The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-04-06
LOVE A HUNDRED YEARS AGO,


that mighty drama. Ii we search the early
lives Of those who planned and achieved
our independence, We find, in almost
every case, the pre-eminent influence of a
mothers heart.
And mothers hearts in those days were
were run in the antique mold. A Connecti-
cut matron sent forth her sons to battle,
the youngest but fourteen years of sge
Presently he returned, as he could find no
musket. $50 back, my sonr' cried the
American mother; go into battle and
take a gun from the enemy" "Alick,"
said Mrs. Haynes, of North Carolina, as
she equipped her son, mere hoy, for the
battle of Rocky Mount-''Alick, now
fight like man. Don't be a cowardr'
Just after the bloody fight at Hanging
Rock, the venerable Mrs. Castor was told
that three of her sons were dead upon the
field. IL grieve for their loss" she calm
ly replied, "but they could not have died
in a better cause Her grandsons were
about her knees, and she would not shed
a tear. The battle of Kings Mountain
caused CORVALLIS to retreat in fear toward
Camden. On the march he stopped
night on Wilson's plantati on, near Steel
Creek. The Earl and the brutal Tarleton
entered the house; and, finding Mrs. Will
son alone, asked for her family. Husband
and sons were with Sumter CORVALLIS
endeavored, by brilliant promises, to win
the good woman's influence for the King.
He told her he had just captured her hus-
band and eldest son (which was too true),
and that if she would bring her family to
tie royal service her loved ones should
be liberated, and every man promoted to
rank and power. "Sir," said this "moth-
er of a mighty race II have seven sons
now bearing arms; my seventh son, who
is only fifteen years of age, l yesterday
sent to join his brothers in Sumter's army.
Now. sir, sooner than see one of my fam
lily turn back from the glorious work, I
would take these boys'-and she pointed
to three or four little sons" and enlist
with them myself under Sumter's banner,
and show my husband and sons how to
hight, and, If necessary, to de for their
country"
Bring him in,' said another, as her
only son was brought dead from the bat
tle-tield to her door. The shattered form
was laid before her. II see no wound'
and she looked steadily into the noble,
still face" | see only glorified SOUL"
of soldiers, fell at Hanging Rock Borne
~ Alo AAotACA uOuSC, llCA WOulu
have buried him as he was, for the
patriots were fleeing in every direction.
"NO,' said the dauntless woman, stand.
ing by the corpse; "bury him decently !;
for the servants of Satan are bound, like
their master, and can 60 only the length
of their chain.'
Such women make noble daughters, as
well as sons, and we find the men of the
Revolution mated with equal souls. When
Burgoync advanced upon Saratoga, the
whole population fled from his line of
march. But the wife of Gen. Schuyler,
accompanied by only one servant, set out
in a carriage for her husbands mansion
at Saratoga, determined to save some val.
liable things before the British could
arrive. Known and beloved through all
that country, the terrified people fiocked
around her carriage, chung to the wheels
and the horses, and besought her to turn
back. She would not listen. They told
her the story of Jane McCrea. "Drive
on, " said she to her servant; "Me General s
cye must not be afraid" Caesars wife
must he above suspicion. .
"Go!' cried Carolina wife, as her
husband stood in the doorway loading his
musket, while the boom of Corvallis
cannon came over the hills from Guilford +;
~ would rather you should die upon the
field than be in my arms at time like
this.''
The loving, wifely devotion of such
women as these was an incalculable ele-
ment in the final success OF the American
armies. When the British were daily ex-
pected at New York, and the Connecticut
and Jersey militiamen were hesitating to
leave their rich crops to spoil, and their
families to consequent suffering. the
wives of these farmers urged them to the
defense, and carried on the whole work ia
the field with their own hands. In the
summer OF 1880, when every able-bodied
man was needed to defend the Carolinas
against the inroads of CORVALLIS, eleven
young women at Fishing Creek, every one
of whom had lover and q brother bearing
arms, formed q reaping association, and
gathered not only their own crops, but
those OF every plantation in the district
whose master was fighting for their
country. just after the battle of Kings
Mountain, William White rode up to his
farm, fresh from the bloody fray; and,
seeing his wife and sisters attempting to
SOW wheat in the field, stopped just long
enough TO show them 1.-the cast of the
hand" and darted off again to Join the
patriot army. -
The famous Tory, Col. Ferguson,
dressed in q new and dashing uniform
which CORVALLIS h4d given him, rode nm
to his brothers house, and was endeavor-
ing to win him to the royal cause. "See
how the noble Earl has treated me. he
urged; look at my rank and my clothes.
1t may be l shall be made Lord. and
how should l feel then to hear it said nv
brother was a rebel?" His last word
brought the sturdy young wife to the door.
~ am rebel!' she cried; "my brothers
are all rebels, and the little dog Trip is a
rebel, too! would rather zee you with a
sheep on your back than tricked out in ali
those fine clothes! Retel and be free, that
is my motor Then she turned to her
husband, whose patriotism was beginning