Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-07-31
PdbHIETlCAE..
From tho Charleston Courier.

association with that name. The Polkes
of Charlotte, North Carolinai was bold
decided race Of republicans. Gen. 'Fhos
Polk, history tells, declared North Caro-
lima free end independent of the Brilisi
Government. before that step was taken il
Congress. He was leading Patriot il
Charlotte son William lay wounded
man fighting under Sumter-Charle:
commanded par,izan corps which'scog.
ted round about Charlotte to keep The
Ruvalists in check. who, upon PIckens
and Hampton. Mayham and Twisgs, Of
Georgia. following The fortunes of Gen.
Greene eastward. driven, as he was. from
The siege of Nin,y Six. became bold. and
threatening an attack on Charlotte. which
had become tie seat G. The General Hospi-
tai, and the depository Of great qnaailt!
of ammunition and stores. Gen. Polk, l
associate with the following story:l had
in early life been the intimate and CORES,
pondenl of John Polk Curtis, the son.in
law of Gen. Washington, oul at the time
of the revolt, onr fortunes had become so
entirely different, that our correspondence
ceased hui few days previous 10 the al
tack at York Town, / received Letter. at
Charlotte, from my friend, which said,
Washington has al length consented TO
my going into battle | join your friend
Laurens's for!orn hope, to attack one Of
the ourworks OF Corvallis army. Fhfs
NAV he the last letter tina! youwill receive
liom me-" II was, alas iihe Inst. MIR.
Curtis fainicd and fell down, as Laurens
marched TO the attack. He was pleliu
rc young man, and fell from the heat Of
The weather and fatigue bu il was judged
to be the commencement OF fever which
pervaded the British camp, and destroyed
many. He was carried out of campi and
The fever became severe and destroyed
him The accounts of bose transactions
Tell of Gen. Washington making ride 10
see sick friend before he performed. the
ceremony Of tire surrender. This was the
clrcurnslauce-ifT1s the mUurnfuf visit that
he made to his dying son:in-law. ADx-
ipus for the event!of the attack on York
Town. and The fate of my friend, after
hospital duties. walked tolzfhe Court
House steps in Charlotte; looking from the
elevated steps nOrthwardly, discovered
an object moving slowly towards The rown.
Impatient ID know what il was, walked
briskly towards il, and met man ON
horseback. He wa, leaning on his arms.
on the neck of his horse, giving him a
feeble stroke with his wbipsuow and then
to urge him on | spoke to him. and he
could barely reply, .despatches. | led
The horse along towards Charlotte. and
coming to the door Of shop. kept by
Mons. Lefere, The kind hearted Franchman
assisted ME in lifting him off his horse aud.
laying him down. He could not speak,
such was his exhaustion. After the shop
keeper administered glass of Gu de vie,
he spoke, (here was an instance where,
under God, spirituous liquors did some
good, and said 'rhat he received des.
palch in sealed packet from an express
rider about, one hundred miles north, who
was sick, and as fatigned as he was. and
his horse worn OUT, and that he said, Ill
was to bring the news Of The capture of
Lord CORVALLIS and York Town." The
news became interesting to me. and | i'm
nediateIy took the sealed packet to Gen.
Polk. Ii was directed TO Gen. Greene, or
the Colnmander.iu- Chief of the Southern:
army. On the back of il was The we'll.
known signaturei George Washington"
Gen. Polk was excited by lis reception,
aud saw with The eye of a soldier The ne
cessity of the news reaching Gen. Greene
before the British army in South Carolina
could hear of il. He. was in dilemma,
NOT having man. or horse al his com;
.inaud, having lately sent his SON Charles
ON a'scomt, with every horse anil man he
could muster. Without my assistance as
above, the EXPRESS rider could not have
reached Charlotte alive, and the packer
would have been lost. We stood in mute
contemplation Of the Interesting circum-
stance. when the General said, "Dr. you
have fine horses" | understood him, and
remarked that express riding was beneath
my station in The army-thal had on a
former occasion rode a thousand miles and
back again, voluntary service, 10 pro-
mote the interest Of the Southern Stales-
"thai my report on that occasion, and
conversation with Washington, brought
about the march Of the army 10 the South,
but that ! now was al the head hear nf!h,e med.
ical department, in this quarter, and could,
not with propriely leave my station
that was under marching orders, being
TO organize Flying Hospl.
raj and i, fall into the rear'uf tie army
,ha. as lighting in this region had ceased q
10 great measure, the busy scene ,,o,, ol ''e ~
Hospital was over. and that was apou' at ~
do as was ordered. Gen. Polk then re-
marked tha, his difficulties were great
that his presence was necessary a, Cnar, ar
and stoves, tia, had accumulated tnsie' .sss
or that he could borrow one of;my horses. ss;.
and cary the importan, dsspa'eh"-s. this
/ felt inspired with zeal a, the importance ice
of The service, and said ~ VIII 60; Muie @
General grasped my hand aud said, you
..n :. ..l, ,bliue rne and do great good