Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-02-08
THE CAPTAINS RUSE.

Inc close OF the year ~ was SaQ
period for America. The British held
the country from Charleston to the
Upper Santee, and in order to CON-
plete their conquest had established a
chain of posts throughout the State,
each of which was strongly fortified
and defended by good garrison. Or
ganiZed resistance to the British there
was none. On the American side the
principal actors in the struggle were
the men who composed the famous
slight brigade" of General Marion.
The favOrite rendezvous of Marion
was at Snow Island. This is a piece of
high river swamp, as it is called in the
CarOiinas. and was surrounded on three
sides by water, 50 as to be almost i'm.
pregnablo. Here Marion had his camp.
From this fastness he issued forth at
pleasure to range the enemy's gran.
aries or capture struggling party Of
his troops. Secure in his retreat, he
had no fear Of pursuit.
In the city of Charleston the des.
potism Of the British was at it it's
height the proud.spirited people of
that capital were held down by grind.
ing tyranny. Many of them were still
open and uncompromising in their hos.
tility to the English, while others,
thinking they could best serve the
cause in that way, affected hearty
| submission to the conquerors, and
were seemingly the most loyal of all
King Georges subjects. Yet, while
the English saw this and congratulated
themselves upon the good effect it
would have on the Colonists, these
very ''loyalists" kept the American
commander 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 was a 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 Ella.
ted than they were over that of Mrs.
Anne Garden. She was a young and
beautiful widow, just twenty five, and
for several years had been the stand
ing toast of the beaux Of the Car0linas.
When the British took the city she
was one of the first to submit to the
King, and since then her house had
been the favorite gathering place of
the red'coat gentry. Many of Mrs.
Gardens friends, who were staunch
patriots to the last, quietly cut her &C.
Quaintance, and shook their heads in
silent Indignation when her name was
mentioned, and when they dared speak
at all it was only to condemn the
widows treachery. In the camp of
Marion, however, there was one cheek
that kindled with pride and not with
shame when the lady's name was men.
toned and as for Gen. Marion him.
self, he could have told tales that
Charleston friends, had it been safe to
do so.
While Marion was creating so great
an excitement beyond the gates of
Charleston, Mrs. Garden resolved to
give a ball. Preparations were made
on an extensive scale, and the loyal
element of the city was in high feath-
er. The splendid mansion OF the
young widow was dressed with flow
ers from cellar to garrett, and blazed
with lights on the evening appointed
for the assembly, and the band of the
garrison discoursed sweet music to
the assembled crowds. The enter.
tainment was at its height, when the
crowd near the door suddenly parted,
and young man came forward hur.
riedly. He was tall and splendidly
formed, and carried himstlf erect, and
with proud, martial air, He was
dressed in the uniform of an officer of
the Tory legion, and his general ap-
pearance was that of a man who had
ridden far and hard during the day,
AS the young widow saw him her face
flushed, and then grew deathly pale,
and she sprang forward with a cry of
alarm.
"What are you doing here!' she
asked, hurriedly.
"You will see," he answered quick.
ly, in a low tone. Only, for Heavens
sake, swear black and blue to what
may say" Then he added calmly, and
in a louder tone: sYou see, my dear
cousin, I have come back to my al.
lcgiance.''
II am delighted to hear it," she re.
piled warmly, taking the hint at once.
II never thought your heart would
ching to the rebel cause
"Faith,' he said, laughing, "if my
heart had chung to it, my stomach
would have driven me from it. I'm
not fond of starving, my fair cousin,
and King George lives well, you know.
Hereafter, Thomas Wilson lives and
dies loyal man.
Col. Watson had been standing by,
during the conversation, watching the
couple closely. Now he stepped for.
ward to the lady's side.
"Wh0's this gentlemen T. he asked,
somewhat sharply. "He seems won.
derfully familiar
son. replied the lady, laughing,
che is my cousin, Lieut.. Thomas vii.