Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-09-05
From Godeys Lady's Book.
Heroic Women Of the EsevoIu-
=. iiolsary. WAR. -:
SKETCH OF MRS. PICKENS.
BY F.. F. ELLETT.

| SAE III vi N II =. ElCh n cleAo'
BY F. F. ELLETr.
REDEccA CALlfouv; The lyi fe.of Gene
raj Andrew Pirkeps, was bora in Inc year
1745. She was The daughter Of Faekiel
Calhoun. who resided near 'aopcwell
Meeting House. Calhoun Settlement, Ab
neville District. South Carolina. and grew
up under The education common at that
period in frontier settlement. Her faith:
er was an amiabIe and an. intelligent gen.
lleman, and possessed what was in thnsc
days considered an inhependendeaI eslale.
In l77G. The settlement made on Long
Cane, Abbeville District, was nearly bro
ken up by massacre of The Indians. aud
many of the hest citizens were murdered
at the Long Cane Bridge, near CaIhnun's
Settlement. Ezekiel Calhoun. with his
young and interesting family. escaped to
the Waxhaws on Broad Rlver.-ll was
there that General Pickens became ac. .
quainted with Miss Calhoun. lie after
wards went 10 Calhnun's Settlement and
married her. in 1868. She was.consjdercd
very beautiful and attractive; and tradition
says. it was the largest wedding ever
known in that section of country. As was
the custom in those days Of simplicity and
cordial hospitality, all were invited far aud
near. 10 join in the festivities. which, it is
said, lasted three days without intcrmis-
sion. The beauty Of the bride was The
theme Of all tongues. She had extensive
connections of The highest responsibility.
and the hospitality Of her parental home
was provcrbial.
The bridegroom was in the full flush of
Joyous manhood. and was mol Of the kind
thai .said never word" and stood
dangling his bonnet and plume" but was
$50 faithful in love, and so Idaun,less in war"
that no
"Bridemaidens whispered-'Twere better by
far.
To have welded our fair cousin with young
Lnchiuvar."
On this great festive occasion. all were
coutenled and happy.
"Soft eyes looked love 10 eyes which spakc
again,
And went merry as marriage bell"
Rebecea Caihonn's IReddiag,"' was
nrig ghhorhood, and old people used it as a
point of time TO rcrkua from. while many
"lads and lasses' dated their first e,nolious
Of tenderness, and love from that Joyous
occasion. She was remarkable for the
elasticity of her form, with delicate and
fair complexion, and a girlish play funess
that never deserted her, even in her old
age. Pure vas her heart as the dew drop
hanging from the bosom of The mountain
flower: and liaht was her step, as the
rawn PLAYING upon lhe mountain brow.
Brig hit rose her morniug star, and not
cloud hung around il. All how little did
her Young heart know Of The trials and
dangers that lay before her in the future
During the perluus scenes Of the Revu-
lnlinn, her devotion and fidelity cheered
and sustained her gallant husband amidst
all their difficulties, and made his hume
ever bright aud dear, even through the
blood aud carnage Of terrible days.
The frontier settlements of Snuth Caro-.
lima had not only TO encounter the British
in their invasiuus from the seacoas,, but
the savagcs from the mountains, and The
Tories in The neishborhood h their homes
stcads.-Il was with them literally, ,"war
TO the knife, and from the knife to the hilt."
Neither night nor day were they safe.
Their houses were plundered aud burnt
by the Tories, and their children often
masSacrced by the Indians. Mrs, Piokens
was on many occasions compelled to aban-
don her husbands residence, near where
AbbeviIe Court House now stands, and
10 secret herself and children for days;
while, at these times. she aud her infant
family was supported and sustained by
their faithful aud devoted negroes
She iGdured all with lurliluGe that never
failed. True to her country, she never
forgot she was snldicr's wfe. If he met
with the dangers in The field. her perils
were not less in her situations. and her
trials was TO he borne without the sllmu-
lous Of ambition, or the expectation Of
! (ame's reward.
Before The breaking out Of The Revolu-
lion General Pickens bad built a Bluck
House at his residence, as place Of refuge
10 The settlement in case Of danger from
the lndians. Into this the inhabitants
were often driven; and many youthful
warrior received his first training there.
and caught The fire of that spirit which
prepared him 10 he freeman, and made
| him soldier in The cause of his country.
II was on these occasions thar Mrs.
Pickens ex'red her powerful influence
upon Ihuse who were forced TO gather
around her husbands standard. Her kind
ness aud cheerluIness in erlaning those
who were thus thrown, as it were, upon
her hospitality. Made all feel that they
were welcome, and they were united TO-.
gether as brothers in common cause. Her
active spirit shed soft light upon all
General Pickcns had faithful African,
Dick. who followed him throughout the war,
and ,hen fought BY his side. This servant
swan the Broad River twice in cold winters
night, to get to the camp of his master-misa-
king the enemys camp once. At 1.-THE Cow.
pen," wounded British officer, lying against
tree, asked Dick 10 bring him some water.
He brought the wafer in his hat, aud then i'm.
mediaiey put out his knee and asked to draw
lls boots. The officer said-"Surely. boy. you
will not take them before de7' Dick replied
Him mighty fine, and massa need him
mighty bad"