Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-12-10
BY d. P. PALMER.
THE LADY AND THE ARROWS.

Among the American ladies' who have
distinguished themselves in the course Of
our revolutionary war by the sacrifice oi
seIf.in,erest to the public welfare, none
is a lre celebrated than Mrs Jacob Motto
of Carolina. The action by which she
sacrificed her own property 10 the de.
mands of patriotism, was SO graceful, SO
generous and free, that il has Uccasioned
Ssr praise 10 be celebrated in oil the his-
4or;es Of the tins. The incident took
elaco in the year 1881, when General
Greene and lhe active pasisan officers
Lee, Marien aud Sunpter, were dspu'
ing VITA CORVALLIS and Rswdon the
DossessoR Of the CRr0linss. The first
battle Of Camden had already been fought
when the celebrated siege OF Fort Motto
took place.
The new mansion house of Mrs. Motto,
situated on high and commanding hill
sOme distance above the junction of the
Waterse and Congaree, had been made
the principal depot of the conveys from
Charleston to Camden, Fort CRANKY and
Ninety Six. Ii was surrounded by deed
trench, which was defended by strong
and lofty parapel erected along lis mar,
ain. Captain McPhers on commanded
the garrison, which usually consisted of
about one hundred and fifty men, but
which was now increased by the accident
al arrival of a small detachment of dra-
Roons. This body on its way to Camden
with dispatches for Lord Rawdon, bad
entered The fort few hours before the
appearance OF The American forces, led
by Marion and Lee 10 besiege il. On
another hill opposite TO the north SIDE o!
The new mansion, stood an old farm house,
in which Mrs. Motto had formerly resi-
ded, and to which she had been dismiss
ed by Captain Mcpherson. Upon this
height Lee was stationed with his corps.
whilst Marien occupied position on the
eastern dsclivity of the ridge on which
the fo IT stsod. A six-pounder, desPatch'
cd by Greene to the aid of Marion, was
mounted on a battery by that officer for
the purpose Of raking the nsrth side OF
the onemy's parapet, which Lee was pre-
pairing to attack. BY the 10Th of May,
the works were in state OF such tor-
wardnesS that it Was determined 10 sum
mon the commandant. On tho same day
Rawdon had evacuated Camden and pro.
GvedOd TO Nelson's Ferry, for tho purpose
Of crossing the Santee and relieving Fort
Motto. Green, on the other hand, ad-
vanced 10 the Congaree to cover The be-
siepers. Under these circumstances, Nc
Phsrson, though destitute Of artillery, re-
r,ied 10 Ire summons that he should con
s;nue 10 resist 10 The last moment in his
mower. In the evening "a courier srr'Ved
from Greene, informing MarIon OF Raw
don's movements, and urging $PQn MN
redoublsd activity. On the ll'b the'
British general reached the country oppo
site ForI Mote, and al night encampe d
on the highest ground in his route, that
his fi:es might convey to the besleged
the certainty Of his approach The large
mansion in the centre Of the trench left
bu: small part Of the ground within
The works uncovered; burning the
house. therefore must force them to SURE
render. The preparation ofbOws and ar
,nws with missive COmbustbls matter was
Immediately commenced. Lleutenanl-
ColouelLee and every officer of his corp
dai.v experienced the most cheering ant
Orati(yi ny proofs of tie hospitality pt The
owner of the beautiful mansion dSpmed
to hs thus destroyed, whilst her polite
nsss. her tenderness and her active be
nevolence extended 70 the lowest in the
ranks. The destruction Of private prop
erty was at all timss peculiarly distress
ing 10 lhe two gallant commanders, ant
these considerations gave new edge Il
the bitterness of the scene. But the
were ever ready to sacrifice their feeling
To their duty, aud Lee forced himself t
make respectful communication 10 tn
lady respecting her destined loss. Whe
ths ,in,ended measure was impaired
her. the eomplAcent smile which settle
on her features at once dispelled the en-
barrassmsnt Ol the agItaled officer, Wills
she declared that she joyfully gave hs
homse 10 the good of her country, an
should delight to see it in flames. Shor
" after. seeing accidentally the bow an
arrows which had been prepared, sh
ssnt for Colonel Lee, and putting I'M
hs hands splendid bow and lis apparatus
which had been presented TO her busban
by a friend from India, begged his sn
sti,ulion Of them as probably better ada
tad TO the suppose than those provide
Lee was delighted with this opOrtuI
present, and quickly preParedto end u
scene. The lines were all named, u
force at the battery doubled, and DOc'
Irwin was sent with a last summons
surrender. Brown listened patiently
his explanations, but remained iDhsxlt
fixed in his determination Of holding Q
10 the last. II was now midday OF
l2lhy and the sCOrching sun had p:epaE
tha ahinfIlas far tha cAnlIaUrai finn VIII