Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-12-13

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ing to one of his aids he ordered him to
pitch the tents and form the encampment in
the orchard aud field on the rigght. To the
other aid his orders were to detach quarter
guard, and station pickets on each road
Then, bowing very low, he added MADAM,
the service Of his Majesty requires the tenn
porary occupation of your property; and if
il will not be too great an Inconvenience, |
will take up my quarters in your house,
The tone admitted no controversy. Mrs.
Slocumb answered
My family consists of only myself my
sister and child, and few negroes We are
your prisoners"
From the piazza, where he seated himself,
Tarleton commanded view of the ground
on which his troops were arranging their
camp The mansion fronted the east, and an
avenue one hundred and fifty feet wide, and
about half mile in length, stretched to the
eastern side of the plantation, where was a
| highway, with open grounds beyond it, partly
dry meadow and partly sand barren. This
avenue was lined on the south side by high
fence and thick hedge-row of forest trees.
On the north side extended the common rail
fence, seven or eight feet high such as is usu-
ally seen on plantations in the low country.
The encampment of the British troops being
on that part of the plantation south of the
avenue, it was completely screened by the
fences and hedge row from the view of any
one approaching from down the country.
While the men were busted, different Off
GERS came up at intervals, making their re-
ports and receiving orders; among others, a
Tory captain, whom Mrs Socumb mmedi-
ately recognized; for, before joining the royal
army, he had lived fifteen or twenty miles be-
low--received orders in her hearing, to take
his troops and scour the country for two or
three miles around.
In an hour everything was quiet, and the
plantation presented the romantic spectacle
of regular encampment of some ten or
eleven hundred of the choicest cavalry of the
British monarch. The officers were parta-
king of dinner in the mansion, prepared for
them 10y Mrs. Slocumb They were inter-
rupted, however, by rapid volleys of fire.
arms, appearing to proceed from the wood a
short distance to the eastward One of the
aids pronounced it some Struggling scout run
ming from the picket guard, but the expert
ence of Col. Tarleton could not be easily
deceived
"There are rifles and muskets,D said he, "as
well as pistols, and too many to pass unno-
ticed. Order boots aud saddles, and you.
Captain, take your troop in the direction of
the firing"
The officer rushed out to execute his Or
ders, while the Colonel walked into the paz-
"a, whittier he was he was Immediately fol-
lowed by the anxious ladies'. Mrs. Slo-
cumb's agitation and alarm may be imagined
for she guessed but too well the cause of the
interruption. On the first arrival of the Of
hcers she had been importuned even with
harsh threats, (not, however, by Tarleton, J
to tell where her husband when absent on
duty, was likely to be found; but, after her
repeated and peremptory refusals, had es-
capped further molestation on the subject
She feared now that he had returned unex.
pectedly, and might fall into the enemy's
hands before he was aware of their pres.
ence
Her sole hope was in precaution she had
adopted soon after the coming of her unwel
come guests. Having heard Tarleton give
the order to the tory captain as before men
toned, to patrol the country, she immediate
ly sent for an old negro, and gave him drec
tions to take bag of corn to the mill, about
four miles distant, on the road she knew heI
husband must travel if ho returned that day
big George" was instructed to warn his
master of the danger of approaching his
home. With the incidence and curiosity
natural to his race, however the old fellow
remained lettering about the premises, and
was at this tine lurking under the hedge row
admiring the red coats, dashing plumes, ant
shining helmets of the British troops.
The Colonel and the ladies continued OF
the lookout from the piazza. MAY be al
lowed, Madam" at length said Tarleton
without oifense, to inquire if any part o
Washington'S army is in this region of the
country?"
II presume it is known to you,' said Mrs
Slocumb, that the Marquis aud Greene are
in this State. And you would not, of course,
she. added, after a slight pause, "be surprised
at call from Lee, or your old friend Col
Washington, who, although a perfect gentle
man, it is said shook your hand (pointing t
the scar left by Washington's sabre) yer,
rudely when last you met"
This spirited answer inspired Tarleton will
aspirations that the skirmish in the wood
was only the prelude to a concerted attacl
on his camp. His only reply was an order t.
form the troops on the right; and springin,
on his charger, he dashed down the avenue
few hundred feet to breach in the hedg
row, leaped the fence, and in moment, wa
at the head of his regiment, which was al
ready in line.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Slocumb, witt