Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-07-03
EDGEFIELD, S. c., JULY 3, 1851.

Ills eye CduSlG lnc cap!cSSIoIl VI CilI'l
beth's features, "a they gowed upon hin
with unutterable fondness and pride, and fell
to the ground. Colonel Zane stepped for.
ward, and taking the young soldiers hand
said
aYou arc the man expected would volun.
tecr for this enterprise. Go, and God pro.
tect you If they see you from the block
house, they will try to cover you with theil
fire. Selfpossession is your only hope. Now
away, while the enemy are partially with.
drawn"
But here Elizabeth stepped forward, and
addressing her brother said
aSilas, let me undertake this enterprise"
"You!" replied her brother, viewing hel
with astonishment. "lmpossblc! Do you
know the danger of the attcmptm
Perfectly" she answered. "You have no
men to spare Every one is needed in de-
fence of the fort; and this is the only service
can render"
aBut man would be more fleet, Eliza
beth, and more certain of success" said her
brother.
"Still you have no man to spare; and a
woman would not run the same danger in
passing through the enemy. Besides, if
fall, shall not be so much missed, nor your
forces Weakened
The Colonel was affected to tears, and,
embracing his sister, exclaimed
"Thcn go! Gods will be done, and may
He protect you"
A dozen men now sprang forward. prompt
ed by the devotion of this heroic woman I;
and Ashley Harper, more urgent than the
rest, insisted that it was his right, as lie was
the first to propose. But Elizabeth would
hear no objections for the enterprise. Par
TALLY devesting herself Of her clothing, in
order, that her speed might be less impedel,
she was let out at the gate of the fort, fol-
lowed by the prayers and blessings of all
within; while, from one of the cmbrasurcs,
the anxious eyes of Ashley Harper followed
her, as she fled like young roe through the
lines of the enemy. Now she falls! Twen-
ty muskets are raised bysthc savages to stop
her sassss;'s
saEed her SIG feaches the blocklhouse in
safety, and is admitted!
A period of awful suspense awaited them
in the fort. The men were anxious for re-
lief. the Colonel was regretting that he per-
mittcd his sister to go, and Ashley Harper
was breathing prayers for her safety.
In the block-house the excitement equally
as great, and astonishmcnt was expressed by
every one at the intrcpidity of the maiden.
Her brother there endeavorcd to persuade her
to stay with him, offering to send one of Ills
own men to the fort with the powder. But she
overrulcd his arguments with the same logic
she had used with her brother SiIas, and at last
was permitted to return. A kcg of powder WIS
poured into table.cloth and she again sal
lied forth to run that dreadful gauntlet.
In the fort, every heart was seating with
the utmost anxiety, and as the dusky foe was
seen gathering around scarcely vestigc Of
hope was left for the safety of the heroic
maiden. Still watched her lover from the
embrasure: and still prayed her brother 81
Iently Forward she sped on hcrreturn with
her precious burthcn, as though her feet were
winged, while the enemy, at length suspicious
of her crrand, were pouring showers of lead
after her. Yet onward she came unarmed-
apparently unalarned-preseTed by an Om-
nipotent power, and at length reached the
gate of the fort, which was thrown open with
eagcrncss to admit her. As it closed in safe
tv upon the little band within, twas assault
with a hundred bullets, while the savages
around made the air peal with their dcmoniac
yells of disappointment and rage.-The
brother welcomed her with tears. All press
ed around her to thank her for her bravery,
all but Ashley Harper: his heart was too full
for expression. The result Of this advcn-
ture was the successful defence of the fort
against the besigers. But ere the war of the
revolution was ended, Ashley Harper slept
with the dead heroes Of our country, having
fallen at the battle of Saunders Creek, in
North Carolina.
August l6, 1850.
A Coon TR1cK.-" My son" said a