The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-11-14
STAY OF EXECUTION.
A TALE OF THE REVOLUTION.

In the year 1880, after the British had
taken Charleston, South Carolina, that un-
fortunate State was oveIrun by British and
Tories, who committed hoTrid outrages on
the defenceless inhabitants the Tories
being the most cruel and brutal.
The only force the Americans had at
this time to contend with these bloodthirs-
ty fends was some small bands Of patriots,
led by Marion, Sumpter ana Winn. These
fearless sons of liberty lived in the woods
and swamps, and oftimes had to subsist
on roots and berries but they gave the
enemy, both British and Tories, a great
deal OF trouble.
st the time of which I write Gen. Sump-
ter, with Il small band Of fearless men,
each Of whom was a sharp-shooter and
could split the bulls eye at one hundred
yards every shot, their superior skill in
shooting made them dangerous foes was
encamped i'll retired place on the great
Pedee. \ young sergeant named Horagio
Pickens was well-to-do planter, owning
a fine estate, with good buildings. lie was
a married man; his wife's maiden name
was Rutledge. Mrs. Pickens was lady
of refinement, of a brave turn, and, like
/ her husband, was staunch Wing. They
/ had two small children. Mr.. Pickens
! owned a dozen slaves, who worked his
/ plantation. His Overseer, an African,
named Dick, was a very stout, active man,
! and being good hand, his master valued
= him highly and had therefore made him
Z h.,
not about. When this narrative opens
Sergeant Pickeus had joined Sumpter's 5
/ little band of patriots, ana leaving his love
ly wife and tender children under charge
of Dick, who promised ''Inavst dat he was
gwine to defend de mistis and de children
while he hab one drap ob blood in his
wanes."
The gallant SumptcI and his brave little
/ band committed fearful ravages on the
! enemy, the Tories in particular. The To-
rics became desperate, and as Sergeant
J Pickens was one of the most daring men
III the band, they determined to have him,
| cost what it might. They visited Dick,
and after questioning the treacherous vii
| lain, they found that he was the very dem
| OI JLICy hlIJSI. DICh Ji OIIiISCh GiISii 't6tG
when de boss KUN home lie would let dem
/ kno, and help dem to ketch him" They
! promised the traitor in return, that if he
would betray his master they would make
! him present of Pickens' plantation, and
! give him his freedom. The preliminaries
being settled, the fiend incarnate set his
/ wits to work to betray his master to the
/ enemy, where he well knew certain
/ death awaited him. Mr.. Pickens had al
ways been kind to this negro, and had
treated him more like n brother than a
! slave, and Dick in return was now going
/ TO repay him as Monteith did Sir Viii
! liam Wallace.
In the month of June, 1880, Gen. Sump-
ter and his brave band were encamped as
/ above stated the rendezvous being entire
/ ly unknown to the enemy, and no one even
suspected that Sumpter was in the neigh
| borhood. The encampment was about four
miles from the home of Mr.. Pickens, and
he obtained a furlough from his General
for two days to eneble him to pay flying
visit to his family. He therefore left tie
encampment after dark and sought his
loved ones. On the next morning when
d ick found that the ''marst" was to home,
he appeared to be overjoyed. He wished
to know if de boss would stay at home the
succeeding night, and the master told him
he would-never suspecting the negro's
treachery. The willy savage now asked,
''where de rest Oh de boys am ?'' but Mr.
Pickens did not tell him. About noon
Dick came in apparently greatly agitated
He was weeping freely, and told his mas
ter dat his mother was dying, and he wish &
10 know if he could hab a hoss and liber
ty to go and see her. His master told hin
to take the best horse and go and see hel
by all means.
The traitor left, but instead of going Il
see his mother, (who was not even sick,