The Red Cloud chief., 1877-01-04
HOW MARION Got HIS RIFLES

HOW MARION GOT HIS R1FLES.
The close Of the year 1850 was a sad
Period for America The British held
the country from Charleston to the
upper Santee and in order to complete
their conquest had established a chain
Of posts throughout the State, each OF
which was strongly fortified and de-
Tended by a good garrison. Organized
resistance 10 the Brisish actors in the
struggle were the men who composed
the famous Eight brigade" of General
Marion.
The fayorite rendezvous OF Marion
was at Snow Island. This is a piece OF
high river swamp, as it is called In the
CarOlinas, and was surrounded on three
sides by water, so as to be almost IN
pregnable. Here Marion had bis camp.
From this fastness he issued forth at
pleasure to ravish the enemy's grana-
ries, or capturea struggling party of his
troops. Secure in his retreat, he had no
fear of pursuit.
In the city of Charleston, the despo'
tism Of the British was at its height;
the proud-spirited people of that capita
were held down by a grinding tyranny.
Many of them were still open and I'M
compromising in their hostility to the
English, while others, thinking they
could best serve the cause in that way,
affected a hearty submission to the con
Guerors, and were seemingly the most
loyal of all KipgGeorge's subjects. Yet,
while the English saw this and congrat-
ulated themselves upon the good effect
it would have on the cOlOnists, these
very loyalists kept the American COM
manders constantly informed of all that
passed within the British lines, and
many a disaster of the English was in
this way directly attributed to them.
One of these persons lady OF
fine social position and great wealth,
Indeed there were few persons in all
Charleston over whose submission to
the crown the British were more elated
than they were over that of Mrs. Anne
Garden. She was a young and beauti.
full widow, just twenty-five, and fol
several years had been the standing
toast of the beaux of the Carolinas.
When the British took the city, shs
was the first to submit TO the king, ant
since then her house had been the ia
vorite gathering place of the red-cOa
gentry. Many of Mrs. Gardens friends
who were staunch patriots to the las
quietly cut her acquaintance, and shOOl
their heads in silent indignation whel
her name was mentioned, and as fO
Gen. Marion, he could have told tale
that would have startled the widow
Charleston friends, had it been safe t
do so.
While Marion was creating so grea
an excitement beyond the gates o
Charleston, Mrs. Garden resolved t
give a ball. Preparations were made OF
an extensive scale, and the 10y al Gle
ment of the city was in high feather
The splendid mansion of the yOun
widow Was dressed with flowers iron
cellar to garnet, and blazed with light
on the evening appointed for the assem-
bly,, and the band of the garrison dis
coursed sweet music to the assemble
crowd.
The entertainment vas at its heigh
when the crowd near the door suddenl
parted, and a young man came fOrwar
hurriedly. He Vas tall and splendid
formed, and carried himself erect wit
a proud, martial air. He was dresse
in a uniform of an officer of a tor
legion, and his general appearance Wa
that of a man who had ridden far an
hard during the day. AS the yOun
widow saw him her face flushed an
then grew deadly pale, and she spran
forward with a cry of alarm.
"What are you doing here?" 81
asked, hurriedly.
you will see" he answered, quickl
in a low tone. "Only for Heavens SAX
swear black and blue to what l ma
sayw Then he added, calm, and in
louder tone, You see, my dear cousi
have come back to my allegiance"
Il am delighted to hear it" she r
piled, warmly, taking the hint at ono
Il never thought your heart wou,
cling to the rebel cause"
FAITH" he said, laughing, eff n
heart had chung to it, my stOmat
would have driven me from it. I'm n
fond Of starving. my fair cousin, al
King George lives well, you kno,
Hereafter Thomas Wilson lives al
dies a loyal man."
Colonel Watson had been standil
y, and during this conversatiO
stepped forward to the lady's side.
"Wh0 is this gentleman? z" he ask
somewhat sharply. "He seems wOnde
fully familiar"
"Oh," replied the lady, "he is nv cou
In, Lieutenant Thomas Wilson, and.
you will perceive, is in his majest,
service"
you seem rather careless of yo
dress, considering the occasion, sil
said the Colonel, tartly. He was a
noyed at the great interest which Il
lady had shown in the newcomer.
MY business must be my excus
Colonel" said the young man, respet
fully.
Il am the bearer of a letter from NJ
jor Gainey, and my orders are to lose