The North-Carolina standard., 1841-05-19
THE DEATH OF PARKER.
A TALE OF THE REVOLUTION,

he LEA OF FARMER.
TALE OF THE REVOLUTION,
Near sixty -four years have passed away since
the conclusion of our great struggle for indepen
dence-few. very few, now remain amongst u:
Of the gallant spirits who survived that fearfu
contest and soon in the common course o
things all Of them will be gone forever, anc
with them all hope of recovering from oblivion
many deed of manly daring, now only preserv
ed in the memories of those who achieved. OIL
those who Witnessed them.
The most interesting history of South Caro-
lima yet remains 10 be written. Ii is not Of the
siege Of Cha rleston, or of the battles of the Cow
pens or Eutaw, where men fought and died in
masses. forced on by disci pline aud by will
not their own, that our history is deficient; but
little unfortunately has been preserved of those
instances of individual suffering and daring
which the nature OF our warfare. more ihan any
other ofthe colonies during the Revolutionary
War, furnished abundant examples.
After the siege and fall of Charleston, in the
year 1880, and the shameful violation ofthe ar
tices of treaty by the British officers, the war
in South Carolina became essentially Of a par
tisan character. The State was Cverrun bu,
not subdurd. Bold spirits arose every where to
assert their Liberties, and they were frequently and
nstantaneously crushed by powerful and un-
sparing foe, and no recollection now survives Of
thus perisLed One fearful contest tradition
has preserved. which will endeavor to record
"a struggle OF man with his fellow mana
pursut-a pistol shot, and death.
Captain Jacob Rumph. (known after the Re-
volution better. perhaps, as General Rumph) Of
Orangeburgh District was the commander of
troop of cavalry. raised in his neighborhood 10
protect themselves and their families, but who
lost no occasion of aiding their friends an
moving their enemies. They are all gone !;
history has not recorded their names but few
bolder spirits struck for liberty in that eventul
war. Captain Rumph was man of prod!gious
size and Strength, of great courage and GOODNESS
in the hour of danger, and though OF a harsh and
imperious disposition, no one was better 6t:ed for
the command OF the hardy and intrepid men who
composed his corps. They were usually dis
persed at their ordinary avocatons on their
farms but they united at moments warning
from their leader.
Not long after Charleston taken by the
British, Captain Runpn was returning with two
OF his wagons, which had been sent into Charles
ton with produce, in charge of Dutchman nam
ed Houselie h.er; and while slowly riding in
company with his wagons, on u small but strong
horse. his mind gloomIly brooding over the op-
pressed and almost hopeless condition Of South
Carolina. he had reached large pond, what
low the village of Orangeburgh, when he was
suddenly aroused by the approach Of three men
on horseback, whom he Instantly recognized as
his most deadly foes They were well mount
ed, and armed, like himself, with sword and
pistol.
When the horsemen had reached the opposite
side OF The road to Captain Rumph, they halted
for moment, and would have approached him
nearer; but he, placing himself IN the best pos
ture Of defence he could. called ou: to them.
"Gentlernen. stand Oft wish to have no.
thing to do with you"
The Tories, for such they were. surveyed him
for an instant, and after short conference with
each other, to Captain Rumphs great relief rode
on. and soon disappeared at the next turn of the
road.
ARumph, though he saw with no little satisfac-
ton that the Tories had passed on. yet too
we'll acquainted with them to suppose for a mo-
ment that he was 10 get oil so easily. He knew
very we'll that the short respite thus given him
was only that with an increased force he might
become their prey with less danger to them
selves. He rightly conf jecured that the three
who had passed him in the road were only
scouts, sent to apprehend him If unarmed, and
who, If he had incautiously suffered them to ap-
proach him, would have shot him down while
off his guard.
Casting about him for moment for means Of
escape from his willy Ioes. the danger of his sit
ua,on became fully apparent. The three troop
ers he knew belonged to the corps of the san
culinary Cunningham, party of which. he was
certain, was in the neighborhood, under the COM
mand OF one of his subaltern officers and Cap
tain Runph, after carefully surveying his stua-
ton. became fully conscious Of his extreme dan.
ger offalling into the hands Of his mercless foes.
He was mounted upon a strong but slow horse,
aud the thought of escape on horseback was a
blndoned by him without hesitation. He was