Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-04-06
LOVE A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

The mothers of the Revolution placed
heir own heroic stamp upon the actors in
.hat mighty drama. If 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
we're run in the antique mold. A Connect
emf matron sent forth her sons to battle,
the Youngest but fourteen years of age.
Presently he returned, as he could find no
nusket. $50 back, my sonp' cried the
American mother; 60 into battle and
take gun from the enemy" ''Alick, !"
said Mrs. Haynes, of North Carolina, as
she equipped her son, mere hoy, for the
battle Of Rocky Mount-"A.ick, now
fight like man. DOn'tbe cowardT"
Just after the bloody fight at Hanging
Rock. the venerable Mrs. CASTOR was told
that three of her sons were dead upon the
field. ~ grieve for their loss" she calm
" replied, "but they could not have died
in better cause" Her grandsons were
about her knees, and she would not shed
stear. The battle of Kings Mountain
caused CORVALLIS to retreat in fear toward
Camden. On the march he stopped a
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
the royal service her loved ones should
be liberated, and every man promoted to
rank and power "Sir," said this moth
er Of mighty race" have seven sons
now bearing arms; my seventh son, who
is only fifteen years of age, 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, l
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
fight, and, if necessary, to de for their
country"
Bring him i'm said another, as her
only son was brought dead from the bat
tle-feld to her door. The shattered form
was laid before her :" see no wound"
and she looked steadily into the noble,
still face" see only glorified SOUL"
John Mcclure, the noblest OF sons and
Of soldiers, fell at Hanging Rock. Borne
to his mothers house, the men would
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 !;
Tor 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
Burgoyne 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 carriage for her husbands mansion
At Saratoga, determined to save some val
liable things before the British could
arrive. Known and beloved through all
mat country, the terrified people fiocked
around her carriage, chung TO the wheels
and the horses, and bcsought her to turn
back. She would not listen. They told
hef the story of Jane McCrea. " Drive
on, said she to her servant; "he General $
s.fe must not be afraid" Caesars wife
must be above suspicion.
Cor 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
aeid than be in my arms at time like
The loving, wifely devotion Of such
women as these was an incalculable eie-
anent In the final success of the American
almies, When the British were daily ex-
Ncsed at New York, and the Connecticut
and Jersey militiamen were hesitating 10
FAVE their rich crops to spoil, and their
,aMiiies to consequent suffering, the
sises OF these farmers urged them ID the
'e'ense, and carried on the whole VOL II