The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-02-02
FOR THE WESTERN DEMOCRAT.
"Reminiscences Of the
RE VOLU TION.
Who can tell the unheard signs,
And the many unseen tears,
Of the weak, helpless matrens
Of the Rexnlntinn'S date

OF the weak, helpless matrens
OF the Revolutions date
At that critical period of the Revolution,
when the Americans had vested their main
force, under Gen. Gates, in the Inflated ex-
petition against the British at Camden
the greatest anxiety was felt pending that
engagement; which, it was expected, would
be decisive.
In the settlement of Providence, twelve
miles south of Charlotte, ON the main road
to Camden. my grandfather r.. lived, who'
at that time, was off in the horse service
under Col. Thos. Polk, leaving his family,
composed of his wife, young babe and
negro girl. One warm afternoon, about
the time Of the expected collision between
the forces of Gates and CORVALLIS, as
grandmother was sitting in the door, she
spied three men on horseback galloping at
full speed up the road; on nearer approach
she discovered from their habit they were
American officers. They turned in to the
house, which was situate near the road, and
rudeIy jumped their horses over the yard
fence, and with hasty "good evening"
CdlIeG TOT q QEl0h NI dIc, ID
age in those times,) but from some cause
or other none was at hand; whereupon
they impatiently called for some cool water;
she immediately di<patchc d the servant t.
the spring but few yards distant, hoping
during the interval to have an opportunity
Of inquiring the news, which she presumed
unfavurable, from their anxious and FESTIVE
manner. But to her first interrogation
they clapPed spurs and were soon out OF
sight. Those three men proved to be Gen.
Gates and two of his inferior officers, who
changed their horses in Charlotte, being
the third pest after leaving Camden that
morning. and hurried on to keep ahead of
the news of their shameful defeat; leaving
the vulorous and lamentcd DeKalb to bear
the disasters of the day
The tories held the settlement of Proyi-
dence in particular hatred, because of its
devotcdness to the American cause; and as
all the men of spirit were away in service,
those household robbers were frequent in
their visits to the smok chouses and cribs of
tho absent ''rebcls," and were un>cruPulcus
in bearing away their contents and replon-
fishing their already greasy smokehouses
and loaded garners: paying only the penal
sum of enduring the piteous cries of poor
broadless children, or witnessing the CO.
pious flow of tears as they would fall from
the pale cheeks of besecching mother;
which water of the heart ever failed to
moisten their crispy consciences. These
were termed by those women the hungry
tories" who affected only their property.
After Gates defeat, CORVALLIS extended
unbeunded license to the tories of North
and South Carolina, and in short time
the country became infected with clans,
who were boldpr, more insolant and cruel
in character. And there still seemed to be
a particular spleen directed against the
settlement of Providence. Armed bands
of them were cellogucing around in its
vicinity, and had finally taken up quarters
on six mile creek, at the Lotion old place,
(now owned by James Morrison, ESQ.,
Thus undi>turbed in their retreat, they
commenced their dePredatons. Every
day brought some unwelcome account of
their wontcd barbdritieS. The weak, help
less females were, more or less, experience
ing their brutal insults, and every "rebel'
house was redolent with the cries of dis
tress. But pause There is one unwar-
rantable act, at which even shame bushes
and turns away her face, and which should
leave an indelible stigma upon their name
forever Though it was basely perpetra-
ted upon decrepit old age, and no strong
hand to interposC in its behalf, yet we shall!
sec that it passed not unrevenged.
Andrew Berryhill, my maternal grea'-
grandfather-an old man, whose form the
tolls of ninety years had bowed down-too
cid and incapable of giving any personal
aid to his country, he had welcomed to her
service a son-iR-law and two sons. One of
the latter was an officer under Col. Polk,
and had attended him in all his encounters.
They were both willing and able, and did
as much real, effective service for their
country as any other two men under SINH
lar circumstances. Their names and char
acters were familiar to the tories, and the
deepest luminosity was harbored against
them. After many Intellectual strategems
to ensnars them into their hands. aud wish
ing to satiate their malice still farther, they
burned every dwelling of the BerryhiIls,
and wantonly destroyed all their property,
leaving the feeble old father and mother
sitting by the smoking ruins without a
mouthful of food, or a shelter to protect
their feeble frames. This time. the sacred
ness of age seemed a sufficient guarantee
for their lives against their adyersaries.
After this event, the destitute condition
of these two old people drove them to the
home of their daughter r. Listen for
moment! The sad story of the tragedy is
short! One evening. just as the sun was
Withdrawing behind the western hills, as if
to withhold his face from the sad, heart
sicknening scene about to be enacted, as
the harmless old man, leaning on his staff,