The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-06-23

ing around the child of her bereavement
who bore the name of her lost comnan'
ion, influenced her determination, at all
events, she resolved, limited as her means
were, to give him an education. True
TO the faith of her fathers, she dedicated
him to God. That bright young intellect,
whose developement she watched with
such maternal solicitude, must bestow its
powers on no mere worldly object, and
she resolved that he should become n
herald Of the cross-little thinking how
soon that voice, instead of uttering accents
OF mercy, would ring loudest on the battle
field
Amid the peaceful studies of Waxhaw
academy, to which Andrew had been sent
to commence his education, passed the
.first years of his boyhood. While here,
the Revolution broke out, and though the
conflict was principally in the northern
colonies, still the war notes which a free
people uttered, found an echo in the bo-
SONS of the inhabitants of South Carolina.
and the battles of Lexington, Concord.
Bunker Hill--the news of the disastrous
campaign that followed-the brilliant
movement Of Washington on Trenton
the tolls and suferings of the American
soldiers-the battle of Saratoga, and the
surrender of Burgoyne, famed the flames
OF patriotism, and filled the hearts of
young and old with burning desire to
strike one blow for their common country.
Nor had they long to wait, for the desola-
ting tide Of war, soon rolled south, and
the rallying notes of the bugle rang thro'
the pine woods of Carolina.
In 177S Savannah was taken, and the
next spring the British troops passed over
into South Carolina. They were met by
the hardy yeomanry, among whom was
Hugh jackson, the elder brother of An
drew. He fell in his first battle, at Stuno.
overcome by the heat and labor of the
day.
r The next year Charleston surrendered,
and the British army, in three strong col.
umns, pierced the state in three different
directions. Colonel Buford, with four
hundred men, slowly retired before the
column under Cornwallis, who, hearing of
the presence Of his adversary, despatched
Colonel Tarleton with two hundred and
seventy Dragons. in pursuit. Colonel Bu-
ford was overtaken at Waxhaw, the home
of Andrew, and cut to pieces. Out of the
four hundred In his command, two hun
dred and sixty were left dead or badly
wounded, in the peaceful village Of Wax
haw. On the quiet green, along the ru-
raj street, around the humble cottages,lay
the mutilated bodies, nearly all of them
showing the ghastly wounds of the sabre.
The fierce dragons with their bugle blast
and shouts, aud trampling steeds, had
come and gone like whirlwind, leaving
desolation in their path, while the silence
that succeeded this sudden uproar, and
short, fierce death-struggle, was broken
only by the groans Of the dying. The
little village church was Immediately turn
ed into a hospital, and the inhabitants
We'd with each other in ministering to the
wounded. ,..
Andrew was at this time but twelve
years Of age but rs he listened to the tu-
mutt Of the battle, and afterwards gazed
ON the ghastly spectacle, his young heart
kindled into rage, and in that dreadful
hour, the soldier was born.
Not long after, as the marauders, under
Lord Rawdop, advanced towards the set
Elements on the Waxhaw, marking their
course with rapine and murder, Mrs. Jack
son and her two remaining sons, together
with most Of the. inhabitants, fed into
North Carolina, where they remained till
the British commander was recalled to
Camden. ............ ..........
In July Of this year (l7sO,) General
Sumter made his gallant but unsuccess-
ful attack on the British at Rocky Mount.
Soon after, he was reinforced by party
Of Waxhaw settlers under Col. Dayie,
among whom were the two sons of Widow
jackson. Andrew, at this time, was but
thirteen years old, and could scarcely stag
ger under the weight Of his musket. 1t
was sad TO behold one so young march
ing to the carnage Of battle; but there
was sublinity, grandeur, about the
gallant boy, that wins our highest admi-
ration. It's terrible thing to have such
a child cast into the midst Of strife and
bloodshed and yet it 10 noble spectacle TO
behold 50 young heart laid ON the altar
Of his country, so fresh q life offered sac
rifice to liberty. l. .......... ............ .
1t was hard for the solitary widow to
part with her Benjamin" the child of
her love. As she strained him to her bo-
som she thought Of the hardships and toll
some march before him, and alas! of the
battlefield on which, perchsnee, his pale
and innocent cheek would be pressed in
death, while his clotted locks Law trampled
in the earth yet, Spartan-like, she bade
him, in Gods name, go, and strike for the
land of his birth.
On the 9th Of August, General Sumter
attacked the British post at Hanging
Rock. At first he was successful; but,
owing TO the insubordinstion Of some Of hia
troops, he was at length compelled to re-
treat, The young Jacksons were In Col.
Davies corps, which fought galIantiy TO
the last. This was Andrews iirst battle,
and in It he showed the metal he was