Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-07-20
From the South Carolinian.
A Real Incident of the Revolution.
NHIVIIHH sWHWpS EuU IUueIy PIutS
Can tell many a thrilling tale,

Which now only in tradition lie.
My venerable old grandfather, soldier o.
the Revolution, in the last years of his life
was unusually free to talk of the times that
tried mems souls"-scenes with which he
was familiar, from his having acted in them
One winter evening, as the snow was fall.
ing thick and fast, we had gathered around
the sparkling fire Of the old hearth stone
The usual cheerfulness lit up the old mans
iurrowed brow, all encircled with his long
snowy locks. His conversation, as well re-
member, ran on the disgraceful acts Of the
tories. His sunken eye, dim as it was, would
casually fash with indignation, as he would
recount story after story Of their infamous
conduct. Although the good old man has
long since gone where
The tories yell is heard no more,
Nor the cannon's deafening roar.
1 was then but a child, yet one of his nara
tives was as wildly impressed on my youth.
full mind as though it had been told but yes
terday, which imports as follows.
In the fall of 1871, Coonel thomas Polk,
of Mecklenburg, North Carolina, was sent
with detachment Of sixty dragons from
Gen. Green's army, to harrass and drive out
the tories, who had infested portions of South
| Carolina, and had been committing their
wonted outrages on the helpless Wing tami-
lies, without molestation, save when sailed
upon oy Marion's weak but spirited little
band, who alone for time kept the spirit of
patriotism aglow in that ill.fated State, but
who, at that time, was 30 worn down by ut
ter misfortune, as we'll nigh to unnerve any
further effort on their part.
But soon Polk, by bis nnwelcome intrusion
with his intrepid chargers, gavr Lac tories to
understand that there was no rest Tor the
wickedn He pounced upon their midst, and
had chased them from their haunt, until large
body of them, some distance below, had ia
ken retreat in the swamps OF Waccamaw,
near Georgetown. And here, as they pre-
sumed no danger near, would cowardy sneak
out and commit their usual depredationS, and
again skull back to their boggy dens. But
the gallant Polk, with his feet troopers, was
soon on their trail. Now, their swamp re-
treat baffled the colonel's skill, for it was i'm
possible to penetrate it on horseback, and to
set quietly and await an engagement, would
be in vail. The continued cruelties prac-
tised by those pests of humanity on the lielp-
less inhabitants, aroused the spirit Of Polk to
! further efforts. A general tory-hunt was IN
stituted and after securing the cypress
thickets and the pine hills of the neighborlng
| country, not the track Of a tory could be
seen. Then their ingress and egress 10 the
swamps were closely watched; yet no illfor-
nation Us to their whereabouts could be
| gained from any source; and from what could
| be learned, it was concluded that the tories
| had dispersed or had moved their quarters 70
Son.. % tha l...-p 1iS.i:~:-,I "a r,.Jhnn-
had remained unmolested for some time.
Polk resolved to strike camp and wait further
issues. Accordingly, an encampment was
formed on an old field hillside, tlanked by
two extensive swamps, and all caution from
| further attack were suspended The sentl-
nels were withdrawn; and thus lulled in this
state of false security, the camps were quiet
ly taking their ease, when, suddenly, on
irizzly, foggv morning, about the break OF
dav, their still slumberS were aroused by the
rafting peal Of muskctry pouring down upon
them. Bustle and confusion cnsucd; but
those brawny-browed Stout-hearted Carroll
mans were not TO be unnerred by the smell
OF gunpowder, or grow panic at the roar of
little "noisy kill-sced." But they were i'm
| mediatcly all in front Of the colUnels tent,
ready for orders and on the commons for
parade, only eight appeared on horse-back-
some of these without saddles, and some
even without brides, with only the halter,
as they hurriedly united their steeds from
the limbs. The others had broken loose from
fright at the sudden firing, and were heard
scamperng away ata distance.
With the eight thus equipped on horse,
and the remainder on foot, rs soon rs the CO.
lionel gave the word "charge,'; the firing
ceased, and the tories heels were seen in the
distance, making tracks, as fast as legs could
carry them, to the nearest point ol the swamp
And our pursuing troopers rent the air with
shouts and bitter imprecations, as they saw
their prey escaping in the reccsses of the
thick cypress swamp; and could only give a
hasty farewell salnte from the mouths OF
their old horse pstols-whch did no cXecu-
ton further than riddle few diStcnded coat
tails of those not so well skilled in the foot
race-which would probably give them
darning job after the course was over. Now
the pursuit by the horse could bc pressed no
| farther, and by the time the foot company
came up, it was deemed incXpedicnt. There
upon they returned to the camp; ana no loss
was found to be sustained, save few leak
holes in the top canvass of the tents as the
tories had entirely over-shot them.
A few of the loose horses were picked up
round the skirts Of the camp; and after a
few hours search, all the others, except eight,
were gathered up on the adjacent hills. And
after a hunt Of several miles over tho piney
woods, no trace Of the remaining ones could
be found
| Here a trick was discovered on cNaminn'
ton, part of the hurscs had evidently been
unloosed by hand. And as to what it meant
or could import, was question which placed
the colonel in dilemma. Was it to prevent
his escape, in case Of mcditated attack from
an overpowering force of tories? Or was it
merely and soiel ly for the purpose Of pilfer-
,ne2 The latter was insisted upon, as it was
| And, finally, diligent search was deter
mined. After leaving q small number to
guard the camp, squads were distributed in
different directions, in order to have the
search as thorough as possible. One OF those
parties, late in the evening, having advanced
a good distance from the camp, found them
selves in lonely, rugged foreground, inter-
spersed with swamps and covered with thick
shrubbery. At this place the party made,
what is termed in the hunters phase, 4 deer
drive" And just as they wero all conYerg-
ing to one point they heard the well-known
neigh of their lost steeds, and there dlscov-
cred tall, ragged: gaunt, tawny, pine smoked
tory, just in the act Of forcing the poor brutcs
into one Of those dangerous quick sand bogs.
He did not, in the least, detect his situation,
as he was busy "chunking" the horses with
heavy pine-knots who seemed conscious OF