The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-08-22

got she was soldiers wife. II he met with
dangers in the fell, herperils we're not less
in her situations, and her trials was to be
borne wirhoht The stimulous of ambition, or
the expectation of flames reward.
Bef,re the breaking dtft df the Revolution
General Pirkens had built Block House at
his residence, as place oirefhge to the srt'
tIemcnt in case of danger from the Indians.
Into this the inhabitants were often driven;
and many "a youthful warrior received his
first training there, and caught The fire of
1hat spirit which prepared him to he "a free.
man, and made HIM soldier in the cause OF
his country.
was ON these occasions that Mrs. Pick.
ems cxertcd 4rer powerful influence upon
those who were forced to gather around her
husbands standard. Her kindneys and
cheerfaEness in entertaining those who were
thus THROWN, as were, upon her hospitality.
Made all feel that they were weEome, and
they were united together as brothers IN: a
common case. Her active spirit she'd soft
light spon all tirer coancik. These were
the scenes in which she received her e9uca-
ton. These were The courts in which she
acquired her graces. -
After General Greene was forced to fail
back from before Ninety six, and retreatee
ever Saluda River on his way toward;
North Carolina. il was generally supposed
that South Carolina would soon becomea
conquered province, as The British hell
Nine,y.six. CRANKY, Camden and Charles
ton, with the intermediate country. Mary
whig families fearing to remain, fled TO
Greene's Camp, to following and claim tie
protection The retreatibg army. Among
these was The family of General Pickens.
who, with his command. (allogelher holding
his Commission from South Carolina.) was
rhen with Green's army. II was supposed
of course that Gen. Pckens would for
their safety, &C., but he Immediately sent
them back TO share the common sufferngs Of
the country. and thereby show that The strng,
gle was moi over, but that The spirit of resist.
ance was undying. Mrs. Pickens with
Roman foriludc, and the devotion of a true
woman met the difficulties Of her situation
and sustained herself and her children
throughout all rcverses, amid The perilous
times that fell upon irer home and her coun-
try. Her husbands younger brother was a
cap. ain in the service and was killed at the
"star redoub,." Ninciy-six. He was brave
officer, and devoted to her and her children
and often rendered her grent assistance
when General Pickens was absent. After
his death she was obliged to struggle almost
alone.
Wiz. elasticity Of spirit, remarkable even
in one of her Sex, she had the peculiar lacu-
" of rigid government over her children,
who all feared and loved her. Her sons Of
ten spoke of it in after life. Che was very
playful with children, even in old age and
WHEN wild wars deadly blast wus blown,
And gentle peace returning"
her house was The delight Of young people,
and her PLAYFUL spirit enlivefcd their eve
ming sports.
She had three sons aud six daughters
Her sons graduated at Princeton and Brown
University, and two of them became mcm-
bers of the bar One ST them as after.
wards ieutenant-c colonel in the tenth rcg.
Inem, u. s. Army. in Canada. during the
war Of sl2 :; and before the termination Of
that war was chosen one OF the colonels in a
state brigade raised in South Carolina for
the war. Judge Eluger was chosen The
general. and Colonel Drayton was The other
colonel.
This s,n was in 1916, chosen governnr
o! South Carolinat and was afterwards, in
1926, appointed. by the Alabama legislature,
n <C Ill, N,,,a p,,L
The brother Of Mrs. Pickens, Colonel
J. L. Calhoun, was very eminent lawyer,
and also senator in Congress from South
Carolina. The Hon. John &. Calhoun is
her cousin.
She was kind and nnostcntatious; full Of
charity and mcekness. She was a mem.
ber of The Presbyterian church, and her pie.
,y was without the slightest ,ingc of bigo,ry.
She died in 1915. and marble slab marks
The spot, BY the side of her husband, where
her earthly remains repose, in the sweet and
haowed vale that surrounds the "NId Mee-
ting House, Of Pendlct"m
At Roman banquet, dispute arose be-.
tween The distinguished revelers as 10 who
had the best wife and it was agreed that il
should be decided by visiting that night each
ones wife, TO observe her occupation One
who afterwards exercised great Influence
upon the destiny of her country, was found
buisily engaged with her maidcns preparing
her wool for the loom. She was itnmedi.
elcly pronounced by all the best wife. II
Judged by this Roman standard Mrs Pick
ems would he pronounced the best Of wives ;
for the wool and dislaH were never neg lect-
ed bv her. She did not pretend to aIiy OF
those accomplishments which modern ladies
are too apt to think the only necessary in
life. She knew nothing Of The fashionable
etiquette borrowed from the upsart manners
in citv life, and which has too much of late