Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1855-12-20
From the South Carolinian
FORT MOTTE.
FLAT Rock, Sept.

FLAT ROCK, Oept. ~, looo.
Mr.. Editor I'm the Revolutionary An
ecdotes," lately published in your paper, there
is new version of the capture of Fort Motto.
AS I have never seen correct account Of that
event in print, I herewith furnish you with
one:
Mrs. Rebecca Motto, with her two younger
daughters, and Mrs. Brewton, (the widow of
her nephew was residing in her new mansion,
on the banks of the Congaree, when it was Ia
ken possession of by the British, under Col.
Mcpherson, who proceeded to erect fortif-
cation around the house, which thus became
"Fort Motte"-one of chain of fortified posts
extending in semi-circle from Charleston to
Augusta. Mrs Motto was a widow, but her
strong Whig principles, and the fact that Ma
ior Thomas Pinckney was her son-in-law, gave
the British officers an excuse for seizing on her
property
On the approach of the American forces, the
ladies, being dismissed from the fort, took up
their abode at the overscers house, at some lit
tie distance, and were thus enabled to COM
municate with the American officers during
the progress of the siege. Circumstances soon
made it advisable that more speedy mode OF
reduction should be attempted, and Mrs Motto
was informed by Lieut.. Col. Lee that the de-
structiou of her house might be necessary. 10
this she Immediately and cheerfully consented,
assuring him that the loss of her property was
nothing compared with the Advancement of their
cause and, to facilitate their operations, pre-
sented them with some combustble arrows,
with which to set fire to the house.
These arrows had been brought from the
East Indies by sea captain, and presented to
his employer, Miles Brewton, wealthy mer-
chant of Charleston, and brother of Mrs. Motto.
Mr.. Brewton and family having been lost at
sea, in 1775, the arrows fell into his sisters
possession, and were fortunately carried by the
ladies, when dismissed from the fort, to their
more humble abode.
The arrows were discharge from rifle;
the two first did not ignite; the third set the
roof on fire, and as the piece of artillery in
possession of the American commanded the on
ly access to the roof, the British surrendered
Immediately The Americans rushedin, extln-
guishcd the fire, and saved the house-an act
of gratitude to the owner for her patriotic dcvo-
| tion.
The day was concluded by dinner, given
by Mrs. Motto to the officers of both parties.
Marion, Lee, and John Eager Howard were
present. A circumstance which occurred dur
ING this entertainment is mentioned, as show
ing the spirit of the times. While they were
at table, several musket shots was heard, at
which Marion showed degree of excitement
unaccountable to his hostess, and hastily des-
patched an officer. with orders to "stop that in
stantly." He suspected, what proved to be
true, that the Americans were taking advan-
taee of the absence of their officers to execute
summary vengeance on some Tories, who had
been taken in the fort. In extenuation of their,
conduct, we must recollect that the Tories
sometimes slaughtered in cold blood the help
less families of their adversaries.
The house, after escaping the dangers here
mentioned, was accidentally burnt many years
afterwards; circumstance which has led to
much confusion in the traditions on this SUBJ
ject.
Such is the story of Fort Motto, as preser-
we'd in the family. The writer, as the eldest
surviving grandson of Mrs. Motto, feels it his
duty to do justice to her revered memory and
the cause of truth. G. c. P1NoKNEY, Senr.
p. S. Mrs. Motto was doomed to be preyed
upon by the British. Tarleton, though not at
Fort Motto, had by some means got possession
of her horses. Of this he was reminded in so
measured terms, many years afterwards, when
the eccentric Mr.. Church introduced to him
Gen. Thomas Pinckney Cthen Minister at St.
James) as "son-in-law to Mrs. Motto, whose
horses you kno'c you stole IN Carolina" On
this occasion, Tarleton is reported to have
come very near blushing. A letter from him
on the subject is extant.
Even the Bible and Prayer Book, present
ed by Mrs. Motto to the Church of St. James,
Santee, and bearing her name, as donor, on
their covers, were stolen from the church by a
British soldier, and carried to England. There
an officer, who had received some kindness
from Mrs. Motto during the war, saw them ex-
posed for sale on stall in London, purchased
them, and returned them to her. Having
safely accomplished their third voyage across
the Atlantic, they were replaced in the church,
where the Bible is still in use. A great grand
son of the giver has often read the lessons from
it, when officiating in that church, fifty years
after.