Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-04-06

Ghi1dreu's 9epartment.
[Orlginal.]
SAMUEL BACOT.


During the revolutionary period of South
Carolina, many were the deeds of heroic
daring, and many were the suferings which
were endured with fortitude that seems al
most Incredible to us of the present day. In
all sections of the State there were tories
Some of the tories were honest in not taking
part with the patriot party others, and by
far the greater number, were men Of bad
characters.
In the history Of the Wings there is much
that is intensely thrilling, and much that is
instructive The youth of our country ought
to know the history of those who dared to be
free. 1t would have tendency to make them
put proper estimate upon the government
which was bequeathed to them. More thai,
this. 1t would inspire them to deeds Of virtue
Samuel Bacot lived during the revolution
ary war, near the site of the present town OF
Darlington. He was a descendant Of the
Geneva Presbyterians, or Huguenots, who
came to South Carolina in the latter part OF
the seventeenth century. These Huguenots,
like the Scotch Irish, were driven to America
by the cruel prosecutions to which they were
subjected in their native country. The Bacots
were natives of Rochelle, in the western part
of France. Pierre Bacot, the grandfather of
Samuel, came to South Carolina in 1894.
His descendants followed the course of the
Santee and Pedee rivers. After the revolu-
tionary war they spread over the State. But
it is not our purpose to write biographical
sketch of either Pierre or Samuel Bacot.
Our purpose is simply to pen an incident or
two which transpired in the history of the lat
ter during the revolutionary war.
Samuel Bacot resided, as we have already
said, near the present site Of the town of OAR
lington. He had married Miss Allston,
and he and a brother-in.law made settle
ment on Black creek, in the region already
indicated. His brother-in-law left the settle
ment on Black creek and settled in the Cape
Fear region of North Carolina. When the
revolutionary war broke out, Samuel Bacot
promptly espoused the cause of the patriots.
He was man of great energy and exercised
much influence in his neighborhood. Like
the majority Of his ancestors and their descen-
dants, he was true Whig and perfect gen.
tleman. At some period during the struggle,
he was made a Captain-perhaps the leader
of partizan band.
After the fall of Charleston, and after the
British had established their headquarters at
Camden, the tories became very bold, and
multitudes of them cruel. Those, at least
many of them, who had heretofore been hesi-
tating which side of the contest to take, now
declared for the British. The Wings were
driven from their homes, their property de-
stroyed and their wives and helpless children
insulted. To save their lives, the Wings who
were ableto bear arms, were oblige to hide in
swamps and thickets. 1t was only as if by
stealth that fathers were permitted to visit
their homes.
At one time, when Samuel Bacot had ven-
tured to visit his family, band of prowling
tories were seen approaching the dwelling.
His life depended upon gaining the swamp
before their arrival. He determined to put
the courage of the tories to the test. His
heavily loaded musket was seized, and then
he proceeded to direct his family as to the
position they should occupy during the pres
ence of the plundering tories. This done, he
made for the swamp, but was delayed so long
that the tories had reached the premises and
were hitching their horses. Bacot swiftly
made for the thicket. The tories, more anx.
ious to secure his property than his person,
entered the house and began the search. Just
at this moment Bacot discharged his musket,
hurting the shot into the walls of the house
and amongst the plunderers. This was not
to be stood by men who would degrade them
selves by plundering house, in which there
was no one but woman and her little chill.
dren. Panic struck, they dashed out Of the
house and from the premises, leaving their
horses to Bacot. Thus they demonstrated
that they were as cowardly as they were
cruel.
At another time, Captain Bacot was taken
prisoner and sent to Camden. Camden was
the point to which all the prisoners were sent,
either to be hanged or to be sent from that
place to Charleston to be placed in prison
ships to die of disease, or suffer untold mis-
cries. Having kept Captain Bacot at Cam
den for some time where he suffered greatly,
the British determined to send him, and about
thirty others-some of whom were his neigh
bors and men of like spirits with himself-to
Charleston. They were started off with a
guard of sixty tories, commanded by Cap
tain Faust, from either the lower edge of Fair
field or the upper edge Of Richland county.
During the first days march, Bacot and some
of the prisoners intimated to each other their
intention to make their escape if possible.
At night the party camped short distance
below Columbia at log house, from which
the owner had been driven. The arms were
stacked at the door, and the thirty prisoners
were placed in one end of the house. The
other end was occupied by the guard, except
those who were placed outside to watch the
prisoners. The prisoners, now all together,
could decide upon plan Of escape Captain
Bacot made the arrangements.
All were to lie down and pretend to be
sleeping, and he would watch the movements
of the guard in way so as not to be suspec-
ted. 1t was Saturday night and Saturday
nioht was chosen as the watch word. So soon
as Racnt WAS heard to pronounce the words