USA > South Carolina > Orangeburg County > The history of Orangeburg County, South Carolina : from its first settlement to the close of the Revolutionary War > Part 33
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It seems rather peculiar that all of the best known historians of this State have totally neglected to say anything of Rumph's command, notwithstanding the fact that at least one, Dr. Joseph Johnson, knew of the existence and work of this command. In his
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"Traditions of the Revolution", pages 548-50, speaking of the fight between the Tories and the Whig compa- ny, under Capt. Michael Watson, near Dean Swamp, in Orangeburgh District, he says: "Some of Watson's company, who had also taken to flight on seeing their captain fall, took possession of a farm-house near by, occupied only by a mother and her child. There was little or nothing to eat on the premises. and they now feared pursuit more than ever. believing that the wo- man would report them to their enemies. One of them was chosen by lot, and sent off to Orangeburg for help. Colonel Rumph came out to them as soon as possible, but, before the arrival of his company, the poor woman and child. with their unwelcome guests, were all nearly starved out."
Dr. Johnson seems to presume that the reader well knows who "Col. Rumph" was, for it is the only men- tion made of him in the book. He also calls him by his post-bellum title, "Colonel". yet speaks of "his company." Capt. Rumph did not attain the rank of colonel until after the war, when he was chosen colo- nel of a militia regiment. Some years later he attain- ed the rank of brigadier general of militia.
Some interesting stories are told of some of the in- dividuals of Rumph's company. One of these is about John Amaka-and, by the way, there are two John Amakas mentioned on the roll of the company. above given-who was an actual illustration of late popular song, for "One of his legs was longer than it really ought to have been"; that is to say, he had one leg shorter than the other. When the Whigs had com- menced to make it unpleasant for the Tories and those of Tory sentiments, many of them left the State and went to East Florida. One day John Amaka passed by the house of George McMichael (grandfather of Mr. C. M. McMichael) and inquired of him the way to
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East Florida. Mr. McMichael told him the way, but further remarked to him, "John you can't get there on those legs of yours, so if you are going to turn Tory you had better stay here and run your chances." Amaka, however, continued on his journey, but in a day or so he bobbled back, and it seems decided to rast his fortunes with Rumph's partisans.
Paul Stroman, who lived where Mr. James H. Fowles's "Durham" place now is, has been accused of Toryism, but the traditions of his family and the ap- pearance of his name on Rumph's roll tend to dis- prove the accusation. The charge was probably based on the ground that upon one occasion he, it seems, refused to obey some order of Rumph's, and it so aroused that officer's ire that he rode down to Stro- man's place to arrest him. Stroman saw him coming and bid in his barn with his rifle by him. He after- wards declared that if Rumph had discovered him he (Stroman) would have shot him.
Mr. W. W. Culler, of this County, tells a good story of Capt. Rumph's wit. He relates that one night Capt. Rumph called for his grandfather, Benjamin Culler, who was a member of Rumph's company, and, with several others, they went out to waylay and cap- ture some "outlyers". They secreted themselves in some pine brush by the road side, and after awhile a woman, the wife of one of the "outlyers", came along and began to call her husband. After calling several times she called out, "O, honey, O, honey!" At that Capt. Rumph remarked to his companions; "If that fellow is any honey, the devil was the bee."
Mr. Culler also says that his grandmother has often told him that "Bloody Bill" Cunningham had on sev- occasions come to her house and made her run down and kill and cook chickens for him to eat, and that
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she had often known, or heard, of his presence in the community.
It is related that upon one occasion Capt. Rumph had two sick members of his company staying in his house. One night he was suddenly aroused by one of his slaves, who ran in and shouted; "Run Massa de Tory comin!" Capt. Rumph quickly awakened his sleeping friends and told them to run for their lives, but one of them complained that he was too sick to run. "Then you are a dead man" shouted Capt. Rumph, and ran out of the house. Just then the Tories en- tered from the opposite direction, and finding the sick man, dragged him out into the yard and cut his head off with an axe.
Old James Knight, of the Limestone section, who died about forty years ago, had been a member of Cuningham's company during the Revolution, and he was often heard to tell how he escaped on one occa- sion when Rumph's men had put Cuningham's to flight. He said he simply lay down on his horse, threw his arms around the animal's neck, slapped his spurs to him with all his might and dashed through a thicket.
Another militia company of Orangeburgh District, which doubtless also belonged to Rowe's regiment, and of which there are many traditions, was that of Capt. Henry Felder, who has been mentioned several times heretofore in these pages as holding various civic offices, and as a member of the State Legislature, during the Revolution,
The traditions of the Felder family say that Captain Felder had his seven sons, Henry, Jacob, John, Fred- erick, Samuel, Abraham and Peter, in his company. It is said that John was killed during the war. He was captured with his step-mother's brother, Snell,
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and while the British soldiers were at dinner on the banks of the Congaree river, they attempted to escape. Snell escaped to the woods, but John jumped into the river and swam across while his hands were tied, the guard shooting at him all the while, but after he reached the opposite bank a bullet struck him in a vital place and killed him on the spot. And, strange to say, he was killed by his own gun in the hands of the guard.
The late Col. Paul S. Felder often said that when he was a young man he met an old gentleman named Rice of Barnwell District, who told him that he (Rice) had been a member of Capt. Felder's company during the Revolution, and that he was present with the com- pany upon one occasion when they whipped a body of Tories at Holman's Bridge over the South Edisto river in Orangeburgh District.
Capt. Felder had two dwelling houses burned by the Tories during the war. and at the burning of the last one he lost his life. The following notice, in refer- ence to the burning of the first house, appeared in the Gazette of the State of. South Carolina, October 7th and 14th, 1778:
"WHEREAS the subscriber's house was plundered and burnt on the third inst. and all his papers either burnt or destroyed: To prevent fraudulent demands that may hereafter be made on him, he gives this pub- lic notice, that those persons who have any lawful de- mands on him, either in books of account, bond, note of hand or otherwise, are desired to make demand on or before the first day of january next ensuing, and receive payment: And all persons indebted to him are likewise entreated to make payment as far as may be consisent with their knowledge.
"Sept. 23,,
Henry Felder."
.
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Judge ()'Neall, on p. 325 of his Bench and Bar, has this to say of Capt. Henry Felder:
"This gentleman was a very active partisan in the Revolution. He brought his love of liberty from his native canton, and, like Tell, of his fatherland, he was willing to peril all, rather than submit to tyranny. He guided General Sumter in his approach to Orange- burg, and bore a part in the capture of that post.
"At or about the close of the war, the Tories sur- rounded his house: the gallant Swiss, by the aid of his wife and servants, who loaded his guns while he fired, killed more than twenty of his foes. His house was at last fired, and he was thus forced to fly. In at- tempting to escape, he was shot, and killed."
The traditionary account of the above affair, as re- ceived from the late Col. Paul S. Felder, who not only heard it from his father and other members of his family, but from the lips of an old negro servant, who, as a young man, had been an eye witness of a part of the tragedy, is as follows: One day Capt. Felder re- ceived a message from Samuel Rowe, a good Whig friend, that the Tories intended to attack his home the next day. With his sons, and his overseer, whose name was Fry, he defended his house, defeated the Tories and drove them off. As soon as they had left he sent his sons through a by-path to waylay and am- bush them, but before reaching the ambush the ene- my returned to the siege, and setting fire to a load of hay that was under a shed near the house they there- by set the house on fire. Capt. Felder put on some of his wife's clothes and attempted to escape, but was recognized by his boots as he jumped the yard fence and was filled with bullets. He continued his flight for several hundred yards, however, and dropped from exhaustion and loss of blood just as he reached the woods. The same negro above mentioned was cutting
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wood nearby and went to his master's assistance. He was not yet dead, and help being procured, he was taken to a place of safety where he lived a day or two before he died.
In the fight he is said to have killed about twenty of the Tories with the assistance of Fry, his wife and servants loading the guns, while he and Fry shot.
There are two old cannons used as corner posts in Orangeburg, that are said to have been used by' him on the occasion of the siege of Orangeburgh by Sumter. However that may be, one of the guns ha's cut on it, "H. Felder 1781" and the other has cut on it the mark IF.
After the death of the father, his son, Henry Felder, commanded the company; and after the war this com- pany formed a part of the District militia .*
It is also quite likely that another of these compa- nies was commanded by Capt. John Salley. On page 12 of Tarleton Brown's Memoirs the Cowpens of "Cap- tain Salley" are mentioned, and in a grant of land made to him shortly after the Revolution he is called "Captain John Salley." These are the only docu- mentary evidences we have of the fact that he bore any title at all during the Revolution.
Tradition has preserved two anecdotes of Capt. Sal- ley's Revolutionary life that are worth recording. He lived near the river swamp about half a mile from the village of Orangeburgh,f and one tradition is that whenever he slept at home a faithful old negro stood sentinel under his window, and whenever he heard the tramp of horses he jumped up and rapped on the window to warn his master. When thus warned he would slip out, and if he found that Tories were
*See Bench and Bar, Vol. II, page 341.
+His grave and tombstone can be seen there now, near where his dwelling stood.
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abroad he would hie him to the river swamp. This was probably when he had no troops with him.
The other tradition is that he owned a very fine blooded horse which he very much feared the Tories would steal, so he carried him to his own house, the lower story of which was of brick, with a basement, or cellar. . He took the horse into this basement and bricked him up in there, leaving some secret entrance through which food could be carried, and doubtless there were some sort of air holes, (Traditions never provide such things.) but, at any rate, the Tories found out the horse was there, and stole him out. This must have happened while the owner was absent, for, if he was as fond of horses as his numerous descend- ants are, (and he evidently was) he would have de- fended him with his life had he been present.
Section 5. Various Operations in South Carolina during the War; and their relation to Orangeburgh Dis- trict.
From the commencement of hostilities up to Pré- vost's attempt on Charlestown, in May 1779, operations in South Carolina were confined to the coast and along the line of the Savannah river; with the exception of the two expeditions among the Tories of the back- country in 1775, and the expedition against the Chero- kee Indians in 1776. Some account of these various operations has been given in the section on the 3rd regiment.
While Gen. Lincoln lay with his army at Purisburg, in 1779, protecting our frontier from an invasion by the British from Georgia, Governor Rutledge con- ceived the idea of forming a grand militia camp at Orangeburgh, as is shown by the following extract from a letter written by Gen. Moultrie to Col. Charles
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Pinckney, dated at Purisburgh, March 2nd, 1779: "I observe in a letter from the governor to general Lin- coln, that he intends forming a camp at Orangeburgh, of 2,700 men, the 13th instant; and that he also intends aug- menting them to 5,000. from Thomas', Lisle's, Neal's, and Williams' regiments, from the Ninety-six regiment,* with- out interfering with the meas- ures necessary for defending the back country; I think all GOV. JOHN RUTLEDGE.+ seems to be secure thereabouts."
The wisdom of establishing this encampment was questioned by Col. Charles Pinckney (who was Presi- dent of the Senate and a member of the Council of Safety) in a letter to Gen. Moultrie, dated March 19th, as follows: "I have received your favor of the 15th, and am glad to hear of the enemy bending their force downwards to Savannah; even though they should take a trip to our borders; especially as you say, you are of opinion we should manage them better there than where they are, which opinion I think just; this movement I think should alter the orders for our grand camp at Orangeburgh, and place it nearer the capital for fear of a coup-de-main, I think you mili- tary men call it: and perhaps may be so soon: but at present it is the ruling opinion that the other place is; near enough to receive succors from, in due time, should they be wanted. I wish it may be so"; and again on March 22nd, Col. Pinckney wrote Gen. Moul- trie: "His excellency has been obliged to pospone his
*Williamson's brigade.
+By courtesy of Everett Waddey Company, publishers Chapman's, School History of South Carolina.
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setting off for his camp until to-morrow noon: I am told that there are not above one thousand men in that camp; but that their number, in a few days, will be increased to double; and in due time, if orders are complied with, the given number (5,000) fixed on, may be there: be they more or less, I wish the camp had been ordered near Charlestown; and I in vain urged it should be so, but could not prevail: If you join me in opinion. I wish you would write the governor on it: for surely the present encampment at Orangeburgh, is, considering our present circumstances of expecting an attack here, much too far to give that necessary assist- ance that might be wanted."
On March 2Sth Col. Pinckney wrote Gen. Moultrie: "You wish the post you just now left, may be rein- forced with militia; this, in my opinion cannot be conveniently done, otherwise than by detachments from the grand camp at Orangeburgh, under the gov- ernor, with whom no doubt. you will exchange a let- ter on the subject: he and his suite are now, and have been for several days past there,* and it is said his
*While in Orangeburgh, Gov- ernor Rutledge made his head- quarters at the house of Donald Bruce, who was at that time a member of the State legislature from Orange Parish. In July, 1781, when Lord Rawdon halt- ed for a few days in Orangeburgh on his return from the relief of Ninety-Six, he also made his headquarters in the Bruce house, but it is reasonable to suppose- BENPOTET & CO.CHL that his Lordship did not find THE BRUCE HOUSE. FROM PHOTO BY T. H. HITCHCOCK. as warm welcome there as did the brilliant "Dictator", the 26th chapter of "The Foravers" to the contrary notwithstanding. Many years after the Revolution, after the death of the last of the Bruces, Mr. Daniel Larey bought the house, which stood at the southeast
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Camp is growing very strong, but I cannot inform you of particulars."
From his headquarters at Orangeburgh, Governor Rutledge, on April 5th, wrote to Geu. Williamson: "You will order the prisoners of war, those who are accused of sedition, now in Ninety-six goal, to be safe- ly conducted under a sufficient guard to this place." The prisoners were ordered to Orangeburgh, "as a place of greater security", says Gen. Moultrie in his Memoirs.
Early in April Gen. Moultrie, at Gen. Lincoln's request, visited Orangeburgh to consult with Governor Rutledge. On his return to Black Swamp he wrote as follows, to Col. Pinckney: "I have the pleasure to inform you, that I returned from Orangeburgh three days ago, after a ride of two hundred and twenty miles, a very fatiguing GEN. MOULTRIE .* jaunt, both to ourselves and horses, we were (Mr. Kin- lock and myself) gone six days; one day we staid with the Governor, and the others in traveling. We expect Col. Simons here to-morrow, with one thousand men of all ranks: this will be a reinforcement to us that will be very acceptable. The Governor has promised more as soon as they can be collected. I was sorry to see so few" (three or four hundred) "left at Orange- burgh after this detachment marched off; though Col. Neal lay about four miles off, with two hundred and eighty men of his regiment, and was to march in that morning." And ou the same day Gen. Moultrie wrote
corner of Windsor and Bull (now Dibble) Streets, and moved it down on the "Five Notch" road about two miles below Orangeburg, where it now stands. It is now the property of Mrs. Lawrence S. Wolfe. In the 26th, 29th and 32nd chapters of "The Forayers", Wm. Gilmore Simms has woven an interesting bit of romance about this historic old house. * By courtesy of Everett Waddy Company, publishers Chapman's School History of South Carolina.
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as follows, to Governor Rutledge: "I have the honor to inform you, that we arrived at our camp two days ago; nothing extraordinary have happened since we left it: they are much pleased to hear of the reinforcement (1,000) you have sent, and that they are on their march; we expect them here to-morrow. I hope ere long you will send us such another."
On April 29th Lieutenant-Governor Bee wrote to Gen. Moultrie: "The Governor is again returned to Orangeburgh, from whence I hope he will be able to send to Gen. Lincoln", &c .; and on May 1st, while Pré- vost was on his march towards Charlestown, Gen. Moultrie wrote, from Coosohatchie. to Gen. Lincoln: "I have sent dispatches to the Gov. at Orangeburgh, and to Charlestown." That sent to Charlestown was to request two or three hundred Continentals; that to Orangeburgh, dated May 1st, was as follows: "I have here with me about 1,200 men: I wish your excellency would reinforce me speedily; and with as many field- pieces as possible." On the same day Gen. Moultrie received a letter from Lieutenant-Governor Bee say- ing; "Yours of the 29th April, directed to the gover- nor came to me this morning; I have sent it forward by express to Orangeburgb, from whence, if necessary, I make no doubt you will be reinforced."
On May 2nd Gen. Lincoln wrote, from Silver Bluff, to Gen. Moultrie: "I have written to the Governor at Orangeburgh, and requested that he would reinforce you by the militia, intended for this army, and Major Grimball's artillery"; and on the same day Gen. Moul- trie wrote to Gen. Lincoln, from Coosohatchie: "I have sent express to the governor at Orangeburgh, and to Charlestown, to hasten up the militia to this place." On the same day Governor Rutledge sent Gen. Moultrie a dispatch from Orangeburgh saying that he had written to the Lieutenant-Governor to
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send Horry's horse to Gen. Moultrie, &c. Lieut. Gov. Bee also wrote to Gen. Moultrie on the same day, say- ing that he had no doubt but that the governor would send reinforcements "as speedily as possible, from Orangeburgh"; and that the "reinforcements must be from Orangeburgh". He further stated that he had not heard from the governor since he (the governor) left town.
From Tulifiny Gen. Moultrie wrote, at "6 o'clock P. M." on May 3rd, to Governor Rutledge at Orange- burgh: "I this moment received yours; I was in hopes you would have acquainted me of a strong reinforce- ment marching to this place"; and again on the 4th he wrote to the Governor; "I hope your excellency will hasten your light troops to reinforce me", and to Gen. Lincoln; "I expect the governor will join me to- morrow from Orangeburgh with the Charlestown artil- lery; as to what militia he had I cannot inform you." On the 5th he wrote again to Gen. Lincoln: "I shall endeavor to make a stand at Ashepoo; as I will ex- pect the governor will join me there."
On May 3rd Lieut. Gov. Bee wrote: "Twenty-two of Horry's light horse, marched this afternoon for your camp and will hurry on the party, that went to Orangeburgh with the Governor, who are just re- turned." :
On Sunday evening Governor Rutledge wrote, from Orangeburgh, to Gen. Moultrie: "In consequence of your advice, received this afternoon; I will march with Grimball's artillery, and all the force we have here (except about 50, who must remain; and 50 more, who go as an escort to the waggons with corn, &c. for Gen. Lincoln's camp) as soon as possible, to reinforce you. I hope to get off to-morrow, and no time shall be lost on the march. You will, without doubt. take every step in your power. to procure all the reinforce-
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ments you can, and throw every obstruction in the way to annoy the enemy, and prevent their progress and ravages."
From "Edisto saw-mills, at Mr. Charles Elliot's, 12 miles below Orangeburgh", Governor Rutledge wrote, on Wednesday morning, to Gen. Moultrie: "We began our march, with what force we could bring from Orangeburgh, yesterday morning, for your camp; and shall proceed as quickly as the weather and the roads will admit. I hope to bring up, and have very close after me, 500 men (exclusive of officers) horse, foot, and artillery. I received yours dated 3d of May at 6 o'clock, about 11 last night; I hope you will be able to withstand the enemy, or stop their progress. I shall send Allston's,* and some other horse, as soon as they come up (which I expect to day.) a-head. to join you. I have sent another express for the Catawbas. I hope to see you soon."
On Thursday the Governor wrote, from the same point: "Some hours ago, on the march hither, I re- ceived yours of last night: and soon after, a letter from Major Butler; in which he says, he heard the enemy were at Ashepoo: therefore, as I think we can- not possibly assist you at Jacksonburgh (it being 24 miles from hence) I have ordered the troops here, to cross the river, (they being now on this side) and pro- ceed, by forced marches, to Charlestown, over four- hole and Dorchester bridges, I think you had better move .. . when you do, move, down by Dorchester. You will continue to throw obstruction in the enemy's way, and advise me of these, and your motions, by ex-
*On page 432 of his "Memoirs", (vol. i) Gen. Moultrie says: "On my retreat from Black-swamp, Colonel Senf, feom the governor's camp, Orangeburgh, joined me at Ponpon bridge, with the racoon company, commanded by Captain John Allston, of about fifty men on horseback."
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press to Charlestown; for which I am just setting off; you will give all necessary orders for destroying bridges, &c."
In his "Memoirs", under date of May Sth, Gen. Moul- trie writes: "At this time there never was a country in greater confusion and consternation; and it may be easily accounted for, when 5 armies were marching through the southern parts of it, at the same time, and all for different purposes: myself retreating as fast as possible to get into town, at first with 1,200 men; but reduced to 600 before I got near the town; the British army of 3,000 men commanded by Gen. Provost in pursuit of me: and Gen. Lincoln with the American army of 4,000, marching with hasty strides to come up with the British: Gov. Rutledge from Orangeburgh, with about 600 militia; hastening to get to town lest he should be shut out; and Col. Harris, with a detach- ment of 250 continentals, pushing on with all possible dispatch to reinforce me; and my sending two or three expresses every day to the governor and to Gen. Lin- coln, to let them know where I was; and to Charles- town frequently, to hasten their works and to prepare for an attack; in short it was nothing but a general confusion and alarm. And the militia from the north part of the country, from every parish making what haste they could to reinforce Charlestown; that I may truly say the whole country was in motion."
On the 9th and 10th the troops marched into Charles- town, and on the 10th General Moultrie issued orders making disposition of his troops on the lines. The country militia were ordered to occupy the left wing.
On the morning of 11th a detachment of the enemy appeared near the lines. They were attacked by Count Pulaski with his legion and some militia, but they were too strong for him and he lost a considera- ble number of his men before getting back within the
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