Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-01-27


Carolina. The country at that time was sparse
ly settled, most Of its inhabitants being the
pioneers from other States, chiefly from Fir-
ginia: and their neighborhood to the Indians
had caused the adoption of some of their savage
habits. The name Of Edgefield is said to have
been given because it was at that period the
edge or boundary Of the respectable settlers
and their cultivated fields. Civilization, how
time of the Revolution Nincty-siX was among
tlaGorcmost in sending into the field its quota
of hardy and enterprisng troops to oppose the
British and their savage allies
At the commencement of the contest Mrs
Martin had nine children, seven of whom were
sons old enough to bear arms. These brave
young men, under the tuition and example cl
their parents, had grown up into attachment to
their country, and arlently devoted tC its SER
vice were ready on every OCCASION to encounter
the dangers of border warfare. When the first
call for volunteers sounded through the land
the mother encouraged their patriotic zeal.
'Gn, boys" she said, fight for your corn-
try! fight till death, if you must, but never let
your country be dishonorcd. Were / 4 man
would 60 with you"
vt another time, when Col. Cruger comman-
ttcd the British at Cambridge and Col. Brown
at Augusta several British officers stopped at
her house for rcIrcshInent; and one Of them
asked how many SONS she had. She answered
eight; and to the question where they all
were, replied promptly:
"Seven of them arc engaged III the service ol
their country"
"Rcaly matlam,n observed the officer sieer-
nglv, "you have enough Of them."
s'No, sir" said tie matron proudly, :" wish
had fifty"
Her house in the absence of her sons wa;
frequently exposed to the deprcdationS OF the
tories On one occasion they cut open her
feather beds, and scattered the contents. W lien
the Young men returned, shortly afterwards,
their mother babe them pursue the niarau'tcrS.
One of the continental soldiers having bcen lett
ut lhc house badly wounded, Mrs. Martin kind
ly attended and nurscd him till his recovery.
\ part of the rnyaiists who heard OF lis being
there, came Will, the intention OF taking Ills
life, but she found means to hide him from their
search.
The only c,i,,ghtcr of Mrs. Martini Lctitia,
married Capt. Edward Wade, Of Virginia, who
fell with his commander, Gen. Montgomery, at
tae siege of Quebec At the time Of the siege
of Charleston by Sir Henry Clinton, the wldow
was reSi,ling with her mother at Nincty-slX
Her son Washington Wade was then live years
old, and remembered many occurrences con-
nectcl with the war. The house was about
100 miles ina direct line west of Ckar!eatoi.
He recollects walking in the piazza on 4 Calm
eycning with lis grandmother. light breeze
blew from tic cast, and the sound Of heavy
cannon hean! at that time, altl in that part o'
the Stale they knew must come from the hr-
seircl CITY. As report after report reached
their ears, the agitation Of Mrs. Martin increas-
ed. She knew not what evils mi: :5it bc all
nounccd; size knew not but the sound might
be the knci Of her sons, three Of whom were
then in Charleston Their wives were with
her, and partork Of the same Ecart-c!liiilng
fears The stood still Tor a few minutes. each
wrapped in Eer own painful and silent rriicc-
tons till the mother at length, lifting her lan,'
and eyes towards hcavcn, exclaimed lrrven:ly
=" thank God, &hcy are the children Of 1hc
Republic"
OF tic seven patriotic brothers, six were
spared through all the dangers OF the parii%tii
warfare in the region OF the dark and biooiE
ground" The eldest. Vim. Martin, was a Cap
tain Of artillery; and after having served with
distinction in the siege Of Savannah and Char
lesion, was killed ut the ge OF Augusta, Just
after he had obtained Il favorable position iOr
his cannon, by clcvating it to one Of the towers
constructed Lv Gen. PckcnS 1t is related
that soon after his death, Il British oiiiccr pass
Ing TO Nincty->iX, then i'll possession ni the
English, rode out Of his way TO crafty ms ha-
tired to the Wings by carrying the fatal news
to the mother Of this gallant young man. lie
called at tie house and asked Mrs. Martin il
she had not son in the army at Augusta She
rep!led in thc affirmative. "Thcn | saw his
brains blown out ON the field OF battle" said
Tic monster, who anticipated his triumph III the
sight OF 4 parents agony. But the effect oil
the startling al.no,hccmcnt was other than he
expected. Terrible was the shock. and agglsl-
yatc,l bv the ruthless cruelty with which her
bereavement was made known, no woman'S
weakness Was suffered 10 appear After listen
in~ To tic dreadful recital the only reply made
h: this American dame w;ls . Inc could not have
died in Il noblcr cause - Tie evident cilaglin
Of the officer as hc turned and rode away, Is
still remembered in the family tradition.
The eldest son married Grace Warning, Of
Dorchester, when she waS but fourteen years
of age. She WAS daughter Of benjamin Warng
who afterwards became one oi the oldest set
tiers of Columbia VIXEN established as tho scat
Of government in tic State. The principles Of
the Revolution had been taught her from her
childhood; and her efforts to promote its adj
vancement were joined by those OF her lts-
bands family. She was one of the two who
riske,l their lives to seize upon tic dispatches
a, above related. Her husbands untmcly
death left her with three young chlldrcn-two
sons and one daughter; but she never married
again
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YANKEE ALI. 0yER.-Bayard Taylor says that
Yankee, in walking in st. Petersburg: oiic
muddy day, met the Grand Duke Constantine.
IA. Sidewalk WAS not wide enough for two per-