Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-04-20
The Maiden Warrior !
a TALE OF TIE REVOLUTION.


meuts which light up the cxpause of that
deadly conflict, like stars in the firmamcnt,
put to shame the melodrmatic of heroes of
Greece; indeed it is not much to say, that
every mountain pass has been Thormopyl;c.
and every battle plain Marathon.
Occasionally these deeds of war have been
lighteucd by that sweetest of all passions.
Love; and it is tale of love aud patriotism
we have now 20 tell
Sergeant Jasper belonged to that most IA
nous of all heroic bands, Marion's Brigade
where his yalor and talents soon won him dis
tinction Among other daring deeds his res
cuing our flag ut Fort Moultric, deserves to
be mentioned. In the hottest fire of the con-
tilct, the flag of the Fort was shot away and
fell without the Fort Leaping over the ram
parts he seized the flag, and returned amidst
the cheers of even the British. For this dar-
ing deed General Rutlcdgc presented him
with sword
Like many other families at that time his
was divided on the great question. His older
brother took the side Of the English, and
served in their army. Out of affection to his
brother, and a desire to examine into the
strength and condition of the enemy, he re-
solved with another patriotic soldier, Sergeant
Newton, to pay the British campa visit His
brothers position in it, enabled him to receive
his two friends without any suspicion of their
being spies, and they were entertained for two
or three days with great hospitality.
While they were thus engaged, small
party OF Americans were brought in prison.
crs; and as they had deserted from the Brit
isll aud enlisted in the american ranks their
doom would have been death This the broth
cr of Jasper assured him was to be their fate.
With them was the wife and child of one of
the prisoners. Her distress mt her husbands
approaching fate touched the humane heart
of Jasper. Confding his purpose to his friend
Sergeant Newton, they L,dc adicu to Jaspcr's
brother, and took their leave They had no
sooner got out of sight of the camp, than they
made a dctour, and stretched across the coum
try, so as to cludc all suspicion should they
meet with any British soldiers
1t was the custom of the English then to
| send all the prisoners taken in that quarter to
Savannah for trial At little Spring about
two miles from Savannah. .Jasrcrand Newton
socrctcd themselves, awaiting the arrival of
the British escort with their prisoners 1t
had occurred to Jasper, that ms they must pass
this spot, it was very probable they might
stop here for a short tamc to rest themselves
and the woody nature of the spot would
favor a rescue
After some hours anxiety, they saw the
escort with their prisoners approaching. The
guard was ten IN number, and armed The
corporal with four men conducted their cap
tives to the water. and told them to rec them
selves for an hour, at the same time giving
them some provisions The Sergeant then
told the men to ground arms, and scat them
selves. The prisoners threw themselves upon
the ground in hopeless dcSpar Near to the
wrctchcd man sat his wife and child Two of
the men alone kept their arms as sentrics As
the rest OF the men were fllinl, their cantcens
with water, Jasper ard Newton camc stealth
lily from their ambush, seized two of the mus
kcts that were stacked, shot the two scntrics
and rushing on the others stunned them with
the butts OF thei. weapons, and the others
abandoned the conflict and ncd Releasing
the prisoners, they escaped across the river to
the Americans
But the romantic incident in the lie of this
brave man was his love for Miss Suie St
CLAIR, or as she Is termed in our annals, the
Maiden Warrior" This was a beautiful
Creole girl who returned his love witha puri-
ty and intensity seldom known on carth.-
When he was called upon to join the defend
ers OF hlS country, her grief was unbounded
The hour of parting came aud after tenderest
adicus, the gallant soldier sprang upon his
horse and Joined his regiment Scarcely had
the sound Of his horses feet died upon the air
than her romantic brain suggested the plan of
joining her love by enlisting in the same brig.
adc. She resolved to put her project into
immediate operation.
Securing suit of male attire about her own
size, she severed her long and ietty ringlcts,
dressed her hair like 4 nians, ard purchasing
horse, she set off three days after, alone, to
offer her services to the noble Marion Her
ofei was accepted, and 1.-the, active stripping
was added to the corps, to which her lover
belonged The contrast between this strip
ling and those men in their uncouth garbs,
their massive faces, cmbrowned and discolored
by sun and rain, was indeed striking. But
none were so eager for battle or so Indifferent
to fatigue, as the farfaccd boy 1t was found
that his energy of character, resolution and
courage, amply supplied his lack of physique.
None ever suspected him to be woman. Not
even Jasper himself. although he was often
by her side, penetrated her disguise
The romance of her situation increased the
fcrvor of her passion. IL was her delignt 10
reflect that, unknown to him, she was by his
side watching over him in the hour of danger.
She fed her passion by gazing upon him in
the hour of slumber, lowering near him when
stealing through the swamp and thicket; and
being always ready to avert danger from his
head
But gradually there stole melancholy pre-
sentiment over the poor girls mind She had
honn torfurn6 With L,,,,a, l. -.