing of the first cannon Major Maxwell expressed a willing- ness to surrender. He had about 350 men. a great part of whom were loval willitia. that is to say. tories.
10. General Greene now proceeded with his army to Ninety- Six. which being a place of the most importance in the whole upper country of South Carolina was strongly gardsoned. The garrison amounted to 550 men, 350 of whom were regu- 1 .... and, like the commander himself. Americans. The other 200 were of the loval militia of South Carolina, un ler Colonel King. Lieutenant Colonel Cruger, the communlant, was a native of New York.
11. On May 23, 1751. Generd Gione's army began their operations against the fort. This was in a body of woods that lay just within a half mile of the fort. The approaches were gradually carried on under the direction of Colonel Kos- ciusko, a distinguished Polander. By his assiduity and energy a third parallel. within thirty yards of the ditch. was com- pleted on June 10th, and a rifle battery thirty feet high was built at the same distance.
12. On the 17th, the abatis was turned, anl two trenches and a mine were worked to within six feet of the diteb. Riflemen sharpshooters were employel on both sides, and whenever any opp showed bimIf he was in great danger of being shot. The Americans had made their approaches so IO
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near that critical point that further resistance would have been hopeless, when intelligence was conveyed to the garrison. by a bold trick of some young people who were courting. lau officer in the garrison and a young lady of the outside, the Lord Rawdon was approaching with a force of 2,000 mes.
13. This information made it necessary, either to raise the seige, or to make the attempt to take the place by assault The assault was determined ups, and was made on Jun ISth, and follel. The rapid approach of Lor Rawdon made it necessary for General Grenze to retire, as he was too weak to make a stand against Lord Rawdon's superior force. Greene's loss was about 150 mien.
14. Colonel Lee. in his "Memoirs of the war in the South." is somewhat inclined to attribute the failure to Kosciusko's want of engineering skill or rather. to his neglect to cut off the water supply of the garrison when he might have done so, a small stream of running water supplying thew. On the other hand. it is alleged that the garrison could have supplied themselves by digging wells within the fort. as General Wil. liamson ouce did in a similar situation at the same place. But be this as it may, General Greene failed to grasp that prize, the securing of which at that time would have wrested the whole npper country from the British.
15. It is a little remarkable also that Lorl Rawdon had repeatedly sent orders to Colonel Cruger to leave Ninety-six. but the orders bad failed to reach him. And now this strong and commanding position was held by the British. and Gen eral Greene was driven across the country into a distant part of the state, and also compelled to encounter still greater re enforcements of the enemy without any hope of receiving any himself. The prospect was gloomy in the extreme. And in this situation there were not wanting persons who advised him to leave the state and retice with las forces into Virginia But General Greene's reply to such suggestions was. "I will
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recover the country, or die in the attempt." Lord Rawdon pursuel Cmerl Greene as far as the Enoree river, but find- ing it is possible to overtake him, and supposing that be hal left the state be consoled and tattered himself with the idea that Lo bal driven the rebels out of the country.
16. It was at this time that General Pickens gavo a striking instance of true Fravery and patriotic virtue. When the re- treat was und rel, bis family and private property were sent off with the army. This proceeding gave great alarm to many who had not the same means of transportation. or who could not have attraded too it without deserting their places in the army. In this emergency General Pickras refused to avau himself of the advantages that were out of the reach of other- just as necessitou , and sent his family and property back t> his house, which was within twenty miles of the enemy's gar- rison. His courageous example savel the neighboring country from the loss of a great many of its inhabitants. and the army from los by the desertion of the militia to take care of their families.
QUESTIONS. - 1. What is said of the attack on Fort Granby ?
2. What is further said of Samter's movements ?
3. What were the British surprised to find? Why had they erected a chain of forts between the Santee and Congaree waters ?
4. What is said of investment of Port Watson and its situation ?
5. How did Colonel Maham proceed to attack the fort ? What did the British conclude to do ? How many were made prisoners ?
6. What was the strength of the two armies now near . umden ? What i said of the American army? What did Lord Rawdon do on April 25? What was the result ?
7. Tell something of Colonel Washington's movements in the battle. What was the loss of the Americans" The British ?
5. What is said of Colonel Washington's movements on the evening after the Battle ? What good was accompanied by this?
9. What did the British do when about to leave Camden ? What places now fell into the hands of the Americans ?
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Io. What place did General Greene now proceed to attack, and what is said of it? What is said of the garrison ? Where is Ninety-Six ?"
II. When did General Greene begin operations against the fort? What is said of Colonel Kosciusko ?
12. What success did the Americans meet with at first? What news was now received, and how was it carried to the fort ?
13. What effect dil this information have ? What is said of the attack. and the loss of the Americans ?
14. Why did Colonel Lee think that Kosciusko was somewhat to blame for the failure to take the fort?
15. What can you tell of word Rawdou's orders to Colonel Cruger? In what condition did General Greene now find himself? By whom and how far was General Greene pursued ? .
16. Give an account of General Pickens' refusal to have his private property remove l. What effect bad this act on the army ?
CHAPTER XXXII.
EMILY GEIGER. ANNE KENNEDY. DICEY LANGSTON.
1. When General Greene retreated from Ninety-Six after his unsuccessful assault upon that place in June, 1751, he crossed the Saluda river and passed through the upper part of what is now Newberry county, pursued by Lord Rawdon until he crossed the Enoree. Before his rear guard had left the south side of this river, the van of Lord Rawdon's army appeared in pursuit. But his lordship hesitated to make an attack upon General Greene's cavalry, which was commanded by Colonels Lee and Washington. While he paused at this place, Greene moved on toward Broad river, near which he halted and encamped, in the fork of Encree and Broad rivers.
2. About two miles from where he had camped with his weary and disheartened troops stood the residence of a well- todo farmer named John Geiger, an arileht patriot, but an invalid and unable to serve his country in arms. His daugh- ter Emily was as ardent a patriot as himself. She was
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about 15 years of age and was often heard to murmur because she was not able to take up arms in her father's place. But now a great opportunity presented itself, which she was not slow to seize.
3. Learning from a neighbor that General Greene wanted a courier by whom to -end despatches to General Sumter, who was then on the Wateree, a hundred miles away, she . determined to offer herself for the service, as General Greene was unable to find a messenger, the service being considered too dangerous. On the morning of the day in which he proposed to move. while pondering the situation in deep perplexity and anxiety, he was told' that a young lady was waiting to speak to hon. "Let her come in." he said to the orderly.
4. Emily then entered with the officer and offered her services to the general to bear his message to General Sum- ter, as she understood that so fer he had been unable to find a messenger. Se also stated that she was well ac- quainted with the route to be traversed, as she had been over it more than once. After sonte hesitation, her offer was accepted: the general wrote a dispatch to Sumter, which. before he handed it to her, he was very careful to read over to her aloud until she had completely memorized it. so that if she should be compelled to destroy it, she could repeat it verbally to Sumter.
5. Mounted upon a strong and fleet horse she then took ber departare. Her aim was to cross the Saluda at Kenner- ly's ferry. not far above its junction with the Broad, then cross the Congaree at Friday's ferry. just below the junction of the two rivers, then as direct as possible to Sumter, on the Wateree. Nothing of special moment happened to her luring the first day's journey.
6. On the evening of the second day, when more than two- thirds of the distance she had to go was safely passed, and
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after she had crossed the Saluda and was on her - way to Friday's ferry. on the Congaree, suddenly three men in the British uniform appeared in the road in front of her. They arrested her and carried her before Lord Rawdon, whose camp was abont a mile distant. His lordship questioned her closely as to where she was from and where she was going. Her answers not being direct but evasive, did not satisfy his lordship and he ordered her to be locked up in one of the upper rooms of the guardhouse. After being locked up. she was fortunately left alone for a short while: and while alone she took the dispatch from her pocket, tore it up into small bits, chowed and swallowed thew.
7. She had scarcely exten the last morsel when a woman appeared. prepared to make a thorough search of herself and clothing. Nothing of a suspicions character having been found upon Fer. Lord Rawdon was, of course, in honor bound to permit her to pursue her journey unmolested. He gave ber an escort to the house of a friend a few miles distant. where she partook of some refreshments and re-ted a few hours. But the danger being imminent. and fearful of fur- ther delay, with a fresh horse and a guide who could show her a shorter and a safer way than the one which she had intended going. she set out, and, riding all night. at daybreak they were far from the neighborhood of Lord Raw- don. At sunrise the guide left her to pursue ber journey alone. On, on she role steadily, hot as it was, until about 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the third day she suddenly came upon a file of soldiers, whom from their dress she know to be friends. By them she was conducted to General Stunter. and hungry, weary, and almost fainting as she was. she clearly and succinctly delivered her message to the as- touished officer. . In an hour General Sumter was ready to march to the place of junction mentioned in General Greent's despatch.
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8. Two weeks passed before Emily got back to her father, who had been informed. soon after her departure, of what she had done. Who can imagine the emotions of love, pride and happiness that almost stifel him as he pressed her to his heart once more?
9. After the war Emaily married a planter in the neighbor- hood named Threwits, who, indeed, had seen service as a whig major in the partisan warfare of the period. After they were married they moved down the country and settled at Granby, where Emily lived to a good old age, and where she died and was buried. She left children, and some of her descendants are now living in Edgefield county. Her daugh- ter. or granddaughter. Miss Elizabeth Threwits. married John Nickerson. These left children: Benjamin. Albert. John. and Jeseph, Mrs. Enmia Blocker and Mrs. Dr. Allen. Young John Blocker is also a descendant of Emily Geiger.
10. There was another female courier, whose name is kept alive and fresh in family tradition, but which has never been recorded in history. It is that of Anne Kennedy. Her jour- Ley was not as long, and her perils were, perhaps, not equal to those of Emily Geiger: but to pass through them required a brave heart and a cool head .. Her home was in what is now Union county. On one occasion she bore a message to General Morgan. the hero of the Cowpens. On the way she passed through a band of tories, some of whom were her neighbors, whom she knew, and who knew her well by sight. Concealing her face as well as she could, she rode quietly through the group. Riding slowly on for a few hundred yards, she then put her borse to bis full speed and was soon far out of danger of puranit. Some of them had just shot and killed a wild turkey. and they were so intently engaged in quarreling over it that they paid no attention to Anne Kennedy as she passed.
11. The career of Nicey Langston was fully as hernie and
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as full of danger as was that of any of the heroic- women of the Revolution. She lived in a frontier settlement in the upper part of the state in the midst of tories, and whenever she learnel by accident or strategy any plottings against the whigs, she would always communicate her knowledge to her friends. even at the risk of her life.
12. Learning one time that a band of tories were about to fall upon the "Eller settlement," a place where a brother and other friends were living, she resolved to warn them of their danger. In the dark night she started off alone, tray- eled some miles through the woods, over marshes and across creeks, without footlogs or bridges, until she came to the Tyger river, which was deep and rapid. She plugged in and waded until the water was up to her neck. She became very much bewildered. but finally reached the opposite shore, hastened on. gave warning to her friends and her brother. and the entire community was saved.
13. On another occasion. returning home from another set- tlement of whigs in Spartanburg county. a company of tories met her and questioned her in regard to the settlement she had just left. She refused to tell them anything. The leader then put a pistol to her breast and threatened to shoot her if she did not give the information desired. She uncovered her neck and bosom and said: "You may shoot if you dare. but I will not tell you." The dastard officer was in the act of firing when one of the soldiers knocked up the weapon, and the heart of the heroic girl was permitted to beat on.
14. At another time a band of these tories went to her father's house to kill her brothers; who were active whigs and as patriotic as herself. They were absent and the tories were about to kill the old man, whom they hated almost as much as they did his sons. One of them aimed a pistol at the breast of the old man, who was very infirm, when Dicey rushed between. prepared to receive the contents of the pistol
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in her own breast. Her dauntless courage saved her father's life.
15. At one time her brother James, while absent. sent to the house for a gun which had been left with Dicey with orders to deliver it to no one except by his direction. She brought the gun and was about to deliver it to the men who had called for it, when it occurred to her that she had not demanded the countersign agreed on between herself and her brother. With the gan still in her hands she looked steroly at the party and called for the countersign. "Oh. you are too slow in your movements." said one of the men. "both the gun and yourself are now in our possession." "Do you think so?" she repliel as she cooked the gun and aimed it at the speaker. "If it is in your possession, take charge of it." The men laughed and gave the countersign without further delay.
QUESTIONS. - I. Give an account of General Greene's retreat from Ninety-Six and the pursuit of his army by Lord Rawdon.
2. Relate what you know of John Geiger. What can you say of Emily Geiger's desire to serve her country ?
3. What opportunity of serving now presented itself to Emily Geiger ?
4. Tell what you can of Emily's offer of her service to Greene. What did Greene do ?
5. What route did Emily intend to take in order to reach Suinter?
6. Where was she on the evening of the second day ? What happened to her there? Tell what took place when she was carried before Lord Rawdon.
7. Relate what you can of the search Lord Rawdon ordered to be made of her and the result of it. Tell of the meeting with General Sumter.
8. Tell what you can of.her return home.
9. Relate what you can of her marriage and her life afterwards.
Io. Tell the story of Anne Kennedy.
11. What other heroic woman have we in this chapter? Where did she live ?
12. Tell the first incident related of her.
13. What is the second ?
14. Give the third.
15. Give the fourth.
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CHAPTER XXXIII
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR CONTINUED. WAR WITH THE CHEROKEE INDIANS.
1. After General Greeno's repulse at Ninety-Six a great and general apprehension was felt that the British would soon re-establish the posts they had lost south of the Santee. After the departure of Cornwallis to Virginia they had con- tracted their boundaries to the extent of the country lying between the Santee, the Congaree, and the Edisto.
2. Lord Rawdon taking it for granted that the Americans had left Sonth Carolina, divided his army between the Con- gares and Edisto. But he soon found that General Greene was not willing to yield the prize for which he had been 50 long contending. For. General Greene, on hearing that Lord Rawdon ha marched with part of his force to Congaree, at once faced about to give him battle.
3. Lord Lawdon was taken aback at this movement of his foe, and, remaining only two days at this post on the Con- garee, retreated . to Orangebarg. General Groene pursued. and, encamping within five miles of the enemy, offered him battle. His lordship politely declined the overture. General Greene knew himself to be too weak to attack him in his entrenchments.
«1. In the course of these movements Captain Eggleston, of Lee's legion. on July 2nd, fell in with a small party of British horse near the Salada river and took > of them prisoners. While the American army was near Orangeburg information was received that Lieutenant Colonel Cruger had evacuated the post at Ninety Six and was marching with the troops of that garrison through the forks of Edisto to join Lord Rawdon at Orangeburg.
5. As the north fork of the Edlisto could not be crossed with his army without boats, General Greene was unable to
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prevent the junction of the two armies, and he retired to the high hills of the Santee. As the British had been forced from Camden by striking at the forts below it. General Greene wisely adopted similar measures to drive them from Orange- burg.
6. Soon after the British left Cambridge the Cherokee In- dians broke the engagements which they had made to remain neutral, and. with a number of disguised white men. called Ling's friends by themselves. made a foray into the district of Ninety-Six, messacred several families and burned the houses in which they lived. General Pickens collected speedily a body of 324 horsemen and penetratel into their territories. In the short space of two weeks he burned 18 towns and villages. killed over 40 Indians, and took many prisoners. None of his own men were killed, and only two were wounded.
7. In carrying out his purpose of forcing the British from the post at Orangeburg, General Greene, the same day that he retired from that neighborhood, detached Generals Samter and Marion with their brigades, and the legion of cavalry to Monck's Corner and Dorchester. They moved by different rontes and in three days began operations. Lieutenant-Colonel Leo took all the wagons and horses belonging to a convoy of prisoners. Colonel Wade Hampton defeated a party of dragoons within five miles of Charlestown. He also burned four vessies loaded with supplies for the British army and took 50 prisoners at Strawberry ferry.
S. The garrison at Biggin's church, consisting of 500 infan- try and upwards of 100 cavalry, was attacked by General Smuinter. The commander, Lieutenant Colonel Coates, having repulsed Sumter's advanced guard, destroyel his stores and supplies the next evening and retreated towards Charlestown. Low pursued bira with his legion and Hampton with the state cavalry.
9. The legion overtook them near Shubrick's plantation and
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took their rear guard and all their baggage. And at the head of only 14 Colonel Maham and Captain Armstrong. of Lee's legion, charged through a considerable part of their lines with the loss of two men. At the same time there were detached, to the support of General Lee. 50 or 50 infantry under Colonel Taylor, who took a number of prisoners after the charge was made by Colonel Maham.
10. After some hours Generals Sumter and Marion came up with the main body, but by this time the enemy haal secured themselves by taking post in a large range of house -. An attack upon them was made and continued until the Americans had lost about 40 in killed and wounded, The British loss in these different skirmishes and engagement- amounted to 140 prisoners, several killed and wounded, the baggage of the 19th regiment, 100 horses and several wagon-
11. Frettiny under these reverses of fortune, driven from; almost all his posts, baffled in his schemes, and despairing of success, Lord Rawdon sailed for Europe. He had aggravated the unavoidable calamities of war by frequent acts of cruelty. the only excuse for which is that he thought them necessary to success. But he was in error and failed.
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