Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-06-23
REvoLUTioNARY INCIDENT.


REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENT.
A correspondent of the Southern Chris
tian Aduocate relates the following interest
ing incident in South Carolina Revolutionary
History. The heroine, Mrs. Trammel, died
several years since, in Alabama.
Mrs. 'Trammel was old enough to have
been familiar with many of the bloody events
which occurred near the close of the Revolu:
tionary War, in theimmediate neighborhood
of her home, which was near Kings Noun
tain, in South Carolina. Her husband Thorn.
as Trammel, had unhesitatiugly identified
his fortunes with those of the Liberty Par
ty,' as they were familiarly called, and be-
ing>a good shot and of unAinchiDg courage,
he was terror to all the friends of the King,
as far as his name was known.
At the time of which we write, that Sec
.tion Of country was over run by band of
Tories, encamped in large numbers at Kings
Mountain, under Gen. Ferguson. There
was in this command noted Tory, by the
name of John Towns, who had long been the
neighbor and professed friend of Trammel.
At this time, Towns was sergeant, and con-
stantly upon the scout for the purpose Of
capturing men, horses, etc. Young Tram
mel could not feel much afraid somehow of
Towns. He thought, surely he will not in
jure me; but IN this he was mistaken, as he
afterwards mad occasion painfully to learn.
He had been for some time hiding andkeep-
ing out of the way as best he could, until
one night he ventured to sleep in his own
house. Just before day, he was;aroused by
the heavy tramp of horses, and on rising he
found the house surrounded 'bY,.a troop,
(which proved to be sergeant Towns and his
band. ,Trammel was at once seized and
bound, and carried out into the yard for exc
ecution., Towns produced his authority,
executed in, due form, and aourishingit.o tower
Trammel's head pompously offered to free
him if he would take the oath of allegiance
to. the King, and take up arms against his
own countrymen. This proposition Tram
mel met with merited scorn, and said in re.
ply, you can carry me bound tothe Kings
army, but you can never make me fight
against my countrymen.'
After some consultation, they concluded
to try to gethold ofsome of Trammels hor
ses, knowing that he owned some very fine
ones which we're hid out, and they knew
not how to find them without using him as
ia guide.
So very anxious were they to get them,
that they proposed to relieve Trammel upon
condition 'thathe would go and drive them
Eup. He went and found them, but rode and
drove them another way.
After waiting until all hopes of his return
had vanished, drinking and pillaging every
thing they could turn to account, and feeling
no little chagrin at their disappointment,
sergeant Towns called on Mrs. Trammel for
some clothing for his men, or goods out of
which to make some. She replied. Sir,
you have already stripped me of all. I have
nothing more for you, except your nephew
there pointing to his sisters son an orphan
boy, whom they in charity had taken some
time before to keep from suffering, 'he has
few clothes, which, I made for him; you
can take them if you will But they did
not suit.
About this time, his eyes rested upon a
strong box, which sat near the fire place, and
he said, what have you in that box? She
replied, Indignantly, 'Sir, it is none of your
business well, said he, sit is my bust
ness, and I'll see what it contains ,sNo,
SIR said she, you shall not look into that
box,' and seizing a heavy iron poker, she
placed herself between Towns and the box,
and planted herself firmly, resolved to de-
fend her little treasure. The box contain
ed few quilts and counterpanes, the work
of her own hands. Towns advanced and
drew his sword to intimidate her, but she
maintained her position without moving a
muscle. He presented his sword, and sueer-
ingly said, Now, would you hit fellow?'
She said, do you advance step further,
and you will see.' He looked her in the
eye, and saw plainly what her determination
was, and retired and left her in possession
of her little treasure.